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Download full resolution image National Guard Turns 375

National Guard Turns 375

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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NY National Guard In the News

Springville Journal -- Fri, 05 Jun 2026 Springville resident Eric Emerling retires after 20 years of Army and Army National Guard service Springville resident Eric Emerling, a lieutenant colonel in the New York Army National Guard, was recognized for his 20-year military career during a retirement ceremony on May 16 in New York... (more)

Geophysical Institute (University of Alaska) -- Thu, 04 Jun 2026 Frozen Arctic lakes becoming less capable of supporting cargo aircraft The ability to land a military cargo plane on a frozen Arctic lake is becoming less likely as a warming environment reduces the number of subfreezing days. That puts ice thickness below the... (more)

NNY 360.com -- Sun, 31 May 2026 106th Rescue Wing conducts five-day Combat Readiness Exercise at Fort Drum FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. More than 1,000 Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing completed a five-day combat readiness exercise, testing every element of the unit's... (more)

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Dated: Mon, Dec 12, 2011 @ 18:29