FLORIDA'S ARMY






























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116th Field Artillery area. Camp Blanding, 1941.




State Guard in 1942 to avoid confusion with the Civilian uniforms, helmets, and gas masks to go around, weap-
Defense Force, assumed the function and status of the ons became a problem when the federal government
National Guard within the state. It occupied and cared took back the relatively modern rifles it had issued in
for the state's National Guard armories and engaged in 1941 and replaced them with shotguns. This was nec-
continual training programs to better prepare for state essary due to the high materiel losses of the Allied
active duty. It certainly wasn't easy. In addition to no pay nations during 1941 and 1942. Modern weapons would
for drill or training encampments, the State Guard suf- be issued Florida's State Guardsmen towards the end of
feared from an enormous turnover in personnel. statis- the war.
tically calculated as 100 percent per year. Volunteers In spite of its many problems, the Florida State
were constantly moving to other cities or states to pursue Guard was able to maintain at all times during the war
wartime job opportunities and. as happened even more and for a year afterwards an average strength of just
frequently, volunteering or being drafted into the over 2.000 officers and men, equipped for duty. In ex-
regular armed forces. cess of 11.000 individuals served with the State Guard
 The State Guard had to make do with two-hour during the years 1940-46. They were officially called to
weekly training sessions. Although there were enough active state active duty seven times during and imme-


 165 *
 warimjoboporuniie an. s appne evn or an fr yer ftewadsan veagestenth f us
 frqenl, outerngo eigdrfe it, h ve .00ofies n mn qupedfrduy I x
 reaular ared forces.cess of 11000 individual serve with the tate Guar
 0a
 Th Sae urdhd omaedowthto-or uin teyer 14-4.Thyweeofiial cledt
 weeky tiring sesion. Athouh thre ere noug acive tateactve dty sventime durng nd iime

 -165-