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Operation Lone Star is a state-directed border security mission initiated by Texas Governor Greg Abbott in March 2021 in response to increased unlawful border crossings and transnational criminal activity along the Texas-Mexico border. Unlike a federal military deployment, Operation Lone Star began as a Texas state mission under the authority of...

Florida has developed the most extensively equipped and professional State Guards in the nation, providing its force with aviation, maritime, unmanned aircraft and specialized emergency-response capabilities that remain uncommon among many State Defense Forces. Governor Ron DeSantis’ proposed Fiscal Year 2026–2027 budget called for approximately $61.8 million for Florida State...

Special Thank you to Hope T. for submitting & alerting us to this news. If you wish to submit SDF news please email us at [email protected] The American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC) has released a new policy paper examining the role State Defense Forces can play in strengthening state disaster...

Across the United States, State Defense Forces / State Guards are increasingly developing specialized cyber units capable of bringing their civilian technical expertise directly into state military service. Virginia’s 31st Cyber Battalion, the Texas State Guard Cyber Security Unit, and Ohio’s Cyber Reserve are examples of states building organized cyber...

Communities across southeastern Ohio are recovering from devastating flash flooding after repeated rounds of severe thunderstorms dumped extraordinary amounts of rain across the region in August. Perry and Muskingum counties were among the hardest hit, with six to seven inches of rain falling during the initial storm system and overwhelming...

What began as a routine day of First Aid Specialist Level II training for members of the Georgia State Defense Force quickly turned into a real-world emergency response on August 30, 2026. While conducting litter-carry training, GSDF Soldiers heard a vehicle crash near their training location. Without hesitation, these Citizen-Soldiers...

The Definitive History of America’s State Guards Returns in a New Second Edition For anyone who has served in a State Guard or State Defense Force and ever wondered where our organizations came from, why they exist, what missions their predecessors performed or what they may be capable of becoming...

In California, the difference between a wildfire burning through remote vegetation and one reaching a populated community can sometimes be measured in hours, or even minutes. Driven by extreme heat, dry vegetation, steep terrain and shifting winds, a relatively small wildland fire can rapidly expand into an emergency threatening homes,...

One of the most valuable missions State Defense Forces can perform for their National Guard counterparts is serving as a realistic Opposing Force, or OPFOR, during military their training. Unlike static targets, scripted lanes or predictable training aids, a live OPFOR can react, maneuver, defend terrain, establish ambushes, exploit mistakes...

MCCAYSVILLE, Ga. – When devastating flash flooding swept through the North Georgia community of McCaysville during the overnight hours of August 1-2, the destruction left homes and businesses inundated, streets covered in mud and debris, portions of local infrastructure damaged, and the community’s water system severely disrupted. As residents and local...