New Jersey Naval Militia


The New Jersey Naval Militia is the official naval militia of the state of New Jersey. As a portion of the New Jersey organized militia, it existed as an entity from 1895 to 1963 and again from 1999 to the present time. As a naval militia, the NJNM was partially regulated and can be equipped by the federal government, but now serves as a reserve force which falls under control of the State of New Jersey. Naval militias are authorized and regulated by federal law under Title 32 of the United States Code. New Jersey law also allows for the state to maintain a naval militia. As it falls under state jurisdiction, the Governor of New Jersey is the Commander-in-chief of the NJNM.

History

The New Jersey Naval Militia, originally called the Naval Reserve of New Jersey, was founded in 1895, with the purpose of protecting the coast, harbors, and waterfront property. After the passage of the Federal Naval Reserve Law of 1916, the name was changed to the Naval Militia of New Jersey.
The NJNM first saw combat during the Spanish–American War, and also fought in the World War I and World War II. After reaching a peak strength of 3,590 during the Korean War, the NJNM was absorbed by the United States Naval Reserve in 1963, after which it ceased to exist as an independent organization.
In 1999, the NJNM was reorganized by Governor Christine Todd-Whitman to better integrate the NJNM with the New Jersey State Guard.
After the attacks of September 11, 2001 the NJNM was called to State Active Duty to assist in recovery, including a deployment of the NJNM's Disaster Medical Assistance Team and the Chaplain Corps to Staten Island, and the ferrying of evidence collected from Ground Zero to Manhattan's Chelsea Pier and Staten Island. The NJNM also took part in Operation Noble Eagle.

Duties

As a naval militia, in the aftermath of the attacks of 9/11, the NJNM was responsible for aiding in homeland security operations and disaster recovery. Missions conducted by the NJNM between September 11, 2001, and 2002 include:
In April 2002, at the conclusion of Operation Noble Eagle, due to unresolved issues cited by the Adjutant General, the NJNM was stood down from State Active Duty by the Adjutant General.

Organization

The NJNM was originally organized at a brigade level. By 1912, the NJNM was organized into two brigades, consisting of 346 members, and different ships loaned by the federal government: the monitor U.S.S. Ajax in 1898, and the vessels USS Vixen, USS Adams, and USS Marietta.
After its reactivation in 1999, the NJNM was integrated into the New Jersey State Guard in a way which would allow civilian volunteers into its naval militia while still technically meeting the requirement that 95% of a naval militia be composed of navy, marine, and coast guard reservists in order to receive federal aid. This was done by organizing the NJNM into three battalions, with the first battalion being composed solely of navy, marine, and coast guard reservists in order to receive access to federal support and Navy and Marine Corps facilities. The second battalion was organized as an operational Naval State Guard, composed largely of former service members and the 3rd Division providing support and auxiliary functions. By only seeking federal recognition for the first battalion as a naval militia, and considering the other two as divisions of the New Jersey State Guard, the NJNM is potentially able to receive federal aid and include civilian volunteers.

Equipment

Since reactivation in 1999, the NJNM had maintained eight boats donated by the city of Linden, the U.S. Coast Guard and the New Jersey State Police.
NJNM currently maintains four 23 foot Monarch aluminum patrol boats, and a former Navy 24 foot diesel powered aluminum patrol boat.
As a federally recognized naval militia, the first battalion of the NJNM would be allowed supplies from the federal government and access to United States Marine Corps and United States Navy facilities.