The paper “Why More States Should Establish State Defense Forces” by Jessica Zuckerman, Colonel Martin Hershkowitz, Brigadier General Frederic N. Smalkin, and Dr. James Jay Carafano makes a strong case for the creation and expansion of State Defense Forces (SDFs) as essential components of homeland security and emergency preparedness. Using Arizona’s newly authorized Senate Bill 1495 as an example, the authors explain that SDFs—modern successors to early state militias—are state-controlled, volunteer military forces legally recognized under Title 32 U.S. Code §109, which can be mobilized quickly to assist during natural disasters, terrorist attacks, and large-scale emergencies. The report reviews the constitutional foundation of SDFs, their advantages over the federally deployable National Guard, and their proven record of service during 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, and other national crises. It provides detailed examples of successful SDF units, such as Maryland’s 10th Medical Regiment, the Texas Medical Rangers, and South Carolina’s Communications Division, to illustrate how these forces can provide medical care, engineering, legal, and communications support during emergencies. The paper concludes with policy recommendations urging states to establish SDFs in high-risk regions, integrate them into emergency management plans, authorize joint training with the National Guard, and expand recruitment of professionals in medicine, engineering, law, and cybersecurity. The authors argue that SDFs are a low-cost, high-impact solution for enhancing state and national resilience, and that Arizona could become a model for other states seeking to strengthen their disaster response capabilities.
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