South Carolina State Guard
| The South Carolina State Guard | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Country |
 United States
|
| Allegiance |
 South Carolina
|
| Branch | Army |
| Type |
 State defense force
|
| Role | Military reserve force |
| Size | 1,015 |
| Part of | South Carolina Military Department |
| Garrison/HQ | Columbia, South Carolina |
| Website | http://www.sg.sc.gov/ |
| Commanders | |
| Civilian leadership |
Governor Henry McMaster (Governor of the State of South Carolina) |
| State military leadership | Major General Thomas S. Mullikin |
The South Carolina State Guard (SCSG) is the designated state defense force for the state of South Carolina.
The State Guard maintains its headquarters in Columbia. Brigades are located in the cities of Columbia (1st Midlands Brigade and 5th Civil Affairs Brigade), Charleston (3rd Coastal Brigade), and Fountain Inn (2nd Highland Brigade).
Organized under Section 25-3-10 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, the State Guard is designated as a protective reserve military force under the command of the South Carolina Military Department and the South Carolina Adjutant General. The SC National Guard Adjutant General is responsible for organizing and maintaining the State Guard to fulfill its missions(Sec. 25-3-10) as stipulated in various sections under Title 25, Chapter 3.
Tasked as a state defense force, the State Guard's primary overarching mission is to be prepared to protect and, when called into service by the Governor, protect the citizens and property of the state and uphold the laws of the state. Units are occasionally sent out of state by order of the Governor, as in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks), after Hurricane Katrina and during the Mexican-American War in the mid-1800s. The State Guard is essentially the modern-day continuation of the South Carolina Militia, which has been in existence in some form since before the United States of America became a sovereign nation. The State Guard is composed of non-conscript volunteers, many of whom are veterans of the federal armed services; the federal military reserves, South Carolina Army National Guard, or South Carolina Air National Guard.
When called into service, members of the State Guard are paid according to federal military pay scales (Section 25-3-140: "When units of the State Guard are called into service they shall receive pay equal to the National Guard"). Members are normally not paid for drill or training time but employers are required by law to grant time off for authorized training and call out without discrimination or penalty. Some Federal and State agencies and private employers provide pay continuance to employees during training during work hours under orders. Guard members also receive certain tax and mileage deductions and, when authorized, reimbursement for travel or special training.
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Wikipedia