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| Illinois National Guard | |
|---|---|
 Seal of the Illinois National Guard | |
| Active | 1877-Present |
| Country | United States of America |
| Allegiance | Illinois |
| Branch | Army / Air Force |
| Garrison/HQ | Camp Lincoln,Springfield, Illinois |
| Mottos | "Always Ready, Always There" |
| Commanders | |
| Adjutant General | Major General Rodney Boyd |
| Senior Enlisted Leader | Command Sergeant Major Kehinde Salami |
TheIllinois National Guard comprises bothArmy National Guard andAir National Guard components ofIllinois. As of 2013, the Illinois National Guard has approximately 13,200 members.[1] TheNational Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement ofmartial 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 thePresident orCongress.
During the War of 1812, the Illinois Territory was the scene of fighting between Native Americans and United States soldiers and settlers. There were few U.S. Army soldiers this far west on the frontier.Ninian Edwards, the territorial governor, directed state militia operations.
The two components are the:
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves asCommander-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."
TheGovernor may call individuals or units of the Illinois National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard.
The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."
National Guard units can be mobilized at any time bypresidential order to supplement regular armed forces, and upon declaration of astate of emergency by theGovernor of the state in which they serve. UnlikeArmy Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary Duty Assignments), but only as part of their respectiveunits. However, there has been a significant number of individual activations to support military operations from 2001; the legality of this policy is an unresolved issue within the National Guard.[citation needed]
