The USA has been developing the Quick Reaction Forces for the National Guard in each of the 50 states of the USA, as well as in Puerto Rico and the USA territory of Guam. All states will have 500 troops in their Quick Reaction Force unit. Smaller states like Delaware will have 250 troops. Alaska will have 350. This effort marks the first time the National Guard has ever formed Quick Reaction Forces.
Most training programs encompass crowd management skills
The National Guard Bureau has set up extensive training procedures utilizing the Interservice Nonlethal Individual Weapons Course to train the personnel for civil disturbance activities. The training procedure encompasses Level I and Level II civil disturbance training pertaining to de-escalation procedures, crowd management techniques, communications utilizing handheld radios, and the appropriate usage of body shields, batons, Tasers, and pepper spray. Training programs conducted by the states will consist of five days in October, November, and December to meet the January 2026 readiness deadline.
The training curriculum offers a marked improvement over the typical National Guard support role for law enforcement. Contingent upon each state is the delivery of 100 packages of crowd control materials, as well as two full-time Guardsmen deployed under active duty orders. Monthly reporting of unit training status, personnel details, and equipment information must come through the Defense Readiness Reporting System.
This will ensure equipment standardization
The National Guard Bureau offers standardized equipment packages for crowd control functions. Such equipment enables coordination among the units across different states when the National Guard has the duty to respond to emergencies in multiple states.
Executive order directs unprecedented domestic security expansion
President Trump signed the Executive Order “Relating to the Suspension of Entry as Nonimmigrants” on August 25. This order tasked the Secretary of Defense with the following: “The Secretary of Defense shall seek to ensure that each State has available trained National Guard personnel ready for immediate mobilization to assist State and local law enforcement agencies in suppressing civil disturbances and maintaining law and order.
This new effort comes as a result of President Trump’s decision to station his troops in cities such as Los Angeles and Portland, as well as the national capital in Washington, D.C., due to the widespread civil unrest that has been witnessed in the country over the years. In his speech to US troops in Japan, President Trump declared his willingness to station “more than the National Guard” troops.
The Washington D.C. National Guard is directed to maintain a specialized military police battalion with 50 National Guard soldiers on active duty orders, reflecting the capital’s unique security requirements and potential for civil unrest scenarios.
Operational timeline targets January 2026 deployment readiness
The aim is to become fully functional by January 1, 2026. This will involve units doing additional training requirements of five days apart from their National Guard duties. Though the program targets volunteer National Guard members only, the fact is that some individuals might end up being “voluntold” to go and join the endeavor should the required pool of volunteers not come forward. This forms a whole new entity for the National Guard as the services involve responding to calamities and law enforcement.
Main implementation points:
- Effective date: January 1, 2026
- Training period: October-December 2025
- Sets of equipment: 100 per state
- Active duty coordinators: 2 per state
- Reporting: Monthly readiness updates required
The creation of the rapid response units in the National Guard marks a milestone involving the military in national security activities. This program indicates the administration’s keen interest in utilizing military resources for purposes of securing the nation, especially in the areas that have had civil unrest. These units will offer improved cooperation between the federal and state governments, as each unit will undergo training.