Trump, Vance, Walz and Harris Are All Talking About the National Guard. What Can (and Can’t) It Actually Do?
Here’s your National Guard primer, from how it differs from the rest of the military to limits state governors—and presidents—have on calling on its troops
September 12, 2024| Sonner Kehrt
It seems like the National Guard has been everywhere in recent years: Battling wildfires this week in California, patrolling the New York City subway, cleaning up after hurricanes, administering Covid vaccines, filling in as school bus drivers, poll workers, nursing assistants, even substitute teachers during the pandemic.
During the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, National Guard units deployed in both combat and support roles again and again. Of course, that’s come up recently when Republican vice-presidential candidate JD Vance—a Marine combat correspondent who deployed to Iraq—accused former National Guardsman Tim Walz of abandoning his unit. The Democratic vice-presidential candidate retired after 24 years from the Minnesota National Guard in 2005 to run for Congress two months before his unit received a mobilization order to Iraq.
That’s not the only time the Guard has come up in this election cycle. In stump speeches and policy videos, former President Trump has frequently mentioned deploying the National Guard over various issues: Curbing crime, clearing homeless encampments, quelling protests.
So what is the National Guard? What does it do? And what limits do state governors—and presidents—have on calling on the National Guard?
https://thewarhorse.org/everything-to-know-about-the-national-guard/
