The Michigan Defense Force (MIDF), formerly Michigan Volunteer Defense Force (MIVDF), is a

military A military, also known collectively as armed forces, is a heavily armed, highly organized force primarily intended for warfare. It is typically authorized and maintained by a sovereign state, with its members identifiable by their distinct ...

force, duly constituted as a

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. ...

and an element of

Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is a principal department of the State of Michigan. It oversees the military components and veterans services for the State. The military components are the Michigan National Guard and Mic ...

. The MIDF is one of the three components of the military establishment of Michigan: the Army National Guard, the Air National Guard, and the Michigan Defense Force.

History

The early Michigan State Troops

Michigan's first

was established as the Michigan State Troops Home Guard along with the Michigan State Troops Permanent Force in Act No. 53 Public Acts of Michigan on 17 April 1917. The Michigan State Troops organizations served on in-state active duty during World Wars I, II, and the Korean War.

Michigan Emergency Volunteers

The Michigan State Troops were reconstituted as the Michigan Emergency Volunteers b
Public Act 246 of 1988
The original intention for the MEV was to act as a force of trained emergency volunteers in case the

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...

was sent out of the state in a national emergency. The MEV was ordered to stand down in October 1998.

Michigan Volunteer Defense Force / Michigan Defense Force

The word "volunteer" has been dropped from the name. The Michigan Defense Force is the third branch of the Michigan Military Establishment along with the Michigan Army National Guard and Michigan Air National Guard. All the missions and training are done in Michigan. Drills are one weekend a month and training events are usually two weeks per year. Focus is on disaster response, search and rescue, first aid, military customs and courtesies, drill and ceremony, and much more. The Michigan Defense Force is a consideration for someone who has been in the military and wants to rejoin, or someone who has thought they missed a chance to serve. Maximum age currently accepted is 55.

Uniforms, training, and duties

The MIDF uniform differs slightly from the Army uniform; MIDF soldiers wear the

state flag In vexillology, a state flag is either the flag of the government of a sovereign state, or the flag of an individual federated state (subnational administrative division). Government flag A state flag is a variant of a national flag (or occasi ...

on their right shoulder instead of the

American flag The national flag of the United States of America, often referred to as the ''American flag'' or the ''U.S. flag'', consists of thirteen equal horizontal stripes of red (top and bottom) alternating with white, with a blue rectangle in the ca ...

. The MIDF is tasked with emergency management missions such as handling the reception, storage and stationing of the Strategic National Stockpile in Michigan, and supplying trained and uniformed Community Emergency Response Teams. MIDF missions have included working alongside the

in processing benefit applications for military veterans, and providing

disaster response Disaster response is the second phase of the disaster management cycle. It consists of a number of elements, for example; warning/evacuation, search and rescue, providing immediate assistance, assessing damage, continuing assistance and the immed ...

aid, including tree and debris removal, following tornado activity. (2022) On its current website, the Michigan Defense Force mission is stated: TO PROVIDE READY AND ABLE MILITARY FORCES TO ASSIST STATE AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN TIMES OF STATE EMERGENCIES AND TO AUGMENT THE MICHIGAN ARMY NATIONAL GUARD AND MICHIGAN AIR NATIONAL GUARD AS REQUIRED.

References

External links

- Official Page - 2022

- Requirements, Enlistment process, Contact info - 2022 {{authority control State agencies of Michigan, Volunteer Defense Force State defense forces of the United States Volunteer Defense Force