| Oregon Civil Defense Force | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1961 - 2015, 2019 - present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Oregon |
| Type |  State defense force |
| Role | Military reserve force |
| Part of | Oregon Military Department |
| Garrison/HQ | Headquarters, ORSDF Camp Withycombe 10101 SE Clackamas Road, Bldg. 6305 Clackamas, OR 97015 |
| Website | Oregon Civil Defense Force Website |
| Commanders | |
| Civilian leadership | Governor Tina Kotek Commander-in-Chief Roberta Janssen Administrative Officer |
| State military leadership | Major General Michael E. Stencel |
The Oregon Civil Defense Force (ORCDF), formerly known as the Oregon State Defense Force, is the official state defense force of Oregon and one of the three components of Oregon State's organized militia, with Oregon's Army and Air National Guard (ORNG) making up the other two. It serves as a state-level military and emergency services reserve force.
As part of the official state militia, the Oregon Civil Defense Force serves under the Governor of Oregon rather than the President of the United States and draws its legal authority from Chapter 399 of Oregon law. Those statutes require that the ORCDF be made up of individuals that are not a part of the federal military services or the National Guard. It is an all volunteer force composed and is a branch of the Oregon Military Department.
In April 2015, the Oregon Military Department temporarily suspended the Oregon State Defense Force. However, a spokesman for the Oregon Military Department stated on record that the suspension was temporary and the ORSDF would return to active service. In 2017, the Oregon State Defense Force was renamed under Oregon state law as the Oregon Civil Defense Force. In December 2019, the ORSDF was reactivated under its current name: the Oregon Civil Defense Force.
History
Civil War
The Oregon Civil Defense Force traces its root to the state military forces first created during the American Civil War. Although Oregon militia units did not directly serve in the Civil War, they were called up to replace the federal soldiers who were called away from protecting the frontier and redeployed to fight against the Confederate Army. In 1866, the state militia was disbanded as federal soldiers were once again deployed in the Oregon territory. However, almost immediately after their disbanding, they were re-formed after legislation was introduced by State Representative Colonel Owen Summers.
Spanish–American War
During the Spanish–American War, Oregon provided the 2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry Regiment to serve in the Philippines. They were among the first United States forces to enter the Pacific theater of the war, and served with distinction. The 2nd Oregon Volunteer Regiment was the first unit to land in the Philippines, and the first to enter the capital of Manila.
World Wars I and II
During both World Wars, when the National Guard was deployed abroad, states were forced to organize their own military units if they wished to protect their borders and infrastructure from sabotage or attack. In World War I, a Home Guard was mustered to protect shipyards. Oregon's World War I-era home guard, the Oregon Guard, included an intelligence department created with the express purpose of finding spies, deserters, and draft-dodgers.
During World War II, a Home Guard was once again created in order to guard National Guard bases and protect against sabotage. After both wars, the organizations were deactivated.
Modern times
The Oregon National Guard Reserve was formed in 1961, and was renamed the Oregon State Defense Force (ORSDF) in 1989. In 1996, the ORSDF was activated to assist in recovery operations after severe snowstorms struck Oregon. In 2002, the Oregon State Defense Force was reorganized to better parallel their National Guard counterparts. In April 2015, the Oregon Defense Force was placed under temporary suspension. Spokesmen from the Oregon National Guard promised that the ORSDF would be returning. The ORSDF was reactivated under its current name, the Oregon Civil Defense Force, in December 2019.
Membership
Membership in the Oregon State Defense Force is open to able-bodied residents of the state between the ages of 18 and 45. State employees of the Oregon Military Department who are not otherwise members of the Oregon National Guard may be required to join the Oregon State Defense Force as a condition of employment.
Duties
By statute the Oregon State Defense Force is an internal security force for the Oregon State National Guard and can be called upon by the Governor of Oregon to serve under many capacities. These capacities include, but are not limited to:
- provide assistance to the Oregon National Guard in an emergency
- maintain ham radio communication during an emergency
- augment National Guard state active duty missions
- participate in local training exercises with other first responders
- fulfill the state duties of the National Guard when the National Guard is federalized.
