Today, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis proposed bringing back the Florida State Guard. This Florida State Guard would be a civilian military force much like the one disbanded in 1947.
Governor DeSantis stated this civilian force would “not be encumbered by the federal government,” also stating that it would allow him “the flexibility and the ability needed to respond to events in our state in the most effective way possible.” He went on to say “Reestablishing the Florida State Guard will allow civilians from all over the state to be trained in the best emergency response techniques and have the ability to mobilize very, very quickly,”.
According to a press release, the Governor said the force would be comprised of 200 volunteer members. The budget proposal includes $3.5 million that would be used to train and equip civilians.