Will the Texas State Guard Change Uniforms? General Sheridan Responds to New National Guard Uniform Directive

In this clip, we speak with the new Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, Major General Roger O. Sheridan. The discussion focuses on the recent National Guard directive, CNGBI 5500.01, which outlines how the National Guard should interact with State Defense Forces. One of the key recommendations in the directive is for all State Defense Forces to adopt distinctive uniform changes—including red nametapes, red rank insignia, and a red baseball cap—to clearly differentiate them from National Guard troops. General Sheridan shares his perspective and discusses whether the Texas State Guard may implement such a transition in the future.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
This episode was made possible by Dustin Colegrove, Colonel c McAdams, Sr.
And Colonel This episode was made possible by Dustin Colgrove,
Colonel c McAdams, Senior Colonel Phillip Smith, and other Patreon
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(00:20):
Defense Force.

Speaker 2 (00:22):
So we see a lot of State Defense Force troops.
Excuse me, we see a lot of State defense forces
transitioning parts of their uniforms such as their cover, their
name tapes, their rank insignia to non OCP camouflage colors
such as black. Some adopt HAN name tapes and covers

(00:46):
and such are some state defense forces are even considering
moving all their members to blue polos and tan pants.
I wanted to get your opinion because the Texas State
Guard seems unaffected by this. You guys where the same
OCP uniform as the Army National Guard. You just have

(01:07):
a Texas state flag on the right hand side instead
of the US flag. You have OCP name tapes just
as Texas State Guard instead of the US Army. So
you kept the model that's been going on for decades.
So I wanted to get your opinion on why do
you believe there's a sudden nationwide change in the appearance

(01:29):
of state defense force uniforms.

Speaker 3 (01:32):
Well, you know, again, I only can speak on my behalf.
But then I can't speculate why it has been such
a hot topic. I can tell you if the governor
directs or the tag directs, Hey, you need to change uniforms. Okay,
we'll change uniforms. But there's such a benefit in being united.

(01:57):
We're in the same uniform in a disaster, whether it's
a military or natural disaster, the army uniform, the OCP,
or any military uniform is a sign of authority, control
and safety. And so when a person is in distress

(02:17):
and they see a person that is in a military
uniform makes them a little more comfortable and they know
that those people are there to help them. So, you know, me, personally,
I like to continue the route that we're going. If
we do have to change, that'll be the direction of

(02:40):
the attaging governor. But again, we make my personal.

Speaker 4 (02:47):
Thing is we make the issue of what we wear,
and really our issue is how can we better serve
And so it's not really what we're wearing, it's how
we're doing it.

Speaker 3 (03:01):
So that's my small take on it,