ARMY 

NATIONAL 

GUARD:

A CIVIC LEADER’S 

GUIDE TO

WHO WE ARE
1

Questns yo

about the Army National Guar

Is the Army National Guard a state or federal force? Pg. 2

How many individual overseas Army National Guard Soldier 

mobilizations have there been since 9/11? Pg. 3

Army National Guard members only serve one weekend 

a month, and two weeks a year, right? Pg. 4

Are Army National Guard Soldiers real Soldiers? They just 

do “support” jobs in the Army, right? Pg. 5

During a disaster, don’t Army National Guard Soldiers just

fill sandbags and drive trucks? Pgs. 6 & 7

How does the Army National Guard impact MY community? Pgs. 8 & 9

I know there are buildings called “armories” in my 

community—what are those buildings and who uses them? Pg. 12 

Could the Army National Guard respond if the country was 

attacked by a chemical or biological weapon? Pg. 14 

What’s the difference between the Army National Guard 

and the Army Reserve? Pg. 15

What can I do to support the Army National Guard? Pg. 17

Front

Center: Captain Devin Ciminero, Rhode Island National Guard; Photo by Senior Airman Sean Martin.

Lower left: Sergeant Lee Savoy, Louisiana National Guard; Photo by Specialist Rashawn Price.

Back

Photo by Staff Sergeant Marc R. Belo, Colorado National Guard.
2 3 MISSIO

N 

MISSIO

N 

ONE PURPOS

Preserve the Nation

Provide Soldiers to the Natio

Army National Guard Soldiers, under the 

order of the president and control of the 

nation’s military, serve equally alongside our 

active duty counterparts. Whether it’s to 

fight in times of war, participate in military 

exercises with allied forces, or to serve during 

a large-scale national emergency, Army 

National Guard Soldiers perform the same 

jobs, in the same way, as active duty Soldiers. 

However, because Army National Guard 

Soldiers are engaged in civilian life and 

employment, they are able to bring unique 

civilian-acquired training and skills to the fight.

The Army National Guard 

has been used in a variety 

of fashions since its origin 

as a colonial militia force. 

Over time, the Army National 

Guard has evolved from being 

a “strategic reserve” that was 

never meant to see combat 

except in the most dire of 

circumstances, to regular use 

overseas and at home. In fact, 

in most situations where there 

is an emergency here on 

U.S. soil, the Army National 

Guard is the military’s first 

responder. 

Overseas, the Army 

National Guard is on par 

with the active duty Army 

Provide Soldiers to States 

The Army National Guard is a resource for the 

nation’s governors—a mission enshrined in 

our Constitution. Unless called to federal 

service, Army National Guard Soldiers are 

under the control of their governors as 

commander-in-chief. Many of the restrictions 

on the use of military forces within the United 

States, such as the use of Soldiers for law 

enforcement, do not apply when Soldiers are 

serving under the command of their governor. 

This gives governors broad authority to use 

their Army National Guard assets, from 

protecting lives and property during a natural 

disaster, to maintaining peace during civil 

emergencies.

Let us introdu

Two Missions. One Pu

in terms of Soldier quality—

many leaders have reported 

that they can’t distinguish us 

from our active component 

brothers and sisters in 

combat. We have never 

been more experienced, 

better trained or more 

fully equipped than we are 

today. The nation has made 

substantial investments in 

the Army National Guard, 

ensuring that it is and will 

continue to be a full partner 

in today’s Total Army.

Hometowns, districts, 

and states across the nation 

directly benefit from the 

Army National Guard in their 

A Fundamental Shift—Today’s Guard in Your Hometown

Specialist Sean Curry of the 220th 

Military Police Company, Colorado

National Guard, prepares to 

deliver medical supplies for free 

or low-cost health screenings in 

the Denver metro area as a part of 

the Innovative Readiness Training 

program. WE ARE A FEDERAL AND ST

communities. For example, 

did you know that nearly 

all Army National Guard 

military construction projects 

are largely built by local 

citizens and small businesses, 

bringing jobs to the local 

economy? Were you aware 

that most Army National 

Guard equipment, such as 

helicopters and radios, are 

“dual use”—keeping our 

communities safe during 

disaster when not in use 

overseas? Did you know that 

Army National Guard Soldiers 

live and perform duty in 

every congressional district 

in the nation? 

