The U.S. National Guard is a joint reserve unit of the U.S. Army and the U.S. Air Force. It's the oldest division of the armed forces in the United States. The guard is a dual state and federal force, operated by the National Guard Bureau under the Department of Defense.The National Guard: How is the National Guard different from the Reserves?
Due to the swine flu outbreak, the National Guard has been tasked with escorting shipments of Tamiflu across state lines.WBNS: Ohio's Tamiflu Under Watch (May 1, 2009)
Presidents Who Were Guardsmen
- Twenty Presidents have served in the U.S. National Guard:
- George Washington
- Thomas Jefferson
- James Madison
- Andrew Jackson
- William Henry Harrison
- John Tyler
- James K. Polk
- Franklin Pierce
- James Buchanan
- Abraham Lincoln
- Ulysses S. Grant
- Rutherford B. Hayes
- James A. Garfield
- Chester A. Arthur
- Benjamin Harrison
- William McKinley
- Theodore Roosevelt
- Harry Truman
- George W. Bush
References
Fast Facts
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Chief of the National Guard Bureau
H. Steven Blum
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First drill
Salem, Massachusetts on December 13, 1636, as a militia
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Fact:
Standards for organizing, equipping and training brought up to par with those of the regular army by the Militia Act of 1903GlobalSecurity.org: Army National Guard History
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Authorized by
The Constitution, under the 2nd Amendment
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Fact:
Can be mobilized by presidential order or by the state governor
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Fact:
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Oldest component of the U.S. Armed ForcesOfficial Website: About the National Guard
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Fact:
Provided most of the troops during the Mexican WarOfficial Website: About the National Guard
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The air division of the national guard
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Fact:
23,000 National guardsmen were called up during the Vietnam WarOfficial Website: About the National Guard
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50,000 guardsmen were deployed to support disaster relief during Hurricane KatrinaOfficial Website: About the National Guard
