Army National Guard


The Army National Guard, in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations, the Army National Guard of the several states, territories and the District of Columbia, and the Army National Guard of the United States, part of the United States National Guard. The Army National Guard is divided into subordinate units stationed in each U.S. state and territory, as well the District of Columbia, operating under their respective governors and governor-equivalents.
The foundation for what became the Army National Guard occurred in the city of Salem, Massachusetts in 1692, the first time that a regiment of militia drilled for the common defense of a multi-community area.

Activation

The Army National Guard as currently authorized and organized operates under Title 10 of the United States Code when under federal control, and Title 32 of the United States Code and applicable state laws when under state control. The Army National Guard may be called up for active duty by the state or territorial governors to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, as well as civil disorder. The District of Columbia Army National Guard is a federal militia, controlled by the President of the United States with authority delegated to the Secretary of Defense, and through him to the Secretary of the Army.
Members or units of the Army National Guard may be ordered, temporarily or indefinitely, into the service of the United States. If mobilized for federal service, the member or unit becomes part of the Army National Guard of the United States, which is a reserve component of the United States Army. Individuals volunteering for active federal service may do so subject to the consent of their governors. Governors generally cannot veto involuntary activations of individuals or units for federal service, either for training or national emergency.
The President may also call up members and units of the Army National Guard, in its status as the militia of the several states, to repel invasion, suppress rebellion, or enforce federal laws. The Army National Guard of the United States is one of two organizations administered by the National Guard Bureau, the other being the Air National Guard of the United States. The Director of the Army National Guard is the head of the organization, and reports to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Because the Army National Guard is both the militia of the several states and a federal reserve component of the Army, neither the Chief of the National Guard Bureau nor the Director of the Army National Guard "commands" it. This function is performed in each state or territory by the State Adjutant General, and in the District of Columbia by the Commanding General of the District of Columbia National Guard when a unit is in its militia status. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Director of the Army National Guard serve as the channel of communications between the Department of the Army and the Army National Guard in each state and territory, and administer federal programs, policies, and resources for the National Guard.
The Army National Guard's portion of the president's proposed federal budget for Fiscal Year 2018 is approximately $16.2 billion to support an end strength of 343,000, including appropriations for personnel pay and allowance, facilities maintenance, construction, equipment maintenance and other activities.

History

Prominent members

U.S. Presidents

Of the 44 individuals to serve as President of the United States as of 2017, 33 had military experience. Of those 33, 21 served in the militia or Army National Guard.

Director

Upon the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947, which included the Air National Guard, the National Guard Bureau was organized into two divisions, Army and Air, each headed by a major general who reported to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Each Director's position was later upgraded to a lieutenant general's assignment. The Army National Guard is also authorized a deputy director. Originally a brigadier general, the post was later upgraded to major general. Individuals who served as director or deputy director and subsequently served as NGB Chief include: Fleming; McGowan; Greenlief; Weber; Temple; Rees ; and Grass.
The Director of the Army National Guard oversees a staff which aids in planning and day-to-day organization and management. In addition to a chief of staff, the Director's staff includes several special staff members, including a chaplain and protocol and awards specialists. It also includes a primary staff, which is organized as directorates, divisions, and branches. The directorates of the Army National Guard staff are arranged along the lines of a typical American military staff: G-1 for personnel; G-2 for intelligence; G-3 for plans, operations and training; G-4 for logistics; G-5 for strategic plans, policy and communications; G-6 for communications; and G-8 for budgets and financial management.
The following is a list of the Directors of the Army National Guard since the creation of the position:
The individuals who have served as Deputy Director since 1970 are:
Deployable Army units are organized as table of organization and equipment or modified table of organization organizations. Non-deployable units, such as a state's joint force headquarters or regional training institute are administered as table of distribution and allowance units.

Commands

In addition to many deployable units which are non-divisional, the Army National Guard's deployable units include eight Infantry divisions. These divisions, their subordinate brigades or brigades with which the divisions have a training oversight relationship, and the states represented by the largest units include:
The Army National Guard fields 37 multifunctional support brigades.

Maneuver Enhancement Brigades

Engineer Brigades

In 2016, the Army and the Army National Guard began a training and readiness initiative that aligned some Army brigades with National Guard division headquarters, and some National Guard brigades with Army division headquarters. Among others, this program included the National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team becoming affiliated with the Army's 10th Mountain Division and the National Guard's 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment affiliating with the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. In addition, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division began an affiliation with the National Guard's 36th Infantry Division.
In addition, United States Army Reserve units participating in the program include:
Army units partnering with Army National Guard headquarters include:
The Army and Air National Guard in each state are headed by the State Adjutant General. The Adjutant General is the de facto commander of a state's military forces, and reports to the state governor.
State Abbr.State
AKAlaska
ALAlabama
ARArkansas
AZArizona
CACalifornia
COColorado
CTConnecticut
DEDelaware
DCDistrict of Columbia
FLFlorida
GAGeorgia
GUGuam
HIHawaii
IAIowa
IDIdaho
ILIllinois
INIndiana
KSKansas

State Abbr.State
KYKentucky
LALouisiana
MAMassachusetts
MDMaryland
MEMaine
MIMichigan
MNMinnesota
MOMissouri
MSMississippi
MTMontana
NCNorth Carolina
NDNorth Dakota
NENebraska
NVNevada
NHNew Hampshire
NJNew Jersey
NMNew Mexico
NYNew York

State Abbr.State
OHOhio
OKOklahoma
OROregon
PAPennsylvania
PRPuerto Rico
RIRhode Island
SCSouth Carolina
SDSouth Dakota
TNTennessee
TXTexas
UTUtah
VAVirginia
VIU.S. Virgin Islands
VTVermont
WAWashington
WIWisconsin
WVWest Virginia
WYWyoming

Legacy units and formations

Several units have been affected by Army National Guard reorganizations. Some have been renamed or inactivated. Some have had subordinate units reallocated to other commands. A partial list of inactivated major units includes: