Alabama State Defense Force

The Alabama State Defense Force (ASDF) is a military entity authorized by the State Code of Alabama. The ASDF is the state’s authorized state defense force and assumes the state mission of the Alabama National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The ASDF is composed of retired, prior active-duty, and prior-reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state. The Alabama State Defense Force is allowed under section 31-2-8 of the Code of Alabama.

History
Prior to the modern National Guard, states would provide volunteer militia units to augment the federal army in times of war. In the Mexican-American War, Alabama provided the United States with multiple units of Alabama militia, with most serving for less than a year.

During the American Civil War, both Union units and Confederate units were raised in support of the war effort.

In the Spanish-American War, Alabama raised three volunteer infantry units.

After the declaration of World War II, the majority of the National Guard was mobilized, leaving governors without troops to guard against invasion, provide disaster relief, and protect against civil unrest. Therefore, many states, including Alabama, raised state defense forces to act as a replacement for the National Guard during the war. In 1940, Governor Frank M. Dixon created the Alabama State Guard, recruiting primarily from World War I veterans, mainly from the American Legion. Alabama took a unique approach in creating its state defense force. While other states actively recruited from veteran's organizations, Alabama went a step further and "gave the American Legion of Alabama the responsibility for creating and running its State Guard," and in return, Alabama "was able to achieve a functioning state guard sooner than most states." By using an existing private organization as the framework for their state defense force, Alabama was able to achieve full readiness far sooner than might be expected. At the war's end, the Alabama State Guard was deactivated.

On December 22, 1983, Governor George Wallace signed Executive Order Number 20, which authorized the creation of the Alabama State Defense Force, the successor of the Alabama State Guard which was disbanded in World War II. On August 14, 2012, Governor Robert Bentley signed into law the Alabama State Defense Force bill (SB278), which added clarification to the role of the ASDF in relation to the Alabama National Guard, so that the two organizations can be better integrated in future stateside missions.

Duties
The purpose of the Alabama State Defense Force is to augment or replace the stateside Alabama National Guard when some or all of these National Guard units have been deployed outside of the state. The ASDF is responsible for the non-combat state mission of the National Guard. The ASDF specifically lists its primary responsibilities as such:


 * Communications with the ALNG Joint Operation Center (JOC);
 * Custodial duties and security of facilities and property;
 * Family assistance;
 * Recruiting to strength levels authorized by The Adjutant General;
 * Responses to tasking from TAG through the ALNG EOC;
 * Surveys of key facilities;
 * Assist Homeland Defense and The Citizens Corp. as needed and directed by the Governor of the State, the TAG and the ASDF Commander.

All four brigades of the ASDF activated personnel during Hurricane Katrina. Composed of some 600 activated members, the ASDF units which were activated assisted in operating shelters, distribution stations and warehousing as a part of the relief effort to victims of the storm.

The 2nd Battalion of the Alabama State Defense Force also sponsors a cadet program for high school students enrolled in Eastwood Christian School. The program is free to students.

Organization
The ASDF is headquartered in Montgomery, Alabama. The ASDF is organized geographically, into four brigades. The First Brigade's area of operations is northern Alabama. The Second Brigade's region is middle Alabama. The Third Brigade's region is southwestern Alabama. The Fourth Brigade's region is southeastern Alabama.

Awards and decorations
The Alabama State Defense Force issues several ribbons to guardsmen who have merited them, including the following ribbons:


 * ASDF War Ribbon.PNG ASDF Alabama War Ribbon
 * ASDF dist svc ribbon.PNG ASDF Distinguished Service Ribbon
 * ASDF meritorious svc ribbon.PNG ASDF Meritorious Service Ribbon
 * ASDF commendation ribbon.PNG ASDF Commendation Ribbon
 * Asdf achievement ribbon.PNG ASDF Achievement Ribbon (Officer)
 * ASDF achievement ribbon enlisted.PNG ASDF Achievement Ribbon (Enlisted)
 * IANG Medal of Merit.png ASDF Merit Ribbon
 * Kansas National Guard Service Medal 25yr.png ASDF Desert Shield/Storm Support Ribbon
 * ASDF Disaster Readiness Ribbon.PNG ASDF Disaster Readiness Ribbon
 * OK Distinguished Service Cross.png SGT Dixie Club-Gold Ribbon
 * SGT Dixie Club Silver Ribbon.PNG SGT Dixie Club-Silver Ribbon
 * NY Medal of Valor.PNG SGT Dixie Club-Bronze Ribbon
 * Kansas National Guard Service Medal 30yr.png ASDF Service Ribbon
 * ASDF Distinguished Graduate.PNG ASDF Distinguished Graduate Ribbon
 * CO Achievement Ribbon.jpg ASDF Professional Development Ribbon
 * ASDF Officer Training Ribbon.PNG ASDF Officer Training Ribbon
 * Alaska Territorial Guard Medal.PNG ASDF Warrant Officer Training Ribbon
 * ASDF NCO Training Ribbon.PNG ASDF NCO Training Ribbon
 * ASDF CERT ribbon.PNG ASDF C.E.R.T. Ribbon
 * ASDF Recruiting Ribbon.PNG ASDF Recruiting Ribbon
 * ASDF Super Recruiting Ribbon.PNG ASDF Super Recruiter Recruiting Ribbon
 * ASDF association ribbon.PNG ASDF Association Member Ribbon
 * SGAUS Ribbon.PNG ASDF SGAUS Ribbon
 * ASDF Outstanding Unit Ribbon.PNG ASDF Outstanding Unit Comm. Ribbon
 * SGAUS Superior Unit Citation.PNG SGAUS Superior Unit Citation
 * MEMS Academy Unit Citation.PNG MEMS Academy Unit Citation