| Missouri State Defense Force | |
|---|---|
 The World War II-era shoulder insignia for Missouri's state guard. | |
| Founded | 2012 – 2022 |
| Allegiance |  Missouri |
| Type | State defense force |
| Part of | Missouri Department of Public Safety |
| Headquarters | Ike Skelton Training Site |
| Website | Adjutant General's Office |
| Commanders | |
| Commander in Chief | Governor Mike Parson |
| Director of Public Safety | Sandy Karsten |
| Adjutant General | Brigadier General Levon Cumpton |
The Missouri State Defense Force (MSDF), formerly known as the Missouri Reserve Military Force, was the official state defense force of Missouri, deactivated in 2022.[1] As a state defense force, the MSDF was a reserve military force which served parallel to the Missouri National Guard. As the MSDF fell solely under the command of the state of Missouri, it could not be federalized or deployed outside the borders of Missouri, unlike the National Guard. Although the MSDF and the Missouri National Guard were separate organizations, the MSDF's primary scope was to work alongside the National Guard during stateside operations, or in lieu of the National Guard when the National Guard is deployed outside of Missouri. Along with the Missouri Army National Guard, the Missouri Air National Guard, and the Missouri Naval Militia, the Missouri State Defense Force is recognized under Missouri law as part of the organized militia of Missouri.[2]
The Missouri State Defense Force was a division of the Missouri Department of Public Safety.
- ^ "Missouri State Defense Force De-Activated". statedefenseforce.com. May 18, 2022.
- ^ "Chapter 41: Military Forces, Section 41.070". Missouri General Assembly Official Website. Archived from the original on April 3, 2015.