The Army National Guard is one of the three components of the US Army, the
other two being Active Army and the Army Reserves. The Army National
Guard has been an integral part of the US Army for around 366 years.
The Army National Guard consists of traditional Guardsmen- civilians who serve
their country on part time basis, which is usually a weekend each month and
two weeks during the summer. The President has the powers of activating the
army to participate in federal roles like combating the terrorism in Middle
East or peace operations in Bosnia and Kosovo.
The state missions of Army National Guard include local or
state emergencies such as storms, earthquakes, civil disturbances, fires and
providing security for the Olympics while in States. They need to be always
ready with well-maintained and trained units promptly available with adequate
equipment during national emergencies or wars. The Governor through the state
Adjutant General commands such army missions.
The Army National Guard comprises of state guard forces. However, they are
not a part of the main militia though they may be at any time called for duty
to assist them. Mobilization of such members of the army is possible only as
a part of their respective units and through voluntary transfers.
In 1903, a part of the US Army became the Reserve Force for the army. This
was the Army National Guard. This army made up for 40% of the
US combat divisions in World War I and around 19 divisions in World War II.
Korean War saw one hundred and forty thousand members of this force in action
and over 63.000 during Operation Desert Storm assisting the general armed forces.
They were also a part of the US peacekeeping forces in Somalia, Haiti, Saudi
Arabia, Kuwait, Bosnia and Kosovo.
After the World War II, the Air National Guard came from the Army National
Guard aviation units, today functioning with more than 106,000 army personnel.
