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Michigan Defense Force

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The Michigan Volunteer Defense Force is a duly constituted element of Michigan's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. The MI VDF was reorganized from the former Michigan Emergency Volunteers by Adjutant General Thomas Cutler in 2004 to fill a homeland security role in the State of Michigan. MI VDF is currently commanded by COL William Ewald, a retired United States Army colonel.

History

Michigan State Troops

Michigan's first state defense force was established as the Michigan State Troops in Act No. 53 Public Acts of Michigan on 17 April 1917. The MST organizations served on instate active duty during World War I, II, and the Korean War.

Michigan Emergency Volunteers

The Michigan State Troops were reconstituted as the Michigan Emergency Volunteers by Public Act 246 of 1988. The original intention for the MEV was to act as a force of trained emergency volunteers in the event that the National Guard was sent out of the state in a national emergency. The MEV was ordered to stand down in October of 1998.

Michigan Volunteer Defense Force

On 20 September 2004 MG Thomas G. Cutler the Michigan Adjutant General and COL Michael McDaniel met with the then small interim staff to review and discuss various opportunities for a state defense force to again serve within the state's military establishment. At the conclusion of that meeting Adjutant General Cutler authorized the reactivation of the new Michigan Volunteer Defense Force to undertake involvement in various homeland security concerns and other military support services as assigned.

Current Activity

Today the MI VDF is organized as a state-wide brigade with three regional commands. These three area commands are supported by eight field battalions located within joint Michigan State Police and Office of Public Health Program districts. Each battalion command has three detachments and each detachment three sections, all of which are being developed to serve and support community needs across the State of Michigan.


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