what is it like to be in the national guard
By Sandi Gohn
The National Guard began as a militia of colonial settlers in Salem, Massachusetts, and had its outset drill on December xiii, 1636. Now, hundreds of years later, this military branch – which consists of the Army National Guard and the Air Force National Guard – is a pivotal part of the U.Due south. War machine.
Officially dubbed the National Guard in 1916, this mighty U.S. military branch has created quite a legacy in its nigh 400-yr history. From responding to natural disasters, to deploying overseas, the members of the National Baby-sit are far more than "part-fourth dimension" warriors.
Every bit we reflect on the ceremony of the National Baby-sit'due south founding all those years ago, here's a look at some must-know facts well-nigh the military branch:
one. The National Guard has Participated in Every Major U.S. Disharmonize
Originally, the National Guard was created to help sustain and protect the then-babe American colonies. Unbeknownst to its founders, the National Guard would go along to become part of the greatest fighting forcefulness in the globe, participating in every major U.S. conflict since 1636.
2. More than 50,000 National Guard Members Helped in the Hurricane Katrina Cleanup in 2005
Louisiana National Guard members and health care providers transport a patient from a helicopter into the terminal of New Orleans airdrome for treatment during Hurricane Katrina on Sept. four, 2005. | Photo credit Air Forcefulness
Four years afterwards the ix/11 attacks, Hurricane Katrina brought destruction to the Gulf Coast, creating an unprecedented demand for members of the National Guard to assistance impacted communities afterward the storm. At the time, more than 79,000 Guard members were federalized to support operations in Republic of iraq and Afghanistan, but still, more than than 51,000 Baby-sit members from across the country quickly deployed to Louisiana and Mississippi to provide humanitarian relief.
3. National Guard Members Swear to Uphold Two Constitutions
When National Guard recruits swear their oath of enlistment, they promise to uphold not one, but two constitutions – the U.S. Constitution and their individual state's constitution.
Photo credit Spc. Tori Miller/DVIDS
Soldiers and airmen in the Georgia National Guard swear the oath of enlistment at the Georgia Country Capitol on March 28, 2019. During the issue, 1 soldier and i airman enlisted in to the Georgia National Guard and two soldiers and one airman re-enlisted.
4. The National Guard has a Unique Mission
The simply branch with a two-fold mission, the National Guard is tasked with providing trained units to the nation and to individual U.S. states, territories and the District of Columbia.
v. Several Presidents have Served in the National Guard
eighteen of America'south 45 Commander and Chiefs have served in the National Baby-sit (or the National Guard'southward predecessors, colonial and state militias).
6. Members of the National Guard are Helping with the U.S.' Continued COVID-19 Response
Members of the West Virginia National Guard assistance staff, medical personnel and outset responders of an Eastbrook Eye nursing home with COVID-19 testing on Apr half-dozen, 2020. | Photo credit DVIDS/Edwin L. Wriston
Since March of 2020, tens of thousands of service members have been chosen to duty to assist the nation in its response to the global pandemic. From assisting in hospitals, to distributing food, to helping administer COVID-19 tests, these dedicated service members have played crucial roles in communities beyond the U.South. Since the initial onset of the pandemic, some of these service members have completed their missions and returned home, while others are still in the fight.
7. There are Special Forces Units in the National Guard
The Army National Guard'due south 19th and 20th Special Forces Groups are two of these elite units. Although these National Guard members serve role-time, they must complete all the same grooming every bit their active-duty counterparts to earn the stardom of wearing the light-green beret.
In the Air National Baby-sit, there are too Special Forces units that perform tasks like pararescue, search and rescue missions, and more than.
8. Service Members in the National Baby-sit Deploy to Missions Around the World
Although they are "part-time" warriors, members of the National Guard all the same make a big commitment when they enlist, which includes agreeing to deploy for missions at home and abroad. Typically, domestic deployments can last up to 60 days while overseas deployments can concluding up to a year.
Photo credit Candis Olmstead/DVIDS
Alaska Regular army National Guard soldiers depart to Fort Bliss where they will complete mobilization for their deployment to Kosovo in 2019.
ix. There are Three Unlike Ways National Guard Members Tin Be Called into Service.
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#one Each states' executive leader (typically the governor) can activate National Baby-sit units. In this example, the governor volition serve every bit the commander-in-principal and the state will pay for the cost.
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#2 The president can federalize the National Baby-sit under Title 10 condition. In this instance, the president will serve as the commander-in-primary, active-duty officers will control Guard forces and the federal government will pay the cost. This is what happened during Hurricane Katrina.
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#3 The president can federalize the National Guard under Title 32 status. In this case, each states' governor volition serve as the commander-in-chief (but will answer to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau) and the federal government will pay the price.
10. There Are Over 400,000 Members of the National Guard
Serving in places all over the world, there are currently over 100,000 Air and 300,000 Army National Guard members as of September 2020.
-This story was originally published on USO.org in 2020. It has been updated in 2021.
Source: https://www.uso.org/stories/2934-10-need-to-know-facts-about-the-national-guard
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