COL (ret) Singer,
Please excuse this cobbled together letter. It was a pleasure having dinner with you the other night. COL(Ret) Jacobs speech was cool but very late.
I am sorry that I will be out of town on the day of the legislative breakfast. The two pieces of legislation that I hope you discuss are the state bills and the one federal bill listed below. I have written both state and federal legislators with no positive results.
I enlisted in NJ’s State Guard about 6 years ago and shortly after that the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command was, ‘stood down’ (more on that later) to find out more about State guard Unit’s go to http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/State_Defense_Forces
The Naval Militia Joint Command is made up of mostly veterans whose mission is to protect the state during any type of disaster.
On 9-11-01 I left my office and responded to the Mercer County Office of Emergency Management where I stayed for over 10 hours. (my enlistment went through after 9-11-01)
my shipmates -Ferried people between NJ and ‘ground zero’
-The Disaster Medical Assistance Team was deployed
-Our Chaplains responded, and provided assistance in Fishkill NY (where all of the evidence was sent)
-Our officers (with decades of experience) manned the Joint Operations Center –thereby freeing up young officers to do whatever young officers do.
-My unit guarded Earl Naval Base and I think they assisted in protecting the Nuclear power plants.
There are many reasons to be supportive of State Defense Forces. State Guards should be supported because they are cost effective.
Senate Bill S 1441 from the 2006-2007 legislative session had to be re introduced.* Identical Bill Number: “A4441 A2103) with the addition to the legislation in NJ that would grant a third ’state’ star to any TAG with an active State guard. Texas and Georgia have already done this.
Naval Militia Joint Command is made up of mostly veterans whose mission is to protect the state during any type of disaster. In World War II the State Guard protected the homeland while the Soldiers of the NJ National Guard protected freedom foreign shores. (It was a NJ National Guardsman who designed the gizmo that defeated the hedgerows in Normandy) Now the NJ National Guard is facing its largest call up since World War II. Luckily the NJ State Guard is highly trained and exceptionally experienced.
The Naval Militia Foundation supports the efforts of the 150 volunteers who responded during 9-11-01 and although the command may have ‘ruffled some feathers’ in its infancy it more than paid for itself when disaster struck. Many of those hard charging sailors and soldiers have continued to train to be better prepared for the next disaster.
This deployment is the largest deployment since World War II. During World War II NJ had a huge state guard.
In the event of a disaster NJ has Emergency Management Compacts with other states to provide assistance in the event of disaster. NJ should not have to depend on the NY State Guard in the event of disaster.
The deploying soldiers and airmen of NJ need to know that their families are protected by New Jersey’s own.
In the 1980′ Congress INSISTED that the Army provide updated equipment and training to the Army National Guard. That action led to the ability of the National Guard to ultimately be the ‘boots on the ground’ fighting force that it is now. The State Guard is lacking the same kind of recognition as the National Guard was. With out the congressionally mandated National Guard’s readiness there would have been a need for a draft.
During the Hurricane Katrina/Rita season the Texas State Guard was a major team member in housing victims: and when the Red Cross refused to man shelters in Louisiana their State Guard picked up the standard.
I also want at least 100 of my friends to enlist as soon as re-enlistment is reopened. (One of the future proposed missions for the Army State Guard is Livestock/ Pet rescue so the tragedy that happened down south does not happen here)
The legislation needs to go to a 2nd reading right away
this is an important issue to me, I realize that my persistence has been an Irritation to some, After World War I MG (rank awarded posthumously) Billy Mitchell (the father of the modern air force) raddled cages of the powerful for years lobbying and cajoling for a separate service. (He even predicted an attack on pearl harbor as early as 1925)… MG Mitchell made the mistake of making his point by disparaging his sister services; and people did not heed his warnings because of it. I will not make that mistake. NJ’s citizenry are protected well now. They will be better protected when the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command, made up of the Naval Militia and State Guard is re-stood up and manned similarly to the way it was the last time it was needed.
The Adjutant General has told me that there is a niche and a need for the state guard and he supports it. He has both previously and subsequently told me that Richard L. Cañas still has to make a recommendation to the governor in regards to the status of the State Guard. I am sure further legislation would aid in an affirmative recommendation.
From what I have gleaned from several sources, in order for the state guard to be re-stood up, more state legislation needs to be passed, federal assets need to be made available and more regulations need to be promulgated. I need your help in getting the legislation introduced and passed into law. HR 826 - STATE DEFENSE FORCE IMPROVEMENT ACT
which would also make federal assets available. As far as the ability to develop and implement regulations the NJ Naval Militia Foundation and the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command have enough attorneys (private practice, retired judges, government litigators that could generate enough regulations to satisfy the most stringent of mandarin’s.
I hope I can count on your support to help make sure New Jersey residents get the best protection possible.
HR 826 - STATE DEFENSE FORCE IMPROVEMENT ACT
· Our National Guard forces are deployed as an integral part of the Global War on Terrorism, leaving governors with fewer forces to defend and assist citizens in the event of terrorist attacks or natural disasters.
· The states that actively maintain these reserve, or state defense forces, have found that such forces provide outstanding benefits for National Guard training, mobilization assistance, family support, and post-mobilization assumption of the duties of deployed units.
· These forces constitute the most cost-effective force multiplier in our nation’s defense and homeland security efforts as a deep military reserve force dedicated entirely to Homeland Security within their respective states .· However, the vagueness of current law has led to some confusion as to the degree of support the Department of Defense can provide.
· The State Defense Force Improvement Act seeks to clarify that these forces, while state-controlled, are an integral part of our nation’s homeland defense efforts. This bill will ensure that these forces are available to the fullest extent that a governor chooses to employ them, and will establish a clear protocol on how they are to be coordinated with other Homeland Security efforts and the Department of Defense.
The State Defense Force Improvement Act will:
· Explicitly recognize and encourage state defense forces.
· Authorize the Department of Defense and the Department of Homeland Security to coordinate homeland security efforts with and provide training to defense forces.
· Authorize state defense forces to use DOD property (National Guard) and equipment.
· Allow state defense forces to receive surplus DOD equipment.
· Ensure DOD is not liable for any accidents involving state defense personnel.
· Ensure DOD is not responsible for any costs associated with the above provisions
To see what other states have been doing please see.
Texas State Guard http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2CxPZLeOJg&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nbXHkifUB_E&feature=related
SC SDF
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6eLu7SS_Ik&feature=related
I also wrote a book on State Guard units. I plan to make the e-book version available for free. (http://www.lulu.com/njnavy)
The NJ National Guard has been mobilized in the Global War on Terrorism. NJ’s “Hometown Hero’s” need to be confident that their families left behind will be protected by a strong state guard. My point is that this issue should be done rapidly and not at the normal speed of government
Some of the members of the NJ Naval Militia Joint Command trained or trained with MG Rieth as he was coming up in the ranks and he turned out ok. The deployed troops should not have to wonder if their families will need to be rescued by NY Guardsmen via interstate compact agreement: Help make it possible for NJ State Guardsmen to respond to disasters by getting HR 826 Passed! Please co-sponsor it and also encourage our congressional delegation working on a similar bill.
Who better to protect the homeland….Veterans.
Sincerely,
Paul S. Kale


