There is no question that the local agents and wirelesss operators of the Special Duties Branch were civilian, and they were consequently denied the award of the Defence Medal. The staff of the IN Stations and technical support were, however members of the Royal Signals and ATS. 

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The status of the Operational Branch is, however more contentious and has been considerably influenced by a post-war desire to provide a  romantic equivalent of European resistance movements.  

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But during the war itself they were clearly regarded as picked troops of the Home Guard.  Even the concept that they were 'saboteurs' was hotly denied by the War Office who  maintained that, unlike the civilians of the SIS Home Defence Scheme' they were engaged in legitimate military action. 

‘For nearly four years Auxiliers, who were hand-picked men, have had rubbed into them that they were part of the regular army and GHQ troops.(Colonel Douglas,  last CO of Auxiliary Units, 1944)

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The legal status of the Operational Branch is discussed HERE

This should be read in conjunction the preceeding section of the above page regarding the Home Guard.