Order Code RS22451
Updated January 17, 2008
National Guard Personnel and Deployments:
Fact Sheet
Michael Waterhouse and JoAnne O’Bryant
Information Research Specialists
Knowledge Services Group
Summary
The National Guard plays a major role in the defense and security of the United
States under the federal component of its mission. Although the military reserve
component’s responsibilities and duties have increased since 2001, a March 2007 report
by the congressionally chartered independent Commission on the National Guard and
Reserves has found that many Army and Air National Guard units stationed in the
United States are rated “not ready.” That rating is based primarily on current military
equipment shortages and concerns for long-term operational reserve capacity.
According to the report, these domestic equipment shortfall and reserve capacity issues
are attributed, in part, to the large deployment of National Guard personnel (currently
more than 28,000) and equipment deployed in what the Bush Administration terms the
Global War On Terrorism (GWOT) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF). In May 2006,
more than 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 8, 2008, 2,736 National Guard forces were deployed for this border security
operation (Operation Jump Start). This report presents statistical information on the
National Guard’s federal role in defense and security, including its deployments in
support of GWOT, OIF, and Operation Jump Start.
Introduction
The National Guard plays a major role in the defense and security of the United
States. Traditionally, the Guard has been both a domestic state-level security force and a
major federal component of U.S. combat power for overseas operations. Since 2001, it
has become an integral force in what the Bush Administration terms 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.

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CRS-2
A report was issued in March 2007 by the congressionally chartered Commission on
the National Guard and Reserves that examined and proposed recommendations on the
readiness of reserve component units, including the National Guard.1 The report
disclosed that many Army National Guard units not deployed abroad are “poorly
equipped” and as a result are “not ready,” based largely on the ongoing overseas
commitments and missions of the National Guard, participating in the war in Iraq and the
Global War on Terrorism.
Selected statistics on the force levels of the National Guard within the mix of U.S.
military forces deployed in the major warfighting and national security 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.
Selected U.S. National Guard Statistics
Table 1. National Guard Strength
(as of 12/31/07)
Army National Guard
354,675
Air National Guard
105,859
Total Strength
460,534
Source: National Guard Bureau, January 11, 2008.
Table 2. Current Major National Guard Deployments
(as of 1/02/08)
In Iraq — Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF)
11,545
Army National Guard
10,583
Air National Guard
962
In Afghanistan — Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF)
3,971
Army National Guard
3,284
Air National Guard
687
In the United States — Operation Jump Start (OJS) as of 1/04/08
2,736
Army National Guard
2,289
Air National Guard
447
Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs; January 2, 2008;
and National Guard Bureau, Public Affairs, January 11, 2008.
1 Commission on the National Guard and Reserves, Strengthening America’s Defenses in the New
Security Environment, March 1, 2007, [http://www.cngr.gov/Worddocs/March%201%20Report/
CNGR%20Second%20Report%20to%20Congress%20.pdf].

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CRS-3
Total National Guard Personnel Ever Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan
in Support of OIF and OEF,
September 2001 - November 30, 2007
254,894
Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense, Legislative Affairs, January
2008.
National Guard and Reserves in Iraq
The percentages of National Guard and Reserves troops in Iraq who were deployed
as of January 2, 2008, are shown in Figure 1 below.
Figure 1. Composition of U.S. Forces in Iraq by
Component
Source: Percentage calculations by CRS. Percentages do not add to 100% due to rounding.
Data from Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs,
January 2, 2008.

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CRS-4
Table 3. Reserve and Active Component Forces in Iraq
Reserve Component
18,137
National Guard
11,545
Army National Guard
10,583
Air National Guard
962
Reserves
6,592
Army Reserve
4,222
Air Force Reserve
676
Navy Reserve
653
Marine Reserve
1,041
Active Component
137,709
Army 100,307
Air Force
11,388
Navy
3,902
Marines
22,112
Source: Data from Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative
Affairs, January 2, 2008.
National Guard and Reserves in Afghanistan
The percentages of National Guard and Reserves troops in Afghanistan who are
currently deployed as of January 2, 2008 are shown in Figure 2 below.
Figure 2. Composition of U.S. Forces in Afghanistan by Component
79%
6%
15%
Active Component
Reserves
National Guard
Source: Percentage calculations by CRS. Data from Department of Defense, Office of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, Legislative Affairs, January 2, 2008.

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CRS-5
Table 4. Reserve and Active Component Forces in Afghanistan
Reserve Component
5,667
National Guard
3,971
Army National Guard
3,284
Air National Guard
687
Reserves
1,696
Army Reserve
1,369
Air Force Reserve
205
Navy Reserve
120
Marine Reserve
2
Active Component
20,945
Army 15,728
Air Force
3,828
Navy
934
Marines
455
Source: Data from Department of Defense, Office of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Legislative
Affairs, January 2, 2008.
Total U.S. Forces Deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan,
September 2001 - November 30, 2007
Between September 2001 and November 30, 2007, a total of 254,894 National Guard,
202,113 Reserves, and 1,193,234 Active Component personnel have been deployed to Iraq
and Afghanistan (shown in Figure 3 below).
Figure 3. Deployment in Iraq and Afghanistan,
2001-2007
1,193,234
1,400,000
1,200,000
1,000,000
800,000
600,000
254,894
202,113
400,000
200,000
0
National
Reserves
Active
Guard
Component
Source: Department of Defense, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense,
Legislative Affairs, January 2008.

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