True, but look one section further:
http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/ars/26/00122.htm&Title=26&DocType=ARS
26-122. Components of militia
A. The militia is divided into the national guard of Arizona, the state guard when organized,
and the unorganized militia.
B. The national guard consists of commissioned officers, warrant officers, enlisted personnel, organizations, staffs, corps and departments of the federally recognized and regularly commissioned, warranted and enlisted militia of the state, organized and maintained pursuant to law, and all members thereof honorably retired by age or disability.
C. The numerical strength, composition, distribution, organization, arms, uniforms, equipment, training and discipline of the federally recognized national guard shall be prescribed by the governor in conformity with the allocation of units to the state by the department of the army and the department of the air force of the United States.
D. The inactive national guard consists of commissioned, warranted and enlisted personnel relieved from assignment to the national guard by the adjutant general, or at their own request, under regulations prescribed by the department of national defense of the United States, and not reassigned to another component of the armed forces of the United States.
E. The unorganized militia consists of members of the militia not members of the national guard or state guard when organized.
I get wary when people talk about forming their own, especialy when/if they have no prior military service to back it up. It was cool a few years ago seeing the 5 Star General of the Wisconsin (I think it was) Militia, 50ish and about 300 lbs.
Additional if this ASM was legit why is there no bio for the leader Col "Reaper" or his command staff. I would be curious to see when the good Col attend the Army War College and his graduation number along with his Branch. Or is this just the case because he thought of it he got to call himself a Colonel?
I suppose the greater question would be, why would the ASM be
illegitimate? There is no AZ state law which prevents its organization. If every person between the ages of 18-45 are technically a member of the militia, then what makes members of that group unable to organize -so long as they are not State or National Guard members. Isn't this the fundamental problem, though? Especially overseas, who are the rebels who are not? Who is the militia and what militia do they belong to? Current legislation calls for a State Guard, but even the people who wrote the law have not even defined any type of command structure.
These are fundamental issues that are open to interpretation and need to be addressed. It's a very complex problem. Furthermore, it appears ASM chooses to be secretive of its members and their identities and this is, I imagine would be for OPSEC or to keep names and other personal information out of the hands of enemies of the Constitution. Or it could be something sinister. Who knows. Allegedly, they have many currently active former LEO/Military members. The title of Colonel is an organizational term. You don't need to be in the military to be in a militia. Just like I don't need to be a cop to own a gun and handcuffs. Just like a police commander of a district who is a Colonel probably did not graduate from Army War College. Just like the Captain of a fishing vessel is not that of an O-6 Captain (Navy) of an Aircraft carrier.
I find it distasteful when LEOs and members of the military think that they're the only ones qualified enough to either a) own weapons or b) be a member of an organization that trains with weapons. It's an elitist attitude. The rank of Colonel means virtually nothing outside of the military, and serves a more distinguishing and organizational purpose. It is a place within a chain of command. Nothing more. Granted, said Colonel obviously has the credentials to be that high in the chain of command -and I think that's what you're getting at. Holding the rank of Colonel in today's military comes with its honors and authority.
No disrespect intended whatsoever to current LEOs or Military members -officers and enlisted through all ranks. I believe their service is nothing less than honorable. I agree with Phoenix David when I say I'd like to know more about the organization and a Bio of Colonel Reaper would be nice. Who knows. Maybe he was a legitimate military officer at one point. Maybe he wasn't. I don't think that's the point. I think the broader point is, in times of need and in order to operate effectively, somebody has to be a colonel. A leader. An officer who makes effective decisions and exercises control over those who choose to follow him.
Who does this militia answer to? What makes it a credible organization? The only to find out what they're about is to go to their recruitment meetings. Although, granted if I saw a 300lb colonel I'd opt out as I do believe in some measure of physical fitness standards hehe.