New Jersey Naval Militia Foundation Report to the Acting Governor and Legislature of New Jersey

The N.J. Naval Militia Foundation
observed the birthday of the U.S Marine Corps Reserve by submitting its
Report on Increasing NJ's Port Security to Acting NJ Governor Richard J.
Codey and the NJ State Legislature. The U.S. Marine Corps was founded
in 1775 to protect the Port of Philadelphia from the British. Its
Reserve was founded on 29 August 1916 with officers and men from Marine
Units of the State Naval Militias to supply men for World War I. The
Marine Corps Reserve lost funding for approximately three years after
World War I as a "redundant force." Still, many patriotic Marines
continued to drill without pay until our Nation once again realized the
need for their services.

Like those Marine Corps Reservists, the men and women of the N.J. Naval
Militia Joint Command answered N.J.'s call after the terrorist attacks
of 9-11. After the Jim McGreevey Administration took office, funding
for the Naval Militia-JC was suspended and has been suspended for three
years. Still, 120 patriotic men and women of the Naval Militia-JC
continue to drill without pay and are ready to serve once their State
again recognizes the need for their services.

Ironically, however, the need was well documented by the 18 May 2004
letter of the N.J. State Police, the 07 June 2004 letter of the U.S.
Coast Guard, and the July 2004 DMAVA Committee Report. Still, MG Glenn
K. Rieth has reported to the Governor that the Naval Militia-JC is not
needed. Meanwhile, he has banned the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast
Guard Reservists and State Guard members of the Naval Militia-JC from
participating in any state homeland security missions despite the need
for a well trained and cost effective anti-terrorism unit.

Some of these military professionals have considered either filing a
class action law suit or claims with the U.S. Dep't of Labor in Trenton
and the N.J. Division of Civil Rights in Newark against the N.J.
Department of Veterans Affairs for the first known case of military
branch discrimination. Instead, while NJ voters consider who their next
governor will be, these patriots will pursue a political solution to
this impasse and temporarily put any plans for a law suit on hold.

There are State Naval Militias in Alaska, Ohio, South Carolina, and
Puerto Rico. The New York Naval Militia has 4,000 volunteers who
protect nuclear power plants and patrol New York waters.

Like other volunteers, the sailors and Marines of the Naval Militia-JC
are not looking for paychecks, they simply want to serve and help
protect New Jersey from terrorist attack. The U.S. Coast Guard has
welcomed help from the Naval Militia to address these threats, but MG
Rieth has refused. The N.J. State Marine Police submitted a letter in
support of the Naval Militia-JC, but that letter was suppressed and
never included in the Report to the Governor.

We ask that all New Jersey residents contact Acting Governor Codey,
their state senator, and their state assemblymen to support the men and
women of the N.J. Naval Militia Joint Command.

Copies of the N.J. State Police letter and Foundation Report, DMAVA Report, DMAVA Committee Minutes,
and Response by MG Reith can be supplied in PDF format upon request.

About Us:

1. The New Jersey Naval Militia Foundation is incorporated in the State of New Jersey as a not-for-profit organization. The Internal Revenue Service has recognized the Foundation's tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Please check with your tax advisor as to the deductibility from Federal Income Tax of any contributions made to the Foundation.



2. The New Jersey Naval Militia Foundation is an educational and professional organization of individuals who have joined together:



3· To promote the interest of the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command and the State Guard of the State of New Jersey to the advantage of the State of New Jersey and the overall welfare and security of the United States as a whole;



4· To provide educational programs designed to be informative and professionally valuable to members of the New Jersey Naval Militia Joint Command and the public at large;



5· To collect, evaluate and disseminate information to our fellow countrymen and members of bodies politic relating to our nation's welfare and security; and



6· To support the military and naval policies of the State of New Jersey and the United States.




Ed Griffin,
President
N.J. Naval Militia Foundation

Steve Mannion,
Director of Legislative Affairs
N.J. Naval Militia Foundation

Tom Perrin,
Secretary
N.J. Naval Militia Foundation