The National Guard is part of the US Armed Forces Reserve, and consists of two branches: The Army National Guard and the Air National Guard. It was formed in 1903 by the Militia Act. US federal law determines the current structure of the National Guard.

According to the Defense Manpower Data Center, as of 2023, approximately 419,000 reservists serve in the National Guard. Some 9,500 are stationed in US territories such as Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands (as of 2017).

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The National Guard has a wide range of duties, and it has often been deployed to provide disaster relief. Most recently, it was called upon to help out during the

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