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New 2024 Seal for the Oregon National Guard / Military Department

The Oregon Military Department is an agency of the government of the U.S. state of Oregon, which oversees the armed forces of the state of Oregon. Under the authority and direction of the governor as commander-in-chief, the agency is responsible for planning, establishing, and enforcing rules and procedures governing the administration, supply, and training of the Oregon National Guard (consisting of the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard), when not in the active service of the United States. The Department also maintains all state-owned or leased military facilities, including posts, camps, military reservations, and rifle ranges.

Staff

The adjutant general serves as the administrative director of the Military Department and is the military command officer of the national guard. The Military Council, composed of the adjutant general and six to ten officers of the National Guard, operates as an advisory staff to the governor, in much the same way as the Joint Chiefs of Staff advise the President. The Army and Air wings of the National Guard have proportional representation on the council according to their current total strength.[citation needed]

Structure

The Oregon Military Department is split into the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard. The structure of units is listed below.

The Adjutant General and Command Staff, Salem, Oregon

State Agency Directory: Military Department

Oregon Army National Guard

Oregon Air National Guard

Funding

Approximately 97 percent (US$382 million) of the funds for the Oregon National Guard are provided by the federal government. This does not reflect the considerably smaller figure of $35.9 million or 9% which is included within the Department's budget. The difference can be accounted for by the fact that troop salaries and wages are paid to them directly by the federal government. Federal funds support 100% of troop training, Defense Department programs, base security and fire protection, and youth programs; 75% of the logistical support for training sites; and most facility, maintenance and supply expenditures of the Air National Guard (averaging 75 to 85% based on a complex and variable schedule).[citation needed]

Role

Oregon National Guardsmen simulating the evacuation of a casualty during a training exercise

The National Guard is the only statewide civil defense organization of significant size and provides emergency assistance. In the event of a federal call-up of the National Guard sufficient that it cannot fulfill its state role, domestic deployment of the reserve can be ordered. Since 1989 the Oregon National Guard Reserve (ORNGR) is known officially as the Oregon Civil Defense Force (ORCDF).[1][2] The ORCDF is an all-volunteer militia force under the Oregon Military Department that provides reserve personnel to both the Oregon Army National Guard and the Oregon Air National Guard. It is under state jurisdiction and its members are employed only within the State of Oregon. It is not subject to any federal orders. Its mission is to provide units organized, equipped and trained in the protection of life or property and the preservation of peace, order and public safety under competent orders of State authorities.[3]

As of just before the 10th anniversary of the September 11 terror attacks, 9,268 Oregon National Guard members had been deployed to Afghanistan (1,691), Iraq (7,048), and the Iraq Southern No Fly Zone (529) since 2002; 20 have been killed in action.[4]

In April 2015, the Oregon Military Department suspended the Oregon State Defense Force. A spokesman for the OMD stated that the suspension was temporary and the ORSDF would return to active service.[5] In December 2019, the ORSDF was reactivated under its current name: the Oregon Civil Defense Force.[6]

Facilities

The Military Department is based in Salem, with armories, camps, air bases and other facilities around the state.[7] The Salem Armory Auditorium next to the Oregon State Fairgrounds in Salem is rented out as a concert venue, and for shows, conventions, graduations, dances and conferences.[8][9]

See also

Directors/Commanders

Oregon National Guard

Unified Oregon Militia/Oregon National Guard Era 1887-1920

Oregon Community Militia Era 1847-1886

References

  1. ^ "Chapter 399". Oregon Revised Statutes.
  2. ^ "About Us (Oregon Civil Defense Force)".
  3. ^ "Oregon Civil Defense Force".
  4. ^ Emily Green (September 9, 2011). "Oregon's Fallen". Willamette Week. Retrieved 2011-09-10.
  5. ^ "Oregon State Defense Force gone for now". YouTube. LIN Television Corporation. 2 April 2015. Archived from the original on 2021-12-13. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  6. ^ "About Us". Oregon Civil Defense Force Official Website. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
  7. ^ "Facilities Address". Oregon Military Department. n.d. Archived from the original on 2008-03-21. Retrieved 2008-04-05.
  8. ^ "Salem Auditorium". Oregon Military Department. Archived from the original on 2008-03-31. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  9. ^ "Northwest Dancehalls: The Armory, Salem, Oregon". Pacific Northwest Bands. Retrieved 2008-04-21.
  10. ^ "National Guard > Leadership > Joint Staff > Special Staff > Senior Leader Management Office > General Officer Management > bio-show".
  11. ^ "National Guard > Leadership > Joint Staff > Special Staff > Senior Leader Management Office > General Officer Management > bio-show".
  12. ^ "Gene Katke Biography".
  13. ^ https://www.oregonlegislature.gov/bills_laws/archivebills/2003_SCR8.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ "Thomas Rilea Biography".

Further reading

External links

National Guard: Army National Guard and Air National Guard
Authority control databases
Categories