Idaho State Guard

The Idaho State Guard, formerly known as the Idaho Home Guard, is the inactive state defense force of Idaho. The Idaho State Guard was created to replace the Idaho National Guard as a stateside homeland security force while the National Guard was in federal service. A recent attempt at reactivation is being led by the Idaho State Guard Association 2016

World War I
During World War I, the governor ordered formation of four companies of Home Guard, with 100 men per company, paid for by the state.

World War II
In 1940, the Idaho State Guard was organized, with the bulk of its recruits being veterans of World War I. The State Guard of World War II was armed with Enfield rifles. In September 1942, the Idaho State Guard became the first state military organization in the United States to induct women into its command structure when Governor Chase A. Clark administered the oath of enlistment to a group of women from the Idaho volunteer auxiliary reserves. By 30 June 1944, the Idaho State Guard had reached a strength of 1,378 guardsmen. As of August 1946, after the war's conclusion, the Idaho State Guard remained in active service and was subject to call-up.

Legal status
The legal authority of each state to maintain its own state defense force is recognized by the federal government of the United States under Title 32, Section 109 of the United States Code. Some twenty-three states and the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico actively maintain state defense forces. Under Idaho law, the Governor of Idaho has the legal authority to activate the state defense force.

Reactivation effort
In 2016, the Idaho State Guard Association was created for the purpose of advocating for the reactivation of the Idaho State Guard.