I am 44 years of age and have tried since 9-12-2001 to find some way to serve in uniform to my country... I soon will be 45 and am considered TOO OLD by any federal forces by just a couple of years of age...

I have even tried going the STATE DEFENSE FORCE route and serve strictly as a state military reserve volunteer but "Florida" in its infinite wisdoom say's "It don't need no stinkin SDF." so a last I have yet not found a way to or where to serve in uniform to my country or my community...

I have even tried contacting my neighboring state of Alabama to volunteer service in the Alabama State Defense Force only to be turned away by them as a NON-resident of that state...

My son IS serving in the Air Force and I am very proud of his combat service in Iraq...

I too hope to be able to serve some where in a uniformed capacity some day, and I will continue to fight and "lobby" the best I can, and who I can about Florida NEEDING to form up a State Defense Force and the wisdom of doing so...

WE need however to get Federal encouragement as well to the states & Federal support as well as surplus equipment and training assistance to the states in seeking the forming and outfitting SDFs, while allowing them to gain the training and capabilities to augment the Home Land Security & domestic duties as an auxilary reserve for National Guard Units in their home states domestic missions...

That is why I continue to call my elected officials in the state and federal offices to support such bills as HR-826 The State Defense Force Improvement Act, and some Like our Good Congressman Jeff Miller(FL-R), 1st Congressional District of Florida has felt strongly enough to sign on to this bill as a major Co-Sponsor....

Nothing in my mind could be as important domestically speaking as preparedness in Home Land Security of our nation and the abilities of a TRUE volunteer citizens home guard like those of the all volunteer State Defence Forces That would respond & augment federal resources at a local county & state level as they are needed...

States & local governments need to be able to access a force such as SDFs when due to federal duties National Guard units or elements are unable to conduct their domesic missions...

It is also vital to have those volunteer citizen forces to augment National guard efforts as been shown time & time again just like in response to Hurricane Katrina, recent floods in Texas by the Texas SDFs & Michighan and other states SDFs of midwest states, as well as in assiting of deployment or processesing of returning National Guardsmen home of federalized National Guard units like that by the CSMR...

I just hope I pray that some day before I am considered too old to serve in a SDF that maybe my state of Florida will eventually opt to form up a true and viable State Defense Force that we can all be proud of and serve in here...



I hope as a supporter of HR-826 The State Defence Force Improvemnt Act that currently sits dormant in committee in our Congress will be passed maybe under a new Congress after the 2008 elections...
I have gone here also for more info about SDFs and HR-826 www.sgaus.org & http://www.homeguardarmory.com/

As I say unless someday we are allowed to serve in a neighboring state SDF or unless Florida decides to start up a SDF, many like me wanting to volunteer to serve will just slowly age and wither on the vine to the point that it want matter to anyone anymore...

ANY ADVICE OR ASSISTANCE IN ACHIEVING THESE GOALS WILL BE MUST HUMBLELY APPRECIATED...

Thank You, & God Bless

The proposed federal law will not do much to encourage states without SDFs to form them, so I would concentrate on working on your Governor and Adjutant General. Get one of them on board and you've got a chance.

In the meantime, your only real alternatives are the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Depending on where you are and what local Coast Guard units are nearby, there are opportunities to work directly in support of Coast Guard units in various fashions.

quote:

Originally posted by RiverAux:
The proposed federal law will not do much to encourage states without SDFs to form them, so I would concentrate on working on your Governor and Adjutant General. Get one of them on board and you've got a chance.

In the meantime, your only real alternatives are the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary. Depending on where you are and what local Coast Guard units are nearby, there are opportunities to work directly in support of Coast Guard units in various fashions.

Thanks very much River...,

I have done a little looking on-line into my areas Coast guard Auxiliary and according to there info page the Auxiliary members mainly religate their activities around teaching "pleasure boating safety" to grade schoolers, (which is an important service, but I am hoping that there maybe a little more to their activities, duties & missions, I am certainly interested and will also look at my areas civil air patrol as well...

Thanks...

In the meantime, your only real alternatives are the Civil Air Patrol and Coast Guard Auxiliary

That isn't true in Florida.

Some other options:

FHP Auxiliary

quote:

Q. What are the powers of an Auxiliary Trooper?

A. You have the authority to bear arms and the power to arrest violators while under the direct supervision of a Florida Highway Patrol Trooper.