Pilots land Alaska Army National Guard Black 

Hawk helicopters in support of Operation Arctic 

Care; the annual mission provides medical 

care to more than 6,000 rural Alaska residents.

Iowa National Guard Specialist 

Michael Scarsbrook scans an area 

near Tupac, Afghanistan, where his 

unit was attacked two days earlier.

Army N

Soldi

Overseas Since

500,000 MORTHAN
4 5

Our Feder

Conflicts, Contingencies and Pa

We are S

We Go to War

First and foremost, members of the Army 

National Guard are Soldiers. As of the end 

of 2012, over 48 percent of all Army National 

Guard Soldiers had deployed at least once. 

Army National Guard Soldiers have served 

with distinction in every major conflict our 

nation has fought. In fact, the Army National 

Guard has the oldest military units in the 

nation—tracing its heritage to 1636, with the 

Massachusetts Bay Colony militia. 

We Partner with Allies

Did you know that the National Guard is 

directly partnered with over 60 countries 

across the globe, and has been for decades? 

We bring our unique civilian skill sets, such as 

police and emergency management; farming 

and agriculture; and state/local government 

administration in mentoring and assisting 

our partner nations. We also work with allied 

militaries to strengthen our shared defense 

through training exercises and operational 

missions. By strengthening our 

allies, we strengthen our 

nation’s security.

We Serve the Nation at Hom

Every year, thousands of National Guard

Soldiers from across the country are called 

to active federal service for duty here in the 

U.S. From manning missile defense batteries 

in Alaska, supporting Customs and Border 

Protection, to conducting security patrols at 

the Super Bowl, we quickly come together 

under the Department of Defense when our 

nation calls.

Specialist Brion Carrion of the Delaware National 

Guard directs foot traffic on the National Mall 

in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 21, 2013 during the 

57th Presidential Inauguration. Nearly 6,500 

National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provided 

security and assistance to local civilian authorities.

A South Carolina Army National 

Guard Apache Longbow lands on 

the deck of the U.S.S. New Orleans 

in the Persian Gulf during its 2011 

deployment to Iraq and Kuwait.

Minnesota National Guard Captain Michael Raymond and his team pose for 

their end of deployment photo at Camp Hero, Afghanistan. The team, composed of National Guardsmen from across the country, mentored Afghan drill 

sergeants in Kandahar province. 

“We Turned 

the Lights in Ir

When Soldiers from the 

Minnesota National Guard 

escorted the last vehicles 

out of Iraq on Dec. 18, 2011, 

they knew they were making 

history. They represented the 

effort of hundreds of thousands 

of Soldiers, including 4,475 

servicemen and women who 

lost their lives serving in Iraq, 

by bringing the Iraq War to a 

close. Minnesota’s 1st Squadron, 94th Cavalry, 1st Brigade 

Combat Team, 34th Infantry 

Division (known as the “Red 

Bulls”) drove over 1,000,000 

miles in support of the 

Minnesota Army National Guard Lieutenant 

Colonel Eddie Frizell, commander of the 1st

Squadron, 94th Cavalry, talks to his troops after 

escorting convoys of equipment and Soldiers 

in Iraq.

mission to close combat 

operations in Iraq. It was the 

largest deployment from 

Minnesota since World War II.

Staff Sergeant Hedrik Rijfkogel of the Kansas 

National Guard addresses his troops on the Sinai 

Peninsula in Egypt. The National Guard leads the

mission to observe, report and verify violations 

of the 1979 treaty between Egypt and Israel

Georgia National Guard and Kosovo Force (KFOR) Soldiers 

respond in self defense on June 1, 2012 near Rudare, 

Kosovo; two KFOR Soldiers were injured by gunfire.

Di Y

The first full division to see 

ground combat in World War II 

was the 32nd Inf. Div. (now 

32nd Infantry Brigade 

Combat Team), a 

National Guard division out of Michigan 

and Wisconsin. The 

32nd has served in 

combat from World 

War I to Afghanistan. 

32nd ID 

Shoulder 

Patch
6 7

Beyond Sandbags and Big Trucks

The Army National Guard does a lot more than 

truck in food or fill sandbags when disaster 

strikes. From using helicopters to rescue people 

from rooftops and drop fire suppressant on 

forest fires, to augmenting police forces in 

airports and on the road, our Soldiers bring the 

awesome power of the U.S. military to bear in 

the face of catastrophe. 

“...before the wind stops blowing.”

