1941: National Guard

The National Guard is made up of citizens of the States of the Union who voluntarily take an active part in military affairs to the extent of setting aside their private business for limited periods each year to attend armory drills and to undergo training at various camps throughout the country, the Territory of Hawaii, Puerto Rico, and Alaska. All members of the National Guard take an oath of allegiance to the United States and to their state, and to obey the orders of the President of the United States and the Governor of their state. In consequence of this obligation, they are not only subject to Federal call or order in a national emergency, but to call within their own states in times of local disaster or danger. The National Guard is organized into divisions, brigades, regiments, and other units like the Regular Army. The National Guard has the same service uniform and equipment as the Regular Army and the same methods of training.

The National Guard was built up during the twenty years following the demobilization after the World War until it became an integral part of the first line defenses of the Nation, with a strength that for two decades exceeded that of the Regular Army.

At the beginning of the present emergency, the eighteen Infantry Divisions of the National Guard outnumbered, by two to one, the nine Infantry Divisions of the Regular Army. In addition, the National Guard supplied many non-divisional units assigned as Army Corps and Field Army troops.

When it became apparent that this force would be used during the continuance of the present international crisis and that general peacetime conscription would be adopted, it was decided to bring the conditions of service of National Guard personnel into conformity with that of other citizens who would be drafted. For many reasons, therefore, on account of rules regarding dependents, employment in essential industries, new physical standards, and others, there were discharged from the National Guard prior to induction a total of 1,773 officers, 43 warrant officers, and 94,227 enlisted men or a total of 96,043. This was a heavy loss to the National Guard which on June 30, 1940, had totaled 241,612. As figures given below indicate this loss was more than made good by the recruiting ability and energy of members of the National Guard.

Federal Service.

Induction of the National Guard into the active military service of the United States initiated on Sept. 16, 1940, under authority of Public Resolution No. 96, 76th Congress, approved Aug. 27, 1940, was continued until the last units joined the Federal forces on Oct. 6, 1941. Those organizations inducted during the last months were some which had been reorganized, transformed from old type units, or newly organized. The result was that units totaling 19,950 officers, 221 warrant officers, and 278,787 enlisted men joined the Army of the United States in the field.

This induction marked the culmination of twenty years of effort under the National Defense Act of 1920, the reconstruction and rebuilding of National Guard units with World War and pre-War records which had been absorbed into the American Expeditionary Forces of 1917-1918 and completely demobilized and scattered in 1919. Many World War officers and enlisted men continued in the National Guard. Their military education and training was continued in the new ways of war so that during the twenty year period 59,611 officers and 2,130 enlisted men graduated from special or general service schools.

Additions to the Army of the United States from National Guard sources during the calendar year comprised:

National Guard units in Federal service were filled to war strength shortly after induction by the addition of about 34 per cent recruits brought into the Army under the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940. Some of their units were sent to vital points on outlying possessions and island bases. Following basic training in the winter and summer, National Guard units, except those at important coast and harbor defense positions, participated in series of successive maneuvers with and against Regular Army units during the autumn and early winter.

Changes in Status.

Authority for induction into Federal service under the Joint Resolution of Congress, Aug. 27, 1940, provided for training for only 'twelve consecutive months.' As it began to appear that the war in Europe and the aggressions in the Far East would be very protracted, the effort of the United States changed its complexion. It became a training effort rather than an immediate protective mobilization effort. In these changed circumstances Congress enacted legislation on Aug. 18, 1941, which extended the terms of service of National Guard, as well as of drafted personnel to a total of thirty months.

Release of individuals from Federal service necessitated action to preserve the integrity of the historic National Guard units, which Congress had declared should be 'at all times maintained and assured as an integral part of the first-line defenses of this Nation.' On Oct. 28, 1941, it was therefore provided that, with the concurrence of the states from which the units came, enlistments and reenlistments might be made in the units both for Federal service and for the National Guard of the state of origin. This action tended to preserve the local state identity of these units and continuity of personnel. In addition, provision was made that when National Guardsmen should be released from active Federal service, they should revert to state control to form a reserve for the field forces. Individuals who had been released before December 8th were principally those over 28 years old and some 'hardship' cases. At the end of the year they were expecting early recall.

State Guards.

When the National Guard was inducted into Federal service, the separate states were left without state forces for protection against domestic disturbance and for guarding vital installations. On Oct. 21, 1940, the President approved an Act of Congress authorizing the states to organize and maintain a State Guard when any part of the National Guard was in Federal service, and regulations were drawn up to cover the organization, training, and equipment of this force. Arms were to be furnished by the Federal Government; some equipment was to be made available for sale to the states; the states themselves were to provide uniforms. Maximum allowances were not to exceed half the strength of the pre-existing National Guard of each state. Administration of the force, so far as the Federal Government was concerned, was placed in the hands of the National Guard Bureau.