LATHAM-- The National Guard of the United States turns 375 Years old today,Dec. 13. On this day in 1636 the General Court of the Massachusetts Bay Colony passed a law establishing formal militia companies in the colony. These companies were made up of all adult males older than 16 and were expected to meet and train in military skills regularly.In New York, the first citizen-soldiers were members of the Burgher Guard, organized by the Dutch East Indian Company in 1640 to help protect New Amsterdam from their English neighbors in Massachusetts and Virginia or from hostile natives.
Citizen soldiers of the militia and National Guard have fought in all of America’s wars from King Philips War against Native Americans in the New England Colonies in 1675 to the struggle in Afghanistan today.
DMNA Press Releases
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NationalGuard.mil -- Fri, 04 Sep 2026 New York Guardsmen Earn Danish Military March Ribbon CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, Cortlandt Manor, N.Y. Two hundred and eleven New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen tackled the rugged trails of the Hudson Highlands Aug. 28 to earn the Royal... (more)
NationalGuard.mil -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 New York Guard Shares Air Assault Techniques With Swedish Partners LINKOPING, Sweden Four New York Army National Guard aviators shared information on U.S. Army air assault doctrine with members of the Swedish Air Forces 2nd Helicopter Battalion during an... (more)
Staten Island Live -- Tue, 01 Sep 2026 Gov. Hochul, Mayor Mamdani call on President Trump to release $87M in counterterrorism funding STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani called on President Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin to release $87... (more)