National Guard
Encyclopedia
The term National Guard originally referred to a French citizen militia (see: National Guard (France)
). The term is now used in many countries. Depending on the country in question, "national guard" may refer to an organized militia
, a military force, a paramilitary
force, a gendarmerie
, or a police force:
National Guard (France)
The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
). The term is now used in many countries. Depending on the country in question, "national guard" may refer to an organized militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
, a military force, a paramilitary
Paramilitary
A paramilitary is a force whose function and organization are similar to those of a professional military, but which is not considered part of a state's formal armed forces....
force, a gendarmerie
Gendarmerie
A gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...
, or a police force:
Americas
- National Guard of the United States—a federally-recognized militia organized by each of the 50 U.S. stateU.S. stateA U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
s and territories that serves both as a military reserve forceMilitary reserve forceA military reserve force is a military organization composed of citizens of a country who combine a military role or career with a civilian career. They are not normally kept under arms and their main role is to be available to fight when a nation mobilizes for total war or to defend against invasion...
of the U.S and a state militiaMilitia (United States)The role of militia, also known as military service and duty, in the United States is complex and has transformed over time.Spitzer, Robert J.: The Politics of Gun Control, Page 36. Chatham House Publishers, Inc., 1995. " The term militia can be used to describe any number of groups within the...
. It consists of:- Army National GuardArmy National GuardEstablished under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, the Army National Guard is part of the National Guard and is divided up into subordinate units stationed in each of the 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia operating under their respective governors...
; and - Air National GuardAir National GuardThe Air National Guard , often referred to as the Air Guard, is the air force militia organized by each of the fifty U.S. states, the commonwealth of Puerto Rico, the territories of Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands, and the District of Columbia of the United States. Established under Title 10 and...
.
- Army National Guard
- National Guard (Nicaragua)National Guard (Nicaragua)In Nicaragua, the National Guard was a militia and a gendarmerie created during the occupation of that country by the United States from 1909 to 1933. It became notorious for human rights abuses and corruption under the regime of the Somoza family.-Creation:...
(1925–1979) - National Guard (El Salvador)National Guard (El Salvador)The Guardia Nacional of El Salvador was the Salvadoran gendarmerie. It was founded in 1912 by President Dr. Manuel Enrique Araujo. As agreed in the Chapultepec Peace Accords, it was disbanded on 16 January 1992...
(1912–1992) - Venezuelan National GuardVenezuelan National GuardThe Venezuelan National Guard , also called the Armed Forces of Cooperation , is one of the four components of the National Armed Forces of Venezuela. The National Guard can serve as gendarmerie, perform civil defense roles, or serve as a reserve light infantry force...
(Guardia Nacional de Venezuela)—officially the Armed Forces of Cooperation (Spanish: Fuerzas Armadas de Cooperación) - National Guard (Dominican Republic)
Europe
- National Guards Unit of BulgariaNational Guards Unit of BulgariaThe National Guards Unit of Bulgaria is the successor of the Personal Cavalry Convoy of knyaz Alexander I, founded in 1879, when on July 12 the guards escorted the Bulgarian knyaz for the first time. Accordingly 12 July is the official holiday of the modern National Guard Unit...
- National Guard of GeorgiaNational Guard of GeorgiaThe National Guard of Georgia is a military structure within the Georgian Armed Forces and has a department status within the Ministry of Defense. It is tasked with responding to external threats, civil disturbances, and natural disasters...
- Cypriot National GuardCypriot National GuardThe Cypriot National Guard , also known as the "Greek Cypriot National Guard" or simply as "National Guard", is the combined arms military force of the Republic of Cyprus...
- National Guard (France)National Guard (France)The National Guard was the name given at the time of the French Revolution to the militias formed in each city, in imitation of the National Guard created in Paris. It was a military force separate from the regular army...
, active on and off from the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
to the Paris CommuneParis CommuneThe Paris Commune was a government that briefly ruled Paris from March 18 to May 28, 1871. It existed before the split between anarchists and Marxists had taken place, and it is hailed by both groups as the first assumption of power by the working class during the Industrial Revolution... - Italian National Republican GuardItalian National Republican GuardThe Italian National Republican Guard was a paramilitary force of the Italian Social Republic created by decree on December 8, 1943, replacing the Carabinieri and the National Security Volunteer Militia . General Renato Ricci appointed as its commandant...
—defunct - Kaitseliit_Estonian National Guard
- Latvian National Guard
- Portuguese National Republican GuardPortuguese National Republican GuardThe Portuguese National Republican Guard is the gendarmerie of Portugal. Members of the GNR are soldiers, who, unlike the agents of the Public Security Police , are subject to military law and organisation...
- National Militia (Spain)National Militia (Spain)The National Militia in Spain was a citizen-organized quasi-military force comparable to the National Guard that arose in France during the French Revolution....
, 19th century - White GuardWhite Guard (Finland)The White Guard was a voluntary militia that emerged victorious over the socialist Red Guard as part of the Whites in the Finnish Civil War of 1918...
, Finland. (1918-1944)
Asia
- Sri Lanka National GuardSri Lanka National GuardThe Sri Lanka National Guard is the largest regiment in the Sri Lanka Army. It is a Volunteer Regiment made up of 32 battalions coming under the Sri Lanka Army Volunteer Force.-History:The Sri Lanka National Guard was founded by Lt. Col. D.W...
- Saudi Arabian National GuardSaudi Arabian National GuardThe Saudi Arabian National Guard is a separate military force of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. It is not part of the Saudi Arabian Defence Forces, due to its specific role as a counterbalance to the regular military. It serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force...
- National Guard (Bahrain)National Guard (Bahrain)The National Guard of Bahrain is a separate military force in Bahrain that serves both as defence force against external threats and as a security force against internal threats...
- Iraqi National Guard
- Kuwaiti National GuardMilitary of KuwaitUnder the constitution of Kuwait, the Emir of Kuwait is the supreme commander of the armed forces with a Minister of Defence who directs the Military of Kuwait through the Chief of the General Staff. The National Guard has its own commander, who reports directly to the minister of defence. Public...
- National Guard of GeorgiaNational Guard of GeorgiaThe National Guard of Georgia is a military structure within the Georgian Armed Forces and has a department status within the Ministry of Defense. It is tasked with responding to external threats, civil disturbances, and natural disasters...
- The National Guard of PakistanPakistanPakistan , officially the Islamic Republic of Pakistan is a sovereign state in South Asia. It has a coastline along the Arabian Sea and the Gulf of Oman in the south and is bordered by Afghanistan and Iran in the west, India in the east and China in the far northeast. In the north, Tajikistan...
is an army reserve force counted as part of the paramilitary forces of Pakistan
Political organizations
- National Guard, better known as the Blueshirts, a 1930s political movement in Ireland, antecedent to the modern Irish political party, Fine GaelFine GaelFine Gael is a centre-right to centrist political party in the Republic of Ireland. It is the single largest party in Ireland in the Oireachtas, in local government, and in terms of Members of the European Parliament. The party has a membership of over 35,000...
See also
- List of protective service agencies
- Republican National Guard (disambiguation)
- Republican Guard (disambiguation)
- Home Guard (disambiguation)
- Civil Guard (disambiguation)
- GendarmerieGendarmerieA gendarmerie or gendarmery is a military force charged with police duties among civilian populations. Members of such a force are typically called "gendarmes". The Shorter Oxford English Dictionary describes a gendarme as "a soldier who is employed on police duties" and a "gendarmery, -erie" as...