The Army National Guard (ARNG), 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 ARNG of each state, most territories, and the
District of Columbia (also referred to as the Militia of the United States), as well as the federal ARNG, as part of the
National Guard as a whole. It is divided into subordinate units stationed in each state or insular area, responsible to their respective governors or other head-of-government.[4]
The Guard's origins are usually traced to the city of
Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636. That year a regiment of militia drilled for the first time to defend a multi-community area within what is now the United States.[5][a]
Members or units of the ARNG may be ordered, temporarily or indefinitely, into United States service.[8][9] If mobilized for federal service, the member or unit becomes part of the U.S. ARNG, which is a
reserve component of the
U.S. Army.[10][11][12] Individuals volunteering for active federal service may do so subject to the consent of their governors.[13] Largely on the basis of a
1990 U.S. Supreme Court decision, governors generally cannot veto involuntary activations of individuals or units for federal service, either for training or national emergency.[14]
The President may also call up members and units of the ARNG, in its status as the militia of the several states, to repel invasion, suppress rebellion, or enforce federal laws.[15] The Army National Guard is one of two organizations administered by the
National Guard Bureau, the other being the
Air National Guard. The Director of the ARNG is the head of the organization, and reports to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau. Because the ARNG 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 ARNG "commands" it. This operational command authority is performed in each state or territory by the
State Adjutant General, and in the District of Columbia by the Commanding General of the
D.C. National Guard when a unit is in its militia status. While under federal activation, the operational command authority is transferred to the commanders of the
unified combatant commands, who command all U.S. forces within their
area of responsibility. The Chief of the National Guard Bureau and the Director of the ARNG serve as the channel of communications between the Department of the Army and the ARNG in each state and territory, and administer federal programs, policies, and resources for the National Guard.[16]
The ARNG'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.[17]
Of the 45[b] individuals to serve as President of the United States as of 2021[update], 33 had military experience. Of those 33, 21 served in the militia or ARNG.
Abraham Lincoln, served in the
Illinois Militia during the
Black Hawk War. He commanded a company in the 4th Illinois Regiment with the rank of captain from April to May 1832. He was a private in Captain Alexander White's Company from May to June 1832. He served as a private in Captain Jacob Earley's company from June to July 1832.[38]
Ulysses S. Grant, having left the Army as a captain, at the start of the Civil War he served in the Illinois Militia as aide de camp and mustering officer for
GovernorRichard Yates.[44][45] He held these positions until being appointed commander of the
21st Illinois Infantry, which set him on the path to becoming a general and commander of all Union armies.[46]
Rutherford B. Hayes, joined a militia company in 1846 intending to fight in the Mexican–American War, but resigned because of ill health.[47] Enlisted as a private in a
Cincinnati militia company at the start of the Civil War in 1861, and was elected commander with the rank of captain. He was subsequently appointed a major in the
23rd Ohio Infantry, and ended the war as a brigade commander and
brevet Major General.[48]
James A. Garfield, commissioned a lieutenant colonel in the Ohio Militia in 1861, he took part in recruiting and training the
42nd Ohio Infantry Regiment, which he commanded as a colonel.[49] He later served as Chief of Staff for the
Army of the Cumberland and received promotion to Major General.[50]
Chester A. Arthur, became a member of the
New York Militia soon after becoming a lawyer. During the Civil War he served on the staff of
GovernorEdwin D. Morgan as Quartermaster General with the rank of brigadier general. He later served as Morgan's inspector general, responsible for visiting New York's front line units, assessing conditions and recommending improvements.[51]
Benjamin Harrison, commissioned in the
Indiana Militia by
GovernorOliver P. Morton to recruit a regiment during the Civil War, he was subsequently appointed a second lieutenant and captain in and then colonel and commander of the
70th Indiana Infantry Regiment. He received the brevet of brigadier general as a commendation of his service, and later commanded a brigade.[52][53][54] He also enrolled in the militia again during labor unrest in
