Alaska State Defense Force
Encyclopedia
The Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) is the State Defense Force
of Alaska
. It is one of 23 such forces in the U.S. state
s.
The Alaska State Defense Force is the successor of the Alaska Territorial Guard
founded during World War II
. After the war ended and Alaska became a state in 1959, the Territorial Guard was disbanded but was replaced by a state militia
established by state statute. In 1984, the Alaska State Guard was formed; it was renamed in 1987 as the Alaska State Defense Force. In 2004, the name 49th Military Police Brigade (49th MP BDE) was also adopted for it, but it is still mainly known as the Alaska State Defense Force. A recent realignment of the command's structure has utilized the new designation of 49th Readiness Brigade (Separate).
The Alaska State Defense Force is administered under the state Department of Veterans Affairs, but is headed by a commander who reports directly to the governor of Alaska, who acts as commander-in-chief
of the state defense force.
.
Alaska's constitution declares every able-bodied man from age 18 to 70 to be a member of the state militia. The ASDF is constituted as a cadre of experienced officers and enlisted personnel which is ready to organize the entire population, if need be.
This is a historical entry.
The ASDF structure was primarily composed of military police
units. The units operated with mostly state certified constable
s under the Alaska Police Standards Council. By statute, the Alaska State Defense Force must be made up of no less than 75 percent former military personnel.
The current structure of the ASDF is as a Readiness Brigade with readines battalions. The MP function is in abeyance until needed by the Adjutant General for Alaska.
The ASDF benefits from the experience of its personnel. Many of them have technical skills in such areas as medicine, communications and logistics. It is a volunteer force which contains the skills necessary for operations in time of disaster.
ASDF has conducted joint operations
with local city and state agencies as well as federal
entities, including the U.S. military
as well as government agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
, United States Department of Homeland Security
, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
, depending who you ask. Some reluctance to activate ASDF units originates from liabilities associated with use of firearms by persons who may not have passed psych exams, or other standard to law enforcement minimum requirements. The use of Constable status as a vehicle to avoid current law enforcement standards may be viewed as a legal loophole, more than a legitimate status.
The unit wears United States Army
uniforms in accordance with the AR 670-1.
In the past... The battalion
s below the Headquarters
Element include a medical detachment
, waterborne operators, and an aviation detachment. The ASDF has its own academy in which individuals are brought up to State training standards to be Constables. The headgear worn varies on mission requirements.'
Currently... The 49th Readiness Brigade Alaska State Defense Force consists of a Brigade Headquarters, three regional Commands (North, Central and Southern) and various Battalions within each Area Command. For example the Northern Area Command consists of the 3rd Battalion (Fairbanks) and the 5th Battalion (Delta Junction) and so on.
Unlike most of the state defense forces in the United States, the soldiers train and certify with firearms showing proficiency to carry firearms when activated.
The unit missions to date have included Operation Winter Talon, avalanche
rescue, Kenai
floods, and the Big Lake
fire. ASDF members have worked at the Iditarod
restarts. Some members have been detailed to work with the railroad police
as well as local police departments.
State Defense Forces
State defense forces in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are partially regulated by the National Guard Bureau but they are not a part of the Army National Guard of the United States...
of Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is one of 23 such forces in the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s.
The Alaska State Defense Force is the successor of the Alaska Territorial Guard
Alaska Territorial Guard
The Alaska Territorial Guard or Eskimo Scouts was a military reserve force component of the US Army, organized in 1942 in response to attacks on United States soil in Hawaii and occupation of parts of Alaska by Japan during World War II. The ATG operated until 1947...
founded during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war ended and Alaska became a state in 1959, the Territorial Guard was disbanded but was replaced by a state militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
established by state statute. In 1984, the Alaska State Guard was formed; it was renamed in 1987 as the Alaska State Defense Force. In 2004, the name 49th Military Police Brigade (49th MP BDE) was also adopted for it, but it is still mainly known as the Alaska State Defense Force. A recent realignment of the command's structure has utilized the new designation of 49th Readiness Brigade (Separate).
The Alaska State Defense Force is administered under the state Department of Veterans Affairs, but is headed by a commander who reports directly to the governor of Alaska, who acts as commander-in-chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
of the state defense force.
Mission
The mission of the Alaska State Defense Force (ASDF) is to maintain an organized, trained military force capable of timely and effective response to state emergencies, or, on other occasions deemed appropriate by the Governor, to provide military assistance to civil and military authorities in the preservation of life, property, and public safetyPublic Safety
Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters .-See also:* By nation...
.
Alaska's constitution declares every able-bodied man from age 18 to 70 to be a member of the state militia. The ASDF is constituted as a cadre of experienced officers and enlisted personnel which is ready to organize the entire population, if need be.
