訓練標準各有不同。由美國州防衛隊協會(en:State Guard Association of the United States)設立的軍事災害管理專家(Military Emergency Management Specialist, MEMS)成為各州防衛隊的共同訓練目標。阿拉巴馬州、加利福尼亞州、印地安那州、德克薩斯州、俄亥俄州等都已接納 MEMS 是隊員晉升所需的基本資歷。MEMS訓練於各州的相關學院進行，包括聯邦緊急事務管理署和其他機構提供的網上學習材料，亦有本地災害應變計畫和管理的實習。
美國憲法，連同若干立法和判例，說明了州防衛隊和聯邦政府的關係。在法典 32 USC 109 以外，美國最高法院表示﹕ "32 U.S.C. 109(c)表明州防衛隊並'不受徵召、指揮或動員至武裝部隊之中'。但他們仍有可能根據 10 U.S.C. 331-333 被召集，這一條把'民兵'與'武裝部隊'分列，並看來無論是否有組織之民兵，均可按本民兵條款受徵召。(It is true that the state defense forces 'may not be called, ordered, or drafted into the armed forces.' 32 U.S.C. 109(c). It is nonetheless possible that they are subject to call under 10 U.S.C. 331-333, which distinguish the 'militia' from the 'armed forces,' and which appear to subject all portions of the 'militia' - organized or not - to call if needed for the purposes specified in the Militia Clauses)" (Perpich 訴 國防部案, 496 U.S. 334 (1990))。可是，法院明確表示它不就這一點作裁決。 以下是美國最高法院引用的部分法律撮要，它們可能授予聯邦政府權力動用州防衛隊﹕
10 USC 331 - “聯邦支援州政府”(Federal aid for State governments)
當任何州內發生針對州政府之暴動，總統可以在州議會請求下—如果州議會無法召開會議則在州長請求下—按該州要求之數目徵召各州民兵為聯邦服務，按總統認為必須的方式去制止暴動。(Whenever there is an insurrection in any State against its government, the President may, upon the request of its legislature or of its governor if the legislature cannot be convened, call into Federal service such of the militia of the other States, in the number requested by that State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to suppress the insurrection.)
10 USC 332 – “動用民兵和武裝力量實施聯邦權力”(Use of militia and armed forces to enforce Federal authority)
當總統認為合眾國的權力因為非法妨礙、集結或叛亂之情況，令合眾國之法律無法在任何州或領土內透過正常的司法程式得以實施，可以徵召各州民兵為聯邦服務，並按總統認為必須的方式運用這些武裝力量去實施有關法律和制止叛亂。(Whenever the President considers that unlawful obstructions, combinations, or assemblages, or rebellion against the authority of the United States, make it impracticable to enforce the laws of the United States in any State or Territory by the ordinary course of judicial proceedings, he may call into Federal service such of the militia of any State, and use such of the armed forces, as he considers necessary to enforce those laws or to suppress the rebellion.)
10 USC 333 – “妨礙州法或聯邦法”(Interference with State and Federal law)
如以下狀況發生，總統可動用民兵或武裝部隊，或兩者並用，或任何其他方法，以其認為必須之方式去制止州內之任何叛亂、暴動、非法集結或共謀—(The President, by using the militia or the armed forces, or both, or by any other means, shall take such measures as he considers necessary to suppress, in a State, any insurrection, domestic violence, unlawful combination, or conspiracy, if it -)
(1) 有關狀況妨礙了州法律之執行，或聯邦法律在州內之執行，令憲法和法律給予任何部分人士的權利和保障遭到剝奪，而該州之法定機構無法或不願保障這些權利。(so hinders the execution of the laws of that State, and of the United States within the State, that any part or class of its people is deprived of a right, privilege, immunity, or protection named in the Constitution and secured by law, and the constituted authorities of that State are unable, fail, or refuse to protect that right, privilege, or immunity, or to give that protection; or)
(2) 抗拒或妨礙合眾國的法律實施，或在該等法律上妨礙司法公正。(opposes or obstructs the execution of the laws of the United States or impedes the course of justice under those laws.)
就第(1)款所載之任何狀況，該州即被視為拒絕依憲法提供平等之法律保障。(In any situation covered by clause (1), the State shall be considered to have denied the equal protection of the laws secured by the Constitution.)
防衛隊成員