Scuttlebutt Clips

This Scuttlebutt Episode 11 clip features Major (GA – Retired) Beverly Shepard and Combat Veteran Major General (TX – Retired) Anthony Woods as they examine the growing nationwide transition of State Defense Force uniforms, specifically the shift from traditional OCP patrol covers to baseball caps. The discussion centers around the influence of the National Guard Bureau’s 2024 CNGBI 5500.01A polic...

In this Scuttlebutt clip, host Jean Marciniak, Director of The State Guard & Defense Force Council, co-host Major (GA-Ret.) Beverly Shepard, and special guest Major General Anthony Woods (TX-Ret.) examine the decline and eventual end of The Alabama State Defense Force, focusing the organizations transition from traditional military uniforms to khaki pants and polo shirts. The discussion highli...

In Episode 10 of Scuttlebutt we examine warning signs behind the disbandment of four State Defense Forces in just a decade, using the near-disbandment of the Connecticut Governor’s Guard in 2025 as a critical case study. In this clip, the discussion details how Connecticut’s Adjutant General (Senior Military Officer), Francis J. Evon, Jr., advanced legislation that would have removed the Governor’...

In this Episode 10 clip of Scuttlebutt, Jean Marciniak, Major General (TX – Retired) Anthony Woods & Major (GA-Retired) examine what led to the disbandment of four State Defense Forces in just a decade and zero in on a key lesson: visibility matters. The discussion highlights how a weak or inconsistent public presence can quietly erode relevance, support, and recruitment, while a State Defense...

This clip from Episode 9 of Scuttlebutt 'Should State Defense Force Recruits Undergo Firearms Training During Basic Training?' explores how such training would be funded including costs for weapons access, ammunition, qualified law enforcement instructors, and range use. The discussion emphasizes that achieving this capability is closely tied to structurally separating State Defense Forces from th...

Episode 7 of Scuttlebutt explores a forward-leaning concept that examines the benefits of allowing State Defense Force troops to voluntarily deploy alongside National Guard units on international missions in dedicated support roles. The discussion emphasizes that such participation would be strictly voluntary, limited to State Defense Force soldiers who want to do more, possess the required skills...

In this Scuttlebutt clip, host Jean Marciniak, Director of The State Guard & Defense Force Council, and cohost Major (GA – Retired) Beverly Shepard explore whether future National Standards for State Defense Forces should be applied broadly across all states or tailored on a case-by-case basis. They highlight how individuals in their 60s and 70s can often outperform younger applicants in fitne...

In this compelling and previously untold Scuttlebutt Podcast clip from Episode 7, Director of StateDefenseForce.com Jean Marciniak and Major (GA – Ret.) Beverly Shepard of the Georgia State Defense Force dive deep into one of the most remarkable missions in modern State Defense Force history — The New York Guard’s augmentation of The New York National Guard CERFP Team. This elite unit, composed of...

In this Scuttlebutt Episode 6 clip on Pay & Benefits, we tackle the growing debate over whether State Defense Force troops should be compensated for their monthly weekend drills and annual training periods. We highlight a legislative shift occurring across the nation, following in the steps of states like New York and South Carolina, where SDF soldiers are now being paid for weekend drills and...

In this Scuttlebutt clip, we sit down with Jim Stephens from the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project to discuss the current status of the initiative. Jim shares that the proposal has advanced to the legislative branch of Congress and is now under review by the Pentagon, marking a significant step forward. We explore the roles U.S. Army Auxiliary volunteers could play in directly supporting Army...

In today’s Scuttlebutt Podcast clip, we highlight the U.S. Army Auxiliary Activation Project and its vision for strengthening America’s defense framework. Jim Stephens, the project’s Administrator, explains its purpose, core missions, and the reasons behind its creation. He discusses how the Auxiliary can provide vital support to states already operating both a National Guard and State Defense For...

In this compelling clip from Scuttlebutt Episode 4, Jean Marciniak, Director of StateDefenseForce.com, and Major (GA - Retired) Beverly Shepard of the Georgia State Defense Force delve into the latest developments impacting State Defense Forces across the country. A key focus of the discussion is the recently revised National Guard directive, CNGBI 5500.01, which outlines how National Guard units...

In this Scuttlebutt clip, Professor Barry Stentiford discusses the critical role of State Defense Forces in times of global conflict. As history has shown, when a major war arises, The National Guard is mobilized in large numbers to support the U.S. Army, leaving states with fewer troops to respond to natural disasters and emergencies at home. We explore how this reduction in available forces unde...

In this episode clip from our latest episode of Scuttlebutt, we delve into whether State Defense Forces should deploy overseas to assist and augment National Guard units facing personnel shortages. Drawing on historical examples, such as the Maryland Defense Force’s deployment alongside the Maryland Air National Guard to Bosnia on a medical and humanitarian mission, we explore the potential for St...

In this episode of Scuttlebutt with Professor Barry Stentiford, we explore the obligations of State Defense Force soldiers and how their service compares to that of Police officers during statewide emergencies. The discussion focuses on the legal framework governing State Defense Forces soldiers when activated on State Active Duty. Much like their counterparts in the U.S. Army National Guard, and...

In this Scuttlebutt podcast snippet, Professor Barry Stentiford and I discuss why police forces alone cannot meet the demands of hurricanes, severe weather events, and state emergencies. During such crises, police forces are often overwhelmed, stretched thin by the sheer scale of the response required to ensure public safety. We highlight the critical role State Guards and State Defense Forces pla...

In this Scuttlebutt clip featuring Professor Stentiford, we explore the rising global tensions, including the Russia-Ukraine War and China’s anticipated invasion of Taiwan, and how these conflicts could significantly impact the role of State Defense Forces. With National Guard units likely deploying to conflict zones, many states could reactivate or establish new State Defense Forces to maintain e...

Today, we’re excited to share Episode 2 of Scuttlebutt! As a special treat, we’re offering our non-Patreon members an exclusive sneak peek with a snippet from the podcast. In this Scuttlebutt episode snippet, Professor Barry Stentiford examines whether National Guard Bureau support for State Defense Forces has waned since the Cold War. He explores the historical context of the Cold War era, when S...