Changing Role

摘要

In the aftermath of the Sept. 11, 2001, attack, the oldest component of America's military - the National Guard -has shifted from a strategic to an operational reserve.rnAs you read this, about 142,000 guardmembers and reservists are on active, federal duty. They serve in Afghanistan, the Horn of Africa, Iraq, Kosovo, the Sinai, and many other places around the world.rnGuard and Reserve forces today are essential to our nation's defense - as in the early days of the English colonies in North America. In fact, the oldest component of the U.S. Armed Forces - the National Guard - is a direct descendant of the colonial militias, dating back to 1636.