National Guard

Corporate body

National Guard

1900-present

Following the United State's Joint Resolution to annex the Republic of Hawai'i on August 12, 1898 the legal status of the National Guard was uncertain. Between 1898 and 1900, the National Guard was viewed as a local military organization without legal sanction by the federal government. On September 1, 1898 Colonel Fisher of the National Guard ordered the disbandment of all companies organized during the Republic. National Guard members were then reorganized into new volunteer companies and pledged their allegiance to the United States. The Organic Act prescribed that the governor call out the militia of to
prevent and suppress violence, enemy invasion, insurrection or rebellion in the Territory. In June 1903 the Territorial Legislature passed the Militia Act. modeled after federal legislation passed by the U.S. Congress in January 1903. Act 59 Session Laws of Hawaii, 1903 formally established the National Guard and the
Reserve Militia of the Territory of Hawaii. The organized militia was known as the National Guard and the volunteer militia as the Reserve Militia. Provisions of the act stipulated that the organization, equipment and discipline of the National Guard be the same as the United States Army. The Governor was designated the Commander in Chief of the Militia and authorized to establish rules and regulations to govern the National Guard. The commander in chief was sanctioned to organize National Guard companies as well as to disband any portion of the National Guard. The National Guard was ·subject to call into active service in time of war, insurrection, invasion, or riot by the President of the United States or the Governor of the Territory of Hawaii. An annual muster and inspection of the National Guard was held in June. The commander in chief was authorized to order inspections of troops, arms, equipment and property at other times. Every company was required to participate in marches, attend camps, assemble for drill, instruction and target practice. Passage of legislation in 1903 prompted a reorganization of the National Guard into companies, battalions and regiments. Battalions consisted of two or more companies and regiments consisted of two or more battalions. Companies consisted of approximately 100 men and officers. Company officers were one captain, one first lieutenant, one second lieutenant and the remainder enlisted men. The organization of the regimental field officers consisted of one colonel, one lieutenant colonel and one major for each battalion. The staff of the regimental commanding officer consisted of one surgeon with rank of major, one adjutant, one quartermaster, one ordnance officer and one chaplain, each with rank of captain who were appointed by the commanding officer. A surgeon was appointed for each battalion with rank of captain and an adjutant with rank of first lieutenant. The non-comissioned staff consisted of one
regimental sergeant major, one sergeant major for each battalion, one quartermaster sergeant, one ordnance sergeant, one commissary sergeant, two color sergeants and one chief musician, with rank of sergeant major. Line and field officers were elected to three and four year terms respectively and commissioned by the Commander in Chief. Commissioned officers were authorized to administer oaths and affirmations relating to military service. General staff officers were to be elected by field officers. Company commanding officers were responsible for the arms, ammunition, supplies, clothing and other military property issued to their respective units. Act 46, signed into law in March 1909 authorized the governor to organize the militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, squadrons, troops, batteries, companies and signal corps; and to alter, divide, annex, consolidate, disband or reorganize the militia. The
legislation provided that the adjutant general control the military department of the Territory under the governor's command. The adjutant general supervised the departments, arms, branches and line troops of the military forces; published and distributed orders and regulations; attested commissions issued to military officers; and reported biennially to the governor. The adjutant general was designated the chief of staff by virtue of his office. The 1909 Territorial Legislature appropriated funds for the adjutant general's office to be a salaried position. Prior to 1909, the adjutant general served without pay. In January 1910, the Secretary of War authorized that state and territorial national guard adjutant generals to begin corresponding with him to arrange for military instructions in drill, rifle maintenance, first aid, sanitation, map reading, administrative paper work, preparation of field orders, patrols, attack, defense, procurement and management of government equipment and supplies. In April 1911, Act 153 passed the Territorial Legislature enabling National Guard officers and enlisted men to be paid while on active duty. Prior to this legislation, the National Guard served without pay while on active duty. National Guard Armory Boards were created by Act 113 passed by the 1913 Territorial Legislature. Act 113 permitted National Guard armories to be temporarily rented out for a fee . Moneys received from the rentals were used for equipment, furniture, repair and maintenance of the armory. The governor appointed officers to sit on the board and also issued rules and regulations to govern the board. The boards were required to maintain account books of rental fees and expenditures and to provide to the governor and the legislature annual statements of receipts and expenditures. Act 151 passed by the 1915 Territorial Legislature provided for the creation of a naval militia. The governor was sanctioned to appoint officers to the naval militia which consisted of a commander, a lieutenant commander, a surgeon and a paymaster each with rank of lieutenant and any other officers designated by the Secretary of the Navy. The governor was authorized to apply to the United States Navy Department for loan of a vessel for use by the Hawaii Naval Militia. The Legislature, however, did not appropriate funds to organize and maintain the naval militia. The National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 placed the National Guard under federal control of the Militia Bureau of the War Department. The federal act required the promulgation of new regulations to account for National Guard property and personnel management. The National Guard was required to comply with administrative procedures required of the U.S. army. Guardsmen were paid for regular drills and attendance by the National Defense Act, which also provided a new federal oath to be subscribed to officers and enlisted men. On June 1, 1918 pursuant to instructions from the War Department, the
1st and 2nd Regiments of Infantry and the Medical Corps were mobilized into Federal service.

