Episodes

  • No Visibility, No Force: How Social Media Determines a State Defense Force Survival

    No Visibility, No Force: How Social Media Determines a State Defense Force Survival
    Jan 29 2026
    In this Episode 10 clip of Scuttlebutt, we examine what led to the disbandment of four State Defense Forces in just a decade and zero in on a key lesson: visibility matters. The discussion highlights how a weak or inconsistent public presence can quietly erode relevance, support, and recruitment, while a State Defense Force that has multiple, active, and regularly posted social media accounts highlighting training, missions, and other events grows that State Defense Force and its mission capabilities. The hosts point to the Texas State Guard as the model to follow, noting how its Public Affairs Office empowers individual brigades to run active, independent social media pages that post consistently. That steady cadence feeds social media platform algorithms, pushing content to wider audiences and reaching veterans and civilians, who may have been unable to serve in the U.S. military due to medical issues, family responsibilities, or career obligations, a chance to serve in their State Defense Force. The result is increased exposure, steady recruitment, public awareness, a larger State Defense Force and increase mission capabilities, factors that explain why the Texas State Guard has grown into the largest State Defense Force in the nation, and why others that failed to adapt ultimately remain stagnant, shrunk or faded away.

    Listen to the full podcast -> https://www.patreon.com/posts/scuttlebutt-5-on-137501761?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Scuttlebutt Podcast are only available to our Patreon members – Corporal $5 Tier and above. We provide this to them as a thank you for keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and running. Through their funding we can pay authors to develop these historical pieces as well as fund our new lobbying program that furthers the State Defense Force cause nationwide.
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    5 mins
  • But Who Pays for Firearms Training? Examining the Case for Expanding State Defense Force Capabilities

    But Who Pays for Firearms Training? Examining the Case for Expanding State Defense Force Capabilities
    Jan 6 2026
    This clip from Episode 9 of Scuttlebutt 'Should State Defense Force Recruits Undergo Firearms Training During Basic Training?' explores how such training would be funded including costs for weapons access, ammunition, qualified law enforcement instructors, and range use. The discussion emphasizes that achieving this capability is closely tied to structurally separating State Defense Forces from the Adjutant General and state military departments, reestablishing them as a separate state military organization still operating under their own state Uniform Code of Military Justice and military rules and regulations. This model follows The Florida State Guard, which was recently re-activated, and it would provide a larger, guaranteed annual budget, greater mission flexibility, improved coordination with other state agencies, and most importantly the ability to deploy faster than the National Guard for domestic missions such as wildland firefighting, shelter management, and point-of-distribution operations during emergencies. The episode highlights the Florida State Guard as a modern example of this structure, noting that it has received the largest State Defense Force budget in history, totaling tens of millions of dollars. The episode reinforces that the National Guard should focus on its primary warfighting mission, arguing that frequent domestic taskings, such as disaster response, border operations, and filing sandbags because a river or lake overflowed, reduces the combat readiness and erodes proficiency in soldiers’ MOS (Military Job) skills when deployed to overseas conflict zones, and that these domestic missions shoule be the primary role of State Defense Forces which are trained directly to perform these missions.

    Listen to the full podcast -> https://www.patreon.com/posts/scuttlebutt-5-on-137501761?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Scuttlebutt Podcast are only available to our Patreon members – Corporal $5 Tier and above. We provide this to them as a thank you for keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and running. Through their funding we can pay authors to develop these historical pieces as well as fund our new lobbying program that furthers the State Defense Force cause nationwide.
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    13 mins
  • Service Beyond State Lines: How Overseas Deployments Could Change Perceptions of State Defense Forces

    Service Beyond State Lines: How Overseas Deployments Could Change Perceptions of State Defense Forces
    Dec 22 2025
    Episode 7 of Scuttlebutt explores a forward-leaning concept that examines the benefits of allowing State Defense Force troops to voluntarily deploy alongside National Guard units on international missions in dedicated support roles. The discussion emphasizes that such participation would be strictly voluntary, limited to State Defense Force soldiers who want to do more, possess the required skills, be physically qualified, and are financially able to deploy without burdening their home states. Beyond the significant cost savings that would come from reducing reliance on civilian contractors, the episode highlights what may be the most important outcome: elevating the respect, credibility, and professional standing of State Defense Forces in the eyes of the National Guard and the broader U.S. military. The hosts argue that if State Defense Forces were entrusted with overseas support missions, many of the uniform debates happening nationwide may never have emerged at all, instead, State Defense Forces would likely be encouraged to wear uniforms with distinction and earned recognition, such as the U.S. flag, combat patches earned through their deployment or authorized mission patches, reinforcing their role as a capable and valued force multiplier rather than a force needing visual separation.
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    10 mins
  • Should State Defense Forces Training Standards Be Adjusted Based On a Case by Case Basis?

    Should State Defense Forces Training Standards Be Adjusted Based On a Case by Case Basis?
    Dec 6 2025
    In this Scuttlebutt clip, host Jean Marciniak, Director of The State Guard & Defense Force Council, and cohost Major (GA – Retired) Beverly Shepard explore whether future National Standards for State Defense Forces should be applied broadly across all states or tailored on a case-by-case basis. They highlight how individuals in their 60s and 70s can often outperform younger applicants in fitness, bring decades of leadership experience, and offer critical emergency-response skills—especially in areas like IT, logistics, and organizational management that strongly support National Guard missions. The discussion also examines objections raised by some SDF Commanders who prefer establishing their own state-specific standards rather than adopting a unified national model. They further address the Louisiana State Guard’s decision to modify its requirements by allowing those who do not meet height-and-weight standards to serve in blue polos and khaki pants—a well-intentioned adaptation that, if can become a slippery slope for State Defense Forces civilianizing.

