North Carolina State Defense Militia

The North Carolina State Guard was officially established as a state defense force on 27 February 1941 when the North Carolina National Guard was mobilized into Federal Service during World War Two. The State Guard actually began organizing in early February with the appointment of officers, and the mustered strength reached a high of 2,128 by 1944. With the return of the National Guard, units began being inactivated in 1946, and the State Guard was completely disbanded by July 1947.

The North Carolina State Defense Militia (NCSDM) was reactivated by North Carolina Governor James G. Martin in February 1988.^[1]

The famous NC band leader Bo Thorpe was named NCSDM state commander and a brigadier general (NC) by Governor Martin, but he was later dismissed by Martin. Martin's wife Dottie complained that she had heard Thorpe make a racial remark in a joke he told at a state gathering. Though Thorpe stated that he did not recall making the remark, he did not deny it and he did not contest his dismissal.

The Thorpe incident black eye closely followed a uniformed NCSDM major's dressing down of a Ft. Bragg Soldier in the Army's elite 82nd Airborne Division, who did not salute him. The salute was not required by military regulations, but could be rendered as a courtesy, at each Soldier's individual discretion. That incident resulted in an uproar by Ft. Bragg officers and senior NCO's, which in turn resulted in the NCSDM being officially kicked off of all of Ft. Bragg. The incident also brought attention to the fact that most everyone in the NCSDM was an officer, with few NCO's and no enlisted personnel, with many militia personnel holding senior officer rank such as major and above. Though this was explained by the NCSDM that these personnel were "cadre" in place to handle an influx of enlisted recruits in time of war, the rank disparity helped fuel its demise. Several Guard unit commanders and first sergeants also complained that the militia was taking over their armories on drill training weekends, making classroom and facility space unavailable to Guard Soldiers and Airmen for vital military readiness training. Guard leaders also vehemently complained that militia personnel "trashed" armories, grounds and facilities. In 1995, a group of NC Army Guardsmen in Asheville were first blamed for embarrassment by allegedly tossing litter from a private vehicle at a West Asheville restaurant, when in fact, the culprits were later determined to be NCSDM personnel. These series of events led to the NCSDM's demise, de facto abolition and extinction.

The NC State Defense Militia operates under Chapter 127A of the North Carolina General Statutes,^[2] and as such, is a distinct unit from the NC National Guard. Under United States Code 32 sub-section 109,^[3] "may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces".

The NCSDM participated in operations for Hurricane Hugo in 1989 and members filled in for National Guard troops while they were deployed for the Persian Gulf War 1990–91. Other actions were during coastal storms and an outbreak of tornadoes in King, North Carolina.^[4]

Joint Resolution 987 of the North Carolina General Assembly ratified 27 June 1995 honored the efforts and assistance of the members of the NCSDM and expressed its appreciation for the service that the members rendered to their respective communities, counties, and to the State of North Carolina.^[4]

Activities of the NCSDM were temporarily suspended in April 1996 by the North Carolina Adjutant General. This suspension was due to a Workman Compensation claim, and a review of the Workman Compensation laws regarding the North Carolina State Defense Militia. ^[5] This temporary suspension is still in effect.

See also

• North Carolina Naval Militia
• North Carolina Wing Civil Air Patrol
• United States Coast Guard Auxiliary

References

State Defense Forces and Naval Militia
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