North Carolina National Guard
The North Carolina National Guard (NCNG), commonly known as the North Carolina Guard, is a component of the North Carolina Department of Public Safety and the National Guard of the United States. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The adjutant general's office is located in Raleigh. Mission. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. Other than state defense forces and the state defense militias, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status . Those 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. 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 state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law ." History. The North Carolina National Guard, or Carolina militia as it was originally known, was born from the Carolina Charter issued on March 24, 1663. The charter allowed the eight lord proprietors the rights to "levy, train and muster men of all sorts" to protect the lives and property of the peoples living in the Carolinas. The state of North Carolina also maintained the North Carolina State Defense Militia as North Carolina's official state defense force to augment the North Carolina National Guard during stateside missions. The unit has since been suspended indefinitely. During the COVID-19 pandemic in North  Carolina, the North Carolina National Guard was activated to assist in logistics and transportation of medical supplies, as the state reported it had 179 cases. Command structure. The Governor may call individuals or units of the North Carolina National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief.