Citizen Defenders - National Guardsmen and Army Reservists

The Army National Guard and the Army Reserve - Duty Defined

The Army National Guard (ARNG) is one component of The Army (which consists of the Active Army, the Army National Guard and the Army Reserve.) The Army National Guard is composed primarily of traditional Guardsmen -- civilians who serve their country, state and community on a part-time basis (usually one weekend each month and two weeks during the summer.) Each state, territory and the District of Columbia has its own National Guard, as provided for by the Constitution of the United States.

The National Guard has a unique dual mission that consists of both Federal and State roles. For state missions, the governor, through the state Adjutant General, commands Guard forces. The governor can call the National Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, fires, earthquakes or civil disturbances.

In addition, the President of the United States can activate the National Guard for participation in federal missions. Examples of federal activations include Guard units deployed to Kosovo and the Sinai for stabilization operations, and units deployed to the Middle East and other locations in the war on terrorism. When federalized, Guard units are commanded by the Combatant Commander of the theatre in which they are operating.

Powering the Army and defending America's interests

The world theater is changing daily. In order to protect our interests, our freedoms and our people, the role of the United States and its armed forces must also evolve. To defend our nation's interests, the country needs a force structure that is both flexible and responsive across all its elements, especially the Army Reserve.

The Army Reserve had performed a complementary role to the Active component, providing combat support and combat service support functions to enable the Army to ramp up its capabilities to protect combat forces and sustain mobilization.

To meet the challenges of the 21^st century in the war on terrorism, the Army has had to redefine and restructure itself. It is becoming smaller, lighter and quicker. The Army Reserve is playing a critical role in this transformation. With over one million Soldiers available at any time, the Army Reserve provides a highly skilled, flexible force that can support the Army when and where they are needed most:

Combat Support
Combat Service Support
Peacekeeping
Nation-building
Civil Support

The Army Reserve makes up only 20 percent of the Army's organized units, but it provides about half of the Army's combat support and a quarter of the Army's mobilization base expansion capability. The Army Reserve provides a cost-effective solution to the Army's need for specialized capabilities.