Texas Militia
The Texas Militia are the militia forces of the State of Texas. It currently consists of the Texas Army National Guard, Texas Air National Guard, and Texas State Guard. It is administered by the Texas Military Department under command of the Texas Adjutant General. Since 1846, the Texas Militia constitutes the entirety of the Texas Military Forces. History The Texas Militia descends from the Texian Militia established by Stephen F. Austin in 1823 to protect the Old Three Hundred in the Colony of Texas. Its most notable unit, the Texas Rangers, remained in continuous service of Texas Military Forces until 1935. Following the Texas Revolution, the Republic of Texas authorized the Texas Militia, Texas Army, and Texas Navy in the Constitution on September 5, 1836. On December 6, 1836, the First Congress officially established the militia declaring "Every free able bodied male citizen of this republic, resident therein, who is or shall be...seventeen...and under the age of fifty years shall...be enrolled in the militia." However, no funds were appropriated. In 1837, the Second Congress passed the Militia Act of 1837 with appropriations, which established one division composed of four brigades. It was initially led by Thomas Rusk, who was replaced