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Reaction Paper 5
National Guard
Trey Hornberger
Terrorism: CRM-222 OL01
Professor Dawna Komorosky
August 15th, 2021
Abstract
The National Guard has played many roles throughout the United States’ history, but after the attacks of 9/11, the National Guard “expanded its traditional role in homeland defense and homeland security” (Luoma, 2015). The National Guard is crucial during the time after a natural disaster, manmade disaster, and terrorist attack. The guard is often even called up during crises such as Haiti, Bosnia, and Kosovo. The National Guard, which includes that Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, plays an adaptive role in many different situations that the nation may need, both domestic and globally.
Keywords: National Guard, Homeland Defense, Homeland Security, Disaster, Adaptive.
Introduction
The National Guard is comprised of two subcategories; The Army National Guard (ARNG) and the Air National Guard (ANG). The National Guard training and readiness is monitored and controlled by the Adjutant General of its respective state or territory, and the Adjutant General is responsible to his or her state’s governor. Both the Air National Guard and the Army National Guard are each led and controlled by their own director. The director is chosen by the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of the Air Force, respectfully. “The National Guard Bureau (NGB) was formed to assist the states, territories, and District of Columbia with procure funding for the Guard, administer policies and act as a liaison between the Departments of the Army and Air Force and the states. Both the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard have their own unique responsibilities during peacetime and wartime. Depending on the nature of the call to duty, the National Guard is commanded or controlled by the Governor of that state or the President of the United States.
Army National Guard (ARNG)
The Army National Guard is present in all 50 states, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia. Unlike the active components of the Army, Marines, Air Force, and Navy, who are always controlled by the President, the Army National Guard is control by the governor until command is taken by the President. Such as when a natural disaster hits a local area or state, that Army National Guard soldier will be in a state active-duty status, still reporting to their governor, who is at that time, their Commander-in-Chief. The Army National Guard consists of 15 enhanced Separate Brigades, 8 divisions, 3 strategic brigades, and also two Special Forces groups.
Air National Guard (ANG)
The Air National Guard during peacetime also falls under the command of the respective governor, until they are called upon under federal control, at which point, their Command-in-Chief is the President of the United States, similar to the ARNG. Therefore, because the Air National Guard holds both a state and federal mission, the guardsmen hold membership in the National Guard of their state, as well as the National Guard of the United States. “The Air National Guard provides almost half of the Air Force’s tactical airlift support, combat communications functions, aeromedical evacuations and aerial refueling” (Luoma, 2015). The Air National Guard, unknown to many, has many important roles that they play in maintaining and training other branches of the military, while also maintaining the ability for mobilization.
Conclusion
The National Guard plays a crucial role in the security and defense of our nation, both during peacetime and wartime, domestically and internationally. They are vital in filling in the gaps where the active component may not be able to which increases the financial benefit of the National Guard. The National Guard will always be regarded as a unique asset due to being the “only militant force shared by the states and the federal government” (Luoma, 2015). When it comes to national defense and the security of our country, the oldest, most trusted option will always be the National Guard.
References
Luoma. (2015). The United States Department of Homeland Security: An Overview (Vol. First Edition). Boston: Pearson.
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