View source for California National Guard

{{Short description|Component of the US National Guard of the state of California}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=June 2025}}
{{Infobox military unit
| unit_name                     = California National Guard
| image                         = CNG-logo.png
| image_size                    = 220px
| caption                       = Seal of the California National Guard
| dates                         = {{Start date|1849|07|27}}
| country                       = {{flagu|United States}}
| allegiance                    = {{Flag|California}}
| branch                        = {{Army|United States|size=23px}}<br />{{Air force|United States|size=23px}}
| type                          = [[National Guard of the United States|National Guard]]
| role                          = [[Militia (United States)|Organized militia]]
| size                          = 24,000 (as of 2025)
| command_structure             = [[National Guard Bureau]]<br />[[California Military Department]]
| garrison                      = 9800 Goethe Road, [[Sacramento, California]] 95827
| garrison_label                = Headquarters
| nickname                      = CalGuard{{break}}CNG
| motto                         =
| colors                        =
| march                         =
| commander1                    = {{flagicon image|Flag of the President of the United States.svg}} [[President of the United States]] (when federalized)
| commander1_label              = Commander in Chief ([[Title 10 of the United States Code|Title 10 USC]])
| commander2                    = {{flagicon image|Flag of the Governor of California.svg}} [[Governor of California]]
| commander2_label              = Commander in Chief ([[Title 32 of the United States Code|Title 32 USC]])
| commander3                    = [[Major General|MG]] [[Matthew P. Beevers]]
| commander3_label              = [[State adjutant general|Adjutant General]]
| commander5                    = [[Chief Master Sergeant|CMSgt]] Lynn E. Williams
| commander5_label              = Senior Enlisted Leader
}}
[[File:California National Guard at Camp Williams, Utah (2014).jpg|thumb|California National Guardsmen boarding a [[Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk|UH-60 Black Hawk]] [[military helicopter]] during training at [[Camp Williams]], Utah in 2014]] The '''California National Guard''' ('''Cal Guard''') is part of the [[National Guard (United States)|National Guard of the United States]], a dual federal–state military reserve force in the state of [[California]]. It has three components: the [[California Army National Guard]], [[California Air National Guard]], and [[California State Guard]]. As of 2025, the California National Guard comprises approximately 24,000 personnel, making it one of the largest National Guard forces in the United States.<ref>{{cite web |title=About CalGuard |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/about/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>

Since 2001, members of the California National Guard have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times. Thirty-one California Guardsmen have died while serving overseas in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Guantanamo Bay.<ref>{{cite web |title=California National Guard: Remembering the Fallen |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/fallen/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last=Kovach |first=Gretel C. |title=S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment |url=http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/18/tp-sd-national-guard-unit-preps-for-a-final/ |newspaper=San Diego Union Tribune |date=January 18, 2013 |access-date=January 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150509122411/http://m.utsandiego.com/news/2013/jan/18/tp-sd-national-guard-unit-preps-for-a-final/ |archive-date=May 9, 2015}}</ref>

The [[Constitution of the United States]] specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, National Guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of [[martial law]] when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the [[President of the United States|president]] or [[Congress of the United States|Congress]].

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the president serves as Commander-In-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, national emergency or as otherwise needed."
[[File:CalifNG,1924adj.jpg|thumb|Troops of the [[160th Infantry Regiment (United States)|160th Infantry Regiment]] of the California National Guard arriving in Los Angeles, August 17, 1924]]
[[File: California National Guard MPs 1950.jpg|thumb|California National Guard MPs, 1950]]
The [[governor of California]] may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

==2025 federal deployment and legal challenge==
{{main|Newsom v. Trump}}
In June 2025, the California National Guard became the subject of a high-profile legal and political dispute when President [[Donald Trump]] issued a memorandum federalizing up to 4,000 Guard members and deploying approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests following federal immigration raids.<ref>{{cite news |title=California sues Trump, claiming he 'unlawfully' federalized National Guard for Los Angeles riots |url=https://nypost.com/2025/06/09/california-sues-trump-over-national-guard-deployment/ |work=New York Post |date=June 9, 2025 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Marines prepare Los Angeles deployment, protests spread across US |url=https://www.reuters.com/world/us/marines-deploy-los-angeles-2025-06-10/ |work=Reuters |date=June 10, 2025 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref> Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the move, asserting that it exceeded presidential authority under Title 10 and was unnecessary given local law enforcement's control.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge sharply questions Trump's Guard deployment to Los Angeles |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2025/06/11/judge-questions-trump-national-guard-deployment-00123456 |work=Politico |date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>

