PENSACOLA, Fla. — Gov. Ron DeSantis wants to allocate millions in the state's budget for the reactivation of the Florida State Guard (FSG), the currently inactive state defense force of the U.S. state of Florida.
During a press conference in Sarasota Thursday, DeSantis said he is proposing $3.5 million to go towards training for the FSG, which would help increase the state's quick response capability during times of emergency.
The FSG would be composed of 200 volunteer civilians from all over the state who would be able to mobilize very quickly if there was ever some sort of disaster, DeSantis said.
Originally, the FSG was created to serve as a stateside replacement for the Florida National Guard while the National Guard was deployed abroad during WWII.
Although the force was disbanded, Florida law allows the governor of Florida to create and maintain a Florida state defense force should he decide to do so.
The governor’s budget proposal also includes $87.5 million to expand the existing readiness center in Miramar and to establish three new armories in Homestead, Gainesville and Malabar.
Plus, $8.9 million for existing armory maintenance; $2.2 million for a new headquarters for the National Guard Counter Drug Program and $5.1 million to support Florida National Guardsmen seeking higher-education degrees.
“We are proud of our veterans and active-duty military members and proud of what our communities do to support them,” said DeSantis. “Florida is one of the most veteran friendly states and I think there are very few places that you would rather be on duty than in the state of Florida."
The budget proposal also includes $12.2 million in scholarships for children and spouses of deceased or disabled veterans, and $3.6 million to improve base infrastructure and support projects.