 The returned ability of states to raise a military separate from the National Guard saw Washington "at the forefront" of a small number of states that quickly moved to resurrect their forces, a callback to Washington's decision two decades before to outfit an unusually large and robust State Guard.On May 19, 1960, Governor Albert Rosellini issued an executive order commanding that "the Washington State Guard Reserve is established as a part of the organized militia of the State ... [to] function as an additional internal security force within the State for employment, in event of an emergency declared by the Governor, to augment the National Guard in protecting life and property; preserving order and public safety; and taking preventive action against threats to the internal security of the State".Creation of the Washington State Guard Reserve came at the instigation of adjutant-general Gen. George Haskett due to concern the entire National Guard might be deployed outside the state in the event of war with the Soviet Union.