On June 9, the State of California filed suit in the Northern District of California, ''Newsom v. Trump'', seeking to block the deployment via a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit contends the executive order violated 10 U.S.C. § 252, the Tenth Amendment, and the Posse Comitatus Act.<ref>{{cite news |title=Judge promises quick ruling over Trump's use of National Guard in Los Angeles |url=https://apnews.com/article/california-trump-lawsuit-national-guard-deployment-2025 |work=Associated Press |date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=Can Trump send troops to LA? Federal judge is skeptical of their deployment |url=https://calmatters.org/politics/2025/06/trump-national-guard-los-angeles-lawsuit/ |work=CalMatters |date=June 11, 2025 |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>

On June 12, 2025, Judge [[Charles Breyer]] of the Federal District Court in San Francisco issued a 36-page ruling, returning control of the National Guardsmen back to Newsom. The second paragraph of the ruling reads:

{{blockquote|At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not. His actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith.<ref>''Newsom v. Trump'', UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, Case No. 25-cv-04870-CRB, '''ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS' APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER,''' https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.450934/gov.uscourts.cand.450934.64.0.pdf</ref>}}

==Components==
* [[California Army National Guard|California Army National Guard (CA ARNG)]]
* [[California Air National Guard|California Air National Guard (CA ANG)]]
* [[California State Guard|California State Guard (CSG)]]

==Military Museum Command==
California State Guard's ''Military Museum Command'' interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum.<ref name="militarymuseum" /> ''militarymuseum.org'' is provided as a public service by the [[California Military Department]].<ref name="militarymuseum">{{cite web |title=California State Military Museums Program |url=https://militarymuseum.org/ |website=militarymuseum.org |access-date=November 10, 2022}}</ref>

==Adjutant General==
[[Major general (United States)|Major General]] [[Matthew P. Beevers]] serves as the [[California Military Department#Adjutant General of California|Adjutant General of California]] since he was appointed by California Governor [[Gavin Newsom]] on August 1, 2022.