Territory of Hawaiʻiʻ State of Hawaiʻi

The National Guard was ·subject to call into active service in time of war, insurrection, invasion, or riot by the President of the United States or the Governor of the Terri tory of Hawaii. An annual muster and inspection of the National Guard was held in June. The commander in chief was authorized to order inspections of troops, arms, equipment and property at other times. Every company was required to participate in marches, attend camps, assemble for drill, instruction and target practice.

Act 59 Sesssion Laws of Hawaii, 1903 formally established the National Guard and the
Reserve Militia of the Territory of Hawaiʻi. Act 46, signed into law in March 1909 authorized the governor to
organize the militia into divisions, brigades, regiments, battalions, squadrons, troops, batteries, companies and signal corps; and to alter, divide, annex, consolidate, disband or reorganize the militia. The 1909 Territorial Legislature appropriated funds for the adjutant general's office to be a salaried position. In January 1910, the Secretary of War authorized that state and territorial national guard adjutant general to arrange for military instructions in drill, rifle maintenance, first aid, sanitation, map reading, administrative paper work, preparation of field orders, patrols, attack, defense, procurement and management of government equipment and supplies. In April 1911, Act 153 passed the Territorial Legislature enabling
National Guard officers and enlisted men to be paid while on active duty. Prior to this legislation, the National Guard served without pay while on active duty. National Guard Armory Boards were created by Act 113 passed by the 1913 Territorial Legislature. Act 113 permitted National Guard armories to be
temporarily rented out for a fee . Moneys received from the rentals were used for equipment, furniture,
and maintenance of the armory. The governor appointed officers to sit on the board and also issued rules and regulations to govern the board. The boards were required to maintain account books of rental fees and expenditures and to provide to the governor and the legislature annual statements of receipts and expenditures. Act 151 passed by the 1915 Territorial Legislature provided for the creation of a naval militia. The governor was sanctioned to appoint officers to the naval militia which consisted of a commander, a lieutenant commander, a surgeon and a paymaster each with rank of lieutenant and any other officers
designated by the Secretary of the Navy. The governor was authorized to apply to the United States Navy Department for loan of a vessel for use by the Hawaiʻi Naval Militia. The Legislature, however, did not appropriate funds to organize and maintain the naval militia. The National Defense Act of June 3, 1916 placed the National Guard under federal control of the Militia Bureau of the War Department. The federal act required the promulgation of new regulations to account for National Guard property and personnel management. The National Guard was required to comply with administrative procedures required of the U.S. army. Guardsmen were paid for regular drills and attendance by the National Defense Act, which also
provided a new federal oath to be subscribed to officers and enlisted men. On June 1, 1918 pursuant to instructions from the War Department, the 1st and 2nd Regiments of Infantry and the Medical Corps were mobilized into Federal service.

Following the United States's Joint Resolution to annex the Republic of Hawaii on August 12, 1898 the legal status of the National Guard was uncertain. Between 1898 and 1900, the National Guard was viewed as a local military organization without legal sanction by the federal government. On September 1, 1898 Colonel Fisher of the National Guard ordered the disbandment of all companies organized during the Republic. National Guard members were then reorganized into new volunteer companies and pledged their allegiance to the United States.