Sicilian Home Guard

From Jonsworld

The Sicilian Home Guard SHG is the fourth service of the Military of Sicily, concerned exclusively with the defence of Sicilian territory. Service is voluntary and unpaid, except that the most basic expenses are covered. Albeit workshop and depot staff plus clerks and senior officers are all paid. As a result of liberalization, the unarmed Women's Army Corps was merged in 1989 with the then all-male Home Guard to the present, armed unisex Home Guard. The Sicilian Home Guard plays a vital role in the Total Defense strategy of Sicily.

Its top authority is the Home Guard Command SHG, which, unlike Army Operational Command SAC, Navy Operational Command SNC and Tactical Air Command STC, is managed directly by the Sicilian Ministry of Defense SMD. Only in times of tension and war will the Sicilian Defense Command SDC assume command over the Home Guard.

[edit] Organization

As of 2006, it consists of 58,640 active members, of which 9,152 are women. It is divided into four branches:

• The Army Home Guard AHG is numerically the largest part of the Home Guard, and works closely with the regular army.
  • Sicily is divided into five Army Home Guard Regions AHGR, led by paid colonels, and subdivided into 18 Army Home Guard Districts AHGD, led by paid majors.
  • Every municipality has at least one "army home guard company" - AHGC, led by an unpaid captain.
  • The Police Home Guard PO-AHG consist of 47 Police Home Guard companies, led by professional police persons. The ordinary members have slightly more authorization than other citizens. Used for traffic control at festivals, searches for victims and guarding community installations. They are never used where there are risks of direct confrontation with civilians (riot control or planned arrests). The companies are part of the Army Home Guard.

• The Air Force Home Guard AFHG, deals with securing airports, aerial environmental patrols of national waters (oil spill observation) and reporting enemy air activity.
  • Sicily is divided into Western and Eastern Air Force Home Guard Districts, led by paid Squadron Leaders, plus a department on Malta.
  • Municipalities with airfields or in the vicinity of airports have "air force home guard squadrons" - HVE (100-150 riflemen), led by unpaid Flight Lieutenants.

• The Naval Home Guard NHG patrols the Sicilian territorial waters, and aids in Search and Rescue missions.
  • Sicily is divided into Western and Eastern Naval Home Guard Districts, led by paid Lieutenant Commanders.
  • 39 seaward municipalities have "naval home guard flotillas" - HGF (100-150 riflemen or a small vessel), led by unpaid naval lieutenants.

• The Infrastructure Home Guard IHG ensures that civilian companies and authorities can operate even in times of emergency.
  • Employees at power plants, water works and purification plants can participate in the four Energy Operation IHG EO-companies.
  • Employees at railway companies can participate in the six Railway Operation IHG RO-companies.
  • Employees in postal services can participate in the eight Postal Operation IHG PO-companies.
  • Employees at telecommunications companies can participate in the eight Communications Operation IHG CO-companies.
  • They shall keep their places of work intact and prevent sabotage with use of lethal force.

Military of Sicily

Sicilian Arab Army | Sicilian Arab Navy | Sicilian Arab Air Force | Sicilian Home Guard