The Texas State Guard: Why Its The Largest State Defense Force in The Country

In this Commanders Briefing Podcast clip, we sit down with Major General Roger O. Sheridan, Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, to explore why the Guard has grown into the largest State Defense Force in the nation. General Sheridan shares what makes the soldiers of the Texas State Guard truly exceptional, highlighting the spirit of volunteerism and patriotism that drives their service. We also discuss the Guard’s budget, and how dedicated recruiters ensure the ranks remain filled with remarkable Texans committed to making a difference in their state.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This episode was made possible by Dustin coal Grove, Colonel
C McAdams senior and Colonel This episode was made possible
by Dustin Colgrove, Colonel C McAdams senior, Colonel Phillip Smith,
and other Patreon members. Support us at patreon dot com
forward slash State Defense Force.

Speaker 2 (00:23):
What is the main root of this surge that you have?
I feel every time we communicate with the Texas State Guard,
you guys are you know, adding hundreds more per year
to the Texas State Guard and just growing and growing.
Now you're at seventeen hundred, which I think is the
highest I've seen in decades from the Texas State Guard.

(00:47):
What are you doing that other state defense forces aren't?

Speaker 3 (00:51):
You know, it's really the sport from our stakeholders. It's
really about the service members, the creativity that those folks
that are are dedicating their time. They they're pretty amazing,
amazing folks. We got people that you know, are dedicated.

(01:12):
They may work in a restaurant, uh wait, busting tables uh.
And you you also have privates that are CEOs of corporations.
They just want to serve. And I think it's when
you get those like minded people together. It only breeds

(01:33):
other people that want to do the same thing, and
so I don't foresee the US dropping much lower. But
as we continue to do new and different things, it's
only going to strengthen our cause and there's gonna be
more people that want to want to jump on board.

Speaker 2 (01:51):
So I guess moving on to UH funding, I'm kind
of curious how much does the Texas State Guard receive
annually and funding for in the state.

Speaker 3 (02:01):
We have around about two point eight million. Wow. Yeah, yeah,
we have currently I think we're up at twenty full
time employees and the rest is going to be our
regular service members.

Speaker 2 (02:17):
Oh so for those twenty full time service members, I
do the last time we spoke to Major General Woods
in I think twenty two to twenty three, he mentioned
that you guys have active duty recruiters, full time recruiters.
Do you still currently have is that part of the

(02:40):
twenty active duty staff that you have?

Speaker 3 (02:43):
Absolutely, we do have full time recruiters.

Speaker 2 (02:46):
Do you feel that having these active duty recruiters kind
of help with the building of the Texas State Guard
to the level that you're at if? I guess one
example is if let's say another state Defense Force I'm
not gonna specify which, but let's say one state defense

(03:08):
force wants to increase their numbers by you know, twofold
or threefold, with having one or two active duty recruiters
drive that initiative and accomplish that.

Speaker 3 (03:22):
Oh, absolutely, anytime you have a full time person that
can dedicate their time to making sure that you're you know,
you're scrubbing the list, making sure that people that are
interested are truly one invest in the system. Uh, You're
also going to make sure that they're they're capable, and

(03:43):
so the working on a person being recruited is very
time consuming. So having having those professional individuals will make
a difference.