Florida may be one of the fastest-growing states in the U.S., but its National Guard is having challenges keeping up, one military leader said.
Compared to other states, the Florida National Guard ranked 53rd out of 54 in the guardsmen-to-citizen ratio, said Major General John Haas, an Adjutant General of Florida with the Department of Military Affairs.
Haas warned during a Senate hearing that the Florida National Guard should be more than double its current size. He said Florida has the same size force as much smaller states like Mississippi, Alabama and Louisiana.
“We’re not having the same success in retention and in fact, we failed to meet our retention goals. We ended the year at 90%,” Haas said Tuesday. “The Florida National Guard struggles to meet the growing demands of our force.”
Haas spoke to lawmakers during the start of committee week as he warned about challenges ahead amid a hiring freeze for recruiters. He said some members don’t want to reenlist because of the busy deployment and training schedule. Currently, Florida Guardsmen are called out 106 days a year. That’s above the statutorily required 39 duty days.
“At some point, life gets hard and they have to make a choice and 106 days is untenable,” Haas said.
The role of the National Guard is in the spotlight as some states deploy troops to Portland, Oregon, and Chicago amid President Donald Trump’s crackdown.
Illinois and Oregon have fought back in court, arguing that the National Guard deployment in their cities was dangerous and unlawful.
Haas did not discuss the situation during Tuesday’s Senate Committee on Military and Veterans Affairs, Space, and Domestic Security.
To cover Florida’s more than 23 million people, the National Guard has about 12,000 volunteer members. Some have been called on to help with Immigration and Customs Enforcement efforts, Florida Department of Corrections shortages and securing Florida’s border, he said. Guardsmen also were deployed when Hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton hit.
The National Guard has “dual state and federal requirements” since troops can be called to handle national security objectives or help with state emergencies and disasters, Haas said.
As of Sept. 26, 512 service members are currently deployed, he said.
“Over the next 12 months, we’ll deploy an additional 2,159 service members in support of federal mission requirements and our combat command,” Haas said.
–Gabrielle Russon, Florida Politics
Thomas Hutson says
Wake up AMERICA, we are being led down a path of CIVIL WAR by accident! Letting TACO MAN send out of State National Guard Troops into another State to protect Federal Property??? Not going to work! Just a matter of time before OUT OF STATE NATIONAL GUARD TROOPS meet face up WITH THE LOCAL STATE GUARDS! Accidents happen, questions is WHAT WOULD YOU DO??? Is this ICE BULLSHIT WORTH IT?? You can’t rely on the COURTS, THEY HAVE FORGOTTEN THEIR OATH TO THE CONSTITUTION! Each of use AMERICANS need to step back and end this mess before TACO gets what he wants a KINGDOM TO RULE! Ask yourself ARE WE AT WAR with our BLUE CITIES AND STATES??? SPEAK UP!
Deborah Coffey says
It sounds like Major General Haas just gave ALL the “Trumpian” reasons why the Florida Guard can’t retain and recruit! Federal “mission requirements” my a**.
Dusty says
True but Florida has more armed citizenry than a lot of states.
Joe D says
Why is ANYONE SURPRISED, that Florida can’t retain its Nation Guard troops, nor get new recruits to sign up.
It used to be a nice part time job, called up in times of disaster to support and assist local jurisdictions and outside jurisdictions.
But NOW they are treated like PAWNS by both the Trump and the DeSantis administrations, to be sent as “illegal” local law enforcement in outside states and to be used as an additional ICE weapon in the mass Florida expedited deportations.
Unlike standard military who are committed to certain “tour” lengths. National Guard members are local citizens who have volunteered to assist in emergency situations assistance. As the article states the usual deployments are 39 days/year…but in Florida it has been 109 days …close to TRIPLE the national average deployment.
When you treat people like they are disposable…given the option they will soon “dispose” of themselves, by not renewing their guard agreements or by not signing up AT ALL!
And after the EMBARRASSING Pentagon propaganda meeting with military top brass recently, mandated by President Trump and “War” Secretary Hegseth…over the next few years, I can see the shortages in recruitment spilling over to the main military and career officers rethinking their career choices ( especially when President Trump had the habit of not letting career officers nearing their twenty year retirement age re-enlist), just so they could be CHEATED out of their career pensions, but allow them to perform their same duties….as CIVILIANS without the Military benefits! That’s what Donald Trump did to a cousin of mine during his FIRST TERM.
Consider the BIBLICAL TERM: “As you sew, so shall you reap.” How you mistreat people frequently comes back to “bite” you later in the future ( to put it in MODERN TERMS).
Laurel says
Thomas Hudson: It’s not by accident.
Should Trump fail to finish his term, Steven Miller will get even more power.