I am thrilled to announce a monumental step forward for the State Guard Association of the United States. Following our incredibly successful 40th Annual Conference in Tampa, we are officially bringing three vital new academies online: the Medical Academy, the Chaplain Academy, the Engineer Academy, and the Communications Academy.

Meeting with the commandants of these new schools—Brigadier General David Cohen, TXSG (Ret), Captain (OH) J. Todd Smith, and Colonel David Albanese, NYG (Ret)—at the conference was a highlight of the week for me. Sitting down with these leaders, we were able to chart the next several years of SGAUS training, ensuring we are laser-focused on the three primary missions of the State Guard: saving lives, protecting property, and easing suffering.

Four Pillars of Readiness

These new programs are not just about badges; they are about standardization, capability, and readiness.

  • The Medical Academy (Medical Badge Program): Under the guidance of Commandant Brigadier General David Cohen, Texas State Guard (Ret), this academy will standardize medical proficiency across our forces. By qualifying personnel for the Expert Medical Badge, we are ensuring that when an SDF soldier arrives on the scene, they possess the quantifiable skills necessary to save lives in chaotic environments.
  • The Chaplain Academy (Chaplain Badge Program): Led by Commandant Captain (OH) J. Todd Smith, this program focuses on the mission of “easing suffering.” The Chaplain Badge program will train our spiritual leaders in the specific nuances of disaster ministry and operational support, ensuring our troops and the civilians we serve have the resilient spiritual care they need during crises.
  • The Engineer Academy (Engineer Specialty Qualification Designation): Led by Commandant Colonel Edward Hubner, MDDF, this academy establishes the professional standard for engineering support operations. By qualifying personnel for the Engineer Specialty Qualification Designation (ESQiD), we are ensuring that our units possess the credentialed technical experts necessary to assess critical infrastructure, mitigate hazards, and pave the way for recovery in the aftermath of disaster.
  • The Communications Academy (Communications Badge Program): Directed by Commandant Colonel David Albanese, New York Guard (Ret), this academy addresses the critical need for interoperable communications—the backbone of “protecting property.” The new curriculum will qualify operators to maintain the lifeline of information between agencies when conventional infrastructure fails.

These programs will not only qualify hundreds of personnel across the country for paid state missions but will also ensure that quality, standardized training is available to all State Defense Forces (SDFs) who adopt these missions or badge programs.

A Vision for Homogeneity and Dedication

Our goal is to erase the ambiguity of SDF capabilities. As LTC (NY, R) Barry Greene, our 38th SGAUS President, put it during our planning sessions:

“The true strength of the State Defense Forces lies in the extraordinary dedication of our troops—men and women who step forward when others step back. But dedication must be matched by capability. By establishing these homogeneous, quantifiable training programs, we are ensuring that every soldier, regardless of their state, meets a professional standard that emergency managers can trust and rely upon.”

Looking Ahead

The momentum didn’t stop with internal planning. Academy leaders, President Greene, and I also had the unique opportunity to meet with training leadership from FDEM (Florida Emergency Management) and the federal government. These discussions were pivotal, laying the groundwork to help SGAUS develop MORE specialty disaster management badge programs in the near future. The recognition of our potential by these agencies is a testament to the increasing professionalism of our force.

And we are just getting started. Keep your eyes on the horizon for the launch of the SUASO (Drone), Recruiting, and PIO (Public Information Officer) academies coming soon.

The future of the State Guard is trained, qualified, and ready.

Stay Trained, Stay Ready, Stay Safe,

Colonel Jim Hardy, NYG (Ret.)

SGAUS Academy Chair