In this Commanders Briefing clip, host Major (GA) Retired Beverly Shepard speaks with Brigadier General (MD) Gregory Juday, the Commanding General of The Maryland Defense Force, about the growing tensions across the globe and how they could impact the United States. General Juday discusses the potential role The Maryland Defense Force would play should a global conflict arise—specifically, whether the organization could assume the state-level military duties and responsibilities of The Maryland National Guard if the Guard were federally deployed. This would not be unprecedented, as The Maryland Defense Force performed such a duty during both World War I and World War II, stepping in to protect the state and support civil authorities while the Maryland National Guard served overseas. The conversation highlights the preparedness and organizational capabilities of The Maryland Defense Force to ensure Maryland’s security and support its citizens during national emergencies.

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In this Commanders Briefing clip, Major (GA - Ret.) Beverly Shepard speaks with Brigadier General (MD) Gregory Juday, Commanding General of the Maryland Defense Force, about new missions on the horizon for the organization. General Juday reveals that the Maryland Defense Force, working in coordination with the Maryland National Guard and federal partners, is preparing to take on a critical new mission focused on protecting the state’s vital infrastructure, particularly in the cyber realm. He highlights that the Maryland Defense Force’s Cyber Team—composed of senior IT professionals and experts in cybersecurity—will play a central role in planning and analyzing strategies to safeguard Maryland’s key systems from potential threats. General Juday also emphasizes the strong partnership between the Maryland Defense Force and the Maryland National Guard, noting that all missions, whether cyber initiatives or community training events, are closely coordinated and approved through the Maryland Military Department to ensure seamless collaboration.

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In this Commanders Briefing Episode 16 clip, Brigadier General Gregory Juday, Commanding General of The Maryland Defense Force, joins host Major (GA-Retired) Beverly Shepard to discuss the Force’s vital missions supporting both The Maryland National Guard and the state’s citizens. General Juday explains how The Maryland Defense Force conducts Installation Status Report (ISR) missions, which help assess National Guard facilities so that soldiers and airmen can focus on their specialized military training. He highlights the Force’s academic and technical outreach programs, readiness training for natural disasters, and the vital work of the 10th Medical Regiment and the Medical Reserve Corps in providing free medical, dental, and counseling services to underserved Maryland communities. The General also details how the organization strengthens community resilience through CPR and emergency aid training and bolsters recruitment through civic engagement. Additionally, he discusses the expanding role of the Cyber Unit in protecting state infrastructure and educating the public about cybersecurity and financial scams, along with a new mission involving Controlled Unclassified Information (CUI), which plays an essential role in safeguarding information during emergencies.

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In this Commanders Briefing clip we sit down with the Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, Major General (TX) Roger O. Sheridan to discuss a major shift being considered for the force. Currently, Texas State Guard soldiers are compensated only when called to State Active Duty missions, but not for their Annual Training or weekend drills. The conversation highlights how possible legislation could extend pay to cover those training periods, aligning the Guard more closely with National Guard standards.

The discussion then explores the broader implications of such a change, weighing the benefits of increased compensation against the potential downsides. While pay could help recruitment, retention, and readiness, it also risks weakening the spirit of volunteerism that has long been at the heart of State Defense Forces. The General outlines how moving from an all-volunteer model to a paid force may alter the culture and sense of community within the organization, raising critical questions about the balance between professionalization and maintaining the unique volunteer ethos of the Texas State Guard.

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Major General Roger O. Sheridan, the new Commanding General of the Texas State Guard (State Defense Force), walks through exactly what recruits can expect from TXSG Basic Training. He explains the course length and how the pipeline differs for prior-service versus non-prior-service recruits—highlighting an accelerated path for those with previous military experience while maintaining a full, standards-based curriculum for first-timers. Sheridan describes how the program builds core soldier skills and discipline from day one, with an emphasis on physical readiness, teamwork, and safety. He also addresses whether training elements like Search & Rescue and obstacle course fitness events are incorporated, clarifying how they’re used to reinforce practical readiness. The conversation closes with a look ahead at a forthcoming policy update that may add formal firearms training to the Basic Training Program and why that may be needed for future missions.

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In this Commanders Briefing Podcast clip, we sit down with Major General Roger O. Sheridan, Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, to explore why the Guard has grown into the largest State Defense Force in the nation. General Sheridan shares what makes the soldiers of the Texas State Guard truly exceptional, highlighting the spirit of volunteerism and patriotism that drives their service. We also discuss the Guard’s budget, and how dedicated recruiters ensure the ranks remain filled with remarkable Texans committed to making a difference in their state.

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In this clip, we speak with the new Commanding General of the Texas State Guard, Major General Roger O. Sheridan. The discussion focuses on the recent National Guard directive, CNGBI 5500.01, which outlines how the National Guard should interact with State Defense Forces. One of the key recommendations in the directive is for all State Defense Forces to adopt distinctive uniform changes—including red nametapes, red rank insignia, and a red baseball cap—to clearly differentiate them from National Guard troops. General Sheridan shares his perspective and discusses whether the Texas State Guard may implement such a transition in the future.

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In this Commanders Briefing clip, Major General Roger O. Sheridan highlights the critical importance of the Texas State Guard's Search & Rescue (SAR) and Search and Recover teams. The discussion emphasizes how these specialized units play a vital role in saving lives during emergencies—especially relevant amid the devastating floods that struck Texas over the past week. General Sheridan shares insights into how SAR teams have proven their effectiveness not only during real-world missions but also during training events, where lives have been saved. The clip also explores how these teams work hand-in-hand with the Texas National Guard, providing crucial support during large-scale operations like Operation Lone Star.

In Part 3 of our Commanders Briefing podcast with Lt. Colonel (MD) Barry Greene, President of The State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS), we explore both his short- and long-term goals for the organization, with a strong focus on making the upcoming 2025 SGAUS Convention a major success. The President details how every newly announced course—ranging from Drone Operations to HazMat—will be actively showcased through hands-on exercises at the event, giving attendees the chance to experience the training firsthand. He also shares exciting details of a special ceremony to be held aboard a World War II vessel, beneath the very anti-aircraft guns that helped defend America in battle. Throughout the clip, Lt. Colonel Greene emphasizes the immense value of this gathering—not just for attending panels and training events, but for fostering cross-state collaboration among commanders and soldiers. He outlines his priority of launching these newly announced programs such as the SGAUS Cyber Academy, Cyber Medical Academy, New Search & Rescue and Communications Course, Public Affairs and Recruiter Courses, etc. ensuring each includes exercises and certification opportunities to empower soldiers to bring that knowledge back to their home units. Looking to the future, he expresses hope that even if only half of the new initiatives succeed, he’ll consider it a meaningful achievement, and he names his intended successor to continue the momentum.