California National Guard

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 it’s also the largest national guard force in the United States, with a total authorized strength of over 23,000 soldiers and airmen.[1] As of January 2012, California National Guardsmen have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times since 2001,[2] of which twenty-nine have been killed in Iraq and two have died in Afghanistan.[3]

California National Guard
Seal of the National Guard
ActiveJuly 27, 1849 (1849-07-27)
Country United States
Allegiance California
Branch United States Army
 United States Air Force
TypeNational guard
RoleOrganized militia
Size23,387
Part ofNational Guard Bureau
California Military Department
Headquarters9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, California 95826
Commanders
Commander in Chief (Title 10 USC)President of the United States (If Federalized)
Commander in Chief (Title 32 USC)Governor of California
Adjutant GeneralMG David S. Baldwin
Command Chief Warrant OfficerCW5 Anthony C. Williamson
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Thomas L. James
California National Guardsmen boarding a UH-60 Blackhawk during training at Camp Williams, Utah in 2014

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."

Troops of the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California National Guard arriving in Los Angeles, August 17, 1924
California National Guard MPs, 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
  • Theron R. Perlee, April 12 – October 5, 1850
  • William H. Richardson, October 5, 1850 – May 2, 1852
  • William Chauncey Kibbe, May 2, 1852 – April 30, 1864
  • Robert Robinson, January 1, 1864 – May 1, 1864
  • George S. Evans, May 1, 1864 – May 1, 1868
  • James M. Allen, May 1, 1868 – Nov. 23, 1870
  • Thomas N. Cazneau, Nov. 23, 1870 – December 21, 1871
  • Lucius H. Foote, December 21, 1871 – December 13, 1875
  • Patrick F. Walsh, December 13, 1875 – January 9, 1880
  • Samuel W. Backus, January 9, 1880 – July 1, 1882
  • John F. Sheehan, July 1, 1892 – January 11, 1893
  • George B. Crosby, January 11, 1883 – November 1, 1887
  • Richard H. Orton, November 1, 1887 – January 9, 1891
  • Charles Carroll Allen, January 9, 1891 – May 24, 1895
  • Andrew W. Bartlett, May 24, 1895 – December 23, 1898
  • Robert L. Peeler, December 23, 1898 – June 1, 1899
  • William H. Seamans, June 1, 1899 – January 3, 1902 (died in office)
  • George Stone, January 13, 1902 – February 15, 1904
  • Joseph B. Lauck, February 15, 1904 – January 7, 1911
  • Edwin A. Forbes, January 7, 1911 – June 18, 1915 (died in office)
  • Charles W. Thomas Jr., June 19, 1915 – December 15, 1916
  • James J. Borree, December 16, 1916 – November 30, 1923
  • Richard E. Mittelstaedt, December 1, 1923 – January 5, 1931
  • Seth E.P. Howard, January 6, 1931 – June 26, 1935 (died in office)
  • Paul Arndt, June 27 – October 17, 1935
  • Harry H. Moorehead, October 18, 1935 – January 3, 1939
  • Patrick J.H. Farrell, January 4, 1939 – June 10, 1940
  • Richard E. Mittelstaedt, June 10, 1940 – March 3, 1941
  • Joseph O. Donovan, March 3, 1941 – July 10, 1942
  • Junnius Pierce, July 14, 1942 – January 13, 1943
  • Ray W. Hays, January 14, 1943 – November 30, 1944
  • Victor R. Hansen, December 27, 1944 – April 28, 1946
  • Curtis D. O'Sullivan, April 29, 1946 – July 15, 1951
  • Earl M. Jones, July 16, 1951 – December 31, 1960
  • Roderic L. Hill, January 1, 1961 – January 1, 1967
  • Glenn C. Ames, March 22, 1967 – June 5, 1975
  • Frank J. Schober, June 6, 1975 – December 31, 1982
  • Willard A. Shank, January 3, 1983 – February 13, 1987
  • Robert C. Thrasher, February 14, 1987 – October 9, 1992
  • Robert W. Barrow, October 10 – December 31, 1992
  • Tandy K. Bozeman, January 1, 1993 – April 27, 1999
  • Paul D. Monroe Jr., April 29, 1999 – March 2004
  • Thomas Eres, March 2004 – June 6, 2005
  • John Alexander, June 7 – August 1, 2005
  • William H. Wade II, September 1, 2005 – February 1, 2010
  • Mary J. Kight, February 2, 2010 – April 15, 2011
  • David Baldwin, April 16, 2011 – present

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 Guard. Upon completion of Army Basic Training, OCS cadets will train a minimum of one weekend per month over a 16-18 month period before commissioning as a second Lieutenant in the U.S. Army National Guard.

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. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. 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. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. 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. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. 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. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2012-11-19. Retrieved 2011-05-30.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.