The California National Guard is a federally funded California military force, part of the National Guard of the United States. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components, and the California State Guard and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of over 23,000 soldiers and airmen., California National Guardsmen have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times since 2001, of which twenty-nine have been killed in Iraq and two have died in Afghanistan. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, national guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress. When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed." The Governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
Victor R. Hansen, December 27, 1944 – April 28, 1946
Curtis D. O'Sullivan, April 29, 1946 – July 15, 1951
Earl M. Jones, July 16, 1951 – December 31, 1960
Roderic L. Hill, January 1, 1961 – January 1, 1967
Glenn C. Ames, March 22, 1967 – June 5, 1975
Frank J. Schober, June 6, 1975 – December 31, 1982
Willard A. Shank, January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1987
Robert C. Thrasher, February 14, 1987 – October 9, 1992
Robert W. Barrow, October 10 – December 31, 1992
Tandy K. Bozeman, January 1, 1993 – April 27, 1999
Paul D. Monroe Jr., April 29, 1999 – March 2004
Thomas Eres, March 2004 – June 6, 2005
John Alexander, June 7 – August 1, 2005
William H. Wade II, September 1, 2005 – February 1, 2010
Mary J. Kight, February 2, 2010 – April 15, 2011
David Baldwin, April 16, 2011 – present
Military academy
The California Army National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo for the use and training of members of California and other western state National Guard units, as well as for the use of the California State Guard. Upon completion of Army Basic Training, OCS cadets will train a minimum of one weekend per month over a 16-18 month period before commissioning as a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard.
