Might as well tell about it, we can compare SDF and learn from this.
Texas SDF is under the TX Adjutant General and the Governor is the commander. TX may have certain rights WRT armies, I think it still keeps the right to have its own army. Military in Texas, except for federal troops like full-time Army, is called "the military forces of the state of Texas" and includes national guard, air guard, maritime, and state guard.
The difference between TX SDF and USAR/USAF/TXARNG uniforms is the "U.S. Army" tape which THEY have which indicates they are federalize-able, OURS whiuch says "Texas State Guard", indicating we cannot be federalized, and the shoulder patch flag, we wear is the Texas flag. The star is leading (wartime reversed flag).
I was happy with the BDUs and I had them paid for. Easy to clean, can't see spilled food on them, etc.. I had to buy new ACUs and all the velcro rank, tapes,. IR tab, other stuff and they were not cheap. (we don't have much need for IR but the guys like the tab and it's apparently authorized)
The way it works in TX, we don't break units up and mix them if it can be helped, except for the C4I detachment.
Every regiment has a responsibility to maintain a few headcount in its geographical area for C4I (communication-computer-command-control-information). C4I exists to detach from the regiment and support the statewide mission. These are the radio and computers experts. They get sent within Texas during emergencies to help with communications for the national guard so that the NG commo guys are not spread thin and also to free up more regular NG soldiers who would otherwise have to help w/ communications.
Each regiment might have one or two C4I that are non-deployable and they remain with RGT HQ staff and take care of whatever (I am one of those). Since I no longer deploy for health reasons, I make it up by training others in those black arts. Few acolytes are truly worthy
! Just kidding, but very few have a serious interest in command and control technology outside of computers.
Most ham radio guys don't want to do the military thing for wantever reason, they'd rather show up in shorts and a t-shirt and send messages for the red cross. Not that there's anything wrong with that. It might be an ego thing though. The red cross radioman is a big shot in his AO, the military radioman is just one of many useful tools for completing the mission.
For my truck's use, forget about getting paid for any of it. TX SDF uses the national guard's assets for the backbone in emergencies. In the past it was not so and we used the truck for commo with my agreement, but the current plan is more effective because the NG equipment is maintained at someone else's cost and since it is not private, it can be ordered anywhere. The TXSG will not intentionally (so far anyway) order a person or their assets directly into harm's way, and also it does not want to be responsible for private assets and would rather not have them integrated into the plan because they cannot legally control them.
We use my truck for comms operator training and as a TOC/NCS for non-emergency events for convenience sake. No one pays me for my fuel, radios, etc, but if there are big generators running at the event, there be diesel! and I always find a way to get my tank topped off on the event's nickel at no cost to the unit.
These public service events like the balloon race are a source of "donations" from the event to the unit fund which is used to pay for our office supplies, basic uniform items for those troops who are a bit short on cash, etc.
Since harm's way is mentioned, we are covered by state-paid workers comp insurance from the time we leave home until we return.
In Texas the employer is obligated to the same constraints as for federal military. If they don't, they get a letter from the adjutant general with attorney general in copy, which is guaranteed to correct the misunderstanding.
During State Active Deployment (sorry, not drills and unit-held training) The state pays each soldier about $125 per day plus meals and milieage at the IRS rate.
Employers who pay employees during the time an employee is deployed can demand an accounting of the $125 per day, and if the employee makes more than this, take it out of the employee's paycheck so that the employee theoretically gets the same pay for those days (emplyee not double dipping). They also may not deduct more than the employee's regular pay from the employee's paycheck from those employees who make less than $125 per day (employer cannot enrich itself).
Many of these improvements have been recent. Sometimes I am ashamed to say, the sdf does petty or seemingly senseless things. For instance there was a huge stack of radios, HF Motorlas I believe, in a warehouse there, and they would not assign them out to the field. They been there for years.
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It is hard work but I enjoy it very much and it is for a good thing.
