Chaplain Training Conference

Attention! ROTHCO Products Now in the SGAUS Store

SGAUS has partnered with Rothco, the world’s foremost supplier of military, tactical, outdoor clothing and gear.  We have increased our store offerings from 68 to 1,375 items.  Check us out at the SGAUS and/or Rothco store.

Founded in 1953, Rothco has provided the military clothing and outdoor retailer with top quality merchandise.  Today Rothco serves over 10,000 dealers globally.  While Rothco’s heritage is rooted in authentic military apparel and gear, Rothco also serves the Tactical, Public Safety, Survival & Preparedness, Outdoor & Camping, and Government Suppliers.

You must be a member of SGAUS to access the Rothco store though the SGAUS website.  Price compare our products online, and you will see that our sales prices are below the retail prices of others.

Another value added service is provided to you as a member of SGAUS.  Thank you for your support and your service in your State Defense Force.

Board of Directors, State Guard Association of the United States.

On October 21, 2017 the Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) celebrated its 100th anniversary at the Fifth Regiment Armory in Baltimore, which was attended by a host of state and local officials.

On October 23, 1917 the Maryland State Guard, as the MDDF was then called, was founded to protect public building, water supplies and other properties as the Maryland National Guard was deployed overseas. The centennial celebration ceremony included remarks from Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, The Adjutant General of Maryland and Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Lorenza Cooper, Commanding General of the MDDF. The event also included a keynote address by David Craig, executive director of the Maryland World War I Centennial Commission. At the conclusion of the ceremony special commemorative coins celebrating the 100th Anniversary were distributed to MDDF members, former members and distinguished guests.

During his remarks, Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Lorenza Cooper called the original state guardsmen, “Super-Patriots who were prepared to thwart an attack on Maryland while the Maryland National Guard was deployed.” He then shared that, George Bernard Shaw once stated, “the reasonable man adapts himself to the world, the unreasonable man adapts the world to himself; therefore, all progress is dependent upon the unreasonable man.” He continued, “Therefore we must continue to adapt to changing times. Transformation is coming fast, and natural disasters are increasing, which pro-vides us with an opportunity to adapt to this new environment.” He then shared, “I can guarantee that the next 100 years will not be like the last 100 years. Foreign and domestic terrorism is on the rise, natural disasters are unpredictable, and death and destruction are now at your fingertips. However, let history record that the state militia is as strong today as it was in 1917.” He concluded, “While the future is uncertain, it is with certainty that the MDDF and a community of volunteers will always rise to the occasion.”

Maj. Gen. Linda Singh, the adjutant general of Maryland began her remarks by thanking the MDDF and said, “The Maryland Military Department cannot do what we do without your support.” She continued, “One hundred years ago the only thing that was constant was change. Today the only thing that is constant is change. We have the opportunity to shape the MDDF of the future.” She then added, “Americans have forgotten what it’s like to have a battle on the homeland. However, today’s natural disasters and local terrorists constitute our current battles on the home front.” She then shared, “I hope that we never see the destruction here that occurred during World War I. It takes the will of the people to get through something like that, but that’s what the MDDF represents – the will of the people.” Gen. Singh expressed her wish that, “the MDDF will triple in size because that tells me that more and more people are willing to give their time and lives for their country.” She concluded by saying, “If ever we have to defend the home-land and the Maryland National Guard is called away, I know that you will be there.”

In his speech, Mr. Craig shared, “the Maryland National Guard had been very active prior to the entry of our country into World War I. Units had been sent to Texas to resolve issues which the U.S. was having with Mexico in 1916 and they actually entered Mexico. When we entered the war, President Woodrow Wilson moved the National Guard into federal service.” Consequently, the state was largely left unprotected and he continued, “In 1916 Germany sent a U-Boat into the Chesapeake Bay which reached Baltimore. This caused great fear in the state.” This fear facilitated the creation of the Maryland State Guard. The Maryland State Guard was mobilized twice during World War I to ease racial tensions across the state. Mr. Craig also shared that Governor Emerson Harrington who signed the Maryland State Guard legislation into law stated before leaving office, “We are under deep obligation to the state guard.” Shortly after the war, the Maryland State Guard was disbanded.

MDDF OLD and NEW Uniforms

As the United States entered World War II there was again fear on the home front. On October 21, 1940 President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed Federal legislation authorizing states to again institute state guards. Then Maryland Governor, Herbert O’Connor signed state legislation creating the Maryland State Guard on February 14, 1941. As a part of the state guard, this legislation included for the first time the formation of a black infantry unit. During World War II, nearly every county in the state had a company. Again, after the war the Maryland State Guard was disbanded.

