California National Guard at Camp Williams, Utah (2014)

The

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

National Guard is part of the

National Guard of the United States The National Guard is a state-based military force that becomes part of the reserve components of the United States Army and the United States Air Force when activated for federal missions.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. , California National Guardsmen have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times since 2001, during which time twenty-nine Guardsmen have been killed in

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

and two have died in

Afghanistan Afghanistan, officially the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan,; prs, امارت اسلامی افغانستان is a landlocked country located at the crossroads of Central Asia and South Asia. Referred to as the Heart of Asia, it is bordere ...

. The

Constitution of the United States The Constitution of the United States is the supreme law of the United States of America. It superseded the Articles of Confederation, the nation's first constitution, in 1789. Originally comprising seven articles, it delineates the natio ...

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 Martial law is the imposition of direct military control of normal civil functions or suspension of civil law by a government, especially in response to an emergency where civil forces are overwhelmed, or in an occupied territory. Use Marti ...

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 President most commonly refers to: *President (corporate title) *President (education), a leader of a college or university *President (government title) President may also refer to: Automobiles * Nissan President, a 1966–2010 Japanese ful ...

Congress A congress is a formal meeting of the representatives of different countries, constituent states, organizations, trade unions, political parties, or other groups. The term originated in Late Middle English to denote an encounter (meeting of a ...

. 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." The

Governor of California The governor of California is the head of government of the U.S. state of California. The governor is the commander-in-chief of the California National Guard and the California State Guard. Established in the Constitution of California, the g ...

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."

Components

* California Army National Guard (CA ARNG) * California Air National Guard (CA ANG) * California State Guard (CSG)

Military Museum Command

California State Guard's ''Military Museum Command'' interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum. ''militarymuseum.org'' is provided as a public service by the

California Military Department The California Military Department is an agency defined under the California Military and Veterans cod§ 50 It includes the California National Guard (Army, Air, CSG) and Youth and Community Programs. The California Military Department and the ...

Adjutant General

Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Mathew Beevers serves as the acting Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California Governor

Gavin Newsom Gavin Christopher Newsom (born October 10, 1967) is an American politician and businessman who has been the 40th governor of California since 2019. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as the 49th lieutenant governor of California fr ...

on 1 August 2022.

Adjutants General of California

* Theron R. Perlee, April 12 – October 5, 1850 *William H. Richardson, October 5, 1850 – May 2, 1852 *

William Chauncey Kibbe William Chauncey Kibbe (1822–1904) was a California pioneer and the third Adjutant General of California. He oversaw the California Militia from its beginnings through most of the American Civil War. Early life William C. Kibbe was born in Illin ...

, 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 Ray W. Hays (June 14, 1889 – April 5, 1976) was a American Republican Party, Republican California Senate, state senator who served in the California legislature for the 30th District. During World War I he served as an officer in the American ...

, 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 S. Baldwin, April 16, 2011 – July 31, 2022

Military academy

The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at

Camp San Luis Obispo Camp San Luis Obispo is the original home of the California Army National Guard. It served as an Infantry Division Camp and Cantonment Area for the United States Army during World War II. History Camp San Luis Obispo, formerly called Camp Merri ...

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.

References

External links

Bibliography of California Army National Guard History
compiled by the

United States Army Center of Military History The United States Army Center of Military History (CMH) is a directorate within the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command. The Institute of Heraldry remains within the Office of the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Arm ...

Office of The Adjutant General

California National Guard

California State Guard

California Military Museum

California National Guard Photograph Collection
US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania {{authority control United States Army National Guard by state

National Guard National Guard is the name used by a wide variety of current and historical uniformed organizations in different countries. The original National Guard was formed during the French Revolution around a cadre of defectors from the French Guards. Nat ...