Puerto Rico State Guard

The Puerto Rico State Guard (PRSG), or Guardia Estatal de Puerto Rico, is Puerto Rico’s state defense force and one of the major subordinate commands of the Puerto Rico Military Forces. It operates under the sole authority of the governor of Puerto Rico, with operational authority delegated through the adjutant general. Its principal constitutional and statutory function is to provide Puerto Rico with an organized military force that can perform state missions when the Puerto Rico National Guard is mobilized for federal service or otherwise unavailable. The PRSG also assists the Puerto Rico National Guard and civilian authorities during emergencies, natural disasters, public-order disturbances, search-and-rescue operations, public-health crises, and community-support activities. The organization is a voluntary professional military corps rather than a commercial enterprise. Its members include retired, active-duty, and reserve military personnel, together with selected professionals who volunteer their expertise. Members generally do not receive pay for routine drills, unit training assemblies, or annual training, but they may be placed on Puerto Rico state active duty by the governor and compensated at rates corresponding to their military grade. State law provides employment protections for members absent from civilian work because of authorized training or state service. The PRSG supports a wide range of functions, including security, engineering, transportation, logistics, chaplaincy, legal assistance, medical services, emergency management, facilities management, and search and rescue. It is organized through army support groups, medical and engineering elements, a search-and-rescue company, a military academy, headquarters elements, and an air base group. The organization is notable because it is one of the relatively few United States state defense forces with an air division. Its 1st Air Base Group works with Puerto Rico Air National Guard units, particularly the 156th Airlift Wing, and maintains support capabilities associated with installation management, engineering, services, security forces, firefighting, medical support, logistics, transportation, supply, and aerial-port operations. The first PRSG was created during World War II. As much of the Puerto Rico National Guard was activated or mobilized, Puerto Rican authorities established a separate force to maintain local military capacity. A law enacted on April 13, 1942, authorized the wartime organization, which was intended to operate within Puerto Rico and meet standards comparable to those of the National Guard. Under General Luis Esteves, the force was organized into regiments and battalions distributed across the island. It was disbanded in 1946 after the war, when National Guard units returned. The modern organization was revived in the 1970s following Puerto Rico’s Military Law and has continued in existence since that period. It is treated as Puerto Rico’s authorized militia and state-controlled military reserve, distinct from the federally deployable National Guard. Although it can support National Guard operations, it is not ordinarily eligible for federal military service or the federal benefits associated with federal activation. Its legal status, ranks, appointments, and disciplinary framework derive from Puerto Rican law and the broader legal framework governing state defense forces. The PRSG has been used as a force multiplier during emergencies, including Puerto Rico’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Its continuing mission centers on homeland security support, emergency response, search and rescue, civil assistance, and maintaining a trained state-controlled force capable of assuming state military responsibilities when required.

