The New Mexico State Guard is authorized by state law and the New Mexico

New Mexico

New Mexico is a state located in the southwest and western regions of the United States. New Mexico is also usually considered one of the Mountain States. With a population density of 16 per square mile, New Mexico is the sixth-most sparsely inhabited U.S...

 constitution. The NM State Guard (NMSG) was formerly known as the NM State Defense Force. It is controlled by the New Mexico National Guard

New Mexico National Guard

The New Mexico National Guard consists of the:*New Mexico Army National Guard **1st and 2nd Battalions, 200th Infantry**93rd Troop Command, 44th Army Band**111th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade**200th Infantry Brigade*New Mexico Air National Guard...

and has the governor of the state as its Commander-in-Chief.

Procedures and training for the New Mexico State Guard follow U.S. Army regulations and field manuals. While most of the soldiers in the NMSDF are prior military, people who join this military organization are not required to have prior military experience. The NMSG now offers its own training in basic military discipline and demeanor, officer knowledge and skills, NCO knowledge and skills, and various operational aspects of assisting the Army National Guard and emergency management agencies with their state duties.

The overall unit designation for the NMSG is quartermaster. It has detachments in various parts of the state in order to facilitate state homeland security. These detachments are increasingly intended to support the state missions of the New Mexico Army National Guard.

The NM State Guard presently has the mission areas of radio communications, medical, honor guard, chaplaincy, heavy vehicle driving and maintenance, and public affairs. In all of these areas, the State Guard has the support of the NM National Guard. While the State Guard functions as an auxiliary military unit to the National Guard, it also has its own missions to help community groups and law enforcement agencies in local communities. Despite some degree of autonomy, all present NMSG missions are approved by the National Guard before being put into action.

The State Guard provides numerous opportunities for limited military training and service for prior-military enlisted and officers who want to continue military service on a voluntary basis, college students who want stateside military service only, and professionals such as physicians, professors, attorneys, and dentists who would like to add military service to their professional portfolio.

People who serve in the NMSG are patriotic and dedicated to helping their nation, state, local community, and members of the armed forces who are sent abroad into harm’s way. Many of them are prior-military. Many are mid-career professionals like attorneys, business people, engineers, professors, medical technicians, truck drivers, and graphic artists. All of them are ready for their assignments and will work hard to build a state military reserve that everyone will admire.

Decisions about the operations and functions of the NMSG are made the governor of the state, the adjutant general and the deputy adjutant general.

Soldiers in this force are not paid for service or drills but may be paid in times of emergency activation.