Maryland Naval Militia

The Maryland Naval Militia is the unorganized naval militia of Maryland. It served as a dual federal and state military reserve force, essentially a naval and marine equivalent of the Maryland Army National Guard and the Maryland Air National Guard.

History

The Maryland Naval Militia was first created in 1896 as the Naval Battalion of the military forces of Maryland.^[1] In 1895, the USS Dale was transferred from the Navy to the Maryland Naval Militia.^[2] Members of Maryland's naval militia served in the Spanish–American War; some members were assigned to the Fifth District of the United States Auxiliary Naval Force, while others were deployed aboard the USS Dixie.^[3]

In 1906, the USS Miantonomoh served briefly with Maryland's naval militia until 1907.^[4] In 1907, the USS Sylvia was transferred to the Maryland Naval Militia where it served the next seven years.^[5] The USS Somers was loaned to the Maryland Naval Militia in 1909 until its return to federal service in 1914.^[6] The USS Montgomery was assigned to the naval militia from 1914 until 1918.^[7]

During World War I, the members of the Maryland Naval Militia were federalized and deployed aboard the USS Missouri.^[1]

Personnel

Naval militias are in part regulated and equipped by the federal government, and membership requirements are set according to federal standards. Under 10 U.S. Code § 7854, in order for a state naval militia to be eligible for access to "vessels, material, armament, equipment, and other facilities of the Navy and the Marine Corps available to the Navy Reserve and the Marine Corps Reserve", at least 95% of members of the naval militia must also be members of the United States Navy Reserve or the United States Marine Corps Reserve.^[8]

Legal status

Naval militias of U.S. states are recognized by the federal government of the United States as a component of the organized militia under 10 U.S. Code §7851.^[9]

Any option for reactivating the Maryland Naval Militia can go either through action by the state government (through the office of the Governor of Maryland) or by legislative action.

See also

• Maryland Defense Force
• Maryland Wing Civil Air Patrol

References

State Defense Forces and Naval Militia
State Defense Forces	Alabama State Defense Force Alaska State Defense Force California State Military Reserve Connecticut Governor's Guard Georgia State Defense Force Indiana Guard Reserve Louisiana State Guard Maryland Defense Force Massachusetts State Defense Force Michigan Volunteer Defense Force Mississippi State Guard Missouri Reserve Force New Mexico State Guard New York Guard Ohio Military Reserve Oregon State Defense Force Puerto Rico State Guard South Carolina State Guard Tennessee State Guard Texas State Guard Vermont State Guard Virginia Defense Force Washington State Guard
Naval Militia	Alaska Naval Militia Connecticut Naval Militia New York Naval Militia Ohio Naval Militia South Carolina Naval Militia Texas State Guard Maritime Regiment
Historical/Defunct	Alaska Territorial Guard Arkansas State Guard Delaware State Guard Florida Naval Militia Florida State Guard Georgia Naval Militia Hawaii Naval Militia Hawaii Territorial Guard Idaho State Guard Illinois Naval Militia Illinois Reserve Militia Indiana Naval Militia Iowa State Guard Kansas State Guard Kentucky Active Militia Louisiana Naval Militia Maine State Guard Maryland Naval Militia Massachusetts Naval Militia Michigan Naval Militia Minnesota Naval Militia Minnesota State Guard Missouri Naval Militia Nebraska State Guard New Hampshire State Guard New Jersey Naval Militia New Jersey State Guard North Carolina Naval Militia North Carolina State Defense Militia Oregon Naval Militia Pennsylvania State Guard Rhode Island Naval Militia Rhode Island State Guard South Dakota State Guard Utah State Defense Force Virginia Defense Force Riverine Detachment Washington Naval Militia Wisconsin Naval Militia Wisconsin State Defense Force