The National Guard, the oldest component of the Armed Forces of the United States and one of the nation's longest-enduring institutions, celebrated its 367th birthday on December 13, 2003. The National Guard traces its history back to the earliest English colonies in North America. Responsible for their own defense, the colonists drew on English military tradition and organized their able-bodied male citizens into militias.
The colonial militias protected their fellow citizens from Indian attack, foreign invaders, and later helped to win the Revolutionary War. Following independence, the authors of the Constitution empowered Congress to "provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the militia." However, recognizing the militia's state role, the Founding Fathers reserved the appointment of officers and training of the militia to the states. Today's National Guard still remains a dual state-Federal force.
I think the key phrase is "dual State-Federal force".
More info here (http://www.ngb.army.mil/about/)
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"It is not best to use our morals weekdays, it gets them out of repair for Sunday." - Mark Twain 1898
Thanks to Reefy & M1 for my sigs!!