STATE GUARD When the State Guard was organized, a strength of 1,221 officers and ‘men comprising one regiment of troops was authorized by the War Depart- ‘ment as a basis for receiving Fedoral aid and equipment, and in addition thereto, an unlimited reserve to be equipped by the state or individuals concerned. A large number of reserve units were organized under the latter authorization and the State of Oregon owes an undying debt of gratitude for the manner in which the officers and men of these self-sustained units have carried on their duties during the’ present emergency. Pursuant to action of the General Staff and your approval on January 24, 1944, authorizing an increase in the strength of the active State Guard drom 4,221 Yo 2,500 officers and men, a request was submitied to the National Guara ‘Bureau in June, 1944, for the suthorizeg increase. ‘The request for ‘an increase was approved by the National Guard Bureau in July, 1944, but the authorized strength for drawing equipment was reduced from 2,500, 10 2,000 officers and men, Plans were effected and seversl reserve units were transferred to the ‘active list and necessary requisitions submitted for badly needed Federal equipment, which was received and distributed in due course. ‘During the recent conference of Adjutants General in Washington, D. C., uring November, 1944, an authorization for an additional increase t0 2,500 officers and men ‘was obtained from the National Guard Bureau, subject to ‘our mustered strength reaching approximately 2,000, Additional reserve units wero selected for activation, based on past records and necessary in- spections requested of the Ninth ‘Serviee Command ae to suitable quarters and storage for Federal equipment as required by regulations, ‘These in= spections have just been completed and while a considerable list of defi ciencies were found, it is hoped to have these rectified shortly after the first of the year and the’ units activated and necessary requisitions for additional ‘equipment submitted. Following an inspection of State Guard units over the state during July, August, and September, 1044, it was found that.a great number of units, for all intents and purposes, ceased to exist except on paper. ‘This condition in nearly all. cases as reported by the officers concerned, resulted from: Losses ‘of members to the armed services, removal of others trom the mallitary ais- ‘ricts, lack of interest due to the progress of the war, the probability that ‘the country would not be invaded by the enemy, the fact that no Federal oF state equipment was furnished which some officers contended was promised, lack of interest in their welfare which existed at higher headquarters, lack of visits of inspection and conferences by all higher eschelons on thelr state of training, Tack of training directives, programs, manuals, and similar ‘complaints ‘in view of this condition and the fact that the organization of several separate battalions was never completed, a plan of reorganization has been effected dividing the state into battalion districts of six active battalions and five-tesetve battalions. The number of units per battalion to be increased over thé old organization of four units, depending on geographical location. Balance of the Teserve units will be mustered out of the state service upon approval of the local commanding officer. ‘The abave plan will necessarily be slow in carrying out to completion, due to the fact that all records must be closed out and files completed, however, it will be carried out with the utmost dispatch. ‘This will result in a more flexible organization and place the supervision of each district under the direct control of a field officer responsible for the training, inspection, and recruitment, in his district, under control of the Commanding Officer of troops. ‘Pursuant to orders of the Ninth Service Command, Captain Frederick C. Sullivan, AUS., was assigned as instructor and Inspector for the State Guard um18 ‘TWENTY-NINTH BIENNIAL REPORT with station at Portland and offices in the Armory. His assignment which War made pursuant to a request of this office, fills a long desired meed and is found to be beneficial to, and show results among, all units. Previously sta~ Coned at Camp Adait, he comes very highly recommended and will be re- ‘Bonsible to higher authority for the instruction and state of training, periodic PeSpostions, actions on reports of survey, and other allied papers and reports Turing the month of October, the Ninth Service Command conducted a ‘school for State Guard otflcers, which was of one week’s duration and lasted for'a period of three weeks. A separate detail was authorized to attend each fyeok. “All the 29 officers taking and completing the course, received high Bemice fap the instructors or thelr academic record and results obtained. Mere officers are all qualified to act as instructors and should produce ex— ollent resulls in furthering the training of State Guard units, A Command Post Exercise was held at the Armory in Portland under the supervision tf the Commanding General, Northwest Sector Western Defense Command, {fn which the following participated: Various Federal services, State Guard Headquarters Battalion Staffs, ‘The Washington Highway Patrol, and Ore- fon Slate Police. ‘The results of this exercise were outstanding and bene- fiat to all those participating. Two other Command Post Exercises are Fhaaned for January, 1948, under the supervision of the Ninth Service Com- Mland Instructor—one.at Salem, January 21st, and the other in Portland, Sanuary 28th. vind primary purpose of listing this Information is to set forth the extra time and effort that is devoted by all officers and enlisted men without fu pursement and, in addition to the regular weekly drill periods, in fur- Thering thelr own military education and training and to develop team wotk cece the various staffs and branches of the service, so essential in a smooth Working effleient milltary organization. : Herstofore, all officers of the State Guard have had to purchase their own uniforms and equipment at personal expense and receive no compensa Gon for their services and, in view of the fact that replacement of some of {hair equipment 1s now necessary, there is included in the budget an item {or uniform allowance of $75.00 per year for each full year of service, similar to that authorized for the National Guard. aan arehcs included in the budget, an item for a quarterly allowance of all active units ranging up to One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) Ghgending om size and type of unit, to cover all operating expenses such as seetage slationery, telephone, office supplies of all types, heat, light, water, rent, and similar expenses. ‘iis deemed highly essential that the above noted allowances be authorized im order to Increase the efficiency and operating effectiveness thereby elim- Mating the general complaint—that no interest is being shown by the state. Tri weccmamended that the legislature take necessary action to amend the state income tax law whereby any personal funds expended by officers or Giisted men in the purchase of military equipment or other authorized ex- Senate in connection with State Guard activities, be allowed as an exemption PePincome tax purposes, upon certification of their commanding officers or Of this office, as at present allowed against Federal income taxes. When the State Guard was authorized, all officers and enlisted men were put {0 considerable expense in equipping themselves and there fs a continuous Patcnse for those who stay in the service. In view of the fact that the expeesSersonnel serve the state without reimbursement, it is deemed highly saemtidl fo the best interests ot the service that this amendment be authorized “There ‘is included as an appendix to this report, a roster of all officers of the Oregon Stato Guard showing grade, branch, and station, and a roster of fll units showing organization and home station.