California Military Department
Encyclopedia
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 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 states like Nevada and Arizona where the sum total of those states' military forces is their National Guard, there are other components to California's military forces besides the California National Guard at the Governor's disposal.
All able-bodied males between 18 and 45 years old are considered part of the military of California, either within the Military Department or the unorganized militia.
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 Gereral 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:
"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, along with the unorganized militia, are actually considered the "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."
(CSMR) is the state defense force of California enumerated in 32USC 109(c) and CMVC § 550 . The military reserve provides California with a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed. Its current mission is to assist the National Guard especially in concern to homeland security.
(CACC) is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
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
California National Guard
The California National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. state of California. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen...
, the California State Military Reserve
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed...
, the California Cadet Corps
California Cadet Corps
The California Cadet Corps is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.-Role and purpose:...
, and the 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 states like Nevada and Arizona where the sum total of those states' military forces is their National Guard, there are other components to California's military forces besides the California National Guard at the Governor's disposal.
All able-bodied males between 18 and 45 years old are considered part of the military of California, either within the Military Department or the unorganized militia.
Adjutant General of California
The Adjutant General 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 DepartmentCalifornia Military Department
The California Military Department is an agency defined under the California Military and Veterans code . 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 Naval...
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 Gereral 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. PerleeTheron R. PerleeTheron R. Perlee or Per Lee, , lawyer, soldier, 49er, politician and judge in the territory and early state of California.Theron R. Perlee was born in Chenango County, New York. He studied law before he enlisted as a Lieutenant in Company C of the 1st Regiment of New York Volunteers that came to...
, April to October 1850 - William H. Richardson, October 1850 - June 1852
- William Chauncey KibbeWilliam Chauncey KibbeWilliam Chauncey Kibbe , California pioneer, third Adjutant General of California that oversaw the California militia from its beginnings through most of the American Civil War....
, June 1852 to April 30, 1864 - George S. EvansGeorge S. EvansGeorge Spafford Evans , Texas Ranger, miner, businessman, County Clerk for Tuolumne County, Customs official and Senate Clerk for the State of California...
, May 1, 1864 - May 1, 1868 - James M. Allen, May 1, 1868 – Nov. 23, 1870
- Thomas N. Cazneau Nov. 23, 1870-1872
- Lucius H. Foote 1872-1876
- Major General David S. Baldwin April 16, 2011 -
California Military Department Components
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, along with the unorganized militia, are actually considered the "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."
Office of the Adjutant General
The Office of the Adjutant General (OTAG) is enumerated in CA Military & Veteran's Code § 161 and consists of:- The Adjutant General (TAG)
- The Assistant Adjutant General (AAG)
- Deputy Adjutant General, Army (DAG Army)
- Deputy Adjutant General, Air (DAG Air)
- Deputy Adjutant General, Joint Staff (DAG JS)
- and others as prescribed by laws or regulations of the United States
California National Guard
- California Army National GuardCalifornia Army National GuardThe California Army National Guard is the land force component of the California National Guard, one of the reserve component United States Army and is part of the United States National Guard. The California Army National Guard is composed of about 20,000 soldiers...
- California Air National GuardCalifornia Air National GuardThe California Air National Guard is the air component of the California National Guard. The California Air National Guard is headquartered at Sacramento, California.One of the duties of the California Air National Guard is defense of the United States...
California State Military Reserve
The California State Military ReserveCalifornia State Military Reserve
The California State Military Reserve is the state defense force of California. The military reserve was formed to provide California a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed...
(CSMR) is the state defense force of California enumerated in 32USC 109(c) and CMVC § 550 . The military reserve provides California with a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency when the National Guard is deployed. Its current mission is to assist the National Guard especially in concern to homeland security.
California Cadet Corps
The California Cadet CorpsCalifornia Cadet Corps
The California Cadet Corps is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.-Role and purpose:...
(CACC) is a paramilitary youth organization in California open for students in the college, high school, middle school and elementary school grades.
California Naval Militia
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 a small unit of military lawyers and strategists who provide advice and legal expertise in the field of military and naval matters for the benefit of California's state defense force.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.Past California State Militia Units
- Militia UnitsCalifornia State Militia Units 1861-65The following are California State Militia units that were active between 1861 and 1865 during the American Civil War.-Alameda County:*Alvarado Guard, Company F, 5th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, Alvarado, 1863–1866...