The adjutant general is the military advisor to the governor and the director of the department of military and veterans affairs. The adjutant general’s office is in Lansing. The adjutant general may publish orders and other directives in the name of the governor and this state to implement and administer the duties and responsibilities outlined in this act. The adjutant general’s duties include the development and implementation of plans for the defense of state military personnel, lands, installations, and vital resources; maintenance of the personnel records of all active, inactive, retired, or deceased personnel of the state military establishment; and liaison in the transaction of official business for this state with the United States and with other states and territories, including those duties devolving upon the adjutant general pursuant to the national defense act and other pertinent federal laws and regulations. The adjutant general shall maintain records of claims for state gratuities for military service rendered by citizens of this state and, when authorized by the legislature, shall receive, examine, process, and recommend the payment of gratuities pursuant to law. The adjutant general may use the coat of arms of this state with the words added “State of Michigan, Department of Military and Veterans Affairs” as the seal of office. All copies of orders, records, and papers certified and authenticated under the seal are equivalent in evidence to the originals.