New York GuardCAMP SMITH--New York Guard Staff Sgt. Stanley Cohen the chief signal non-commissioned officer assigned to the 56th Area Command New York Guard alongside New York Guard Spc. Richard Toscano who is assigned to the Headquarters Detachment New York Guard tests a radio system at Camp Smith Training Site Cortlandt Manor N.Y. June 26 2021. The New York National Guard worked with various New York State defense forces such as the New York Naval Militia New York Guard and Civil Air Patrol in the annual Empire Challenge to conduct training in rapid communications
The New York Guard
The New York Guard is a state volunteer force which augments and supports the New York National Guard with manpower and skills.
New York Guard members are a volunteer, unpaid force which serves at the direction of the Governor. They assist the National Guard in planning, training for and executing state emergency support and disaster missions, and provide legal and medical pre-deployment assistance to the National Guard units and other reserve components as requested.
Many New York Guard members are retired members of the National Guard and other military services, however military experience is not a prerequisite to membership. They are part of the military forces of New York but are not federal military reservists like members of the Army and Air National Guard.
Members of the New York Guard assist National Guard Soldiers and Airmen to serve the people of New York as members of Guard Joint Task Forces which respond to state natural disasters, state emergencies and state security requirements.