 A 1953 legal opinion penned by the Attorney-General of Washington concluded that "there is no provision in the National Defense Act for the organization or maintenance of military forces, other than the National Guard, within the state.The organization of the state guard reserve at this time would not be authorized".In 1958, however, an amendment to the U.S. Code provided that "in addition to its National Guard, if any, a State, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the District of Columbia, Guam, or the Virgin Islands may, as provided by its laws, organize and maintain defense forces".