US National Guard celebrates 373 years

Multinational Force Iraq ^ | Spc. Amburr Reese, USA

[SandRat]

Soldiers with the 101st Engineer Battalion cut the cake in celebration of the U.S. National Guard's 373rd birthday, in Al Faw Palace, Camp Victory, Baghdad, Dec. 13. The 101st is a direct descendant of one of the three original National Guard units formed in 1636, the East Regiment. Photo by Master Sgt. Michael Daigle, 114th Public Affairs Detachment.

BAGHDAD — A ceremony here today in Camp Victory's Al Faw palace celebrated the birthday of the U.S. military's oldest component, the National Guard.

Members of the Army National Guard’s 101st Engineer Battalion joined more than 1000 other service members in the palace rotunda to recognize the National Guard's 373rd birthday.

The National Guard was established on Dec. 13, 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay General Court ordered the formation of the town's militia companies into North, South, and East regional regiments as a means of improving training, readiness, command and control.

"Today's modern National Guard units are direct descendants of the militias of the 13 original English colonies," said Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, deputy commanding general for Iraqi Security Forces, Arlington, Va.

From those first-established regiments, the Guard has grown to provide a ready force in 54 states and territories.  There are more than 460,000 Army and Air Guard personnel serving in the U.S. military with more than 21,000 Soldiers and Airmen serving in Iraq among 328 units.

One unit in particular serving in Iraq at this time is the 101st Engineer Battalion. The 101st is the nation's oldest unit, tracing its lineage back to the East Regiment.

"They are the descendants of the members who conducted the very first muster on Salem common," Aylward said.

Representing the 101st at today's ceremony was the youngest member of the long-standing unit, Pfc. Jeramie R. Burgos.

"This is a great day to rejoice," Burgos said, after reading the "I am the Guard" creed. "To honor the blood, sweat and tears that have come before us is important."

Burgos, a Worchester, Mass., native and a gunner on the 101st command’s security detail, expressed the sense of pride he feels as the youngest Soldier in the 101st.

"We were the first Engineer Battalion in the United States," Burgos said.

"As Citizen Soldiers the true character of the National Guard is represented by the Concord Minute Man, one hand on his musket, one hand on the plow,” Aylward said.  “Citizens in peace and Soldiers in war, today's men and women of the National Guard represent the finest this nation has to offer."

(By Spc. Amburr Reese, 114th Public Affairs Detachment)

[SandRat]

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[SoCal Pubbie]

I'm all for the Guard, and I know other branches celebrate their birthdays back to predecessor organizations like the Colonial Marines, but in reality the National Guard did not come into being until 1903.

[ODC-GIRL]

That may be, but we still honor our history as Minutemen. My unit hands out a Minuteman statue to retirees. It symbolizes our connection as citizen soldiers to our local villages, towns and cities that the Active Duty cannot maintain due to their constant movement.

My unit has many cases of 3rd and 4th generation family members joining the same unit. Often Fathers and sons and daughters work side by side.

It is a tradition that we are proud of and is unique to the Guard. Happy Birthday!!

[GAB-1955]

Three Massachusetts National Guard units have had continuous existence since 1636; they have never been disbanded.

[pietraynor]

To Spc. Amburr Reese, of the 114th Public Affairs Detachment. It is WORCESTER, MA. Not Worchester

[Docs Galore]

I am very proud that my grandfather, Capt. William Traske, was the first military commander for the East Regiment!

[jimfree]

We used to say that the Army and Navy have traditions while the Air Force has habits. The Guard does indeed have a longer history and a proud one.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

The guard likes to claim that they are the militia as in the 2nd amendment. There was a brochure released by the Military Order of World Wars claiming that the guard is the only form of constitutional militia. In reality they are a federal reserve, all ties to individual states are superficial.

[Whitebread]

The first organized militia regiment in the Western World was formed in 1673 at Piscataway, New Jersey. It later became part of the British Crown Provincial forces and was known as the "Jersey Blues" as their coats were blue with red lapels. The Third New Jersey Regiment was mustered during the American Revolution and has a claim to be part of the longest history of any U.S. military unit as the name, "Jersey Blues", continues today with elements of the New Jersey National Guard.

http://www.jerseyblues.org/history.html

[SoCal Pubbie]

Well, they would have been part of the British military then, wouldn't they? I mean no disrespect, and have no problem with tracing their roots back to colonial times, but it's about like saying the Articles of Confederation are the same as the Constitution. The National Guard act established that organization in 1903, it's not the same as the militia.

[cll]

“The first organized militia regiment in the Western World was formed in 1673 at Piscataway”

The Puerto Rico militia was established in 1510.

http://www.ngef.org/index.asp?bid=82

[SandRat]

and they are the ‘organized’ militia and all able bodied citizen up to an age specified by each state is the ‘unorganized’ militia.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

Where is this engraved in stone?

[SandRat]

each state’s constitution, Arizona’s for sure.

[SWAMPSNIPER]

As soon as they accept federal money they are federal reserves! As soon as a commissioned officer swears to obey the president he is a federal officer.

One of the purposes of the militia concept was to retain power in the hands of the people but the NG is an instrument of government.

My father was Assistant US Property and Fiscal officer for the FL NG from about 1946 until 1970. I have nothing against the NG but it is not the 2nd amendment militia. The argument that it is the militia is often used to justify disarming Americans. The Military Order of World Wars actually did release a brochure that would support NG action in disarming civilians. I saw the damned thing, held it in my hands.