Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: The Home Front Command is investigating the reason for the delayed alert to the public, who arrived just three minutes before the sirens were activated
Iran: Islamic Revolution Guard Corps: We targeted the base from which the (Israeli) attack on the state broadcasting authority was launched
Israeli media outlet: In Israel, they are investigating whether the recent strike was carried out using cruise missiles rather than ballistic missiles, and this is also the reason for the significant delay in discovering the launches
Araghchi: Iran has never withdrawn from the dialogue table, but the focus at this stage is on an effective and painful response to deter aggression
Araghchi: Israel launched this war against the Iranian people with the direct support and complicity of the United States
Araghchi: We hold the Zionist entity and its supporters responsible for the consequences of any escalation in the war
Iran: Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi: Iran's legitimate defense against aggression will continue with strength
Israeli media: An Iranian missile struck Bir al-Sabee' in the south
Broadcasted footage documented an Israeli air defense missile malfunction, impacting the ground amid the Iranian missile strike
Israeli military command tells Israeli settlers that the defense against Iranian missiles is not "hermetic"

DeSantis revives WWII state guard, controls it as personal militia

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: The Guardian + news websites
  • 16 Jul 2023 11:42
3 Min Read

The armed force's budget reaches a staggering $107.5 billion funded by the state despite having no jurisdiction over its operations.

  • x
  • DeSantis revives Florida's state guard, builds it as personal militia
    Florida Governor Ron DeSantis speaks during a rally ahead of the midterm elections, in Hialeah, Florida, US, November 7, 2022 (AFP)

Republican Florida state Governor and US presidential candidate Ron DeSantis has built his own armed militia comprising former army veterans under the guise of a civilian disaster relief force, The Guardian reported on Sunday, citing an investigation by the Miami Herald and Tampa Bay Times.

The armed group is a revival of the state guard, a domestic paramilitary band that has been dormant since the Second World War.

Read more: Trump belittles rival DeSantis as having 'no personality'

According to the news site, veterans that resigned earlier said they have become concerned about the "militaristic" nature of the training, while also reporting "abuse" a disabled veteran suffered from by the instructors.

Announcing its establishment in 2022, DeSantis described the group as an "emergency focused, civilian defense force,” but it quickly transformed into something entirely different after recruits started receiving military combat training using arms while wearing camouflage uniforms instead of the usual khaki shirts and pants, the investigation said.

“The program got hijacked and turned into something that we were trying to stay away from: a militia,” Brian Newhouse, a retired Navy veteran with 20 years of service, told reporters, expressing further concerns over the fact that the training was conducted by national guards.

Related News

Iran signals no new concessions in nuclear talks with US, WSJ reports

Sanders warns against US action in 'illegal Netanyahu war' on Iran

Read more: "I was screaming and he was smiling": DeSantis ran Guantanamo torture

The program budget, which was first passed by a Republican-led state legislature close to DeSantis, jumped from an initial $10 million to a massive $107.5 million, which helped the force expand its equipment and size. Under the new payment, the number of recruits rose from 400 to 1,500 combat-ready veterans.

Helicopters, boats, and cyber software for hacking purposes were on the list of items to be acquired by the state-funded, yet outside federal jurisdiction, militia.

The abuse allegation, which prompted a police investigation, pertains to an incident involving a disabled retired marine captain who claimed to have been forcefully placed into a van by national guard personnel. This incident occurred after he voiced his dissatisfaction with the treatment of recruits.

“I don’t even think the governor knows what’s going on. I don’t think this is a fly on his radar right now,” Newhouse said, noting that DeSantis is a former Navy lieutenant. “He would be appalled that a disabled veteran would be abused by other military members.”

Read more: DeSantis role in Guantanamo Bay killings exposed with a holed report

According to Newhouse and two other veterans who quit the program, the trainers were inexperienced and the boot camp was “slapdash”.

Confirming the change of the force's mission, Maj Gen John D Haas, Florida’s adjutant general overseeing the state’s national guard, told the investigating newspapers that it is now a “military organization" that will be tasked to aid "law enforcement with riots and illegal immigration”.

  • United States
  • State guard
  • Florida
  • US
  • US elections 2024
  • Ron DeSantis

Most Read

Iranian missiles impact Israeli sites in Tel Aviv in 2nd wave

Iran's missiles impact 'strategic' Israeli site in Tel Aviv

  • Politics
  • 14 Jun 2025
Bin Salman: Islamic world backs Iran in call to Pezeshkian

MBS says Islamic world backs Iran in call with Pezeshkian

  • MENA
  • 15 Jun 2025
Smoke rises after an Iranian ballistic missile directly struck Tel Aviv, Occupied Palestine, June 13, 2025 (AP)

Op. True Promise 3: Iran's ballistic missiles strike Tel Aviv

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025
'Israel' launches major strike against Iran's nuclear program

'Israel' launches massive aggression on Iran

  • MENA
  • 13 Jun 2025

Coverage

All
The Ummah's Martyrs

Read Next

All
Smoke rises from an oil storage facility after it appeared to have been struck by an Israeli strike on Saturday, in Tehran, Iran, Monday, June 16, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Hezbollah, regional media authorities condemn Israeli IRIB bombing

The trace of a projectile is seen before hitting Tel Aviv, early Saturday, June 14, 2025. (AP)
Politics

'Israel' bans foreign journalists from covering Haifa oil refinery

In this Dec. 23, 2019 file photo released by the Atomic Energy Organization of Iran, technicians work at the Arak heavy water reactor's secondary circuit near Arak, Iran (AEOI)
Politics

Iran signals no new concessions in nuclear talks with US, WSJ reports

An IRIB correspondent reporting live after the broadcaster's headquarters were struck by Israeli airstrikes, Tehran, June 16, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

Following blatant threats, 'Israel' bombs Iran's state broadcaster

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS