Puerto Rico State Guard

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name= Puerto Rico State Guard


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dates= 1941 - 1946, 1971 - present
country= United States
allegiance= Puerto Rico
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anniversaries=The Puerto Rico State Guard is a voluntary professional officer corps who offers support for security and medical services in Puerto Rico. The PRSG responds directly to the Adjutant General of Puerto Rico, is commanded by a Brigadier general and is composed of four Brigades in the San Juan Metropolitan Area and in the cities of Ponce (South), Mayagüez (West) and Caguas (Center).

The task of the PRSG is to offer support, in his totality, to the Puerto Rico National Guard (PRNG) when the later is activated by the Governor of Puerto Rico or called to active service by the President of the United States. [ [https://www.pr.ngb.army.mil Puerto Rico Army National Guard Official WebSite ] ] The PRSG also represents the Puerto Rico National Guard in civic activities, and to let support to the PRNG in cases of emergencies.

With the approved resources, the State Guard of Puerto Rico will be able to recruit and to train personnel to provide the security and defense with the armories; as well as to attend the civilian authorities in cases of natural disasters, emergencies and serious disturbances of the public order. These volunteers will offer support and provide services to the community by means of health clinics.

The Puerto Rico State Guard is among the most active and largest SDF's in the nation with almost 2,600 troops organized in 6 Support Groups, a Separate SAR Company, a Military Institute and HHQ's. The PRSG is a direct offspring of the Spanish Volunteer Regiments created during the Spanish Colonial period with was substituted later by the US Army Volunteer Infantry in 1898.The PRSG was created in 1941 in response to WWII. It disbanded in 1946, but a small cadre was reinstated in the early 1970's. The modern PRSG reformed in 1976 by virtue of the Military Law of Puerto Rico and it is considered the state controlled branch of the PRNG.

In the PRSG there is a large representation of prior service soldiers with extensive combat and command experience as well as non priors with significant professional and paramilitary backgrounds which greatly enhance the organization. A large proportion of PRSG soldiers are active members of State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS) [ [http://www.sgaus.org/ State Guard Association of the United States] ] and a few senior officers and NCOs hold leadership positions in the organization.

The PRSG have been a very active force multiplier for the PRNG, supporting Federal mobilizations (legal and medical support) and assuming SAD duties (natural disasters, civil disturbances, community service and facilities management).

There are two books that deal extensively with the history of the PRSG, but are out of print. They are: "Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico- Historia y Tradiciones" by CWO José Norat and "Historia de la Guardia Estatal de Puerto Rico" by LTC Luis De Casenave.

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