The California Military Department is an agency defined under the California Military and Veterans code § 50. The Military Department includes the office of the Adjutant General, the California National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, the California Cadet Corps, and the California Naval Militia.
Frequently the California Military Department and the California National Guard have been used interchangeably. This is incorrect, however, as the California National Guard is a component of the California Military Department by law. Unlike many states (for example, Nevada and Arizona) where the sum total of those states' military forces is their National Guard, California has a state defense force, which means that there are other components to California's military forces at the Governor's disposal besides the California National Guard.
There are five(5) distinct components to the California Military Department according to CA Military & Veteran's Code § 51:
"The Military Department includes the office of the Adjutant General, the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, the California Cadet Corps, and the Naval Militia."
However, only three of these components are actually considered the "Active Militia" of the State of California according to California Military & Veterans Code § 120:
"The militia of the State shall consist of the National Guard, State Military Reserve and the Naval Militia--which constitute the active militia--and the unorganized militia."
All able-bodied males between 18 and 45 years old who are not members of the California Military Department are by law the unorganized militia of the state. The unorganized militia are subject to call of the Governor under CA Military & Veteran's Code § 128.
Adjutant General of California
The Adjutant General (TAG) is the commander of all State of California military forces and is subordinate only to the Governor. The AG is chief of staff to the Governor and is a member of the Governor's cabinet and is vested with the duties and responsibilities of the Division of Military Affairs, and is also the head of the Military Department and shall be responsible for its affairs, functions, duties, funds, and property.
Originally in the 1850 law establishing the California Militia, the office of Adjutant General was separate from that of Quartermaster General but was later consolidated with that of the Adjutant General during the early years of the term in office of William C. Kibbe. From 1852, the Quartermaster General of California was subsumed under the office of Adjutant General of California, when William H. Richardson resigned and Quartermaster General William Chauncey Kibbe became Adjutant General by a law of 1852.
Adjutant Generals have included:
- Theron R. Perlee, April 12 - October 5, 1850
- William H. Richardson, October 5, 1850 - May 2, 1852
- William Chauncey Kibbe, May 2, 1852 - April 30, 1864
- Robert Robinson, January 1, 1864 - May 1, 1864
- George S. Evans, May 1, 1864 - May 1, 1868
- James M. Allen, May 1, 1868 â€" Nov. 23, 1870
- Thomas N. Cazneau, Nov. 23, 1870 â€" December 21, 1871
- Lucius H. Foote, December 21, 1871 â€" December 13, 1875
- Patrick F. Walsh, December 13, 1875 - January 9, 1880
- Samuel W. Backus, January 9, 1880 - July 1, 1882
- John F. Sheehan, July 1, 1892 - January 11, 1893
- George B. Crosby, January 11, 1883 â€" November 1, 1887
- Richard H. Orton, November 1, 1887 â€" January 9, 1891
- Charles Carroll Allen, January 9, 1891 â€" May 24, 1895
- Andrew W. Bartlett, May 24, 1895 - December 23, 1898
- Robert L. Peeler, December 23, 1898 - June 1, 1899
- William H. Seamans, June 1, 1899 - January 3, 1902 (died in office)
- George Stone, January 13, 1902 - February 15, 1904
- Joseph B. Lauck, February 15, 1904 - January 7, 1911
- Edwin A. Forbes, January 7, 1911 - June 18, 1915 (died in office)
- Charles W. Thomas, Jr., June 19, 1915 - December 15, 1916
- James J. Borree, December 16, 1916 - November 30, 1923
- Richard E. Mittelstaedt, December 1, 1923 - January 5, 1931
- Seth E.P. Howard, January 6, 1931 - June 26, 1935 (died in office)
- Paul Arndt, June 27 - October 17, 1935
- Harry H. Moorehead, October 18, 1935 - January 3, 1939
- Patrick J.H. Farrell, January 4, 1939 - June 10, 1940
- Richard E. Mittelstaedt, June 10, 1940 - March 3, 1941
- Joseph O. Donovan, March 3, 1941 - July 10, 1942
- Junnius Pierce, July 14, 1942 - January 13, 1943
- Ray W. Hays, January 14, 1943 - November 30, 1944
- Victor R. Hansen, December 27, 1944 - April 28, 1946
- Curtis D. O'Sullivan, April 29, 1946 - July 15, 1951
- Earl M. Jones, July 16, 1951 - December 31, 1960
- Roderic L. Hill, January 1, 1961 - January 1, 1967
- Glenn C. Ames, March 22, 1967 - June 5, 1975
- Frank J. Schober, June 6, 1975 - December 31, 1982
- Willard A. Shank, January 3, 1983 - February 13, 1987
- Robert C. Thrasher, February 14, 1987 - October 9, 1992
- Robert W. Barrow, October 10 - December 31, 1992
- Tandy K. Bozeman, January 1, 1993 - April 27, 1999
- Paul D. Monroe, Jr., April 29, 1999 - March 2004
- Thomas W. Eres, March 2004 - June 6, 2005
- John Alexander, June 7 - August 1, 2005
- William H. Wade II, September 1, 2005 - February 1, 2010
- Mary J. Kight, February 2, 2010 - April 15, 2011
- David Baldwin, April 16, 2011 - present
Office of the Adjutant General
The Office of the Adjutant General (OTAG) is enumerated in CA Military & Veteran's Code § 161 (recently amended by SB807 on 9/17/12) and consists of:
- The Adjutant General (TAG)
- The Deputy Adjutant General (DAG)
- Assistant Adjutant General, Army (AAG Army)
- Assistant Adjutant General, Air (AAG Air)
- Chief of Staff and Director, Joint Staff (CoS/Dir. JS)
- and others as prescribed by laws or regulations of the United States
California National Guard
- California Army National Guard
- California Air National Guard
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve (CSMR) is the state defense force of California enumerated in 32USC109(c) and CMVC § 550. The military reserve also provides California with a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed. The CSMR is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of California and Executive Order. The CSMR is the state’s authorized militia. Unlike the Civil Air Patrol or the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary, each CSMR member is subject to the Uniform Code of Military Justice (UCMJ) per CMVC § 560. The CSMR comprises prior and non-prior service persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.
