Army National Guard Logo Military Mug

The National Guard, the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest enduring institutions, celebrated its 372nd birthday in December of 2008. The National Guard traces its history back to the earliest English colonies in North America. Responsible for their own defence, the colonists drew on English military tradition and organised their able-bodied male citizens into militias. Today, in additional to its usual state-side requirements and OCONUS peace-keeping missions, the Army National Guard is heavily engaged in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Today's National Guard continues its historic dual mission, providing the states with units trained and equipped to protect life and property, while providing the nation with units ready to defend the United States and its interests around the world.