Many people join the 

National Guard because 

they want to help their 

communities in times 

of need. Army National 

Guard Soldiers don’t 

hesitate when disaster 

strikes—they spring 

into action. 

When disaster 

strikes, our Soldiers will 

Our Stat

Preparation, Response and 

show up at armories in 

their local community, 

ready and waiting for 

orders. They arrive on 

scene quickly—before 

the wind stops blowing. 

Organized for 

Combat, Ready 

for Disasters

Army National Guard 

units are designed for 

combat. Our units have 

the structure, equipment, 

and training to function independently 

anywhere in the world. The skills that enable a 

brigade combat team to mobilize and succeed 

in Afghanistan also enable it to mobilize to 

disaster areas in the United States, bringing all 

the communication, transportation, logistics, 

and specialized skills it normally brings to the 

battlefield to a disaster at home.

Damage caused by Hurricane Sandy 

to New Jersey’s coast as seen from 

an Army National Guard helicopter. 

Providing People and Resources to Your Hometown

Missouri Army National Guard 

conducts Search and Rescue 

after the May 2011 Joplin, Mo. 

tornado.

A Louisiana National Guard 

Black Hawk picks up water 

using a “Bambi Bucket” during 

firefighting efforts in the state.

New York National Guard Soldiers

evacuate patients from Bellevue 

Hospital in Manhattan during Hurricane Sandy. Soldiers evacuated 500 

patients and kept the 1,000-gallon 

emergency generator fuel tank 

fueled by carrying five-gallon fuel 

jugs up 13 flights of stairs during 

the storm.

“Sterling was upside down,

unconscious, bleeding profusely from 

the head, and making terrible noises—

something between snoring and wheezing.”

Staff Sergeant Eric Williams is lowered

during a successful rescue of Sterling 

Roop from a mountain in Colorado; 

Williams effected a successful rescue 

despite suffering head trauma and a 

leg fracture.

We ar militar

In September 2012 on the 

rocky, steep face of Mount 

Bancroft, Colo., Sterling Roop 

had just escaped almost 

certain death. His climbing 

partner, Adam Hermans, 

recounts the story: “Sterling 

climbed the face with no 

problem, and was just walking 

along the top ledge when he 

slipped...to our horror, his slip 

propelled him off the ledge 

and he rag-dolled back down 

the face he’d just climbed, 

smashing and crashing into 

ledges and the rock wall 

along the way...fortunately, 

Alex held and caught the 

belay and Sterling stopped 

about eight feet above the 

ground.”

Sterling’s climbing partners kept him alive for hours, 

treating his severe head injury 

and providing first aid until 

wilderness rescue climbers 

arrived to render advanced 

medical treatment. Once 

Sterling was stabilized, he 

needed to be evacuated. 

That’s when a Colorado Army 

National Guard helicopter 

medevac team came in.

Army National Guard 

helicopter pilots maneuvered 

their Black Hawk helicopter 

into position for the hoist 

rescue. Flight medic Staff 

Sergeant (SSG) Eric Williams

was lowered to Roop’s 

location—but during Williams’ 

landing, a sudden wind 

caused him to slam against 

the rock face. He suffered a 

serious broken bone in his 

leg and his face shield was 

smashed. In great pain but 

undeterred, Williams made 

it to Roop and, as clouds 

began to engulf the helicopter, ensured that Sterling was 

hoisted to the helicopter. 

Sterling was taken to a local 

hospital.

Next, the Army National 

Guard helicopter had to pick 

up their injured medic. The 

crew flew back and, running 

low on fuel, lowered the hoist 

to Williams. He attached 

himself to the hoist and was 

lifted to the helicopter, which 

transported him to the local 

hospital for treatment. SSG 

Williams underwent surgery 

for his broken leg; Roop 

walked out of the hospital 

the day after he was rescued.
8 9

Army National Guard Soldiers 

support communities, families, 

and at-risk youths across the 

country. For example, the 

National Guard’s Youth

ChalleNGe program prepares 

at-risk teens and high school 

dropouts for high school 

equivalency tests and for 

future employment, military 

service and higher education 

opportunities. A September 

2012 RAND study showed 

a 166 percent return on the 

nation’s investment in the 

Youth ChalleNGe program

Hiring Heroes

When Sergeant Amy Feltzin 

and Specialist Jayme Roth of 

the Oregon National Guard’s 

1249th Engineer Company

were on convoys in Afghanistan, the dream of working 

on a film set in Hollywood 

seemed a long-shot.

