Maine State Guard
| Maine State Guard | |
|---|---|
The Maine State Guard's shoulder patch | |
| Country | United States |
| Allegiance | State of Maine |
| Type | State defense force |
| Role | Military reserve force |
| Size | 1 regiment (World War I) 2,000 (World War II) 350+ cadre (Vietnam War) |
| Part of | Maine Department of Defense, Veterans, and Emergency Management |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Keyes |
| Commanders | |
| Civilian Leadership | Governor of Maine |
The Maine State Guard was the state defense force of the state of Maine during World War I, World War II, and the Vietnam War. As a state defense force, the State Guard served as a stateside replacement for the Maine National Guard when the National Guard was federalized. Like the National Guard, the State Guard was a reserve military force composed of members who held full-time civilian jobs and periodically met for drills, unless called into active service by the governor. However, unlike the National Guard, as a state defense force, the Maine State Guard was solely a state military force, which was immune from federalization and could not be deployed outside the State of Maine.