The Idaho State Guard, formerly known as the Idaho Home Guard, or The Idaho Volunteer Reserve (IVR) is the inactive
state defense force
In the United States, state defense forces are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government. State defense forces are authorized by state and federal law and are under the command of the governor of each state.
...
of
Idaho
Idaho ( ) is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the Western United States. To the north, it shares a small portion of the Canada–United States border with the province of British Columbia. It borders the states of Montana and Wyom ...
. The Idaho State Guard was created to replace the
Idaho National Guard
The Idaho Military Department consists of the Idaho Army National Guard, the Idaho Air National Guard, the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, and formerly the Idaho State Guard. Its headquarters are located in Boise. The main goal of the Idaho Mi ...
as a stateside
homeland security
Homeland security is an American national security term for "the national effort to ensure a homeland that is safe, secure, and resilient against terrorism and other hazards where American interests, aspirations, and ways of life can thrive" to ...
force while the National Guard was in federal service. Their mission was to provide emergency services, including
search and rescue
Search and rescue (SAR) is the search for and provision of aid to people who are in distress or imminent danger. The general field of search and rescue includes many specialty sub-fields, typically determined by the type of terrain the search ...
missions and guard vital state infrastructure.
World War I
During
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
, the governor
Moses Alexander
Moses Alexander (November 13, 1853 – January 4, 1932) was an American businessman and politician who served as the 11th governor of Idaho, the second elected Jewish governor of a U.S. state, and the first who actually practiced that religion. ...
ordered formation of four companies of Home Guard, with 100 men per company, paid for by the state.
World War II
The Idaho Volunteer Reserve also known as the Idaho State Guard was formed 4 months after Japan's attack on Pearl Harbor. The IVR was formed by Governor Chase Clark in April 1942. The ADA County battalion was commanded by Col. Ralph Breshears. By July, Col Breashears reported the Ada Co. IVR strength was 1085 enlisted and 85 officers in 29 companies and by Dec. the Ada Co. IVR had 30 companies and the Canyon Co. IVR had 14 companies. At its peak, the IVR had 8,502 men in 165 companies throughout Idaho. Members of the Volunteer Reserve furnished their own weapons, ammunition and equipment, they wore unit insignia and carried certificates of enrollment. By April 1944, the threat of invasion of Idaho became virtually nonexistent and officials took steps to muster out all units of the Idaho Volunteer Reserv
The State Guard of World War II was armed with
M1917 Enfield, Enfield rifles. In September 1942, the Idaho State Guard became the first state military organization in the United States to induct women into its command structure when
Governor
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political ...
Chase A. Clark administered the oath of enlistment to a group of women from the Idaho volunteer auxiliary reserves. As of August 1946, after the war's conclusion, the Idaho State Guard remained in active service and was subject to call-up.
Legal Status
The legal authority of each state to maintain its own state defense force is recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the
United States Code
In the law of the United States, the Code of Laws of the United States of America (variously abbreviated to Code of Laws of the United States, United States Code, U.S. Code, U.S.C., or USC) is the official compilation and codification of the ...
. Some twenty-three states and the
Commonwealth of Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico (; abbreviated PR; tnq, Boriken, ''Borinquen''), officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico ( es, link=yes, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico, lit=Free Associated State of Puerto Rico), is a Caribbean island and unincorporate ...
actively maintain state defense forces. Under Idaho law, the
Governor of Idaho
A governor is an administrative leader and head of a polity or political region, ranking under the head of state and in some cases, such as governors-general, as the head of state's official representative. Depending on the type of political r ...
has the legal authority to activate the state defense force.
See also
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Idaho Wing Civil Air Patrol
The Civil Air Patrol's Idaho Wing (Abbreviated IDWG) is the highest echelon of Civil Air Patrol in the state of Idaho. Idaho Wing headquarters are located in Blackfoot, Idaho. Idaho Wing oversees 9 squadrons and over 400 cadets and senior members ...
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United States Coast Guard Auxiliary
The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary (USCGA, USCGAUX, CGAux, or USCG Aux) is the civilian uniformed volunteer component of the United States Coast Guard. Congress established the unit on 23 June 1939, as the United States Coast Guard Reserve ...
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State Guard Association of the United States
The State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS) is a non-profit organization advocating for the advancement and support of regulated state military forces, as established by state governments under the authority of federal law. The SGAUS ...
*
Idaho National Guard
The Idaho Military Department consists of the Idaho Army National Guard, the Idaho Air National Guard, the Idaho Bureau of Homeland Security, and formerly the Idaho State Guard. Its headquarters are located in Boise. The main goal of the Idaho Mi ...
References
{{State Defense Forces
State defense forces of the United States
Military in Idaho