The Colorado State Defense Force, formerly known as the Colorado State Service, is the current, albeit 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
Colorado
Colorado (, other variants) is a state in the Mountain states, Mountain West subregion of the Western United States. It encompasses most of the Southern Rocky Mountains, as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the wes ...
. The Colorado State Defense Force served as the stateside replacement for the
Colorado National Guard
The Colorado National Guard consists of the Colorado Army National Guard and Colorado Air National Guard, forming the state of Colorado's component to the United States National Guard. Founded in 1860, the Colorado National Guard falls under t ...
while the National Guard was in federal service 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 ...
and
World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...
.
History
World War I
In the summer of 1917, the Colorado Reserve Service was organized as a unit consisting of five companies: companies A, B, and C of the Third Regiment; and A and B of Colored Infantry. They were called into active service for guard duty on public utilities and reservoir projects on 1 August 1917. The largest total of men on active duty was 409 in September 1917; the smallest was 168 in October 1918. After the war, late in 1918, the 3rd Colorado Infantry and Troop "A" of the Colorado Cavalry received federal recognition as National Guard units.
World War II
In June 1941, the defense force, consisting of 200 men, was officially named the "Colorado state defense force of the state of Colorado." By 30 June 1944, the Colorado State Defense Force had reached a strength of 641 soldiers.
Legal status
Each state has the legal authority to maintain its own
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.
...
, as recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the
United States Code. Under Colorado law, the
Governor of Colorado
The governor of Colorado is the head of government of the U.S. state of Colorado. The governor is the head of the executive branch of Colorado's state government and is charged with enforcing state laws. The governor has the power to either app ...
may reactivate the Colorado State Defense Force, making reactivation possible through executive order or an act of legislation.
See also
*
Colorado Wing Civil Air Patrol
References
{{State Defense Forces
State defense forces of the United States
Military in Colorado