The National Guard has a rich history. Over time, the Guard has transformed from localized colonized militia roots to a modern national military force with global reach. 

The Army National Guard, over 350,000 strong, makes up more than one-half of the Total Army’s ground combat forces and one-third of its support forces. Air National Guard units, with a total strength of 109,000, are closely integrated with the U.S. Air Force and perform worldwide operations on a daily basis.