The California National Guard is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal-state military reserve force. The CA National Guard has three components: the CA Army National Guard, CA Air National Guard, and CA State Guard. With a total strength of over 24,000 troops, it is the largest National Guard in the United States. As of January 2012[update], California National Guardsmen have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times since 2001,[1] during which time twenty-nine Guardsmen have been killed in Iraq and two have died in Afghanistan.[2]
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, 1924California National Guard MPs, 1950
The Governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
California State Guard's Military Museum Command interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum.[3]militarymuseum.org is provided as a public service by the California Military Department.[3]
Victor R. Hansen, 27 December 1944 – 28 April 1946
Curtis D. O'Sullivan, 29 April 1946 – 15 July 1951
Earl M. Jones, 16 July 1951 – 31 December 1960
Roderic L. Hill, 1 January 1961 – 1 January 1967
Glenn C. Ames, 22 March 1967 – 5 June 1975
Frank J. Schober, 6 June 1975 – 31 December 1982
Willard A. Shank, 3 January 1983 – 13 February 1987
Robert C. Thrasher, 14 February 1987 – 9 October 1992
Robert W. Barrow, 10 October – 31 December 1992
Tandy K. Bozeman, 1 January 1993 – 27 April 1999
Paul D. Monroe Jr., 29 April 1999 – March 2004
Thomas Eres, March 2004 – 6 June 2005
John Alexander, 7 June – 1 August 2005
William H. Wade II, 1 September 2005 – 1 February 2010
Mary J. Kight, 2 February 2010 – 15 April 2011
David S. Baldwin, 16 April 2011 – 31 July 2022
Matthew P. Beevers, 1 August 2022 - Present
Military academy
The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo for the use and training of National Guard units from California and other states. 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 Army National Guard.
^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.
^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.
Hudson, James J. "The California National Guard: In the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906." California Historical Quarterly 55.2 (1976): 137-149. online
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