Florida’s “commander in chief” Gov. Ron DeSantis has announced that a new military heal beat is kicking in Florida, as the long-anticipated Florida State Guard officially has now been made operational.
During a press conference in Madeira Beach, Gov. DeSantis said that he has brought on retired Marine Corps Lieutenant Colonel Chris Graham to call cadence for his new recruits.
Those new recruits will be picked from a crop of candidates that have “demonstrated experience in military-style operations.”
The governor’s office has not announced whether these new troops will undergo a sort of military boot camp (basic training), or will have firearms furnished to them by the state, or if they will be allowed to carry any weapon.
“The Florida State Guard has already had more than 1,200 Floridians apply to serve our state and help in times of need. I am confident that our new director, retired Marine Corps. Lieutenant Colonel Chris Graham, will lead with honor and respect for our great state,” tweeted DeSantis.
DeSantis also stated that the influx of applicants is being fueled by former military personnel that have been kicked out as a result of “COVID vax mandates,” and because of the “low guardsman to citizen ratio” in the state.
Florida Democrats believe that the newly-formed military guard will be a racist bunch of "brown shirts" or "stormtroopers," and was solely created to crack down and crack the heads of minorities.
The Guard was formed to help the existing Florida National Guard prepare for a natural disasters, rescue missions, and other emergencies that may occur.
According to the Florida State Guard website, the group can only be authorized by Gov. DeSantis and would be, ”at all times under the final command and control of the Governor as commander in chief of all military and guard forces of the state.”
Here is the disclaimer that is posted on the Guard’s official website:
The Florida State Guard is created as authorized under federal law for use exclusively within the state, activated only by the Governor under the specific limitations created by this section, and is at all times under the final command and control of the Governor as commander in chief of all military and guard forces of the state.
- CREATION AND AUTHORIZATION. —The Florida State Guard is created as authorized under federal law for use exclusively within the state, activated only by the Governor under the specific limitations created by this section, and is at all times under the final command and control of the Governor as commander in chief of all military and guard forces of the state. The Florida State Guard is created and authorized as a component of the organized guard separate and apart from the Florida National Guard and shall be used exclusively within the state for the purposes stated in this section and may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces of the United States. The authorized maximum number of personnel that may be commissioned, enrolled, or employed as members of the Florida State Guard is 400.
With hurricane season upon us, DeSantis’ new guard could see service sooner than later.
