By Bob Katzen

The Senate 38-0, approved and sent to the House a bill that supporters say would clarify the duties of the state’s Adjutant General. The measure provides that the Adjutant General, Massachusetts’ highest-ranking military office, has command of all troops in the state National Guard while carrying out the orders of the governor. The bill also brings state laws about the National Guard chain of command into line with the model used by the vast majority of other states.

“The legislation currently before us … seeks to make a technical change to streamline our National Guard’s chain of command structure and bring Massachusetts in line with the vast majority of our sister states,” said Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield). “As currently written, [Massachusetts law] states that the Adjutant General shall not personally excercise command of troops.”

Velis continued, “This legislation clarifies that the Adjutant General, in carrying out the policies and orders of the governor, has command of all Massachusetts National Guard troops — ensuring that the leadership of the Guard is unified and capable of implementing directives with precision. Currently, the Adjutant General lacks the clear statutory authority to personally command our troops during state missions. This gap can cause confusion in command structure and limits the Adjutant General from enforcing the Massachusetts code of military justice.”

“It [is] important to make a technical clarification to the command structure of the Massachusetts National Guard that brings us in line with most other states,” said Senate President Karen Spilka (D-Ashland).

(A “Yes” vote is for the bill.)

Sen. Patricia Jehlen Yes