However, less than six 

months after returning from 

their deployment, they found 

themselves doing just that, 

thanks to “Operation Hollywood,” a program designed 

to find veterans jobs in the 

film industry. 

We all OVER 2,600 Communities

Guard Soldiers or Facilitis In Every Com

More than 10% of the officers of

the Cheyenne Police Department

also serve as National Guardsmen.

Sergeant Rob Dafoe

Cheyenne Police Departmen

“The great thing about hiring veterans

is they’re always on time, they know

how to multitask, and they’re very

accustomed to taking direction.”

Suzanne DeLaurentii

Hollywood Prod

Sergeant Amy Feltzin (in red) of the 

Oregon National Guard prepares the 

costume of actress Erika Christensen

on a film set in California. Feltzin was 

hired by DeLaurentiis.

Larry Litton, 

assistant director for 

the motion picture 

“How Sweet It Is,” 

said the veterans are 

picking their jobs up quickly. 

“So far they are doing great, 

they show up on time and 

are willing to do what needs 

to be done,” said Litton, “being willing to learn and paying 

attention is half the job.” 

Alex Adams, a production assistant for “How Sweet 

It Is,” is also a former Marine. 

He said the ability to think 

ahead gives veterans an 

advantage on a film set. 

We Set the Example

Captain Dan Long of the Wyoming National Guard also 

serves as a Cheyenne police officer.

Off-duty Army National Guard Soldiers from Washington, D.C. 

and other places volunteer to rebuild a home for a disabled 

Maryland resident during National Rebuilding Day.

“Military 

being on set is a 

very good thing 

because we’re 

already trained 

to take orders 

and we’re good at 

a lot of different 

things,” he said. 

“There are other former military on this film set and we’ve 

all talked about a common 

sense factor that military 

experience brings to the set.” 

Youth enjoy the Ohio National

Guard’s Military Kids Camp 

2012 at Kelleys Island, Ohio.

We ar your

Major General Daniel Long, 

the Adjutant General of 

Virginia, congratulates a

Youth ChalleNGe graduate

The Citizen Soldier

What does it mean to be a Citizen Soldier? 

Typically, Army National Guard Soldiers 

spend most of their time as civilians. They 

work normal jobs in your community. They 

are your small business owners, teachers, 

doctors, lawyers, and other professionals who 

serve in the Army National Guard on a parttime basis at least 39 days per year (full-time 

when called to state or federal active duty). 

Dan Long, a Cheyenne police officer is 

also the commander of Wyoming National 

Guard’s 197th Public Affairs Detachment. His 

skills transfer between jobs. Many Citizen 

Soldiers report that their military experiences 

often aid their civilian work, and vice versa. 

Beyond the Uniform

The sense of community service in our Soldiers 

goes beyond responding to disasters or 

serving in harm’s way. Many of our Soldiers 

are active participants in the community 

off-duty. And, as seen at left, Guard Soldiers 

often lead local volunteer efforts and give 

back to their community on their own time.

