California National Guard

California National Guard

Californian national guardsmen board a UH-60 Blackhawk during training at Camp Williams, Utah in 2014.
Active July 27, 1903–present
Country  United States of America
Allegiance  State of California
Branch U.S. National Guard
Size Authorized strength: 18,000 Army and 4,900 Air Force
Part of California Military Department
Garrison/HQ Sacramento, California
Mascot(s) Grizzly bear
Commanders
Current
commander		 MG David S. Baldwin (The Adjutant General)
Ceremonial chief Governor of California

The California National Guard is a federally funded California military force, part of the National Guard of the United States. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components and is the largest national guard force in the United States with a total authorized strength of 22,900 soldiers and airmen.[1] As of January 2012, California National Guardsmen have been deployed overseas 38 times since 2001,[2] of which twenty-nine have been killed in Iraq and two have died in Afghanistan.[3]

The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, national guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."

160th Infantry of California National Guard, arriving in Los Angeles, August 17, 1924
California National Guard MPs, 1950
Master Sgt. James D. Steele with his two-year-old son before deployment, 1950

The Governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

Units

Adjutant General

Major General David S. Baldwin serves as the 46th Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California governor Jerry Brown on 16 April 2011.[4]

Adjutant Generals of California

Military academy

The California Army National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo for the use and training of members of California and other western state National Guard units, as well as for the use of the California State Military Reserve.

Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 185th Armor (Combined Arms Battalion) maneuver in a "wedge formation" in Bradley Fighting Vehicles at Fort Irwin National Training Center, 2011
Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 185th Armor (Combined Arms Battalion) maneuver in a "wedge formation" in Bradley Fighting Vehicles at Fort Irwin National Training Center, 2011

See also

References

  1. ↑ Gretel C. Kovach (18 January 2013). "S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 January 2013. California’s National Guard force, the largest and most frequently deployed nationwide, includes more than 21,000 troops: 16,565 soldiers and 4,572 airmen.
  2. ↑ Gretel C. Kovach (18 January 2013). "S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 January 2013. California troops have served abroad in the “fight against terrorism” more than 38,000 times since the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks, in places such as Iraq, Afghanistan, Egypt, Kuwait and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba.
  3. ↑ Gretel C. Kovach (18 January 2013). "S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved 19 January 2013. Since 2001, 29 Cal Guard soldiers have been killed in Iraq and two in Afghanistan. Many more were seriously injured.
  4. ↑ http://www.calguard.ca.gov/otag/Pages/Baldwin.aspx

External links

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