National Guard Personnel and Deployments: Fact Sheet

Publication Date: January 2007

Publisher: Library of Congress. Congressional Research Service

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Research Area: Military and defense

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Abstract:

The National Guard is an increasingly vital component in the defense and security of the United States. Its federal role has grown with its major roles in U.S. and coalition country defense operations worldwide over the past several years. The Guard has been deployed in significant numbers in the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a full-scale partner in the armed services Total Force policy. Meanwhile, in May 2006, over 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 5, 2007, at least 5,670 National Guard forces were deployed for this border security operation (Operation Jump Start). This report briefly presents statistical information on the National Guard's role in defense and security, including its deployments in support of GWOT, OIF, and Operation Jump Start.