PURPOSE

Currently, 23 states and the territory of Puerto Rico actively maintain state guards. State guards are authorized under Title 32 of the U.S. Code and operate distinctly from the National Guard. They are state-funded, responsive to the Governor and focused on the needs of their home state. The 23 states that currently maintain a state guard are Alaska, California, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Missouri, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Vermont, Virginia and Washington. Under Fla. Stat. § 251 (2023) the Florida State Guard shall be used exclusively within the state, or to provide support to other states, for the purposes stated in this section and may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces of the United States. The authorized maximum number of volunteer personnel that may be commissioned, enrolled, or employed as members of the Florida State Guard is 1,500.

STRONGER TOGETHER

Funded at the state level, the Florida State Guard partners with state and local agencies to deliver rapid response to Florida families following an emergency or threat to public safety. The Florida State Guard serves as a force-multiplier for statewide emergency response.