National Guard Birthday
Founded December 13, 1636
The oldest military branch
As an ASVAB tutor, I have chosen to recognize various military holidays, observances, and anniversaries in my blog posts. Today, December 13, is the National Guard’s birthday. The National Guard is the oldest branch of the military and was founded on December 13, 1636. The first militia was formed in Massachusetts. The website nationalguard.mil explains that under the order of the Massachusetts Bay Colony’s General Court, the colony’s militia was organized into three permanent regiments. The descendants of these regiments are the 181st Infantry, the 182nd Infantry, the 101st Field Artillery, and the 101st Engineer Battalion of the Massachusetts Army National Guard. These are the oldest units in the United States military.
There are units for 54 states, colonies, and territories. It includes the 50 states, the territories of Guam and the United States Virgin Islands, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia. The National Guard is a state-based military force that consists mostly of soldiers who hold a full-time civilian job while serving part-time as a National Guard member.
National Guard soldiers can be mobilized to active duty to protect and defend America in battle domestically and overseas.