    To listen to the full episode visit:


    https://www.patreon.com/posts/new-scuttlebutt-145010234?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
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    12 mins
  • The Mission That Redefined State Defense: The New York Guard’s Role in the Nation’s First CERFP Team

    The Mission That Redefined State Defense: The New York Guard’s Role in the Nation’s First CERFP Team
    Nov 11 2025
    In this compelling and previously untold Scuttlebutt Podcast clip from Episode 7, Director of StateDefenseForce.com Jean Marciniak and Major (GA – Ret.) Beverly Shepard of the Georgia State Defense Force dive deep into one of the most remarkable missions in modern State Defense Force history — The New York Guard’s augmentation of The New York National Guard CERFP Team. This elite unit, composed of roughly 50% New York Guard soldiers and 50% Army and Air National Guard personnel, became the first fully operational CERFP Team in the nation. The hosts explore the team’s crucial homeland defense mission during the tense years following 9/11, when multiple terror plots were still being thwarted across the country. They also discuss the team’s potential for deployment beyond state borders, even internationaly — a prospect that echoed The Maryland Defense Force’s 10th Medical Regiment’s deployment to Bosnia alongside The Maryland Air National Guard.

    The conversation also sheds light on the internal conflicts that eventually undermined this groundbreaking mission. Despite The National Guard’s support, certain “Old Guard” officers within The New York Guard opposed the CERFP augmentation mission, engaging in petty acts of sabotage — such as forbidding State Guard troops from wearing the CERFP patch simply because senior officers themselves were not authorized to wear it. The hosts unpack how these internal politics demoarlized the troops who took this mission on as an additional duty to their already State Defense Force missions.

    This mission was one of the most effective and forward-thinking partnerships between State Defense Forces and the National Guard in modern history.

    To listen to the full episode visit: https://www.patreon.com/posts/episode-7-should-143082189?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link
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    26 mins
  • Balancing Duty and Dollars: The Future of State Defense Force Compensation

    Balancing Duty and Dollars: The Future of State Defense Force Compensation
    Sep 20 2025
    In this Scuttlebutt Episode 6 clip on Pay & Benefits, we tackle the growing debate over whether State Defense Force troops should be compensated for their monthly weekend drills and annual training periods. We highlight a legislative shift occurring across the nation, following in the steps of states like New York and South Carolina, where SDF soldiers are now being paid for weekend drills and annual training. We also discuss how this new system contrasts with states like Georgia, where members face steep personal sacrifices—often having to take vacation days or absorb financial strain to serve their state during emergencies, since they do not receive pay for State Active Duty. The discussion underscores how pay policies directly impact both troop readiness and the long-standing spirit of volunteerism that has defined these forces.

    Listen to the full podcast -> https://www.patreon.com/posts/scuttlebutt-5-on-137501761?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Scuttlebutt Podcast are only available to our Patreon members – Corporal $5 Tier and above. We provide this to them as a thank you for keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and running. Through their funding we can pay authors to develop these historical pieces as well as fund our new lobbying program that furthers the State Defense Force cause nationwide.
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    6 mins
  • U.S. Army Auxiliary Proposal Reaches Congress and Pentagon Review

    U.S. Army Auxiliary Proposal Reaches Congress and Pentagon Review
    Sep 12 2025
    In this Scuttlebutt clip, we sit down with Jim Stephens from the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project to discuss the current status of the initiative. Jim shares that the proposal has advanced to the legislative branch of Congress and is now under review by the Pentagon, marking a significant step forward. We explore the roles U.S. Army Auxiliary volunteers could play in directly supporting Army operations, from providing specialized skills to handling essential support functions, all while offering cost savings to the military. This conversation sheds light on the progress of the project and the potential impact it could have on the Army’s future.


    Listen to the full podcast -> https://www.patreon.com/posts/scuttlebutt-5-on-137501761?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Scuttlebutt Podcast are only available to our Patreon members – Corporal $5 Tier and above. We provide this to them as a thank you for keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and running. Through their funding we can pay authors to develop these historical pieces as well as fund our new lobbying program that furthers the State Defense Force cause nationwide.
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    8 mins
  • A New Force Multiplier: Inside the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project

    A New Force Multiplier: Inside the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project
    Sep 1 2025
    In today’s Scuttlebutt Podcast clip, we highlight the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project and its vision for strengthening America’s defense framework. Jim Stephens, the project’s Administrator, explains its purpose, core missions, and the reasons behind its creation. He discusses how the Auxiliary can provide vital support to states already operating both a National Guard and State Defense Force, while also serving as a force multiplier for states lacking a State Defense Force. The conversation underscores the project’s role in filling critical gaps, enhancing readiness, and ensuring communities nationwide have access to trained and organized military support when needed.

    Listen to the full podcast -> https://www.patreon.com/posts/scuttlebutt-5-on-137501761?utm_medium=clipboard_copy&utm_source=copyLink&utm_campaign=postshare_creator&utm_content=join_link

    The Scuttlebutt Podcast are only available to our Patreon members – Corporal $5 Tier and above. We provide this to them as a thank you for keeping StateDefenseForce.com online and running. Through their funding we can pay authors to develop these historical pieces as well as fund our new lobbying program that furthers the State Defense Force cause nationwide.
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    3 mins