This is a historical entry.
The ASDF structure was primarily composed of military police
Military police
Military police are police organisations connected with, or part of, the military of a state. The word can have different meanings in different countries, and may refer to:...
units. The units operated with mostly state certified constable
Constable
A constable is a person holding a particular office, most commonly in law enforcement. The office of constable can vary significantly in different jurisdictions.-Etymology:...
s under the Alaska Police Standards Council. By statute, the Alaska State Defense Force must be made up of no less than 75 percent former military personnel.
The current structure of the ASDF is as a Readiness Brigade with readines battalions. The MP function is in abeyance until needed by the Adjutant General for Alaska.
The ASDF benefits from the experience of its personnel. Many of them have technical skills in such areas as medicine, communications and logistics. It is a volunteer force which contains the skills necessary for operations in time of disaster.
ASDF has conducted joint operations
Military operation
Military operation is the coordinated military actions of a state in response to a developing situation. These actions are designed as a military plan to resolve the situation in the state's favor. Operations may be of combat or non-combat types, and are referred to by a code name for the purpose...
with local city and state agencies as well as federal
Federal government of the United States
The federal government of the United States is the national government of the constitutional republic of fifty states that is the United States of America. The federal government comprises three distinct branches of government: a legislative, an executive and a judiciary. These branches and...
entities, including the U.S. military
Military of the United States
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
as well as government agencies such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation
Federal Bureau of Investigation
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is an agency of the United States Department of Justice that serves as both a federal criminal investigative body and an internal intelligence agency . The FBI has investigative jurisdiction over violations of more than 200 categories of federal crime...
, United States Department of Homeland Security
United States Department of Homeland Security
The United States Department of Homeland Security is a cabinet department of the United States federal government, created in response to the September 11 attacks, and with the primary responsibilities of protecting the territory of the United States and protectorates from and responding to...
, and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is a federal law enforcement organization within the United States Department of Justice...
, depending who you ask. Some reluctance to activate ASDF units originates from liabilities associated with use of firearms by persons who may not have passed psych exams, or other standard to law enforcement minimum requirements. The use of Constable status as a vehicle to avoid current law enforcement standards may be viewed as a legal loophole, more than a legitimate status.
The unit wears United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
uniforms in accordance with the AR 670-1.
In the past... The battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
s below the Headquarters
Headquarters
Headquarters denotes the location where most, if not all, of the important functions of an organization are coordinated. In the United States, the corporate headquarters represents the entity at the center or the top of a corporation taking full responsibility managing all business activities...
Element include a medical detachment
Detachment
Detachment, also expressed as non-attachment, is a state in which a person overcomes his or her attachment to desire for things, people or concepts of the world and thus attains a heightened perspective.-Importance of the term:...
, waterborne operators, and an aviation detachment. The ASDF has its own academy in which individuals are brought up to State training standards to be Constables. The headgear worn varies on mission requirements.'
Currently... The 49th Readiness Brigade Alaska State Defense Force consists of a Brigade Headquarters, three regional Commands (North, Central and Southern) and various Battalions within each Area Command. For example the Northern Area Command consists of the 3rd Battalion (Fairbanks) and the 5th Battalion (Delta Junction) and so on.
Unlike most of the state defense forces in the United States, the soldiers train and certify with firearms showing proficiency to carry firearms when activated.
The unit missions to date have included Operation Winter Talon, avalanche
Avalanche
An avalanche is a sudden rapid flow of snow down a slope, occurring when either natural triggers or human activity causes a critical escalating transition from the slow equilibrium evolution of the snow pack. Typically occurring in mountainous terrain, an avalanche can mix air and water with the...
rescue, Kenai
Kenai
-Places:* Kenai, Alaska, a city in Kenai Peninsula Borough, Alaska* Kenai Peninsula, a large peninsula in south-central Alaska* Kenai River, a river on the Kenai Peninsula* Kenai Mountains, a mountain range in Alaska* Kenai Fjords National Park...
floods, and the Big Lake
Big Lake, Alaska
Big Lake is a census-designated place in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska, United States. It is part of the Anchorage, Alaska Metropolitan Statistical Area...
fire. ASDF members have worked at the Iditarod
Iditarod
Iditarod may refer to:*Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race, an annual sled dog race in the Alaskan Interior and western coast*Iditarod Trail, a historical trail across the Alaskan Interior*Iditarod, Alaska, a town for which the trail and races are named...
restarts. Some members have been detailed to work with the railroad police
Railroad police
Railroad police are different from one country to another. Their roles in some countries are not different from that of any other police agency in others they are more related to a type of security police. They are all commonly responsible for the protection of railroad vast networks of...
as well as local police departments.