Electing a State's Top Military Officer? South Carolina still does

SGM Matthew Quick — Sun, 11 May 2014 16:40:15 -0400

South Carolina is the only state in the nation where voters choose their top military officer in a general election.

The current Adjutant General of South Carolina, MG Robert Livingston, has commanded the 9,000 members of South Carolina’s Army and Air National Guard for nearly four years. In 2007, he led the state’s largest combat force since World War II on a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan.

His opponent, 45-year-old James Breazeale of Florence, is an Army Reserve lieutenant colonel and commercial airline pilot who touts his three deployments to Iraq and Kuwait as well as two years with the South Carolina Guard.

WEIRD NOTE: LTC Breazeale, the opponent, is currently on probation until September of 2015 for a conviction of “entering premises after warning” while living in Florida in 2013.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2014 4:47 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 May 2014 16:47:02 -0400

MSG Quick,

Do you believe this should be the standard for all states? I would probably prefer that the position is appointed rather than voted.

SFC Johnston

Response by MSG Wade Huffman made May 11 at 2014 5:30 PM

MSG Wade Huffman — Sun, 11 May 2014 17:30:26 -0400

This is interesting. I never knew that any state had this as an elected rather than appointed position. I do know that in some states, there is NO requirement that the AG has any military experience at all (although I can't imagine a Governor appointing someone without military experience).
I don't believe the position being appointed is controversial in itself, especially given that the Guard is a State Militia under the control of the Governor.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made May 11 at 2014 8:13 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 11 May 2014 20:13:26 -0400

I was a member of the SC Guard. It is definitely a different animal.

Response by SSG Jeffrey Spencer made May 11 at 2014 10:58 PM

SSG Jeffrey Spencer — Sun, 11 May 2014 22:58:35 -0400

We do it nationally. Isn't the Commander-in-Chief elected? (I personally wish more emphasis when electing would play into this.)