=== Adjutants General of California ===

{| class="wikitable sortable"
! Name !! Term start !! Term end !! Notes
|-
| [[Theron R. Perlee]] || April 12, 1850 || October 5, 1850 ||
|-
| William H. Richardson || October 5, 1850 || May 2, 1852 ||
|-
| [[William Chauncey Kibbe]] || May 2, 1852 || April 30, 1864 ||
|-
| Robert Robinson || January 1, 1864 || May 1, 1864 ||
|-
| [[George S. Evans]] || May 1, 1864 || May 1, 1868 ||
|-
| James M. Allen || May 1, 1868 || November 23, 1870 ||
|-
| Thomas N. Cazneau || November 23, 1870 || December 21, 1871 ||
|-
| [[Lucius Foote|Lucius H. Foote]] || December 21, 1871 || December 13, 1875 ||
|-
| Patrick F. Walsh || December 13, 1875 || January 9, 1880 ||
|-
| [[Samuel W. Backus]] || January 9, 1880 || July 1, 1882 ||
|-
| George B. Crosby || January 11, 1883 || November 1, 1887 ||
|-
| Richard H. Orton || November 1, 1887 || January 9, 1891 ||
|-
| Charles Carroll Allen || January 9, 1891 || May 24, 1895 ||
|-
| Andrew W. Bartlett || May 24, 1895 || December 23, 1898 ||
|-
| Robert L. Peeler || December 23, 1898 || June 1, 1899 ||
|-
| William H. Seamans || June 1, 1899 || January 3, 1902 || Died in office
|-
| George Stone || January 13, 1902 || February 15, 1904 ||
|-
| Joseph B. Lauck || February 15, 1904 || January 7, 1911 ||
|-
| [[Edwin Alexander Forbes|Edwin A. Forbes]] || January 7, 1911 || June 18, 1915 || Died in office
|-
| Charles W. Thomas Jr. || June 19, 1915 || December 15, 1916 ||
|-
| James J. Borree || December 16, 1916 || November 30, 1923 ||
|-
| Richard E. Mittelstaedt || December 1, 1923 || January 5, 1931 || Also served 1940–41
|-
| Seth E.P. Howard || January 6, 1931 || June 26, 1935 || Died in office
|-
| Paul Arndt || June 27, 1935 || October 17, 1935 ||
|-
| Harry H. Moorehead || October 18, 1935 || January 3, 1939 ||
|-
| Patrick J.H. Farrell || January 4, 1939 || June 10, 1940 ||
|-
| Richard E. Mittelstaedt || June 10, 1940 || March 3, 1941 || Second term
|-
| Joseph O. Donovan || March 3, 1941 || July 10, 1942 ||
|-
| Junnius Pierce || July 14, 1942 || January 13, 1943 ||
|-
| [[Ray W. Hays]] || January 14, 1943 || November 30, 1944 ||
|-
| Victor R. Hansen || December 27, 1944 || April 28, 1946 ||
|-
| Curtis D. O'Sullivan || April 29, 1946 || July 15, 1951 ||
|-
| Earl M. Jones || July 16, 1951 || December 31, 1960 ||
|-
| Roderic L. Hill || January 1, 1961 || January 1, 1967 ||
|-
| Glenn C. Ames || March 22, 1967 || June 5, 1975 ||
|-
| Frank J. Schober || June 6, 1975 || December 31, 1982 ||
|-
| Willard A. Shank || January 3, 1983 || February 13, 1987 ||
|-
| Robert C. Thrasher || February 14, 1987 || October 9, 1992 ||
|-
| Robert W. Barrow || October 10, 1992 || December 31, 1992 ||
|-
| Tandy K. Bozeman || January 1, 1993 || April 27, 1999 ||
|-
| Paul D. Monroe Jr. || April 29, 1999 || March 2004 ||
|-
| Thomas Eres || March 2004 || June 6, 2005 ||
|-
| John Alexander || June 7, 2005 || August 1, 2005 ||
|-
| William H. Wade II || September 1, 2005 || February 1, 2010 ||
|-
| Mary J. Kight || February 2, 2010 || April 15, 2011 ||
|-
| David S. Baldwin || April 16, 2011 || July 31, 2022 ||
|-
| [[Matthew P. Beevers]] || August 1, 2022 || Present ||
|}

==Military academy==
The California National Guard maintains the [[California Military Academy]] at [[Camp San Luis Obispo]], which houses the state's Officer Candidate School (OCS) program. This academy trains qualified enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and civilians to become commissioned officers in the California Army National Guard.

Upon completion of Basic Combat Training (BCT), OCS cadets attend monthly drills for approximately 16 to 18 months, followed by a two-week annual training. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army National Guard.<ref>{{cite web |title=California Military Academy (OCS) |url=https://calguard.ca.gov/army/ocs/ |website=California National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>
<ref>{{cite web |title=Officer Candidate School (OCS) |url=https://www.nationalguard.com/lead-the-way/officer-candidate-school |website=National Guard |access-date=June 12, 2025}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[List of California State Militia Units 1850–60]]
* [[List of California State Militia civil war units]]
* [[California Military Department]]
* [[California State Guard]]
* [[California during World War II]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
* Hudson, James J. "The California National Guard: In the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906." ''California Historical Quarterly'' 55.2 (1976): 137–149. [https://militarymuseum.org/CNG1906.pdf online]

==External links==
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071214093845/http://www.history.army.mil/ARNG/NG-CA.htm Bibliography of California Army National Guard History] compiled by the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
* [http://www.calguard.ca.gov/OTAG/ Office of The Adjutant General]
* [http://www.calguard.ca.gov/ California National Guard]
* [https://stateguard.cmd.ca.gov/public/ California State Guard]
* [http://www.militarymuseum.org/ California Military Museum]
* [http://cdm16635.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/p16635coll4/id/597 California National Guard Photograph Collection] US Army Heritage and Education Center, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

{{NGbystate}}
{{US Army navbox}}
{{US Air Force navbox}}
{{California}}

{{authority control}}

[[Category:United States Army National Guard by state]]
[[Category:Military in California|National Guard]]
[[Category:State agencies of California|National Guard]]