Florida
Trouble with the new State Guard: Critics see it as a militia led by the ultra-conservative Ron DeSantis
Ron DeSantis is building a small, personal response militia with the State Guard, critics say
© Suzanne Cordeiro / AFP
Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is building a state guard. Originally it was intended as a civil protection organization. Critics now see it more as a kind of militia that could also serve other purposes.
The arch-conservative governor of Florida, Ron DeSantis, launched the Florida State Guard a year ago. The Volunteer Force was intended as a disaster relief organization to provide assistance in the event of severe hurricane storms or other public emergencies. But it is now apparent that the State Guard is developing into a kind of civilian militia that is to be built up and equipped militarily. This was reported by numerous witnesses in US media such as the “Miami Herald” or the “New York Times” after they quit their service out of frustration and anger.
The State Guard is not to be confused with the National Guard, which is a military reserve and closely associated with the US Army. DeSantis also justified the creation of the State Guard with the poor equipment of the National Guard, which Washington keeps small.
State Guard is not just for disaster control
Since the troop was rebuilt in 2022 (there was already a State Guard during World War II, which was abolished shortly after the end of the war in 1947), reports of military drill, inappropriate training methods and frustration have been piling up. A force of 1,500 volunteers is planned, who will be trained in special training camps. It should not only be used in natural disasters, but “can also be sent to other states to protect Florida citizens from threats to public safety”.
One who criticizes the goals of the alignment is a veteran. Brian Newhouse served in the Navy for 20 years and helped build the State Guard: “The program was turned into something we didn’t want: a militia,” he told US media. Newhouse was to lead one of the three divisions and had been tasked with recruiting volunteers for the past year.
When the first volunteers began training at the headquarters near Jacksonville in early June, Newhouse said he was fired, according to US media. The reason is said to have been his criticism of the new orientation and the training content. What annoys the critics: The 150 volunteers who signed up for the first training unit were, as it were, trained for the military. Even the use of weapons was practiced, although they are actually forbidden for such a troop. It was a tough boot camp. The originally planned polo shirts and pants were replaced by camouflage uniforms during training. Everything was strictly military, including yelling instructors and bed rest at 10 p.m. 120 volunteers completed the first training session, 30 gave up.
The budget increase in March made it clear that DeSantis sees more in the State Guard than a purely civilian organization. Funds were increased from $10 million to $107.5 million. The plans also envisage 1,500 recruits instead of the previously planned 400. The governor’s shopping list includes helicopters, boats, police powers and, according to reports, even wiretapping technology. The real plans that DeSantis have are difficult to see through because everything is so vaguely formulated, critics say. They complain that the new state guard should also have its own law enforcement unit that could do police work and is armed.
According to the DeSantis office, the State Guard’s goals are “to ensure that Florida is not only prepared to deal with natural disasters, but also to protect its people and borders from illegal aliens and civil unrest.” What that means exactly is not said.
Despite the ambitious goals, the formation of the troops is not going smoothly. That’s obvious. The last commander also resigned because he did not agree with the new course. Other volunteer instructors, who also left in frustration, and veterans who simply wanted to serve as disaster relief workers criticized the poor training. Many trainers are inexperienced and the camp is “sloppily” organized. There were therefore no written training documents, and no one was tested. Medical preliminary examinations of the volunteers, who finally undergo a hard physical drill, were non-existent.
Maj. Gen. John D. Haas, DeSanti’s top military adviser, denied the allegations. “We are aware that some trainees who have been made redundant are unhappy. This is always the case where rigor and discipline are required.” Haas called the State Guard a “military organization” that would also be used to “assist law enforcement in riots and illegal immigration.”
Sources: “Miami Herald “, “New York Times“, “The Guardians“