Order Code RS22451
Updated January 10, 2007
National Guard Personnel and Deployments:
Fact Sheet
Michael Waterhouse and JoAnne O’Bryant
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
The National Guard is an increasingly vital component in the defense and security
of the United States. Its federal role has grown with its major roles in U.S. and coalition
country defense operations worldwide over the past several years. The Guard has been
deployed in significant numbers in the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) and
Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) as a full-scale partner in the armed services Total Force
policy. Meanwhile, in May 2006, over 6,000 National Guard personnel were authorized
to be sent to the southern border region of the United States to temporarily assist in
interdicting illegal aliens. As of January 5, 2007, at least 5,670 National Guard forces
were deployed for this border security operation (Operation Jump Start). This report
briefly presents statistical information on the National Guard’s role in defense and
security, including its deployments in support of GWOT, OIF, and Operation Jump
Start.
Introduction
The National Guard has undertaken an increasingly significant role in the defense
and security of the United States. Traditionally, the Guard has been both a domestic
security force and a major component of U.S. combat power for overseas operations. It
has become an integral force in the Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation
Iraqi Freedom (OIF). Most recently the National Guard has been deployed under
Operation Jump Start (OJS) on the southern border region of the United States to assist
in interdicting illegal aliens crossing the border into the country.
Selected statistics on the force levels of the National Guard within the mix of U.S.
military forces deployed in major ongoing operational missions are presented below.
Information was developed and provided from official sources within the U.S.
Department of Defense and the National Guard Bureau.

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CRS-2
Selected U.S. National Guard Statistics
Table 1. National Guard Strength
(as of 12/31/06)

Army National Guard (approximate)
347,100
Air National Guard (approximate)
106,000
Total Strength (approximate)
453,100
Source: National Guard Bureau, January 10, 2007.
Table 2. Current Major National Guard Deployments
(as of 1/1/07)
In Iraq — Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
14,618
Army National Guard
13,508
Air National Guard
1,110
In Afghanistan — Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
4,932
Army National Guard
4,569
Air National Guard
363
In the United States — Operation Jump Start (OJS) as of 1/5/07
5,670
Army National Guard
4, 536
Air National Guard
1,134
Source: Department of Defense, Office of Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs; January 2, 2007; and
National Guard Bureau, Public Affairs, January 10, 2007.
Total National Guard Personnel Ever Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
in Support of OIF and OEF,
September 2001 - November 30, 2006
230,778
Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs, January
2007.

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CRS-3
National Guard and Reserves in Iraq
The percentages of National Guard and Reserves troops in Iraq who are currently
deployed as of January 1, 2007, are shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Composition of U.S. Forces in Iraq by
Component
83%
11%
6%
National Guard
Reserves
Active Component
Source: Percentage calculations by CRS. Data from Department of Defense, Office Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs, January 2007.
Table 3. Reserve and Active Component Forces in Iraq
Reserve Component
22,273
National Guard
14,618
Army National Guard
13,508
Air National Guard
1,110
Reserves
7,655
Army Reserve
5,600
Air Force Reserve
412
Navy Reserve
639
Marine Reserve
1,004
Active Component
106,296
Army 72,598
Air Force
8,591
Navy
3,553
Marines
21,554
Source: Data from Department of Defense, Office Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs,
January 2007.

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CRS-4
National Guard and Reserves in Afghanistan
The percentages of National Guard and Reserves troops in Afghanistan who are
currently deployed as of January 1, 2007, are shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2. Composition of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan
by Component
72%
4%
24%
National Guard
Reserves
Active Component
Source: Percentage calculations by CRS. Data from Department of Defense, Office of Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs, January 2007.
Table 4. Reserve and Active Component Forces in Afghanistan
Reserve Component
5,697
National Guard
4,932
Army National Guard
4,569
Air National Guard
363
Reserves
765
Army Reserve
622
Air Force Reserve
122
Navy Reserve
19
Marine Reserve
2
Active Component
15,250
Army 10,841
Air Force
3,240
Navy
926
Marines
243
Source: Data from Department of Defense, Office Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs,
January 2007.

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CRS-5
Total U.S. Forces Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan,
September 2001 - November 30, 2006
Between September 2001 and November30, 2006, a total of 230,778 National Guard,
181,437 Reserves, and 1,044,939 Active Component personnel have been deployed to
Iraq and Afghanistan (shown in Figure 3 below).
Figure 3. Deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan
1,044,939
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
230,778
181,437
400,000
200,000
0
National Guard
Reserves
Active
Com ponent
Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative
Affairs, January 2007.

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