Recent current events have shown us a few things. While most Americans could not envision a better country in which to live, there are those who do not appreciate all those freedoms we hold sacred in the United States. The Florida National Guard is the National Guard force of the U.S. State of Florida. It comprises the Florida Army National Guard and the Florida Air National Guard.
The United States Constitution charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. The Florida National Guard is under the control of the governor and the commander-in-chief. The Florida National Guard provides trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization in case of war or national emergency. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is “to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law.”
The Florida National Guard serves as the state’s “defense force.”
Making sure that our Florida National Guard has what it needs to operate is a key issue for the safety of all Floridians. Because Florida is a key gateway for drugs entering the Southeastern United States, the Florida National Guard has built and maintained one of the foremost Counterdrug Programs in the Nation. They provide intelligence analysis support, air and ground reconnaissance, and law enforcement training and have helped seize billions of dollars in narcotics and drug related assets over the last few years alone.
For this and the many other reasons for securing our borders, the Florida National Guard’s role in keeping our State safe should be expanded to assist in State and National security issues.
