The California Military Department is an agency defined under the California Military and Veterans code § 50. The Military Department includes the office of the Adjutant General, the California National Guard, the California State Military Reserve, the California Cadet Corps, and the Naval Militia.
Frequently the California Military Department and the California National Guard have been used interchangeably. This is incorrect, however, as the California National Guard is a component of the California Military Department by law. Unlike states like Nevada and Arizona where the sum total of those states' military forces is their National Guard, there are other components to California's military forces besides the California National Guard at the Governor's disposal.
There are five(5) distinct components to the California Military Department according to CA Military & Veteran's Code § 51:
"The Military Department includes the office of the Adjutant General, the California National Guard, the State Military Reserve, the California Cadet Corps, and the Naval Militia."
However, only three of these components are actually considered the "Active Militia" of the State of California according to California Military & Veterans Code § 120:
"The militia of the State shall consist of the National Guard, State Military Reserve and the Naval Militia--which constitute the active militia--and the unorganized militia."
All able-bodied males between 18 and 45 years old who are not members of the California Military Department are by law the unorganized militia of the state. The unorganized militia are subject to call of the Governor under CA Military & Veteran's Code § 128.
Read more about California Military Department: Adjutant General of California, Office of The Adjutant General, California National Guard, California State Military Reserve, California Cadet Corps, California Naval Militia, Unorganized Militia, Past California State Militia Units
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