Every year on December 13, America celebrates the National Guard's birthday. This year marks the 385th anniversary of the creation of the U.S. National Guard, making the branch quite a bit older than the nation itself. (To learn more about the history of this branch of the military, check out this blog that goes into the details.)
In honor of the National Guard's birthday, we are diving into some of the most interesting things that the Guard does. Some of these may surprise you, but its motto, "Always Ready, Always There!" could not be more true.
1. There are 150 types of jobs available in the National Guard
Between the infantry, air defense, medical and military police, there are plenty of career fields to choose from. No matter someone's talents, interests and skills, there is likely to be an opportunity in the National Guard for them. In order for the Guard to operate and be prepared to fulfill its many duties, its members must be multi-faceted.Here are just a few of the fields available to work in through the National Guard:
- Intelligence
- Medicine
- Heavy weapons
- Cyber
- Ground forces
- Supply and logistics
To learn more about all the possible jobs and the different ways that the National Guard operates, check out nationalguard.com/careers.
2. The National Guard is at work in its community
One of the National Guard's main goals is to maintain a peaceful home front, and this means that community outreach is a big part of the Guard. According to its website, those who are in the National Guard work "closely with the local, regional and national communities to link their services to the services already available to the Guard."
A great example of this can be seen in how members of the Guard have been working to fill in gaps and help where they can during the COVID-19 pandemic. During a time when first responders, nurses and other essential workers were feeling overwhelmed with their duties, the National Guard stepped in to offer relief. From natural disaster assistance to everyday community outreach programs, the Guard enriches every community it is in across America.
3. The National Guard is mentioned in the U.S. Constitution
Ever since the first version of the Guard in 1636, which consisted of a militia of the English colonists in North America, it has been operating with honor and bravery. The Constitution proclaims that the National Guard is "to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasion" (Article I, Section 8, Clause 15').
4. Every state has its own Guard
It is commonly known that every state has its own National Guard, but even U.S. territories have their own Guard. The nation's capital, Washington D.C., has its own Guard as well, in order to carry out necessary duties.
The National Guard is one of the most flexible branches of the military because it has both federal and state responsibilities. On December 13, take the time to thank a Guard member or learn more about the force. From the air to the land, the National Guard can be found everywhere responding to threats and humanitarian disasters at home and abroad.