Professional Services Command
Engineer Detachment
The Engineer Detachment provides STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Architecture, Mathematics) support to the SCNG (J2, J3, & 218th), SCSG, and State/County/Municipal Governments and Agencies in preparation for and following a disaster.The Engineer Detachment was created in 2013 to replace the Volunteer Technical Advisory Group (VOLTAG) with a State- wide group of Engineers and Architects to assist with damage and safety assessments following a disaster. Over the past several years, the Detachment’s role has widened to include other Science- related fields to support both pre- and post- disaster activities.
Roles and functions include:
- Conduct Safety Damage Assessments of public and private infrastructure and buildings for safety issues and preliminary estimates of percent damage.
- Support County EOC specifically to coordinate the activities of the Engineer Command with other participating Agencies.
- SAR support, specifically assessing safety for deployed Urban Search and Rescue teams.
In addition to Engineers and Architects, the Engineer Detachment membership includes Land Surveyors, computer modelers, real estate Appraisers, water treatment plant operators, Geologists, Hydrologists, and infrastructure specialists. The typical member is over 40 years old and has at least one college degree and twenty years of work experience.
The Engineer Detachment has two Components: Active and Reserve.
Active: approximately 25 members that regularly participate in State Guard functions, and provide the necessary leadership and coordination to the Reserve Component.
Reserve: approximately 150 members who will be available to respond to post- disaster call- outs, but who are unable to participate in routine State Guard functions. These members typically wear the designated Engineer Alternative Uniform and are not required to comply with military grooming standards.
Response History
The Engineer Detachment has responded to five disasters:
- 2013 Mauldin Flooding
- 2015 Hurricane Joaquin – – awarded Outstanding Unit Citation
- 2016 Hurricane Matthew
- 2017 Newberry County Tornado
- 2017 Hurricane Irma
And participated in:
- 2015 Vigilant Guard (VG- 15) – – awarded Unit Achievement Citation
- 2017 Midlands MEDDAC
JAG Corps
SCSG’s JAG Section consists of experienced lawyers from throughout South Carolina whose civilian practice includes criminal, corporate, tax, estate planning, litigation, administrative, and employment law. Our mission is evolving into one that includes: supporting the SCANG’s JAG; providing legal advice to the SCSG command; and helping veterans and veteran support groups. In 2015 we hosted a free wills clinic and helped dozens of veterans and their families.
During the recent flood, our JAG officers conducted round-the-clock briefings of military police regarding the rules for the use of force, supported engineering missions, provided real time legal advice to the SCSG commanders in the field, and afterwards helped soldiers’ return-to-work issues.
Medical Detachment
The South Carolina State Guard Medical Detachment plans, programs, provides, and sustains health force protection and medical support to meet operational, training, and mobilization medical readiness requirements of SCSG units and soldiers.The Medical Detachment is also trained and ready to immediately mobilize its professional medical personnel to support federal, state, and local first responders during emergency situations in the State of South Carolina.
Mission
- Support the mission of the S.C. State Guard.
- Monitor the health of the force.
- Provide insight and guidance in all activities requiring medical support.
- Promote wellness and healthy lifestyles among personnel.
- Provide health and safety awareness, first aid, and preventive medicine support in garrison and in the field.
Provost Marshal Detachment
The Mission of the PMD is to provide highly trained personnel, capable of performing limited Military Police and Specialized Security missions in support of the Governor of the State of South Carolina when directed to do so. In order to meet the mission requirements as stated in the Mission Statement of the PMD, all members of the unit (PMD) must undergo highly specialized and mission oriented training at the direction of the Commander, and certification from South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy and/or South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED).
Law Enforcement Certification and Authority
The PMD provides certified law enforcement training approved by both the SC Criminal Justice Academy and South Carolina Law Enforcement Division (SLED). South Carolina State Guard members while on active duty, exercise the same authority of Sheriff or Deputy Sheriffs.
History
The PMD began security operations in 2003 under Executive Order of the Governor and is authorized by S.C. Code Section 25-3-130. The PMD performed its first armed security mission in 2004.