Heck, most SDFs will not allow their members to go armed or arrest anyone.

Also check out the local County Sheriff. Most of them have Reserve/Auxiliary deputies - some of whom are armed.

There are also a growing number of CMPs (Civilian Motor Patrol). They are generally unarmed, uniformed and usually drive 'police like' cars. Some can issue non-moving violations and warnings. The CMPs are usually associated with the local PD.

I meant his only real opportunity to provide support to the military in a uniformed role, even if as a civilian. There are plenty of other organizations, as you correctly point out, that offer different types of oppportunities to serve.

quote:

FL51D7

Thanks again FL51D7 & River,

These will ALL be options that I will very seriously consider...

The FHP & Sherriffs Auxilaries are of an interest as well...

Thanks again and God Bless...

The part about being armed or un-armed as a volunteer in uniform is aparamount issue with me, although I would willingly & certainly persue weapons training, qualification, & certification if that were what was expected of the organization that I chose as part of its abilities to carry out its mission & duties as assigned...

Thanks again for the valuable and positive input...

I will actively persue these avenues, but will still hope against all hope that one day Florida WILL form up an SDF...

quote:

Originally posted by sambo77:

quote:

FL51D7

Thanks again FL51D7 & River,

These will ALL be options that I will very seriously consider...

The FHP & Sherriffs Auxilaries are of an interest as well...

Thanks again and God Bless...

The part about being armed or un-armed as a volunteer in uniform is aparamount issue with me, although I would willingly & certainly persue weapons training, qualification, & certification if that were what was expected of the organization that I chose as part of its abilities to carry out its mission & duties as assigned...

Thanks again for the valuable and positive input...

I will actively persue these avenues, but will still hope against all hope that one day Florida WILL form up an SDF...

Go get yourself a MMD Card as an "Ordinary Seaman" from a USCG REC Center, then go online and look at the : MILITARY SEALIFT COMMAND..


They take alot of prior service, and some really "old" salts there, from the looks of things..

quote:

I have even tried contacting my neighboring state of Alabama to volunteer service in the Alabama State Defense Force only to be turned away by them as a NON-resident of that state...

If you live near Georgia then you are welcome in the Georgia SDF. We have several guys who live in Florida in my brigade. Georgia does not require residency. It has made no sense to me why certain states prohibit nonresidents when you are not required to be a state resident to be in the Guard or even to be a citizen to be in the Army.

Because most states include "resident" in their definition of who the militia is in their state. On a practical level, the militia (in its various classes) is supposed to be able to respond quickly to emergencies and having people live outside the state can sometimes make it more difficult for them to respond quickly. Granted, you can have the same issue within the state if you're in a unit very far from your home, which does happen.

All things considered though it probably wouldn't make a lot of difference if the residency requirements were eliminated.

Don't forget about your local volunteer FD or ambulance corps. Your EMTs are first responders who save many lives. You'll receive valuable training and will be happy with those you serve with.

You don't have to have a military ID card to be an honorable man.

quote:

Originally posted by sambo77:
Thanks again FL51D7 & River,

These will ALL be options that I will very seriously consider...

The FHP & Sherriffs Auxilaries are of an interest as well...

Thanks again and God Bless...

Sam, while you're looking for an organization that fits your parameters, perhaps you could serve in a less military fashion.

Don't know where you live, but there is probably an Army National Guard, Army Reserve, Air National Guard or Air Force Reserve unit nearby.

If so, contact them and ask for the contact info for their Family Readiness Group (FRG). FRG work may not be as exciting as what you're looking for, but, at your age and level of maturity, I'll bet you'd be a great asset to some FRG.

FRGs do a wide variety of tasks from insuring families of deployed troops are cared for to collecting goods to ship to troops in care packages (not a primary mission but widely done).

Both as an SDF officer and a retired Air Force officer, I find working to assist our young families to be a very rewarding effort. Most weeks I put in a lot of hours to insure some young family's electricity isn't cut off, a young wife isn't blocked from returning to class because her tuition is late, a young family has enough groceries and the like.

Again, FRG work isn't flashy or real visible. But, I know when I help a young family, I'm helping a young GI downrange from having to worry about his wife and kids. Because of what I do, he can keep his head in the game and stay alive. That's enough for me.

If I can help you find a unit where you can volunteer, drop me a private message. It will be my pleasure.

I dont know if you are still looking, but the GaSDF accepts non-residents