Indianapolis in 1877.[55]
William McKinley, joined a volunteer militia company called the
Poland Guards at the start of the Civil War. The company was subsequently mustered in as part of the 23rd Ohio Infantry, the same regiment in which President Hayes served. McKinley ended the war as a major and chief of staff for division commander
Samuel S. Carroll.[56][57]
Theodore Roosevelt, commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 8th New York Infantry Regiment in 1884, he served until 1888 and attained the rank of captain. During the
Spanish–American War he was commissioned lieutenant colonel of the
1st United States Volunteer Cavalry, which he later commanded as a colonel. In 2001 a review of his war record led to a posthumous award of the
Medal of Honor.[58][59]
Harry S. Truman, served in the
Missouri Army National Guard from 1905 to 1911, rising to the rank of
corporal. During World War I he rejoined and was commissioned a first lieutenant in the 2nd Missouri Field Artillery. This regiment was federalized as the
129th Field Artillery, and Truman commanded Battery D as a captain. He continued to serve in the
Army Reserve, retiring as a colonel in 1953.[60][61][62]
(Note: President
George W. Bush served in the National Guard in the late 1960s and early 1970s, and he was the first
Air National Guard member to attain the presidency.)[63]
Units and formations
Deployable Army units are organized as
Table of organization and equipment (TOE) organizations or modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) organizations. Non-deployable units, such as a state's joint force headquarters or regional training institutes are administered as Table of distribution and allowance (TDA) units.[64]
In addition to many deployable units which are non-divisional, the Army National Guard's deployable units include eight infantry divisions.[65] 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:[66]
Army Aviation Magazine wrote on 31 March 2021 that "The ARNG is pressing forward with the Division Alignment for Training (DIV AFT) effort. The DIV AFT intent is to enhance leader development and training readiness through codified relationships across echelons and states to develop combat capable division formations for large scale combat operations. The Director, ARNG.. recently convened a DIV AFT Initial Planning Conference to clarify unit alignments for all eight ARNG Division Headquarters and synchronize activities that will facilitate unity of effort between Division Headquarters and aligned for training States."[67]
The Army and Air National Guard in each state are headed by the
State Adjutant General. The Adjutant General (TAG) is the de facto commander of a state's military forces, and reports to the state governor.[72]
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:
Upon the creation of the
United States Air Force in 1947, the National Guard Bureau was organized into two divisions; Army National Guard and
Air National Guard. Each were headed by a
major general who reported to the
chief of the National Guard Bureau. The head of the Army National Guard was originally established as the chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau. The position was downgraded to
brigadier general in 1962 due to force reduction. It was renamed to Director of the Army National Guard and elevated back to major general in 1970. The position was later elevated to the rank of
lieutenant general in 2001. The Army National Guard is also authorized a deputy director which was originally established as a brigadier general office in 1970. It was elevated to the rank of major general in 2006.
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.
List of chiefs and directors
No.
Commander
Term
Portrait
Name
Took office
Left office
Term length
Chiefs of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau
^The 181st Infantry, the 182nd Infantry, the 101st Field Artillery and the 101st Engineer Battalion of the Massachusetts Army National Guard stem from the 1636 unit.[6]
^As of 2021[update]. While there have been 46 presidencies, only 45 individuals have served as president.
Grover Cleveland served two non-consecutive terms and is numbered as both the 22nd and 24th U.S. president.
^"Ceremonies Today for 30th Armored". The Tennessean. Nashville, TV. 28 October 1973. p. 11. The 30th Armored Division of the Tennessee National Guard will be retired today...
^U.S. House Appropriations Committee,
Hearing Record, Department of Defense Appropriations for 1995, Volume 1, 1994, p. 296
^Served as director in the rank of major general from 1998 to 2001. The 2001 National Defense Authorization Act, elevated the position to lieutenant general. Schultz was appointed another term as director and was promoted.