The next time a hurricane heads for South Carolina, the State Guard plans to be on the front lines.

The all-volunteer organization will be there to fill a manpower gap caused by the call-up of S.C. National Guardsmen for homeland defense duties and the Iraq war.

"That's one of their purposes," said Lt. Col. Pete Brooks, spokesman for the S.C. National Guard. "It's just now they're needed more because we have 2,500 folks deployed."

Hurricane detail is just part of the State Guard's growing mission in South Carolina.

Members also provide security at an Upstate hospital and recruit Americorps volunteers for neighborhood crime watches in the Lowcountry.

Except for a couple of paid positions, the State Guard, which has a budget of $105,000 a year, relies on its all-volunteer force of 1,500 to get things done.

"It makes me feel good about myself by being able to do things for others," said Cpl. Gloria D. Collins, 44, of Lancaster.

Founded in 1670 as a militia to protect the settlers of Charles Town, the State Guard has helped in previous emergencies.

This time, said State Guard commander Maj. Gen. Eli Wishart, members have been assigned specific jobs to assist in the evacuation of coastal areas and to help coordinate the flow of emergency supplies into the state.

In the event of a hurricane, Wishart said, 120 State Guard members would be stationed at the confluence of I-26 and I-77, southeast of Columbia, to direct traffic and answer evacuees' questions.

Other State Guard members would be posted at four welcome centers at the state borders to coordinate the flow of donated emergency supplies.

"We'll be tagging and directing the trucks to four warehouses in the state," Wishart said. "We'll also have people at the warehouses to assist."

In addition, several local units would assist city and county emergency agencies, Wishart said. Their roles could range from riding along with sheriff's deputies to manning telephones.

That's not unusual for the State Guard. While part of the state Military Department and under the command of the governor and adjutant general, many of its units work hand in hand with local agencies.

SERVING THE PUBLIC

Although the State Guard has been around for more than 300 years, members said people often confuse them with the National Guard or refer to them as a militia.

State Guard members wear uniforms, just like members of the U.S. Army. They're organized in squads, platoons, companies, battalions and brigades, and they use the same rank structure -- from private to general. Also, they drill one weekend a month at National Guard armories.

But, unlike members of the Army or National Guard, State Guard members are not armed and they cannot be deployed outside South Carolina.

Eighteen other states also have active State Guards.

The S.C. State Guard is made up of four brigades. Three represent regional sections: the Upstate, Midlands and coastal areas.

Another brigade was organized in September 2002 under the State Guard's Americorps program, being paid for by a $1 million federal grant.

Under the Americorps program, which is a pilot project for the nation, the Guard is compiling a computer list of volunteers willing to help if there's a statewide emergency. The list will include the volunteers' skills and hometowns.

Under that project, volunteers will be trained to work with police and emergency agencies, and to increase public awareness about potential threats to homeland security.

About 1,000 people already have signed up to be Americorps volunteers, and the State Guard hopes to add another 1,000 in the next year. (Those numbers are in addition to the State Guard's 1,500 members.)

Americorps volunteers, who don't wear State Guard uniforms, already are at work in the Lowcountry, setting up neighborhood crime watches.

"We had had several break-ins, drug dealers were living in our neighborhood, and there was a murder just two doors up from me," said Americorps volunteer Susan Gillespie, 43, of Summerville. "Enough was enough."

Gillespie helped organize a crime watch in her neighborhood and now is the Dorchester County sheriff's crime watch coordinator.

"The State Guard is South Carolina's best kept secret," said Dorchester County Sheriff Ray Nash. "It's something every sheriff should use to augment forces in their county."

Crime watches are just a part of the State Guard's public safety role.

In Lancaster County, State Guard members routinely are called by the city police and sheriff's departments to direct traffic at festivals and provide security at crash scenes.

They also work with the county's emergency services, training to help evacuate and care for disaster victims.

"I'm not aware of any time that we've called them, that they haven't been able to send someone to help," said Lt. Christy Rogers of the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department.

'A PRIVILEGE TO SERVE'

State Guard members range in age from 17 to 70-plus.

To Lt. Adam Sutton, 40, of Summerville, serving in the State Guard is making amends for not joining the military earlier.

"After 9/11, I felt a real calling to public service," Sutton said.

At the time, Sutton was 38 and too old to join the U.S. military. So a National Guard recruiter suggested the State Guard.

Through the State Guard, Sutton became involved in organizing neighborhood crime watches and then went through the Dorchester sheriff's reserve deputy program.

The father of four liked law enforcement work so much that he quit his job as a mobile home salesman and joined the sheriff's department.

"Joining the State Guard has opened a lot of doors for me," Sutton said.

About two-thirds of State Guard members served in the military.

Some of them, like Command Sgt. Maj. Mac Williams, 61, of Lancaster, are retired veterans.

"Once you get the military in your blood you can't get it out," said Williams, who served 37 years in the Air Force, retiring at Shaw Air Force Base. "Serving in the State Guard is my way of giving something back to the community."

Former military members may wear service pins on their uniforms.

For example, Sgt. 1st Class Henry Vernon, 54, wears the "eagle, globe and anchor" pin that he received after graduating from Marine boot camp.

A veteran who served two tours of duty in Vietnam, Vernon didn't put on a uniform again until he joined the State Guard 2½ years ago.

"It's about what I expected," the Lancaster resident said. "There's been a lot of work, but a lot of it has been gratifying."

One job that's fulfilling to Vernon and other State Guard members is providing a funeral detail for deceased veterans.

All veterans are entitled to a military funeral. However, with the downsizing of the U.S. military, there aren't enough troops around to provide an honor guard or even to attend services.

To fill the void, several members of the State Guard have volunteered for the funeral details. Williams said the Lancaster unit has attended more than 50 funerals already this year.

Many of the State Guard members also are volunteers in their churches and other community groups.

On a recent Saturday drill of the 4th Battalion, 1st Brigade, at the Lancaster armory, Sgt. 1st Class James McMurray, 78, was excused for not being in uniform.

He had spent the morning working a fire as a volunteer fireman. He's also president of his neighborhood crime watch and involved in other community organizations.

A former Army private who served at the tail end of World War II, McMurray is a 21-year member of the State Guard.

"I have some extra time and just love doing something," said McMurray about his yearning to serve. "It's a privilege to serve others."