Di Y

There are over 5,000 first responders, 

3,500 non-EMT medical personnel, 5,000

teachers and 2,600 engineers who also 

serve as Army National Guard Soldiers.
10 11

AK

1,879

$127.9M 

AL

11,023

$346.1M 

AR

7,452

$258.1M

AZ

5,206

$229.5M 

CA

16,450

$732.9M 

CO

4,023

$209.3M 

CT

3,593

$273.4M 

DC

1,360

$67.5M 

DE

1,587

$75.5M 

FL

9,937

$303.1M 

GA

11,100

$370.9M 

GU

1,244

$54.4M 

HI

3,039

$175.6M 

IA

7,281

$216.3M 

ID

3,456

$143.2M 

IL

10,050

$283.1M 

IN

12,168

$434.7M 

KS

5,096

$195.4M 

KY

 7,370

 $239.8M 

LA

9,457

$285.1M 

MA

6,218

$212.6M 

MD

4,792

$199.5M 

ME

2,077

$195M 

MI

8,788

$249.1M 

MN

10,974

$281M 

MO

9,050

$399.7M 

MS

9,678

$523.8M 

MT

2,787

$113.1M 

NC

10,278

$299.9M 

ND

3,278

$124.4M 

NE

3,758

$165M 

NH

1,772

$73.7M 

NJ

6,101

$232.8M 

NM

3,019

$105.2M 

NV

3,203

$137.5M 

NY

10,623

$314.8M 

OH

11,441 

$274.4M

OK

7,214

$211.5M 

OR

6,511

$222.2M 

PA

15,460

$501.8M 

PR

7,280

$250.8M 

RI

2,104

$84.4M 

SC

9,459

$295.3M 

SD

3,266

 $109.9M 

TN

10,648

$280.6M 

TX

19,605

$563.3M 

UT

5,650

$252M VA

7,463

$242.4M 

VI

776

$43.9M 

VT

2,797

$112.9M 

WY

1,637

$88.7M

WA

5,936

$209.5M 

WI

7,526

$217.4M 

WV

4,138

$174.4M 

STATE

FY12 ARNG Soldiers Authorized

FY12 Direct Federal Spending

LEGEND

NATIONAL RESOURCES, LOCAL 

ARMY NTINAL GUA

America’s Hometown Force:

Army National Guard Soldiers

and Federal Spending in 

Your State

Federal spending consists of the 

payroll for actively drilling Army 

National Guard Soldiers and civilian 

support, Army National Guard 

military construction projects, utilities, 

municipal services, engineering 

services, fire and emergency services, 

maintenance and repair, minor 

construction, environmental compliance, environmental conservation 

and pollution prevention.

This map does not reflect all federal spending. For example, federal 

education benefits (i.e. the G.I. Bill) 

and payroll for Army National Guard 

Soldiers deployed overseas is not 

included.

Source: Fiscal Year 2012 Army National Guard data
12 13

Today’s Armories and 

Readiness Centers 

Army National Guard armories and readiness 

centers are in over 2,600 communities across 

the nation and are an undeniable and iconic 

part of the American landscape. Beyond 

serving as community centers and sports 

complexes, Army National Guard facilities are 

the base of operations for launching emergency response missions as well as providing 

storage and staging of key equipment. In 

addition, armories often serve as shelters for 

Facilities for the Community and the Guard

We ar goo

A North Dakota National 

Guard bulldozer prepares 

to enter the Souris River 

near Minot, N.D. The Guard 

was tasked with removing 

an old bridge that was 

eroding a levee.

Specially painted 

Arizona Army National 

Guard helicopters 

battle wildfires in 

Arizona state parks.

YOUR INVESTMENT IN US IS AN INVESTMEN

Many of our facilities are 

used by members of the 

community and local 

government as well as Army 

National Guard Soldiers. 

The North Carolina 

National Guard partnered 

with the North Carolina 

Division of Emergency

Management and the state 

departments of Public 

Safety and Transportation 

“It is all about

giving back

the community

citizens during disasters. Strategically located 

facilities enable rapid response to emergencies 

as well as provide a continual presence among 

the populations that the Army National Guard 

protects.

Dual-Use Equipment: 

Federal Equipment for State Missions

From trucks and helicopters to radios and 

medical tents, our resources are ready not 

only for war, but for missions here at home. 

No other force in the nation is able to 

immediately bring military equipment 

and capabilities in times of disaster 

or emergency on location like the 

Army National Guard. The vast 

majority of our equipment is 

available and at the disposal 

of state governors for 

use in saving lives and 

property in their state 

when not supporting 

federal missions.

“It’s great training and we are helping out the City of Cohoes,” 

said Specialist Charles Adams from Fishkill, N.Y., as he was

operating a chain saw. Soldiers from the 1156th and 152nd 

Engineer Companies, New York National Guard (below)

spent half of their two-week annual training in 2012 cutting 

down trees and leveling ground along portions of the Old Erie

Canal. The work was conducted under the national Innovative 

Readiness Training program, 

which allows Army National 

Guard Soldiers to perform 

community projects when 

the work involves the unit’s 

combat tasks and the 

requested assistance is not 

reasonably available from a 

commercial entity.

Net Zero

Water, Energy 

and Waste

The Army National Guard 

takes environmental 

stewardship and efficiency 

seriously. Efforts are underway

across the country to reduce 

the National Guard’s water, 

energy, and landfill usage. 

For example, the Kentucky 

National Guard’s Harold 

Disney Training Center 

(above) generates nearly its 

entire energy requirement 

from solar panels, using fewer 

community utility resources 

and saving taxpayer money. 

to construct a Joint Force 

Headquarters (below). 

