The Naval Militia of California was again reactivated by order of the Governor on July 4, 1976. At that time, the Governor established the Naval Militia First Company Law which was patterned after the British Army's Inns of Court and City Yeomanry. For the next ten years, this Naval Militia organization provided legal expertise in the field of Military and Naval matters to the Military Department of California
As a result of the Terrorist Attacks of September 11, 2001, the Adjutant General, under the direction of the Governor of the State of California is once again considering reconstituting the California Naval Militia.
Even though the Naval Reserve Act of 1920 soon overshadowed the state's Naval Militia with the creation of the U.S. Naval Reserve, the Naval Militia as it was then thought of would cease to exist by 1930. Interestingly enough, the first Admiral of the newly constituted U.S. Naval Reserve came from the Naval Militia of California.
The State would not see use for the Naval Militia again until World War II. Several units of Naval Militia were again activated as part of the State Guard to patrol along the State's vast coast line. Many of its officers and men were later transferred into the U.S. Coast Guard or U.S. Naval Reserves. Short lived, the Naval Militia of California was again disbanded following that war. Nevertheless, the Naval Militia had once again played a vital role in the protection of this State.
Today, the California Center for Military History has been tasked with documenting and preserving this important part of California's military and naval history.
