Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 How is the National Guard 140 years older than the U.S.? By  2nd Lt. Emerson Marcus
                152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard
 CARSON CITY, Nev. – When the National Guard celebrates its 382nd birthday Thursday, skeptics might ask the obvious question: "How can the National Guard be 140 years older than the nation, and exist more than two centuries before it took on the name National Guard?" Admittedly, a 1636 Massachusetts Bay Colony farmer would find the modern National Guard as unfathomable as the Boston skyline. But the Massachusetts militia's origin story forms the first thread in the patchwork of today's National Guard. The acts and legislation that followed constitute rebirths of a long-standing tradition. In 1636, the first militia units in the New World organized in the Massachusetts Bay Colony under three permanent regiments. These militia units trace their lineage into the 17th century and through the Revolutionary War. Militia involvement in the Revolutionary War marked a rebirth of the militia under the "United Colonies," eventually the United States. The colonists resented and feared a standing military force following the abuses of the British Regular Army. Given that history, the young nation's citizens understandably feared abuses of military power. When George Washington argued in "Sentiments on a Peace Establishment" for a regular and standing military and a "well organized Militia; upon a Plan that will pervade all the States, and introduce similarity in their Establishment Maneuvers, Exercise and Arms," he understood much of the nation's distaste for federal military control. The 1792 Militia Act, arguably the birth of the United States' militia model, was the outcome of this compromise. It gave the president powers to call forth the militia "whenever the United States shall be invaded, or be in imminent danger of invasion," but also provided state rule for training and the appointment of officers. Throughout the 19th century, all free, able-bodied men ages 18-45 were conscripted into local militia, divided in divisions, brigades, battalions and companies. Many of these units across the nation held varying standards of training, uniforms and organization. Widespread use of the moniker "National Guard" didn't occur until after the Civil War. In 1878, the National Guard Association of the United States, or NGAUS, was formed to lobby for the National Guards of the states and territories. The turn of the 20th century brought the Progressive Era (1890-1920), which included reforms to government and private industry, and the Guard was no exception. These included the Militia Act of 1903 — the first sweeping revision of the 1792 Militia Act — and the National Defense Act of 1916, which established training and organizational standards among Guard units across the nation. In 1933, Congress amended the National Defense Act with the creation of the National Guard of the United States, a separate reserve component of the United States Army. This revision established training standards and sought to maintain unit integrity when National Guard units were called into federal service. It arguably created a militia force more in line with what Washington sought during the nation's founding. The House report on the 1933 amendment concluded by saying: "It is our belief that the present bill conforms as nearly as possible to the ideals and principles comprehended by Washington in his magnificent statement entitled 'Sentiments on a Peace Establishment.'" In the post-World War II era, the National Guard expanded with the Air National Guard. Its operations tempo significantly increased with the total force concept introduced after the Vietnam War and it continued to evolve from a strategic reserve to an operational force in the post-9/11 era. While skeptics are rational in questioning the 1636 origin date — without them, the story of the many rebirths wouldn't be necessary for context — the patchwork of the nation's Citizen-Soldier heritage undoubtedly includes the first stitching of those Massachusetts militiamen.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 National Guard 382nd birthday
 North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School Overseas Operations • yesterday
 Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program State Partnership Program • yesterday
 Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar Guard News • 2 days ago
 2024 (128)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil