Col. Aracelis Perez, senior National Guard Advisor, U.S. Army Sustainment Command, cuts the first slice of the National Guard birthday cake at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, Dec. 13. The heritage of the National Guard dates back to Dec. 13, 1636, when the 13 original colonies first organized units, making it the oldest component of the United States armed forces.

Today, we celebrate the 385th birthday of the National Guard. The heritage of the National Guard dates back to Dec. 13, 1636, when the 13 original colonies first organized units, making it the oldest component of the United States armed forces.

Maj. David Tanner (left), National Guard liaison officer, U.S. Army sustainment Command, and Col. Aracelis Perez, senior National Guard advisor, ASC, cut the National Guard birthday cake at Rock Island Arsenal, Illinois, Dec. 13. The heritage of the National Guard dates back to Dec. 13, 1636, when the 13 original colonies first organized units, making it the oldest component of the United States armed forces.

ROCK ISLAND ARSENAL, Ill. – Today, we celebrate the 385th birthday of the National Guard.

The heritage of the National Guard dates back to Dec. 13, 1636, when the 13 original colonies first organized units, making it the oldest component of the United States armed forces.

A common thread in the history of the U.S. military is the citizen-soldier, embodied every day for nearly 400 years by our National Guard. At the heart of the American spirit are the ideals of liberty and freedom, and the enduring will to fight for them.

The 445,000 Soldiers and Airmen in today’s National Guard demonstrate their willingness to sacrifice for something greater than themselves as citizen-soldiers.

They are dedicated to preserving and securing the American spirit in the very communities they come from, where they continue to serve, and through the enduring connections to their fellow citizens, neighbors, and each other.

Please join today in recognizing the National Guard, and our nation’s proud history of citizen-soldiers.

For more information, visit: https://www.nationalguard.mil/Features/2021/385th-Birthday-The-National-Guard/