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1636
English colonists in North America establish colonial militias to protect against tribal attacks and foreign invaders.
1776
Constitution empowers congress to “provide for organizing, arming and disciplining the militia.” States get power to appoint officers and train militia.
1800s
State militias provide military troops during the Mexican War, Civil War and Spanish-American War.
1825
The New York militia name themselves the “National Guard” during ceremonies honoring General Lafayette—the great hero of the American and French Revolutions. During the French Revolution, Lafayette called his unit the “Garde Nationale.” In 1916, 91 years later, all U.S. militias adopted “National Guard” as their official title.
1898
The Spanish-American War marks the emergence of the U.S. as a world power. The war results in the U.S. acquiring the Philippines and other Pacific islands. The famous cavalry unit of the war—Teddy Roosevelt’s “Rough Riders”—consisted of National Guard members from Texas, New Mexico and Arizona.
1903
The Militia Act of 1903 creates the modern National Guard. To qualify for federal funding, Guard units have to reach minimum strengths and pass inspection. Guard members are required to attend 24 drills per year and five days of annual training.
1916
The National Defense Act of 1916 makes the state militias the primary Army reserve force. All militias are required to adopt the name “National Guard.” Each unit is inspected and recognized by the War Department, organized like the Army, and paid for training and drills.
1917-1919
U.S. enters WWI. The National Guard makes up 40 percent of the U.S. combat divisions in France. The 30th Division, comprised of National Guard Soldiers from the Carolinas and Tennessee, are awarded the highest number of WWI Medals of Honor.
1941-1945
U.S. enters WWII. National Guard units are among the first to fight overseas. The entire Guard is trained for active duty, well before the Pearl Harbor attack. All Guard divisions are mobilized and split between the Pacific and European theaters.
1950-1951
Guard Soldiers and Airmen fight in the Korean War to repel communist aggression. Within two months of the invasion of South Korea by North Korea, the first of 183,000 Guard members are deployed.
1961-1962
The Guard reinforces NATO during the Berlin Crisis. On August 30, 1961, President John F. Kennedy orders 148,000 Guard members and Reservists to active duty in response to Soviet moves to cut off allied access to Berlin.
1968
During the Vietnam War, the communists’ Tet Offensive in South Vietnam leads to 22,000 Guard members being mobilized. Nearly 9,000 of them serve in Vietnam. Thousands more serve as volunteers in the war zone.
1972
11,000 Pennsylvania Guard members help with cleanup after the devastation of Hurricane Agnes.
1973
With the end of the Vietnam War, three dramatic changes affect all Guard members: the implementation of the Total Force Policy (the integration and treatment of all units of the military as a single force), the beginning of the all-volunteer military, and increased service of minorities and women.
1977
In February, the worst blizzard in New England’s history dumps four feet of snow in 48 hours, closing businesses and schools for a week, stranding thousands of people in their cars and homes. The National Guard is called in for the massive rescue and cleanup.
1980
In May, Mount St. Helens volcano explodes, spreading ash for thousands of square miles. 1,400 Washington Guard Soldiers help civil authorities with evacuation, cleanup and delivery of supplies.
1991
75,000 Guard members help end Desert Storm. When Iraq invades oil-rich Kuwait on August 2, 1990, Guard Soldiers and Airmen volunteer. It becomes the largest mobilization of a volunteer fighting force since the Korean War.
1996
The states of the former Yugoslavia negotiate a peace agreement in late 1995 that required the presence of NATO peacekeepers. From 1996 to 1999, the Army National Guard deploys nearly 10,000 peacekeepers to the former Yugoslavia and Macedonia.
2001
After 9/11, more than 50,000 Guard members provide security at home and abroad. In the immediate wake of the attack on the World Trade Center, the New York Army and Air National Guard mobilizes more than 8,000 personnel to secure the area, rush in supplies, and assist in the rescue and recovery efforts.
2002
The Global War on Terror begins. The Guard supplies a major portion of the force deployed in Afghanistan and Iraq. In 2005, half of the U.S. combat brigades in Iraq are composed of Guard Soldiers.
2005
50,000 troops from every state aid those caught in the destruction of Hurricane Katrina—the largest domestic response mission in the history of the National Guard. Guard members rescue 17,000 people and transport 200,000 to shelter, remaining on the scene for months to assist with cleanup and maintain order.
2009
The National Guard celebrates its 373th birthday, making this the 19th generation of the oldest citizen Army in the U.S. From 1636 to the present, the National Guard has stayed true to the Founding Fathers' vision, ratified in the Constitution: “to Execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections, and repel Invasions.” Today, a force of more than 450,000 men and women serve voluntarily and can be deployed anywhere in the world.
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Discover Your State History
History of the Tennessee Army National Guard
Tennessee was barely settled during the Revolution (1775-1783), but some of its men helped defeat a British force at King's Mountain, North Carolina, in 1780.
Future president Andrew Jackson got his first public attention as a general in the Tennessee militia fighting Native Americans. During the War of 1812 (1812-1814), Jackson, as a Regular Army general, first defeated the Creek Indians and then crushed a British Army attempting to capture New Orleans.
During the Mexican War (1846-1848), so many men wanted to enlist that the state gained the nickname "Volunteer State." The regiment fought in several key engagements of the war. In the Civil War (1861-1865), Tennessee, part of the Confederacy, was split, with men fighting for both sides.
The 1st Tennessee Infantry deployed to the Philippines during the Spanish-American War (1898-1899) and fought in the Philippine Insurrection in 1899.
During WWI , most Tennessee units were organized into the 30th Division. The 30th fought in France and five Tennessee members earned the Medal of Honor.
In WWI (1941-1945), the 30th fought in France and played a key role in stopping the German assault during the Battle of the Bulge.
The Volunteer State had 12 Guard units mobilized for the Korean War (1950-1953), four in theater. Eighteen units served during Desert Storm (1990-1991), 15 seeing duty in theater. In the 2003 invasion of Iraq, Tennessee had more than 1,400 Guard personnel in eight units take part. Other state units have served in Afghanistan, helping train the Afghan National Army.
Frequently Asked Questions
The Guard is a military branch that serves both state and federal governments, at home and overseas.
Find out more about the Guard.Your total enlistment period will be eight years, but you can serve as little as three or six years, and spend the remainder in IRR (Individual Ready Reserve).
Learn moreAbsolutely. Your Guard service is only part time—just one weekend per month, and one two-week period each year.
See how the Guard helps with school.Recruits need to meet certain standards of height, weight, age, fitness and education in order to enlist.
Learn about physical requirements.Yes. Guard members can be mobilized to protect and defend America in battle domestically or overseas.
Learn more about about training.MEPS stands for Military Entrance Processing Station, METS stands for Military Entrance Testing Site.
Learn moreGuard pay is based on your rank and the number of years you've served, along with incentives like hazardous-duty pay.
Contact a representative to learn more.Your pay depends on a few different factors, but you won't make less than $179 for every weekend you drill.
Find out more about Guard pay.At this time, the Guard is not paying Officer Accession bonuses.
Learn more about becoming an officer.Yes, you will be paid for every day you work.
Find out about Annual Training pay.There are different ways to become an officer. If you’re heading to college, the ROTC program is the way to go.
View how to become an officer.The training period varies for each job.
Learn moreFor certain career specialties, particularly medical professions, the Guard will reimburse up to $65,000 in student loans.
Contact a Guard representative.Pay Calculator
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