CHAPTER 4. The Naval Militia [280. - 301.]

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC 4.
in effect

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 280. Section 280.

Except where this chapter is inconsistent therewith, Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 210) of Part 1 of Division 2 is hereby incorporated by reference in this chapter and those provisions shall apply to the Naval Militia and the officers and enlisted persons thereof with the same force and effect as if the provisions were set out in detail in this chapter. In applying Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 210) of Part 1 of Division 2 to this chapter, the term “Naval Militia” shall be substituted for the term “National Guard” and the term “Navy Department” for the term “War Department.”

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 281. Section 281.

As used in this division in connection with the Naval Militia: (a) “Division” and “company” shall have the same meaning and effect as “company” when used in connection with the infantry of the National Guard; (b) “Battalion” shall have the same meaning and effect as “battalion” when used in connection with the infantry of the National Guard.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 284. Section 284.

The Naval Militia shall be organized into one or more naval brigades which shall consist of such administrative battalions prescribed by the Navy Department for a like number of divisions in the United States Navy.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 285. Section 285.

The Naval Militia shall consist of such number of deck and engineer divisions, companies of marines, aeronautic and other organizations as the Governor prescribes in conformity with the requirements of the Navy Department.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 287. Section 287.

The numerical strength, rank, titles, and insignia of rank of the divisions and companies of marines of the Naval Militia shall conform to the laws, rules, and regulations of the United States Navy, and the rules and regulations prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy for the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 288. Section 288.

In order to select a commanding officer for the Naval Militia, The Adjutant General shall nominate not to exceed three officers, not below the grade of lieutenant commander, and shall cause such candidates to be examined. The candidate receiving the highest rating in such examination shall be recommended by The Adjutant General to the Governor for commission.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 289. Section 289.

The officers, chief warrant officers, warrant officers, and enlisted persons of the Naval Militia shall be of any amount and grades prescribed by the Governor and shall be of the same number and grades as are authorized or prescribed by the laws and regulations of the United States for similar organizations of the United States Navy or as authorized or prescribed by the laws and regulations of the Navy Department for the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 290. Section 290.

Chief warrant officers may be appointed by the Governor upon the recommendation of the commanding officer of the Naval Militia and shall receive from the Governor a commission in the same form as commissioned officers of the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 291. Section 291.

Warrant officers may be appointed by The Adjutant General upon the recommendation of the commanding officer of the Naval Militia. Warrants for warrant officers shall be issued by The Adjutant General upon the recommendation of the commanding officer of the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 292. Section 292.

Chief petty officers and petty officers may be appointed by the commanding officer of the Naval Militia, who shall issue to such chief petty officers and petty officers a warrant in proper form.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 293. Section 293.

When vacancies occur in the commissioned personnel, the commanding officer of the Naval Militia shall recommend not to exceed three candidates to The Adjutant General who shall cause such candidates to be examined. The candidate receiving the highest rating in such examination shall be recommended by The Adjutant General to the Governor for commission.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 294. Section 294.

The system of discipline and exercise shall conform to that of the Navy of the United States, to the system of discipline and exercise prescribed by the provisions of this code relating to the National Guard, and to that prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy for the guidance of the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 295. Section 295.

The Governor may alter, divide, annex, consolidate, and disband the Naval Militia or any portion thereof whenever in his judgment the efficiency of the State forces will thereby be increased. He may also make rules and regulations for the use, government, and instruction of the Naval Militia. Such rules and regulations shall conform to those governing the United States Navy and those prescribed by the Secretary of the Navy for the conduct of the Naval Militia.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 296. Section 296.

Every enlisted person who enters the Naval Militia may be provided by the state with a service or dress uniform, or both, corresponding in make and appearance to the service or dress uniform of the United States Navy.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 297. Section 297.

In a locality where there are insufficient persons available to form an engineer division and there already exists an organized deck division, men and women of the artificer branch may be additionally enrolled in the deck division with those ratings as they may be qualified to fill, until there is a sufficient number of them to form a separate engineer division. Any men and women in the artificer branch may be rated in the various petty officers’ ratings in the artificer branch of the naval service that they are qualified to fill. In a locality where there are insufficient persons available to form a marine company and there is already existing in that locality a deck division of the Naval Militia, a marine section may be organized with one officer and not less than twenty enlisted marines.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 298. Section 298.

The Governor may apply to the President of the United States for the detail of commissioned officers and petty officers of the Navy to act as inspectors and instructors in the art of naval warfare.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 299. Section 299.

Vessels lent by the United States to this State for the use of the Naval Militia shall be commanded by the ranking officer for line duty resident at the port to which the vessel is assigned, and in the absence of such ranking officer for line duty, by the next ranking officer for line duty.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 300. Section 300.

Summary courts-martial and deck courts for the Naval Militia may be ordered by the commanding officer of the Naval Militia and general courts-martial for the Naval Militia may be ordered by the Governor and shall be organized and conducted within the laws, regulations, and usages of the United States Navy and the provisions of this division relating to military courts. The proceedings shall be reviewed and sentence executed as provided in this division.

Cal. Military and Veterans Code - MVC § 301. Section 301.

Any member of the State Guard or Naval Militia, who at any time after December 7, 1941, has completed or shall hereafter and prior to the end of hostilities during World War II complete a minimum period of, 90 days’ service, and shall have continuously served under honorable conditions up to the time of his separation from such organization, is entitled to receive an honorable discharge from the State Guard or Naval Militia. The Adjutant General shall issue such honorable discharge upon the application of person entitled to such discharge. In the absence of official records as to applicant’s service, applicant shall have the burden of proving his service and the decision of The Adjutant General, in case of dispute, shall be final.
Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026

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