Over 500 employees from 

a variety of state agencies 

and the National Guard work 

at the facility every day. 

More than 600 Hurricane Irene evacuees from Ocean City, 

Md., are housed in the Maryland National Guard’s Fifth 

Regiment Armory in Baltimore.
15

Chief, NGB

Director, ARNG Director, ANG

Secretary of 

Defense

President

Joint Chiefs 

of Staff

Army Air Force

Army

National

Guard Units

Air

National

Guard Units

Governors

States

Adjutant

General

Command/Control

Communication/Coordination

Membership/Advising Through 

Chairman, JCS

The National Guard

Bureau and the Army 

National Guar

The National Guard Bureau 

is an element within the 

Department of Defense 

responsible for administering National Guard programs 

and distributing resources. 

It serves as the channel of 

communications on all matters pertaining to the National 

Guard between the Army, the 

Air Force, and the 50 states, 

three territories and the 

District of Columbia. 

The Bureau is led by a 

Chief, who is a four-star general responsible for advising 

the Secretary of Defense, and 

the Secretaries and Chiefs 

of Staff of the Army and Air 

Force on matters relating 

to the National Guard. The 

Chief is also a member of the 

Joint Chiefs of Staff. The 

Chief works closely with the 

Director of the Army National 

Guard to ensure that Army 

National Guard issues are 

appropriately addressed to 

senior Army and Defense 

leaders and that National 

Guard programs and policies 

are synchronized with and 

implemented by the Army 

National Guard in every state.

The Reserve Component

The military is divided into 

active and reserve components. The reserve component 

is comprised of seven entities (Army and Air National 

Guards; Army, Navy, Marine 

Corps, Air Force and Coast 

Guard Reserves). The purpose 

of the reserve components, 

as prescribed by law, is to: 

“...provide trained units and 

qualified persons available 

for active duty in the armed 

forces, in time of war or 

national emergency...whenever more units and persons 

are needed than are in the 

regular components.”

While the Army Reserve 

and Army National Guard are 

both in the reserve component, the Army Reserve 

remains a federal force only, 

while the Army National 

Guard is a state-led force 

unless called into federal 

service to augment the 

active component Army.

•	New York’s 2nd CIVIL SUPPOR

(CST) was the first complete military unit to 

mobilize and respond to downtown Manhattan on 9/11. Within 90 minutes of the first 

plane crashing into the North Tower of the 

World Trade Center, most 

of the unit’s members had 

self-mobilized to their 

base in Scotia, N.Y.; within

hours they were on site. 

•	In he even

chemical, biological, 

radiological, nuclear or 

explosive (CBRNE) attack

in the United States, the

first “on the ground” military response will be one of 57 CSTs, 10 National 

Guard Homeland Response Force (HRF) packages, or 17 CBRNE Enhanced Response Forc

Packages (CERFP). Ninety-seven percent of

America lives within a five-hour response 

window of a National Guard HRF or CERFP.

•	Some Army National 

successfully employed goats in wildfire fighting efforts. In one example, the Utah Army 

National Guard used over 1,200 goats to eat 

forest underbrush—a fuel source for wildfires. 

A wildfire later in the year “jumped” bulldozed fire lines in minutes, but stopped 

at the goat firebreak, saving a 

nearby community. 

• At their peaks, more

than 5,900 Army 

National Guard Soldiers 

supported National 

Special Security 

Events in fiscal year

2012, including the 

Republican and 

Democratic

DID YOU KNOW THA

National Conventions, and over 10,500 Guard 

Soldiers were on the ground responding to 

weather events such as hurricanes, wildfires 

and tornados. At the height of the Hurricane 

Sandy response in FY2013, 7,969 Nationa

Guard members from 17 

states were on the ground. 

• Over 80,000 Army 

National Guard Soldiers 

(many from Louisiana) 

were deployed overseas 

when Hurricane Katrina 

struck the Gulf Coast in 

2005. Demonstrating its 

flexibly and responsiveness, the National Guard 

quickly mobilized over 50,000 personnel on 

short notice from every state and territory in 

the nation to the Gulf Coast in support of 

rescue and recovery efforts. 