Response History
- Emergency Hurricane duties
- Emergency Flood duties
- Emergency Power Outage duties
- Force Protection for National Guard and State Guard activities
- Relief Shelter security
- Traffic and Crowd Control
Chaplain Corps
The Chaplain Corps Detachment of the SCSG is comprised of Ordained Military Chaplains who are ready to serve their fellow guardsman, their families and community. Under the Direction of the Chief of Chaplains, Chaplain (LTC) Donald Hayes, the State Guard Chaplains serve with one goal in mind, the overall spiritual and moral welfare of the individual guardsman and the unit.SCSG members are encouraged to seek out their Chaplains in times of need. Your Chaplains are there to support you.
“Chaplains affect the Will of soldiers … for justice, for peace, and for service. We affect the Will to fight, to sacrifice, to endure, and to excel. We affect the Will to love or to hate and if we are successful, we measure our efforts with results grounded in peace, hope, love and joy.
We give purpose and meaning to our selfless service to others. Our source of motivation is grounded in our faith in God. The results are observed on all levels in the State Guard. Its effect is positively immeasurable.It is our esprit de corps.”
Requirements
To become a Chaplain in SCSG you must have:
- M.Div or equivalent from DOE Accredited Seminaries
- Ecclesiastical Endorsement
- Ordination
- Clinical Certification
- 5 Years in Leadership as a member of clergy
- Demonstrate Four Core Competencies of a Military Chaplain: (FPCA) Facilitate, Provide, Care, Advise
To become a Chaplain Candidate in SCSG you must have:
- Have completed at least two years of college or presentation of the equivalent.
- Letter of recommendation from ecclesiastical supervisor.
- Have two years of practical spiritual leadership.
Search And Rescue Command (SARCOM)
Land & Water Search and Rescue
The SCSG Search and Rescue Command (SARCOM) is a technical rescue team comprised of highly trained men and women that provide Search and Rescue (SAR) assets to support State and Local Authorities in times of emergency and disaster.
Members of SARCOM are Technical Rescue Specialists in Wilderness Search and Rescue, Swiftwater and Flood Rescue, Dive Rescue, and Cadaver and SAR K-9.
Wilderness Search and Rescue
The SCSG Wilderness Search and Rescue Team assists federal, state and local first responders in searches for lost and injured persons in the rugged and mountainous terrain areas of South Carolina.
Team members are highly trained in a variety of technical skills, including:
- Navigation
- Radio Communication
- Wilderness Survival
- First Aid
- Rescue Rope Training
- Utilizing aircraft and surface vessels
- Climbing
Swiftwater and Flood Search and Rescue
The SCSG Swiftwater and Flood Search and Rescue Team searches for and rescues individuals who may be injured or in need of medical attention.
Roles and functions include:
- Provides emergency medical care including Basic Life Support
- Transports humans and animals to the nearest location for secondary air or land transport
- Supports helicopter rescue operations and urban SAR in water environments
- Operates in environments with or without infrastructure, including those with compromised access to roadways, utilities,transportation, and medical facilities, and with limited availability of shelter, food, and water
K9 Search and Rescue
The SCSG Cadaver and K-9 Search & Rescue Teams (handlers and canines) play a critical role during structural collapse incidents. The K-9s locate survivors using their incredible sense of smell to detect live human scent, even from a survivor buried deep in rubble.
The handlers, and dogs, of the SCSG K-9 Search Teams undergo continuous, comprehensive training. Both dogs and handlers must train to meet NASAR and FEMA standards.
Roles and functions include:
- Cadaver location.
- Scent-tracking of lost persons.
- Scent-tracking of persons of interest to law enforcement.
Dive Search and Rescue
The SCSG Dive Teams assist with rescue and recovery services, swiftwater and flood rescue, and evidence recovery.
Depending on the task at hand, SCSG divers utilize many different types of underwater equipment. Some of these include: SCUBA gear, Mixed Gas Technical Diving.
Roles and functions include:
- Searches for, locates, identifies, and retrieves objects, including remains and evidence, from under the surface of the water
- Helps locate and recover drowning victims, abandoned vehicles, and evidence in criminal cases
- Provides safety divers for special events
- Assists Swiftwater and Flood Rescue Team