The U.S. Air National Guard, also known as the Air Guard, wears two hats – it serves as both a federal reserve force for the United States Air Force and the air militia for each individual state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands.
Who Are The U.S. Air National Guard:
Citizen-soldiers: The Air National Guard is comprised of part-time citizen-airmen and -women who train one weekend per month and two weeks per year in addition to responding to emergencies.
Leadership: The Air National Guard is led by the National Guard Bureau, which falls under the Department of Defense. Each state’s Air National Guard has its own leadership structure as well.
What Are The U.S. Air National Guard:
Mission: The Air National Guard’s mission is twofold:
To supplement the active-duty Air Force during wartime or national emergencies.
To provide its home state with air defense, disaster relief, and other homeland security missions.
Capabilities: The Air National Guard maintains a wide range of aircraft and equipment, including fighters, bombers, tankers, transport aircraft, and remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs). It also provides critical support functions such as airbase operations, security forces, and communications.
Where Are The U.S. Air National Guard:
The Air National Guard has units located in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Virgin Islands. These units train at local air bases and participate in exercises and deployments around the world.