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Mentioned-only faction
United States National Guard
National Guard seal
Overview
FoundedEnglish colonial government militias: from December 13, 1636
  • As "National Guard": from 1824 in New York, from 1903 nationwide
  • Dual state-federal reserve forces: from 1933
Society
Notable MembersAlex Keller
Territory
Notable LocationsNational Guard depot (Washington, D.C.)
National Guard training yard (Chelsea, Massachusetts)
Relations and associations
ParentUnited States Armed Forces
Child EntitiesArmy National Guard
Air National Guard
National Catastrophe Relief Auxiliary
Related EntitiesUnited States Army Reserve
Commonwealth Minutemen
 
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Gametitle-FO2Gametitle-FO3Gametitle-FNV HHGametitle-FO4Gametitle-F76

The National Guard was part of the reserve components of the United States Armed Forces, this reserve military force was composed of National Guard militia units of each state, territory, and the District of Columbia, for a total of 54 separate organizations. All members of the National Guard were also members of the militia of the United States as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 311 . National Guard units were under the dual control of the state and the federal government.

Background[]

Colonial[]

The oldest component of the United States Armed Forces, the first militia companies were formed with the English settlement of the New World. At Jamestown Colony in 1607, and Plymouth Colony in 1620. By the mid-1600s every town had at least one militia company (usually commanded by an officer with the rank of captain) and the militia companies of a county formed a regiment (usually commanded by an officer with the rank of major in the 1600s or a colonel in the 1700s).[1]

The first militia regiments however were organized by the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony on 13 December 1636. By order of the General Court the Colony's scattered militia companies were organized into North, South and East Regiments—with a goal of increasing the militias' accountability to the colonial government, efficacy, and responsiveness in conflicts with indigenous Pequot Indians.[1]

American Revolution[]

Throughout the war, militia units were mobilized when British forces entered their geographic areas and participated in most of the battles fought during the war. The Massachusetts militia began the war at the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and were mobilized either during or shortly after the battles and used to form, along with units from Rhode Island, Connecticut and New Hampshire, the Army of Observation during the Siege of Boston. On July 3rd, 1775 General George Washington, under the authority of the Second Continental Congress, assumed command of the Army of Observation and the new organization became the Continental Army from which the United States Army traces its origins.[1]

19th and 20th centuries[]

Having a healthy distrust of a large standing army the United States kept the number of professional soldiers small. Throughout the next century the the majority of soldiers were provided by state militias. Such as the Mexican–American War, the American Civil War (albeit only in the early months), the Spanish–American War, in World War I, National Guard soldiers made up 40 percent of combat divisions, in World War II, they made up 19 divisions, and were mobilized during the Korean War.[1]

In the late 19th and early 20th centuries the state National Guards were called for the suppression of labor strikes. With the Militia Act of 1903, the militias was more organized and the name "National Guard" recommended for adoption. The title "National Guard," was originally adopted by the 2nd Battalion, 11th New York Artillery in 1824–25 in honor of Lafayette's French National Guard. In 1933, with passage of the National Guard Mobilization Act, Congress finalized the split between the National Guard and the traditional state militias by mandating that all federally funded soldiers take a dual enlistment/commission and thus enter both the state National Guard and the National Guard of the United States. The National Defense Act of 1947 created the Air Force as a separate branch of the Armed Forces and concurrently created the Air National Guard of the United States as one of its reserve components, mirroring the Army's structure.[1]

The Sino-American War and the collapse of America[]

Main article: Sino-American War, United States of America, the collapse of America

With the considerable unrest in the United States due to the ongoing food and resource shortages, and protests, the National Guard was in more demand than ever before in its history.[2] Already deployed en masse to endure order,[3] on October 23, 2077 they had a twenty nine minute early warning of the oncoming nuclear attack from the Department of Defense via the Defense Intelligence Agency.[4] Although in the dark the NCRARs were also deployed en masse in accordance to their scores in preparatory drills.[5]

After the nuclear detonations devastated the nation all the surviving, and still active, personnel executed their respective contingency plans: establishing checkpoints, evacuating the populace, initiating cleanup operations and locking down contaminated areas and vital parts of the infrastructure,[6] they continued to operate for a few days after the bombs fell however between the looting and violence that followed in the days after most servicemen deserted and went out into the new wasteland, those who stayed were soon overwhelmed by the collapse of society, the National Guard ceased to exist.

