Order Code RS22451
Updated January 17, 2008
National Guard Personnel and Deployments:
Fact Sheet
Michael Waterhouse and JoAnne O’Bryant
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
The National Guard plays a major role in the defense and security of the United
States under the federal component of its mission. Although the military reserve
component’s responsibilities and duties have increased since 2001, a March 2007 report
by the congressionally chartered independent Commission on the National Guard and
Reserves has found that many Army and Air National Guard units stationed in the
United States are rated “not ready.” That rating is based primarily on current military
equipment shortages and concerns for long-term operational reserve capacity.
According to the report, these domestic equipment shortfall and reserve capacity issues
are attributed, in part, to the large deployment of National Guard personnel (currently
more than 28,000) and equipment deployed in what the Bush Administration terms the
Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In May 2006,
more than 6,000 National Guard personnel were authorized to be sent to the southern
border region of the United States to temporarily assist in interdicting illegal aliens. As
of January 8, 2008, 2,736 National Guard forces were deployed for this border security
operation (Operation Jump Start). This report presents statistical information on the
National Guard’s federal role in defense and security, including its deployments in
support of GWOT, OIF, and Operation Jump Start.
Introduction
The National Guard plays a major role in the defense and security of the United
States. Traditionally, the Guard has been both a domestic state-level security force and a
major federal component of U.S. combat power for overseas operations. Since 2001, it
has become an integral force in what the Bush Administration terms the Global War On
Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Most recently the National
Guard has been deployed under Operation Jump Start (OJS) on the southern border region
of the United States to assist in interdicting illegal aliens crossing the border into the
country.