The ORCDF assists, augments or replaces the National Guard as ordered by the Governor (e.g., during times of crisis or when the ORNG is deployed elsewhere). During emergency or disaster incidents, the ORCDF assists requesting civil or military authorities with rapidly deployable emergency communications, coordination, and incident command system expertise and support compliant with Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) rules.
After the reactivation of the ORCDF in 2019, the primary mission assigned to the ORCDF became the support of high frequency communications at National Guard armories, with future additional missions to be determined in conjunction with the National Guard.
Units
- Headquarters, 41st Regiment (Tigard)
- 218th Battalion (Forest Grove)
- 162nd Battalion (Springfield)
- 186th Battalion (Medford)
- Special Troops Detachment (Clackamas)
- Headquarters, 82nd Regiment (Clackamas)
- Headquarters, 249th Regiment (Warrenton)
- 1249th Battalion (Salem)
- 116th Battalion (La Grande)
- 1-82 Battalion (Bend)
ORSDF Pipe Band
The Oregon State Defense Force maintained a military band, which was composed of bagpipe and drum players. The unit was invited to play in Ronald Reagan's inauguration in 1981, and continued to play in military ceremonies and parades in Oregon. The ORSDF Pipeband became disassociated from the Oregon Military Department with the standing down of the ORSDF in 2015.
Legal protection
Protection against dissolution
Oregon law requires the state to maintain the ORSDF at a cadre level during peacetime.
Employment protection
Employers within the state of Oregon are required under Oregon law to grant a leave of absence to any of their employees who are members of the Oregon State Defense Force, and who are activated to take part in training or to respond to an emergency situation. Employers must then reinstate these employees to their previous position, without loss of seniority, accrued vacation time, personal time, sick leave, or other benefits when their deployment ends.
See also
- Awards and decorations of the State Defense Forces
- Oregon Naval Militia
- Oregon Wing Civil Air Patrol
References
- Navas, Melissa (September 25, 2015). "Governor Brown Appoints Brigadier General Michael Stencel to Lead the Oregon National Guard" (Press release). Salem, OR: Office of the Governor of Oregon.
- "ORS 396.105 - Militia comprised of organized and unorganized militia".
- ^ "2015 ORS 399.035 Oregon State Defense Force". OregonLaws.org. 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2013.
- "Oregon State Defense Force gone for now". YouTube. LIN Television Corporation. 2 April 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
- ORS 399.035¹ Oregon Civil Defense Force
- ^ "About Us". Oregon Civil Defense Force Official Website. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- Gaston, Joseph (1911). Portland, Oregon, Its History and Builders. S. J. Clarke Publishing Co.
- ^ "Investissement Locatif – go success go business".
- "2nd Oregon Volunteer Infantry". Oregon Historical Society. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- Tulenko, Thomas; Chase, Bradley; Dupuy, Trevor N.; Hayes, Grace P. (March 1981). "US Home Defense Force Study" (PDF). California Military Museums. Historical Evaluation and Research Organization. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- Greenberg, Martin Allen. Citizens Defending America: From Colonial Times to the Age of Terrorism, p. 86, at Google Books
- Tulak, Arthur N.; Kraft, Robert W.; Silbaugh, Don. "State Defense Forces and Homeland Security" (PDF). Retrieved 25 December 2013.
- "2017 ORS 396.105 Militia comprised of organized and unorganized militia". oregonlaws.org. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "2017 ORS 396.330 Employees of military department". oregonlaws.org. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
- "Investissement Locatif – go success go business".
- "The Oregon State Defense Force Pipe Band". Oregon State Defense Force Pipe Band. Archived from the original on 4 March 2011. Retrieved 15 December 2019.
- "2015 ORS 659A.086: Employment rights of members of organized militia when called into active state service". Oregon Legislative Assembly. Retrieved 24 November 2017.