California Cadet Corps
The California Cadet Corps (CACC) is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.
The CACC was established through statute in 1911 and has trained more than a million young people since its inception. The CaCC is one of the five budgeted youth programs of the CMD. California Military and Veterans Code (MVC Section 517) authorize CACC units as part of all regular schools, for all children within the state. The CACC is a statewide, school-based, applied leadership program conducted within a military framework The CACC's primary goal was originally to prepare young men to be officers in the United States Military, after Brigadier General Edwin A. Forbes saw that the Germans already had such programs before World War I. However, the program has since shifted its goal, not only do they prepare young men and women for the service, but also the business world where communication and leadership skills are essential. Today, the CaCC’s objectives are to develop leadership, citizenship, patriotism, promote academic excellence, encourage personal health and wellness, and teach basic military subjects. The evolution provides personal growth and leadership opportunities for cadets from the middle school through high school levels. Cadet activities include summer encampments, field training to include land navigation, marksmanship, and military drill competitions. The development and maintenance of the individual units of the CACC is a shared responsibility of the local school authorities and the CMD. Commandants must be credentialed by the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing and appointed by the Adjutant General.
In accordance with Sections 509 â€" 512 of the California Military and Veterans Code, the CMD is responsible for providing uniforms, equipment, developing curriculum and conducting state level competitions, activities, and awards programs for the cadets. The CMD provides in-service and pre-service training for adult Commandants and volunteers across the state. Additionally, the CMD is responsible for issuing state orders for officers and enlisted personnel and updating Commandant and Cadet Regulations.
The CACC program is offered through the school, as a component of the total school mission and curriculum. The CACC military science class can be taken as an elective, or for credit as a substitute for physical education. This is a decision each school or district makes based on the course of instruction provided, the instructors credentials, and the alignment of the curriculum with state standards. California State Content Standards in Health, Science, Physical Education, Social Science, Language Arts, English Language Development, and Mathematics are embedded in the content and activities of the CACC curriculum.
The CACC serves as the “National Model†for school-based applied leadership programs and is designed to develop the following objectives:
• Support and Enhance Cadet academic achievement • Provide training and applied leadership opportunities for cadets • Foster good citizenship • Support patriotism • Provide basic military knowledge • Promote health, fitness, and wellness
The CACC provides a structured learning environment to facilitate academic success, leadership development, physical training and improved self-esteem through attaining achievable goals. The value of the Cadet Corps program is reflected in its long history, successful graduates, and continued support from the education community and civic leaders throughout California.
The California Naval Militia was reactivated in 1976 by the Governor of California. Unlike New York and the few other states with ship-borne active naval militia units, the California Naval Militia is not currently active.
On 1 October, 2015, the California Naval Militia was announced to being reactivated as a component of the California State Military Reserve.
Unorganized militia
The unorganized militia of California consists of "all persons liable to service in the militia, but not members of the National Guard, the State Military Reserve, or the Naval Militia." All persons liable for service is defined as all able-bodied male citizens and declared citizens between 18 and 45 years old.
The California Penal Code prohibits "Any two or more persons who assemble as a paramilitary organization for the purpose of practicing with weapons", defining a paramilitary organization as "an organization which is not an agency of the United States government or of the State of California, or which is not a private school meeting the requirements set forth in Section 48222 of the Education Code, but which engages in instruction or training in guerrilla warfare or sabotage, or which, as an organization, engages in rioting or the violent disruption of, or the violent interference with, school activities."
Past California State Militia Units
- California State Militia Units 1850-60
- California State Militia Units 1861-65
References
External links
- Official website
- Military and Veterans Affairs in the California Code of Regulations