History Of The National Guard
A Tradition Older Than The Nation Itself
The Army National Guard dates back to the 1636, when the first colonists began to
settle around the Massachusetts area. These first regiments, the oldest units in
the U.S. Armed Forces, were the 101st Field Artillery, 101st Engineer Battalion
and the 181st and 182nd Infantry Regiments. These Militia men had but one goal in
mind, to protect their families and homes against attack. Patterned after the English
militia system, every male colonist between 16 and 60 was obligated to serve in
the militia. There were no fancy uniforms, and not even enough muskets to go around.
But these part-time soldiers successfully banded together to defend the colonies
against French, Spanish, and Indian Forces.
The American Revolution: The First War Begins
The Revolutionary War began in 1775, with the Battles of Lexington and Concord.
Led by General George Washington, over 164,000 militiamen and thousands of volunteers
bonded together to defeat the British. The American militia proved to the world
that civilian volunteers could be trained into fighting men, thus initiating the
high tradition of the National Guard in our Armed Forces. On October 19, 1781, when
Lord Cornwallis surrendered after a European-style siege, thirty-one Army National
Guard units carried Revolutionary War battle streamers attached to their unit colors.
At the war's end, the framers of the Constitution realized the militia had acquired
two missions: Protection of towns and states and the defense of the nation. The
militia Clause of the Constitution recognizes this important role and remains as
the Guard's legal foundation. Soon afterwards, the Militia Act of 1792 required
all males between 18 and 45 to enroll in the militia. The volunteer militia, which
were uniformed, trained and equipped units, soon superseded the enrolled militia
and became the basis of today's National Guard.
The Early Years
The Militia Acts offered uniformity and organization. But many states couldn't adhere
to specific regulations for lack of funds. This changed, however, in 1808m when
the National Government granted the first federal grant-in-aid in the history of
the United States. A sum of $200,000 was divided among the states to aid in buying
arms, uniforms, and other necessities. This appropriation not only helped build
a stronger militia, but also demonstrated the importance of the National Guard.
The National Guard Is Born
The title National Guard came about in 1824. New York's 7th Regiment was the first
to acquire the name, in honor of Lafayette's French volunteer force, the Garde Nationale.
In time, all states adopted the designation National Guard for their state militia.
As the nation continued to grow, so did the Guard. Service in the volunteer militia
became a vital force in America. Militia units marched in parades, acted as honor
guards at presidential and gubernatorial inaugurations and, when called, were always
prepared and ready to protect their state and nation. During the Mexican War of
1846-48, over 73,000 volunteer militiamen responded to the call for action. When
the Civil War broke out in 1861, Guardsmen form all over the country came to fight
- on both sides.
The Modern Guard Emerges...
After the Civil War, the National Guard began taking steps to become a modern reserve
to the Army - this included additional funding, training and equipment. The Militia
Act of 1903 prescribed Federal standards for the Guard. These new standards meant
that the Guard was to be organized, trained and equipped according to regular Army
standards. By the time World War I came around, the National Guard was unstoppable.
Guard divisions saw more action than any other Army component. In fact, the German
General Staff noted that of the eight American divisions considered to be superior,
six were from the National Guard. The roaring twenties brought about the formation
of 29 Air Corps squadrons, laying the foundation for today's Air National Guard.
In 1933, Congress authorized the creation of the National Guard of the U.S. (consisting
of all National Guard units), which could be ordered into Federal Service by the
president. Anticipating World War II, President Roosevelt ordered the National Guard
of the U.S. into Federal service for one year of accelerated training. This was
to train and prepare the Guard for war. Of the first five U.S. Army divisions entering
offensive combat, four were from the National Guard.; 148 Guard units received the
Presidential Unit Citation. Twenty Guardsmen were awarded the Medal of Honor.
1946 - 56: A Time of Integration and Separation
After World War II, the Black National Guard units began to officially integrate
with the National Guard units. Also at this time, the Air National Guard became
a separate reserve component. They too would have the same dual mission as the Army
National Guard. In 1950, with the outbreak of the Korean War, more than 183,000
Army and Air Guardsmen were called to serve in combat. Four of the 36 jet aces of
the Korean War were Air Guard Pilots. Almost ten years later, during the Berlin
Crisis, 45,115 Army Guard soldiers were mobilized. Air Guard units were deployed
to Europe and assumed operational missions.
A Call To Action
From 1968-69, 12,000 Army Guardsmen and 10,511 Air Guardsmen were called to serve
their country. Over 9,500 Guardsmen were sent to Vietnam. Once again, the National
Guard demonstrated combat-ready professionalism, earning over 4,000 decorations
during the conflict.
The National Guard Today: Three Centuries Old And Going Strong
The 1970's was a period of modernization for both the Army and Air National Guard.
Women were allowed to join the Guard, and for the first time began training in new
roles - from mechanics to pilots and engineers. In addition, there was a significant
rise in the number of enlisted blacks and minorities. The Army and Air National
Guard also began to acquire large quantities of the latest, up-to-date equipment.
During this same period, the Army's "affiliation" program was set into motion. This
program affiliated specific Army Guard battalions and brigades with active Army
combat units with whom they would mobilize and deploy. This set the pace for the
Army and Air National Guard of the 80's and early 90's. Always changing, Always
growing. Today the Army and Air National Guard are the best they've ever been -
well equipped and trained to handle any emergency. Whether it's demonstrating peacetime
heroism within their communities - or being mobilized for a national emergency,
National Guard members will continue to protect their state and country.