MILITARY DEPARTMENT OF TENNESSEE

OFFICE OF THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

HOUSTON BARRACKS

NASHVILLE

37204-1502

MAJOR GENERAL

GUS L. HARGETT. JR.

THE ADJUTANT GENERAL

MEMORANDUM

 

TO:         All Personnel of The Tennessee State Guard

 

 

FROM:                   MG Gus L. Hargett, Jr,

The Adjutant General

 

BG Marvin H. Massey, TNSG

Acting Commander

 

DATE:     November 6, 2003

 

SUBJECT:   Future of Tennessee State Guard (TNSG)

 

1.  I am writing this memo to each of you personally in order to clarify my position on the

Tennessee State Guard. I have received numerous inquiries from members of the TNSG, the

Legislature, and concerned citizens citing misleading statements concerning the funding and

future of the TNSG.

2. Let me say first off that I sincerely believe that the TNSG is a valuable asset and can serve a

vital mission for the State of Tennessee. I also realize that there is a previously untapped source

of expertise and knowledge within the ranks of this organization. For the TNSG to be effective,

a valid, legal mission must be defined. As defined in a recent Attorney General's opinion, that

mission cannot be to bear arms or be used in any type of law enforcement capacity, due to

liability issues for the state. Likewise, changes in the federal mobilization of the Tennessee

National Guard now allow for a rear detachment to remain behind and maintain and secure the

National Guard armories in the event units are deployed, thus eliminating the need for the TNSG

to handle this mission. But there are certainly other missions wherein the" expertise of the

members of the TNSG can be utilized for the good of the state. I sincerely want to sit down with

members of the TNSG, and the Military Department staff to develop these missions.

3. On the issue of funding, the funding for the TNSG was eliminated during the budget cuts in

2000. This funding provided for the salary for a secretary and miscellaneous supplies for the

TNSG. The position was eliminated and the employee absorbed by the Military Department.

An offer has been made to the TNSG to provide an existing full time Military Department

employee, office space, and computer system. The details of these dispensations are now being

determined.

4. As members of a unit of the Tennessee Military Department, the wearing of your uniform is

a privilege of membership. In keeping with regulations the distinctive appearance of the name

tag (red), the Tennessee State Guard shoulder patch, the Tennessee State Guard flash on your

beret, the Norman shield, and the gold "TN", all serve to illustrate the distinction between the

TNSG, the National Guard, and the regular Army, which you deserve.

5. The four components of the Tennessee Military Department, the Army National Guard, the

Air National Guard, the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the Tennessee State

Guard combine to give to the citizens of our state the finest professional military available. The

TNSG is a valuable asset to our state and rest assured that the Military Department and the

leadership of the TNSG are working to develop a valid and legal mission for all of the

professional volunteers of the Tennessee State Guard.