imported post
Datacrypt1 wrote:
The Washington State Guard is a subordinate element of the Washington State Military Department. That said, their orders come from the same place as the Washington National Guard (WNG) both Army and Air.
That would be the Director of the Washington State Military Dept., who is also the Adjutant General of the the WNG. A position appointed by the Governor of the State of Washington.
I'm not sure you can clump them into the "militia" category any more than you can the National Guard. Their role generally entails filling in for activated WNG members, acting as liasons between the WNG and local agencies, they also assist the WNG with its more domesticated training needs. Its also seems worth pointing out that they utilize many pieces of the WNG and State infrastructure.
I'm not stating a postion here. I just thought that if the State Guard was going to be thrown into the argument and used to represent a "militia" type organization I'd point these few facts out. I think the general idea of a militia seems to entail a level of seperation from State and Federal government, the Washington State Guard is definatley not seperated from the State of Washington.
I realize that there are a lot of Constitutional Scholars on the internet, and I'm the new guy here, however if you read the Militia Act as passed on May 8, 1792, Part III, you'll see that what you've stated above is clearly what the militia was intended to be:
http://www.constitution.org/mil/mil_act_1792.htm
"III. And be it further enacted, That within one year after the passing of the Act,
the militia of the respective states shall be arranged into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, and companies, as the legislature of each state shall direct; and each division, brigade, and regiment, shall be numbered at the formation thereof; and a record made of such numbers of the Adjutant-General's office in the state; and
when in the field, or in serviced in the state, such division, brigade, and regiment shall, respectively, take rank according to their numbers, reckoning the first and lowest number highest in rank. That if the same be convenient, each brigade shall consist of four regiments; each regiment or two battalions; each battalion of five companies; each company of sixty-four privates.
That the said militia shall be officered by the respective states, as follows: To each division on Major-General, with two Aids-de-camp, with the rank of major; to each brigade, one brigadier-major, with the rank of a major; to each company, one captain, one lieutenant, one ensign, four serjeants, four corporals, one drummer, and one fifer and bugler. That there shall be a regimental staff, to consist of one adjutant, and one quartermaster, to rank as lieutenants; one paymaster; one surgeon, and one surgeon's mate; one serjeant-major; one drum- major, and one fife-major."
I know it's not popular in a lot of circles to talk about it but the militia was always intended to be under the control of the State government. You'll find a lot variations throughout US history, but any recognized militia has always been under the command of an elected body.
