The
South Carolina National Guard consists of the
South Carolina Army National Guard and the
South Carolina Air National Guard [1] American law specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only
United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement when called upon with the suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act, normally reserved for extreme situations when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the
President or
Congress.