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
Loading Press Releases...NY National Guard In the News
WWNY -- Wed, 04 Mar 2026 7 After Noon: Ogdensburg Armory set to house new National Guard unit after recruiting goal surpassed WATERTOWN, New York (WWNY) - The Ogdensburg Armory is expected to house a New York Army National Guard unit again, after the state exceeded its regional recruiting target, the Guards second-in-command... (more)
Times Union -- Mon, 02 Mar 2026 Duty Calls: Air National Guard recruiter achieves a milestone New York Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Jason Malm achieved a milestone with the recruitment of 200 airmen. Malm, a recruiter with the 109th Airlift Wing, achieved that career milestone by... (more)
Buffalo Ledger -- Fri, 27 Feb 2026 Erie County Sheriffs Deputy awarded by France for actions during Iraq deployment Deputy Aaron Taylor of the Erie County Sheriffs Office Aviation Unit has received the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star for his actions during a 2023 deployment in Iraq.... (more)