The remnants of their contingency plans still litter the landscape. Checkpoints – although ravaged by time – may still contain large stockpiles of ammunition and equipment among the remains of the guardsman; still guarded by their robotic materiel.[6]

Organization[]

Created by the Militia Act of 1903, the National Guard Bureau was the federal instrument responsible for the administration of the National Guard established by the United States Congress as a joint bureau of the Department of the Army and with the National Security Act of July 26, 1947, the Department of the Air Force. As part of the militia of the United States as defined by 10 U.S.C. § 311 National Guard units were under the dual control of the state and the federal government. They operated under their respective state or territorial governor, except in the instance of Washington, D.C., where the National Guard operated under the President of the United States or his designee. Furthermore the National Guard was called up for active duty by the to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and emergency radiation cleanup.

Army National Guard[]

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Air National Guard[]

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National Catastrophe Relief Auxiliary[]

The National Catastrophe Relief Auxiliary (NCRAR) units were composed of civilian medical corps charged with initial evacuations and medical triage following a nuclear disaster. These units were typically unarmed and assigned military detachments to provide security.

Technology[]

As a reserve military force the National Guard typically used the same materiel as the United States Army and Air Force, however due to their reserve nature - and the state of the Sino-American War - they typically received simpler and older designs.

Known equipment[]

Armor and gear
Armaments
Robotics
Other

Appearances[]

The United States National Guard is mentioned in Fallout 3, in the Fallout: New Vegas add-on Honest Hearts, in Fallout 4, Fallout 76, and the in-game descriptions for several weapons of Fallout 2 and Fallout Tactics: Brotherhood of Steel.

See also[]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 National Guard of the United States on Wikipedia
  2. Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Collector's Edition p.293-295: "[2.32] National Guard Training Yard
    Two hundred years ago, the National Guard was in higher demand than ever before. This facility was expanded just prior to the bombs falling. Currently, this location has recently been visited by the Brotherhood of Steel; they used this location to house and repair Power Armor."
    (Fallout 4 Vault Dweller's Survival Guide Map)
  3. Year: 2077
  4. Switchboard terminals; Central Terminal, DEFCON Status - 2077
  5. Germantown police HQ terminals; Terminal, Log Entry #003
  6. 6.0 6.1 Military checkpoints (Fallout 3) and Military checkpoints (Fallout 4)
  7. Fallout 2 Official Strategies & Secrets p.66: "Tesla Armor is designed to deflect energy weapons. However, its protection against impact attacks falls far short of what its military designers were looking for. Still, some surplus suits ofTeslaQuoted verbatim, error appeared in the original sourceIcon sic Armor found their way into National Guard Armories, and from there to the Wastes. Tesla Armor gives the wearer a 20% bonus to their Radiation Resistance."
  8. Fallout 2 item description: "{33200}{}{M3A1 "Grease Gun" SMG}"
    "{33201}{}{This submachine gun filled National Guard arsenals after the Army replaced it with newer weapons. However, the "Grease Gun" was simple and cheap to manufacture so there are still quite a few still in use. Min ST: 4.}"
    (PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2))
  9. Fallout 2 item description: "{35500}{}{Light Support Weapon}"
    "{35501}{}{This squad-level support weapon has a bullpup design. The bullpup design makes it difficult to use while lying down. Because of this it was remanded to National Guard units. It, however, earned a reputation as a reliable weapon that packs a lot of punch for its size. Min ST: 6.}"
    (PRO ITEM.MSG (Fallout 2))
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