Guard Duty

The Volunteer State has a volunteer army. Tennessee has a corps of citizen soldiers—people who live their regular lives and then volunteer time on the side to train and sometimes to serve. And they are not paid a cent. These volunteers are basically a militia in the original, founding-of-our-nation sense. Given that contemporary events have burdened that once- honorable term with images of armed militants in the Montana hinterlands, this group is content to be called the Tennessee State Guard.

Formed during Lamar Alexander’s gubernatorial administration, the Guard was known as the Defense Force up until four years ago. It comprises as many as 1,000 souls, usually a little less. Its statutory mission is to “perform any and all duties as called upon by the governor.” In practical terms, it is viewed as a replacement for the National Guard should the National Guard be fully mobilized and called into active duty. They might, for example, be expected to secure the National Guard armories, like the one just south of 100 Oaks Mall, should the Guard be called away.