The Puerto Rico State Guard traces its institutional tradition to earlier Puerto Rican volunteer military formations, including units associated with the Spanish colonial period and the transition to United States rule in 1898. Its first formal incarnation as a state guard was created during World War II, when the Puerto Rico National Guard was heavily activated and mobilized. Puerto Rican authorities needed a locally controlled force that could perform security and emergency duties while National Guard personnel were absent. On April 13, 1942, the colonial legislature enacted Law 28, authorizing a militia-based organization for service within Puerto Rico. The force was expected to meet standards similar to those of the Puerto Rico National Guard but was restricted to the island. General Luis Esteves organized the wartime State Guard into nine regiments, each composed of three battalions, with companies distributed across Puerto Rico and supervised by experienced colonels. Samuel Quiñones served as judge advocate. Civilian volunteers contributed to medical activities and other programs, while Luis Miranda led a military band. The organization also promoted its work through a government-sponsored publication, Centinela Alerta, and a newspaper column in El Mundo. After World War II ended and Puerto Rico National Guard units returned, the wartime State Guard was disbanded in 1946. Enlisted personnel received certificates of service, and members with at least three years of service were eligible for a legislature-approved medal. The modern Puerto Rico State Guard was re-established during the 1970s. Reference material describes its formal reorganization in 1971 and its development under the Military Law of Puerto Rico approved in 1976. The revived force was intended to ensure that Puerto Rico retained a trained, organized military capability if the National Guard were mobilized for federal service or if a state security emergency required additional forces. It became a state-controlled component of the Puerto Rico Military Forces and is also described as the state command supporting the Puerto Rico National Guard. Over time, the PRSG developed a broad support structure. Its capabilities include army support groups, engineering, medical services, logistics, transportation, emergency management, legal services, chaplaincy, search and rescue, and military education. Its air component, the 1st Air Base Group, operates in coordination with Puerto Rico Air National Guard installations and units. Joint training with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard, including consolidated drills with the 156th Airlift Wing, is intended to prepare PRSG personnel to assume installation-support responsibilities if Air National Guard units are mobilized or deployed. The force has supported Puerto Rico’s emergency-management and homeland-security missions, including the island’s COVID-19 response. Its continuing role is to provide state-directed military assistance, represent the Puerto Rico National Guard in civic activities, support emergency operations, and preserve a local military reserve that remains under Puerto Rican rather than federal command.

• 2020

  COVID-19 emergency support

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The PRSG was mobilized alongside the Puerto Rico National Guard and civilian authorities during the island’s COVID-19 response.

• 1976

  Military Law of Puerto Rico provided the modern framework

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Puerto Rico’s Military Law formalized the modern force’s role in maintaining a trained state military capability and supporting the National Guard.

• 1971

  Modern Puerto Rico State Guard revived

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The PRSG was re-established as Puerto Rico’s state-controlled defense force and has remained in continuous existence since its revival.

• 1946

  Wartime organization disbanded

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  The first incarnation ended after the war as Puerto Rico National Guard personnel returned to the island.

• 1942

  Wartime Puerto Rico State Guard established

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Puerto Rico’s legislature approved Law 28, creating a locally controlled militia to perform island missions while much of the Puerto Rico National Guard was mobilized during World War II.

• 1942

  Initial force organized into regiments and battalions

  [1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  General Luis Esteves organized the wartime force into nine regiments, each containing three battalions, with units distributed across Puerto Rico.

A volunteer state military force and force multiplier for Puerto Rico, designed to preserve local military capacity and support civil authorities when the Puerto Rico National Guard is mobilized, deployed, or responding to an emergency.

• 2020COVID-19 emergency response

  Puerto Rico

  The Puerto Rico State Guard assisted the Puerto Rico National Guard, civilian government, and public services during the COVID-19 pandemic. The operation reflected the PRSG’s role as a state-controlled emergency-support force rather than a commercial or promotional campaign.

  Outcome. The PRSG contributed personnel and capabilities to the island-wide emergency response.

  Source

• 1971

  Revive the Puerto Rico State GuardStrategy

  Background

  Puerto Rico sought a permanent state-controlled force capable of preserving local military capacity during National Guard mobilizations and state emergencies.

  Action taken

  The PRSG was re-established and later placed within the framework of Puerto Rico’s modern military law.

  Aftermath

  The organization became a continuing major subordinate command of the Puerto Rico Military Forces.

  Source

• 1942

  Create a separate wartime state forceStrategy

  Background

  The mobilization of much of the Puerto Rico National Guard during World War II created a need for locally controlled military capacity.

  Action taken

  Puerto Rico enacted Law 28 and established a militia-based State Guard restricted to service within Puerto Rico.

  Aftermath

  The force performed wartime state missions until it was disbanded in 1946 after National Guard units returned.

  Source

• 2020

  Puerto Rico State Guard mobilized for COVID-19 response[1]Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The Puerto Rico State Guard supported the Puerto Rico National Guard, civilian authorities, and public services during the island’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

1. 1Puerto Rico State Guarden.wikipedia.org