Spokane & Yakima Detachment, Washington State Guard

The Washington State Guard (WSG) is the third element of the military forces in the Washington Military Department: the Army Guard, the Air Guard and State Guard. While the Army and Air Guard can be mobilized to federal service, the WSG is only utilized within Washington and is not deployed out of state. currently maintain such state military forces, as authorized under federal and state laws. Si

nce territorial times our state military forces have been an integral part of the citizen-solider defense of our great state. State troops from Washington fought in various Indian battles, replaced federal troops during the civil war and volunteered to fight in the Philippines during the Spanish American War. State troops were called out to help squelch race riots in Seattle in 1886. In 1909 the Washington Legislature established a Naval Militia. In 1916, Everett’s Sixth Division of the Washington Naval Militia assisted the City of Everett and Seattle to curb labor unrest in the two cities. The Naval Militia was disbanded after World War One. On 11 July 1917, Governor Ernest Lister authorized the organization of the Washington State Guard, to consist of 16 infantry companies in the principal cities. First organized as a provisional regiment, the force was mustered into state service as the Third Infantry Regiment with four companies. The Third Infantry Regiment was augmented by a machine gun company in Seattle and a medical detachment in Tacoma at Camp Murray. Among many state security duties, WSG troops patrolled the vast Washington forests, important for aircraft production during World War One. After WW I, the Third Infantry Regiment became part of the Washington Army National Guard and the Washington State Guard was deactivated in 1920. As war clouds were brewing in the Pacific, the Washington State Adjutant General, Maj. Walter Delong, re-activated the WSG in December 1940 – a full year before Pearl Harbor – and the only state to do so. Thus the Fourth Washington Volunteer Infantry Regiment was born. In 1942 the First Provisional Infantry Battalion was added to the WSG, increasing its strength to over 4,000 men. Army supplied the WSG with 2,200 old WWI area Enfield rifles to oppose the anticipated Japanese invasion of Washington. The WSG again took over the state security mission, as the National Guard left for war overseas. A special WSG unit was formed and attached to the U.S. Army Aircraft Warning Service, manning nine observation posts on the Olympic Peninsula. A WSG Reserve was also organized, consisting of over 12,000 volunteer members who provided their own uniforms and arms. In the event of a Japanese occupation, this WSG Reserve was to fight guerilla warfare against the enemy. After the end of World War Two the WSG was cut to skeleton cadre strength. The State of Washington was on the forefront of starting new State Guard units across the country during the Cold War. On 19 May 1960, Governor Albert Rossellini signed an executive order officially reactivating the WSG to a full internal security force and tasked the Adjutant General, MG George M. Haskett, to form the new state military force. The “new” WSG consisted of a headquarters detachment, two Internal Security

Groups, plus five security (Military Police) battalions. The mission of the fully reactivated WSG was to work with Civil Defense in civil disturbances, security of public installations, safeguarding emergency food and medical supplies and providing medical assistance when required. In the 1970s an Air Section was established at Boeing Field in Seattle. From 1991 to 2001 the WSG also operated the award winning “Camp Minuteman” summer camp for children of Washington National Guard members. After the end of the Cold War the focus of the WSG changed towards emergency management and military assistance to civil disturbances (MACDIS). In the late 1990s the WSG was instrumental in creating a national Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) Academy for the State Guard Association of the United States. Today, the WSG consists of a highly professional cadre of enlisted members, warrant officers and officers. Most WSG soldiers are prior-Service, but many come straight from civilian life. Current WSG missions include providing Liaison Officers to state, county and city Emergency Operations Centers during natural and man-made disasters, providing major operational and planning support for state emergency management exercises and supporting other critical state homeland security missions. The proud motto of the modern WSG is “Pro Civitas et Patria” – For State and Country.

01/21/2024

Weather in the Spokane area had freezing rain challenges.
We said goodbye and good luck CSM Jim Brewer on his retirement to the Washington State Guard. (WSG)
20 Years of service.
Thank you CSM for your dedicated service to your Community and the State.

12/31/2023

Washington State Guard Members
2023 has been a great year for our exposure for the Washington State Guard. Proud to be WSG.
Thank you for all you are doing to assist here in Washington.
Looking forward to 2024.
Have a great Holiday! Stay safe in your travels.

CSM Butch McConnell, WSG
Yakima Detachment

11/23/2023

Thanksgiving is upon us 2023. Thank you to all members of the Washington State Guard (WSG)
Thank you for your time, your service and the commitment to the State of Washington.
You are not forgotten!
Stay safe and have a great holiday with family and friends.
CSM McConnell, WSG
Yakima Detachment

Raven Conversations- Washington State Guard, with LTC Peter Lukevich

09/30/2023

https://youtu.be/TyJGTkTeDjw?si=I1h-omvzfdujzetc

Raven Conversations- Washington State Guard, with LTC Peter Lukevich In this episode of Raven Conversations, Washington State Guard Chief of Staff, LTC Peter Lukevich talks about the Washington State Guard and how the State Gu...

