Section 13-503 - Composition. - Maryland Statutes

§ 13-503. Composition.
 

(a)  In general.- The Maryland Defense Force consists of: 

(1) commissioned or assigned officers; and 

(2) qualified individuals who volunteer to serve and are commissioned, appointed, or enlisted in the Maryland Defense Force. 

(b)  Qualifications.- An individual may not be commissioned or enlisted in the Maryland Defense Force if the individual: 

(1) is not a citizen of the United States; 

(2) has been dismissed from or received a bad conduct discharge or a dishonorable discharge, or any discharge other than under honorable conditions, from a military or naval organization of this State or of another state, or from any of the United States armed forces or its auxiliaries, or has been convicted of an offense under the laws of the United States or of any state punishable by imprisonment for more than 1 year, no matter what punishment was actually imposed; or 

(3) does not meet the qualifications for commissioning, appointment, or enlistment specified in regulations governing the Maryland Defense Force. 

(c)  Enlisting as organization prohibited.- A civil organization, society, club, post, order, fraternity, association, brotherhood, body, union, league, or other combination of persons or civil groups may not enlist in the Maryland Defense Force as an organization or unit. 

(d)  Voluntary service; exception.-  

(1) All members of the Maryland Defense Force serve on a voluntary basis and without pay, unless under orders, approved by the Adjutant General, specifying that their service is with pay. 

(2) If an order approved by the Adjutant General specifies that the service of a member of the Maryland Defense Force is with pay, the member may be compensated in accordance with § 13-406 of this title. 
 

[An. Code 1957, art. 65, §§ 62, 71, 72; 2003, ch. 5, § 2; 2009, ch. 735, § 2.]