Pennsylvania Guard Reserve Force
The Pennsylvania Guard Reserve Force, formerly the Pennsylvania State Military Reserve (PASMR), is legally chartered as the Pennsylvania State Military Reserve, Incorporated and is a federally recognized 501 (c) (3) charitable organization. The Pennsylvania State Military Reserve (PASMR) was organized in 1985.
Mission
The Pennsylvania Military Reserve primarily provides Assistance to units of the Pennsylvania National Guard with communications, mess operations, armory security, and to support other related tasks, whether NATURAL or man-made disasters; and to render assistance to the Pennsylvania National Guard during civil disturbances and other states of emergencies; it supports routine missions and other operations of National Guard units during their training activities; staffing armories during the National Guard's annual training periods and during other periods where the National Guard is mobilized during Federal or State ACTIVE duty periods by Providing mobilization assistance, etc., and other such assistance to the military member's families during the absence of the National Guard.
Providing Assistance to State Agencies during the absence of the Pennsylvania National Guard: Supporting the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the other State Homeland Security Agencies and rendering assistance to other local jurisdictions and civil disaster services agencies during training and/or emergency Situations in such functions as providing trained and certified community emergency response teams (CERT); search and rescue (SAR) teams; assisting and staffing local emergency operations and communications centers; evacuations; staffing emergency shelters and assisting with shelter management operations; providing first aid and CPR; assisting with hazardous materials incidents control; monitoring and survey of nuclear, biological, and chemical defense operations and assisting with, and the operation of, various types of decontamination centers, etc
History
Pennsylvania created its own State Guard around the start of World War I in 1914 and disbanded the State Guard after the return of the Pennsylvania National Guard troops after the War.
During World War II the Pennsylvania Reserve Defense Corps (PRDC) was created in 1941 and when activated, it was organized similar to an active U.S. Army brigade with a Headquarters, located in Harrisburg, and three regiments.
The Brigade Headquarters mission was to provide 24-hour safety of the State Airport at Marsh Run and 24-hour roving patrols of the bridges spanning the Susquehanna River at Harrisburg.
- 1st Regiment, Philadelphia, assigned to defend the eastern region of the Commonwealth; and was responsible for guarding bridges near Phillipsburg, Washington Park, Lambertville, Yardley, Trenton, Norristown, Reading, and Columbia.
- 2nd Regiment, Wilkes-Barre, (less E Company) was assigned to defend the central region; it also guarded bridges near Sunbury, Northfield, Williamsport, Jersey Shore, Muncy, Berwick, Plymouth, Wilkes-Barre, Pittston, Falls Oil City, Tionesta, Franklin, and Elmerton.
- E Company, 2nd Brigade, covered Clarks Ferry Bridge, the Juanita Crossing and was assigned to maintain 24-hour security of the State Arsenal at Harrisburg.
- 3rd Regiment, Pittsburgh, assigned to defend western Pennsylvania and was located in Warren, Parker, East Brady, Freeport, New Kensington, and guarded the bridges at Pittsburgh, Saltsburg, Blairsville, Ambridge, Sewickley, Elizabeth, Monongahela, Donora, Monnessen, Brownsville, and Masontown.
Each regiment was organized as follows: a headquarters, a service company, a medical detachment, and three battalions each consisting of three rifle companies, with each company consisting of two platoons of 30 personnel.
The Governor placed the PRDC under the control of the Adjutant General of Pennsylvania, and authorized the Commander with the military rank of Brigadier General. The Commander, was appointed two headquarters colonels, and a colonel to command each of the three regiments. Each PRDC regiment consisted of the following officers: fives Lieutenant Colonels, 17 Majors, 49 Captains, 72 First Lieutenants, and 62 Second Lieutenants. There were no upper age limits for officer personnel. However, enlisted members were given a "physical examination" modified to account for the age variables within the 21 to 50 year-old group.
The governor was responsible for issuing uniforms, equipment and supplies…drills were held one night a week and a one-week annual training period were held.
In 1943, the PRDC was renamed the Pennsylvania State Guard (PASG) and was expanded to the size of an Army division. Its three regiments expanded to 5 authorized regiments, the 1st, 2nd, 4th, 10th and 16th. The PASG also received the 1st Cavalry Squadron (Pennsylvania Dragoons) and C Troop 1st Cavalry (Separate); and the 1st Engineer Battalion. Its peak strength in 1947 was 5,700 officers and men prior to its being disbanded after the war.
In 1950, with the outbreak of hostilities in Korea, the Pennsylvania National Guard being "Federalized" and deployed overseas, the PASG was again reconstituted into 4 regiments as follows:
- Western Pennsylvania - The 10th and 16th Regiments,
- North and Eastern Pennsylvania - The 13th Regiment,
- Central Region - 4th Regiment
Regimental commanders were chosen from combat veterans of World War II. The Adjutant General (TAG) PA, was appointed as the Commander, PASG. Most of the PASG's missions were identical to those from World War II. The only difference was that the state guard operated as a division vice a brigade. The PASG TOE included combat support and combat service and support subunits. Additionally, the State Guard was assigned to defend the populace from "gas attacks." After the Korean War (1950-1953) was concluded and the units of the Pennsylvania National Guard returned home, the PASG was again disbanded.
References
- 1
- Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes-Military Affairs Title 51
- Article to the State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS)
- Introduction by COL Lawrence J. Copeland, PAMR
- Article by LTC Brent C. Bankus, Homeland Defense…
- PA. Consolidated Statute Title 51 (inclusive),
- Article to The State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS)
- State Militias by COL Lawrence J. Copeland
See also
- State Guard