•	In 2005, Staff Sergeant Leigh 

Ann Hester (right), a Kentucky 

National Guard Soldier, became 

the first woman to earn a Silver 

Star for valor in close-quarters 

combat. By charging enemyfilled trenches in Salman Pak, 

Iraq, SSG Hester and others 

repelled a 50-insurgent ambush 

on a supply convoy they were 

protecting. Thirty-six Silver 

Stars have been awarded to 

Guard Soldiers since 9/11.

•	The Army National G

roots to 1636 with the Massachusetts Bay 

Colony militia. Massachusetts Minutemen 

fired the first shots (“heard ‘round the world”) 

of the Revolutionary War, and units from the 

state played a decisive role in the Battle of 

the Bulge during World War II.

14

How W

According to the Reserve 

Forces Policy Board, on average, 

a non-deployed reserve component Soldier serves at less than 

1/3rd the cost of an active component non-deployed Soldier. 

The Army National 
16 17

THIS IS YOUR ARMY NATIONAL GUA

High-Impact Option for 

National Defense

•	 The Army National Guard is an experienced, 

battle-tested, part-time force, ready to be 

called to full-time duty when the nation 

requires. 

•	 Because it is a part-time force, the total 

costs to the nation are relatively small. The 

nation gets a large number of trained Soldiers 

(358,200) for a relatively small amount of 

money (approx. $17B). 

•	 The nation gets a two-for-one package with 

the Army National Guard—a force of trained 

Soldiers to augment the active Army, and a 

force of responders available for state and 

local disaster and emergency missions. 

•	 The vast majority of Guard equipment and 

facilities are dual use—a helicopter transporting troops in battle today can serve as a 

local rescue helicopter tomorrow; an armory 

can transform from a community center to 

an emergency shelter in hours. 

Well Equipped and Trained 

•	 Training and modern equipment are essential 

for ensuring that our Soldiers are ready at 

any time for both combat and non-combat 

missions.

•	 Military construction for Army National 

Guard facilities remains a priority. Guard 

facilities—nearly half (46 percent) of which 

are over 50 years old—must be capable of 

handling our modern equipment. 

•	 Local and state leaders and citizens benefit 

when their National Guard units are properly equipped and trained. The equipment 

used overseas is the same equipment used 

at home; subpar equipment puts Soldiers 

and citizens at risk. 

Consistently Utilized 

•	 Participation in large-scale combat exercises 

and the use of advanced simulation technology will allow us to hone and maintain 

our hard-earned combat skills.

•	 Participating in missions that build relationships with allied nations abroad and 

strengthen our communities at home (e.g. 

State Partnership Program, cyber defense, 

Innovative Readiness Training/community 

service projects, etc.) will enhance our 

capabilities and readiness for future 

combat and domestic missions.

THE ROAD AH

for Our Army National Gu

Lieutenant General William E. Ingram, Jr.

Director, Army National Guard

Understanding Who We Are 

You—our nation’s civic leaders—shape and

influence the future of our Army National 

Guard. Talk to our Soldiers, visit our facilities, 

meet with our leaders—understand what we 

bring to your community and to our nation, 

and allow us to dispel the common myths and 

misunderstandings about the Army National 

Guard. Let us show you who we really are and 

what we are truly capable of. 

We are confident that you will find we 

are an incredibly flexible tool for state and 

national leaders, able to be used in a wide 

range of missions. We bring capabilities to 

both the nation and to communities that no 

other branch of the armed forces can match. 

We feel a deep connection to our historical 

roots and to the guiding principle, enshrined 

in the Constitution, that our nation’s defense 

is a duty to be shared amongst our fellow 

citizens. We are woven into the fabric of 

communities across the nation, quietly ready 

to transform from civilians to Soldiers on a 

moment’s notice. 

Those who have gained an appreciation 

for the Army National Guard—whether 

through family relationships, professional 

contact, or through a rescue or recovery 

effort in their community—understand our 

critical roles both at home and abroad. We 

are proud to carry on our nearly 400-year 

tradition of patriotic service and sacrifice, and 

we stand ready to answer the nation’s call 

today and tomorrow. 

Army National Guard Specialist Timothy Shout, a 

native of Austin, Texas, scans the nearby ridgeline along 

with other members of the Provincial Reconstruction 

Team Kunar Security Force element, in Afghanistan. 

His unit took small-arms fire from a nearby mountain 

top during a routine patrol with local Afghan National 

Security Forces.

“we stand

ready to 

answer the

nation’s ca

today and

tomorrow.” 
www.arng.army.mil