"Although the National Guard is not the country's primary fighting force, it is the oldest. Dating back to 1636, the National Guard is older than the United States itself, and was first established as an organized group of militias. Today, the National Guard is made up of nearly 420,000 part-time volunteers who typically serve in their home state under either the Army or Air National Guard."
"So far this year, the National Guard has been mobilized in Chicago, Los Angeles, Memphis, Tennessee, Portland, Oregon, and Washington, D.C. In several of these cities, National Guard troops were deployed over the objections of local mayors and state governors. The President's use of the National Guard has also drawn criticism for blurring the lines between military operations and civilian law enforcement."
The National Guard is a reserve branch of the U.S. military that can be activated by state governors or the federal government. Originating in 1636 from organized militias, the Guard comprises nearly 420,000 part-time volunteers in the Army and Air National Guard. Governors have mobilized the Guard for social unrest, disaster relief, and to support law enforcement; federal activations have addressed border security, military operations, and counter-drug efforts. Since June 2025, thousands of Guard troops were sent to major cities to reduce crime and support deportation initiatives, sometimes over local objections and prompting concern about militarizing domestic policing. Department of Defense data shows state forces number in the thousands with regional concentrations.
Read at 24/7 Wall St.
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