When the first recruiting class of Gov. Ron DeSantis’ new Florida State Guard showed up for training last month, they had varied experiences and expectations.

Over 30 days in June, teenagers out of high school and retired military veterans came to Camp Blanding, the National Guard base near Jacksonville.

Many were told they would volunteer for a revived State Guard with a non-military mission: help Floridians in times of need or disaster.

Instead, the state’s National Guard trained the volunteers for combat. Khakis and polos were replaced by camouflaged uniforms. Volunteers assured they could keep their facial hair were ordered to shave. And they were drilled on how to rappel with ropes, navigate through the woods and respond to incidents under military command.

The discussion called for public comment as the rest of the nation looks aghast as a presidential nominee-candidate campaigns to ‘make Amerikkka Florida’.

Also, there was some discussion regarding the intense heat and effects (and politics) of climate change.

Also, we debunk the misinformation promulgated by Florida Republicans that the COVID-19 vaccine is a ‘biological weapon’ that should be banned.