The Adjutant General is the head of the military within the State of South Carolina. He administers the affairs of the South Carolina Army and Air National Guard, the Emergency Management Division, and the State Guard. He currently holds the rank of Major General and is appointed by the Governor, but historically, most of the time he was a Brigadier General and was elected by the people.

The Army National Guard maintains sixty-eight (68) armories across the state. All Air National Guard assets are located at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, SC.

The Emergency Management Division was established as a separate entity in 1979. This Division is responsible for coordinating and managing the efforts of all state, county, and municipal agencies in developing and implementing state Emergency Response Plans. This division also leads all preparedness efforts to ensure safety for citizens of the state.