Michigan Volunteer Defense Force
Encyclopedia
The Michigan Volunteer Defense Force is a military
force, duly constituted as a state defense force
and an element of Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
. The MI VDF was reorganized from the former Michigan Emergency Volunteers by Adjutant General Thomas Cutler in 2004 to fill a homeland security role in the State of Michigan. , the MI VDF is commanded by COL William Ewald, a retired United States Army colonel.
in Act No. 53 Public Acts of Michigan on 17 April 1917. The Michigan State Troops organizations served on in-state active duty during World War I, II, and the Korean War.
and Office of Public Health Program districts. Each battalion command has three detachments and each detachment three sections, all of which are being developed to serve and support community needs across the State of Michigan.
All eight battalions have these missions:
•Support MI's Receipt, Store and Stage (RSS) of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
•Support the MI Selective Service System (SSS)
•Support MI with certified Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
•Support the MING JS (Joint Staff) with county Liaison officers (LNO)
•Support the MING JS with Joint Operation Center (JOC) staffing
•Support the MING JS with Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (JRSOI) staffing
•Support the MING JS with Cyber Network Defense staffing
Military
A military is an organization authorized by its greater society to use lethal force, usually including use of weapons, in defending its country by combating actual or perceived threats. The military may have additional functions of use to its greater society, such as advancing a political agenda e.g...
force, duly constituted as a state defense force
State Defense Forces
State defense forces in the United States are military units that operate under the sole authority of a state government; they are partially regulated by the National Guard Bureau but they are not a part of the Army National Guard of the United States...
and an element of Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs
The Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs is a principal department of the State of Michigan. It oversees the military components and veterans services for the State...
. The MI VDF was reorganized from the former Michigan Emergency Volunteers by Adjutant General Thomas Cutler in 2004 to fill a homeland security role in the State of Michigan. , the MI VDF is commanded by COL William Ewald, a retired United States Army colonel.
Michigan State Troops
Michigan's first state defense force was established as the Michigan State Troops' Home Guard along with the Michigan State Troops Permanent ForceMichigan State Police
The Michigan State Police is the state police agency for the state of Michigan. The MSP is a full service law enforcement agency with its sworn members having full police powers statewide....
in Act No. 53 Public Acts of Michigan on 17 April 1917. The Michigan State Troops organizations served on in-state active duty during World War I, II, and the Korean War.
Michigan Emergency Volunteers
The Michigan State Troops were reconstituted as the Michigan Emergency Volunteers by Public Act 246 of 1988. The original intention for the MEV was to act as a force of trained emergency volunteers in the event that the National Guard was sent out of the state in a national emergency. The MEV was ordered to stand down in October 1998.Michigan Volunteer Defense Force
On 20 September 2004 MG Thomas G. Cutler the Michigan Adjutant General and COL Michael McDaniel met with the then small interim staff to review and discuss various opportunities for a state defense force to again serve within the state's military establishment. At the conclusion of that meeting Adjutant General Cutler authorized the reactivation of the new Michigan Volunteer Defense Force to undertake involvement in various homeland security concerns and other military support services as assigned.Current Activity
Today the Michigan Volunteer Defense Force is organized as a state-wide brigade with three regional commands. These three area commands are supported by eight field battalions located within joint Michigan State PoliceMichigan State Police
The Michigan State Police is the state police agency for the state of Michigan. The MSP is a full service law enforcement agency with its sworn members having full police powers statewide....
and Office of Public Health Program districts. Each battalion command has three detachments and each detachment three sections, all of which are being developed to serve and support community needs across the State of Michigan.
All eight battalions have these missions:
•Support MI's Receipt, Store and Stage (RSS) of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS)
•Support the MI Selective Service System (SSS)
•Support MI with certified Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT)
•Support the MING JS (Joint Staff) with county Liaison officers (LNO)
•Support the MING JS with Joint Operation Center (JOC) staffing
•Support the MING JS with Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration (JRSOI) staffing
•Support the MING JS with Cyber Network Defense staffing
External links
- Michigan Volunteer Defense Force - Official Page
- Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs - MI VDF Sub-page