NATIONAL GUARD (United States), that part of the militia which is organized and trained as land troops (a) subject to the jurisdiction of the governors of the various States and territories for use in local emergencies and (b) when in the serv ice of the United States, a part of the United States army under the chief command of the President.
Constitution of the United States, recognizing the need for a well regulated militia, set forth general principles for its organization and government. The Union was obliged to protect all States thereof against invasion and, under certain conditions, against domestic violence. Various acts of Congress from 1792 onwards were passed, but none provided an effective militia. In 1903 the "Dick Bill" was enacted. This law distin guished between the whole body of citizens capable of bearing arms and subject to military service but untrained, and the or ganized militia comprising the naval militia and the land militia, the latter to be known as the National Guard. It was to have the same organization, armament and discipline as the regular army and to be instructed and inspected by officers of the regular estab lishment. Although this compromise was a vast improvement, it failed to satisfy the demands of the Constitution or the needs of the nation. The supplementary Act of May 27, 1908, gave the President power to draft the National Guard into the service of the United States, either within or without the borders of the country, without the formality or delay of volunteering either by organizations or by individuals.
The National Guard is recruited by voluntary enlistment of men between the ages of 18 and 45 for a period of three years and subsequent re-enlistments for either one or three years. The strength originally contemplated by law was 435,000, but in view of the national policies the War Department does not expect that it will exceed 250,00o. The strength in 1927 was 181,142. The organization in time of war is that of the regular army, modified for peace time needs. The commanding general of a brigade or
division and, in time of war, the chief of staff and one assistant chief of staff of a division may be regular army officers. Under these laws the only troops permitted to the States are National Guard troops and these can be organized only by consent of the United States. Units are allocated to the States by the President upon recommendations made by a board of the general staff composed in equal parts of regular officers and National Guard officers holding reserve commissions in the U.S. army. States which receive Federal aid are forbidden to disband units or to reduce them beyond a fixed strength, and this aid is given only when the units reach a prescribed degree of efficiency determined by inspections. Administration is conducted by the militia bureau of the War Department, the chief of which must be an active or a former member of the National Guard. The country is divided into nine corps areas each embracing several States and support ing, in addition to regular and reserve formations, two infantry divisions of the National Guard and such coast artillery, corps, army and G.H.Q. reserve troops as may be prescribed. On the staff of the commanding general of each corps area is an officer for National Guard affairs.
Within each State the governor is commander in chief of the National Guard thereof and administers it through an adjutant general and a State staff. Divisional boundaries overlap State lines. Despite the apparent complication of this arrangement it works smoothly because it is to the interest of both State and Federal Governments that it should. Arms and equipment are the same as for the regular army and, together with other stores, animals, forage and the expenses of Federal officers on duty with the National Guard, are provided by the Union. The States supply armouries and other facilities, sometimes including additional pay for allowances. The troops are paid by the Federal Govern ment at the rate of the initial or base pay per month for every armoury drill up to a maximum of 6o drills per annum; and during field training (about 15 days per year), pay, subsistence and transportation are at the same rate as for the regular estab lishment. Courts-martial can sentence to forfeiture of pay and assess fines or levy other punishments, and their processes must be carried out by the civil authorities. They have the power to issue subpoenas and warrants of arrest and to compel the attend ance of witnesses.