On July 1, 1983 the Maryland Defense Force was recreated after being authorized through legislation signed by then Governor Harry Hughes. The MDDF has continued its service to the state uninterrupted since that time. After presenting Brig. Gen. (MDDF) Cooper with a citation on behalf of Lawrence J. Hogan, the governor of Maryland, Mr. Craig, concluded, “I respect all of you who are here now, all of you who were here before and all of you who wish to be here in the future.”

The Maryland Defense Force (MDDF) is the State’s uniformed volunteer militia unit providing competent, supplementary, professional and technical support and soldiers to the Maryland Military Department and the State of Maryland as needed. Established in 1917, the MDDF consists of nearly 250 personnel who perform legal, engineering, finance, medical, chaplain, field support and ceremonial services for the State of Mary-land.

For more information: www.mddf.maryland.gov.

By: MAJ Stephen Rice srice@mddf.us

Steve Kaminski, Deputy Commander of the Mississippi State Guard, passed away December 30, 2016. In Mississippi Steve was known for his leadership and innovative programs; and many in SGAUS recall Steve from the annual conventions; however, he will be best remembered for his actions on behalf of Medal of Honor recipients.

His work in this area supports the SGAUS Mission of: “Educate public officials and communities of the benefits of establishing and maintaining state defense forces.”

Steve was fond of saying his service with the State Guard was his second fulltime job, and often he found ways for his work as a 777 Captain for Delta Airlines to overlap. With Delta he frequently met senior military officers and public officials and would tell them of his State Guard service and how it benefits the community. Steve often said that one of the benefits that public officials often overlooked when considering the State Guard was the experience and network that each volunteer brought to the organization. The best example of how Steve demonstrated this was at the Trail of Honor, an annual event for veterans in Jackson, Mississippi.  

The Trail of Honor hosts over 30,000 veterans during a weekend in May and the Mississippi State Guard provides support for this event. One of the highlights of the events are the WWII veterans such as the Navajo Code Talkers, Tuskegee Airmen and Medal of Honor Recipients. In one of the first planning meetings Steve attended as a liaison for the Mississippi State Guard, he attended a budget presentation on how they would like to invite more WWII veterans to speak but the funds did not allow for this. Stepping out of his role at the meeting to discuss logistics, and into his position as a Delta pilot he asked, “Would free airfare help?” and then met with Delta to help sponsor the event. Delta became a major event sponsor. If the Trail of Honor had not partnered with the State Guard this relationship may not have happened.  

However, it was at this Trail of Honor event where Steve first began to plan a contribution that the recipients of our nation’s highest honor will be forever grateful for. During the Trail of Honor Steve had a chance to talk with the Medal of Honor recipients and made a discovery – those awarded our nation’s highest honor did not get an automatic upgrade to Business Class and since many had extensive injuries so legroom was al-most a necessity. Yet, none complained. Steve knew these individuals would never complain, or ask for special treatment, or expect to be upgraded – but he knew as an officer in the Mississippi State Guard and a Delta Pilot he could do some-thing. He wrote a letter to Edward H. Bastian, President, Delta Airlines. The introduction follows:  

Dear Mr. Bastian:

There are 79 living recipients of the Congressional Medal of Honor. I have had the privilege of meeting some of them while flying, but last March I spent time on the ground with Medal of Honor recipient Thomas R. Norris at the Trail of Honor event in Jackson, Mississippi where I am a Colonel in the Mississippi State Guard. Lieutenant Norris, like many of the recipients, had been wounded in action – in his case it was a three-year recovery in the hospital. We forget that recovery from wounds does not mean full mobility, and I have noticed many of the recipients I have met often need a little extra space when getting up or down. Please consider giving 79 American heroes an upgrade to business class.  

The President and Board of Delta Airlines agreed with him and announced an automatic upgrade for Medal of Honor recipients. However, Steve was not done. He then distributed the Delta decision on upgrades to other airlines and in a few months this upgrade became an industry standard.  

Steve continued his relationship with Medal of Honor recipients and was an honored guest at many of their gatherings. He also used his relationship and experiences with Medal of Honor recipients in the State Guard too. Soon after he accomplished his goal of the automatic upgrades, Mississippi State Guard members were informed that uniform nametapes had to be changed to red from black. There was concern among some members that having a different color would mean that State Guard members would not be viewed as real members of the military. Steve countered this perception by saying,  “I was just with eight Medal of Honor recipients and they all addressed me as Colonel and thanked me for my service to our state. If our uniform is good enough for them, I would not worry about what someone else said.” 

Steve was informed he had cancer in October; however, as many in the Mississippi State Guard can attest to – he just saw this as a reason to accelerate programs he had started a few months previously. Sadly, his prediction of at least six months to complete them did not occur – he passed away roughly 90 days after his diagnosis. 

He was honored this past January with a memorial ceremony at Army National Guard Headquarters in Jackson, Mississippi where he was posthumously promoted to General and his widow received his Magnolia Cross, the highest peacetime medal the Mississippi National Guard may award. 

By Denver Mullican