The Puerto Rico State Guard (PRSG) is a voluntary professional military corps who offer support for security and medical services in Puerto Rico. The PRSG respond directly to the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, is commanded by a Brigadier general and is composed of main units in San Juan Metropolitan Area

San Juan, Puerto Rico

San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...

 and in the cities of Ponce

Ponce, Puerto Rico

Ponce is both a city and a municipality in the southern part of Puerto Rico. The city is the seat of the municipal government.The city of Ponce, the fourth most populated in Puerto Rico, and the most populated outside of the San Juan metropolitan area, is named for Juan Ponce de León y Loayza, the...

 (South), Mayagüez (West), and Caguas (Center). The Puerto Rico State Guard is among the most active and largest SDF's in the nation with almost 2,600 troops organized in 6 Support Groups, a Separate SAR Company, a Military Institute, and HHQ's .

History

The PRSG is direct offspring of the Spanish Volunteer Regiments created during Spanish Colonial which was later substitute by the US Volunteer Infantry in 1898. The PRSG was created in 1941 in response to WWII. It disbanded in 1946. The modern PRSG reformed in 1976 by the virtue of the Military Law of Puerto Rico it's considered the state controlled branch of the PRNG. This group was formed to provide Puerto Rico a trained and organized military force in the event of a state security emergency or if the National Guard is deployed. The PRSG is the state’s authorized 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...

 and assumes the state mission of the Puerto Rico National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The PRSG comprises retired, active and reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.

Role

The task of the PRSG is to offer support, in its totality, to the Puerto Rico National Guard

Puerto Rico National Guard

The Puerto Rico National Guard is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components with a total authorized strength of 10,000 soldiers and airmen. The Constitution of the United States specifically...

 (PRNG) when the later is activated by the Governor of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 or called to active service by the President of the United States. The PRSG also represents the Puerto Rico National Guard in civic activities, and supports the PRNG in cases of emergencies.

With the approved resources, the State Guard of Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...

 will be able to recruit and to train personnel to provide the security and defense with the armories; as well as to assist the civilian authorities in cases of natural disasters, emergencies and serious disturbances of public order. These volunteers will offer support and provide services to the community by means of health clinics.

In the PRSG, there is a large representation of prior service soldiers with extensive combat and command experience as well as non-priors with significant professional and paramilitary backgrounds which greatly enhance the organization. A large proportion of PRSG soldiers are active members of State Guard Association of the United States

State Guard Association of the United States

The State Guard Association of the United States is a 501 non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated state military forces, as established by state governments under the authority of . The SGAUS encourages the establishment and advancement of regulated state...

(SGAUS) and a few senior officers and NCOs hold leadership positions in the organization.

The PRSG have been a very active force multiplier for the PRNG, supporting Federal mobilizations (legal and medical support), and its current mission is to assist the National Guard especially in concern to homeland security and SAD duties (natural disasters, civil disturbances, communities service and facilities management).