Difference Between Army and National Guard

Army vs National Guard
 

For a casual observer, there may not be a difference between Army and National Guard. However, National Guard and Army of the United States have a number of factors which make them different from each other on the basis of their responsibilities. The problem people may have in distinguishing one from the other may be them both being military units. Only someone with some interest in armed forces would know the difference. However, it is quite easy to pinpoint where they change. They have different responsibilities and different jurisdictions. Normally, National Guard is confined to the state they belong to. However, the Army can operate throughout the US.

What is Army?

Army is the major portion of Armed Forces of the United States. These armed forces are responsible for performing operations that require military’s assistance. Army is one of the seven Uniformed Services of the United States. Army is there to provide land-based military assistance. United States Army was created officially on 3rd June 1784. The army has to take the responsibility for providing support to the Defense Strategies and National Security Strategies. Army of United States comes under the Department of Army, which is a part of Department of Defense. The top military officer in Army is Chief of Staff of Army. The current Chief of Staff is Gen. Raymond T. Odierno (2015). However, it is headed by the Secretary of the Army. The current Secretary of the Army is The Honorable John M. McHugh (2015). United States army constitutes of about 1, 105, 301 soldiers belonging to different parts of the National Army.

What is National Guard?

National Guard is a portion of the defense forces of United States and is divided into sub units in all the states of United States. The National Guard performs all of its operations under the order of their respective governor of the state. National Guard has the responsibilities to provide its services in disasters and emergencies such as national calamities like floods, earthquakes or hurricanes. The duties of National Guards involve responding to the national emergency. National Guards can also be called to respond to effects for invasion and for the execution of laws in case of any emergency by the President.

What is the difference between Army and National Guard?

• Army and National Guard are two different branches of the components of the national security of the US.

• Army is a force that has to perform its services for the country in safeguarding the strategies of the United States and the cases which involve national security. National Guard comes to play mostly on state based territory.

• The difference between National Guards and Army is the services which they provide and the way they offer services. National Guard is an old military force of the United States but has been created after the National Army making the Army a senior institution with more responsibilities.

• Army is responsible for performing its own services while National Guards have to provide the assistance to the main branch of the army in case it is needed. Else, they are to perform operations in all the states according to the instructions provided by the Governor.

• Army comes under the command of the Secretary of Army while National Guard is under the command of the Governor of the state.

• Members of the National Guard are referred to as ‘Civilian Soldiers’ and they are not full-time soldiers. They have the option to pursue careers other than their career in uniform. On the other hand, members of Army can only have one career, and that is their career as soldiers.

• Army comes under the federal control while National Guard comes under the dual control of authorities of state and federal government.

• National Guard force has to perform dual roles such as performing most of the domestic duties such as providing relief to citizens in case a natural disaster hits the country.

 

Images Courtesy:

1. US Army via Wikicommons (Public Domain)
2. National Guard by California National Guard (CC BY 2.0)