Photos from Spokane & Yakima Detachment, Washington State Guard's post

09/22/2023

This last weekend September 23rd and 24th the Yakima Detachment of the Washington State Guard (WSG) had a request for assistance in short wave radio.
SPC Cochran stepped up and went on IDT orders to assist with radio traffic at the Teanaway 100 Race Northwest of Ellensburg.
Well done SPC Cochran, proud to have as a team member with the WSG.
Always looking for new eager soldier's to join our ranks.

08/14/2023

Members of the Yakima and Spokane Detachments of the Washington State Guard (WSG) just finished up supporting Franklin County with the Emergency Worker Assistance Center exercise.
There were two separate dates that the WSG assisted in this exercise.
Thank you Franklin County our teams learned much and how to assist if needed in the future.

06/12/2023

Members of the Washington State Guard (WSG) Yakima and Spokane Detachments training at Camp Murray for Annual Training 2023.
Thank you for the training stations and other training opportunities for our annual training this year.
Looking forward to training in the Spokane and Yakima Detachment areas in the near future with our teams from the Westside and all areas.

05/07/2023

Training in Yakima at Cowiche Canyon Trailhead. Training consisted of Communication drills and check points. Team members also used compass orientation skills with map reading and finding various points through the trail system. Do you know what your pace count is for 100 meters? I do!
Thank you SPC Cochran of the Yakima Detachment for organizing training this month. (WSG)
Special Guest assisting in this training was George Long from Kittitas County 911 assisting in Comms relays to team (WSG) members.
We will be using this course for further training in the future.

04/08/2023

Annual Compass / Orientation training in Stevens County.
Spokane / Yakima Detachments
Training with the Med Sled as well as Wilderness first Aid at certain points on the course.
Training course will be extended to a broader area next year to accommodate more points.
Great job!

02/12/2023

11 February 2023 members of the Spokane and Yakima Detachment said farewell to CSM Richard Maysonet.
After 45 years of service to the Nation, National and State Guard.
CSM Maysonet will be truly missed by all who served with him.
CSM Stickney came over from Headquarters to do the awards presentation for CSM Maysonet, which was at the Spokane Readiness Center. (SRC)
Good luck in the future Richard.

12/11/2022

The MEMS Training and certification program is available to everyone civilian as well as military reserves or active who is interested in emergency management. If interested in this program, contact CSM Brewer, MEMS Academy State Director for the States of Idaho and Washington.

Photos from Washington National Guard's post

12/08/2022

Welcome.

Active 2022 prepares Washington State Guard for more missions and growth in the future

12/01/2022

This is a great article on our organization. Great job WSG.

Active 2022 prepares Washington State Guard for more missions and growth in the future The Washington State Guard ends 2022 with a new commander and a long list of accomplishments.

11/24/2022

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone in the Washington State Guard. We have made it to another holiday season. Have a great time with family and friends. Have safe travels on this day!
CSM McConnell WSG
Yakima Detachment

11/05/2022

PFC Drew Cochran from the Yakima Detachment of the Washington State Guard had a great opportunity observing the EOC-to-EOC exercise in Kittitas County on 29 October 2022.
This exercise will be focused on Communications between E0Cs and will be around an earthquake scenario.

11/03/2022

25 October 2022 CPL Doug Lemke participated as an observer with the Franklin County Emergency Management in the EOC.
One task that was assigned was to enter into the Comm Log. (ICS 309 FCEM Amateur Radio)
CPL Lemke donated his time to understand more about the roles inside our EOC.
Looking forward in the future to work with our local EOC in our Communities.

11/02/2022

Washington State Guard had the privilege of hosting the Incident Command System (ICS) G 300 class. 10/22/2022
MSG Randy August was the primary Instructor for the class.
We had Paramedics, EMT, Firefighters, National Guard, Emergency Management and members of the State Guard.
100% pass rate for this course.
Thank you Yakima Readiness Center for the use of the facility. YRC

11/01/2022

Washington State Guard Member of 2nd Infantry Brigade Yakima Detachment Doug Lemke was promoted to the rank of Corporal (CPL) at drill 22 October 2022 YRC
Doug is a great asset to the Detachment and the WSG.

09/18/2022

Today members of the Spokane Detachment (WSG) participated with the Lower South Hill Block Party. Last count was over 1500 attendees.
This year's theme was to say thank you for all you do for our community.
Thank Your Local First Responders!
We will be back!

09/12/2022

Come join the 2nd Infantry Brigade at this great community event. Find CSM McConnell and tell him you saw this post and you might be presented with something!

09/11/2022

Members of the Washington State Guard (WSG) Yakima Detachment training at the Yakima Readiness Center. (YRC)
Great job guys!

09/11/2022

Members of the 2nd Infantry Brigades "Spokane Detachment" will be assisting with the Lower South Hill Block Party. This will be the 14th year that such Block Party has assisted in the Spokane Area.
This year theme will be "Thank Your Local First Responders."
Our table will be set up between 8th and 9th Madison.

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