National Guard: a 381-year heritage of service

The National Guard’s heritage dates back 381 years ago, to the 13 original colonies when the Massachusetts Bay Colony militia was organized on Dec. 13, 1636. This makes the National Guard the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces. Throughout our history, the men and women of the Ohio National Guard have been a trusted, reliable team that is “Always Ready, Always There.”

In times of natural disasters, the Ohio National Guard is typically the first military responder. There are many examples of this through the decades. Most recently, more than 400 Ohio National Guard members deployed to assist residents in Texas, Florida, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico after devastating hurricanes. Among the assistance ably provided by the Ohio National Guard was medical aid, transportation, mobile kitchens and water purification.

There are over 16,000 Ohio National Guard members, and they live in nearly every county of the state. We could be your coworker, the dentist examining your tooth or the police officer who helped you change a tire.

When we’re wearing the military uniform, we could be the F-16 fighter pilot guarding the sky, the engineer helping a city tear down a condemned house or the medic giving an immunization shot at a free medical clinic.

As an operational reserve to the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force, the Ohio National Guard fights wars alongside our active-duty counterparts throughout the world.

Today, we must be prepared for a challenging security environment. The battlefield has changed and the enemy is no longer easy to identify. With destructive cyberattacks becoming commonplace, the Ohio National Guard is preparing today’s Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen with innovative training, supporting partners with critical infrastructure and vulnerability assessments, and teaming with the Indiana and Michigan National Guards to operate a Cyber Protection Team.

For centuries, your National Guard has seized opportunities to innovate and adapt to changing times — ensuring our nation had forces able to excel on the battlefield and support those in need after disaster struck at home. While much has changed since the beginnings of the National Guard during the 17th century, your Ohio National Guard remains a proven and trusted force that is accessible and adaptable.