Modern U.S. Army Question? (1 Viewer)

[The General]

In Australia our reserve army is known as the A.A.R. (Australian Army Reserve).

In American media I have seen & heard references to U.S.Army Reserve units.
Is the U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. National Guard the same thing?

For our Pommie friends, what are the reserve forces in the U.K. refered to?

 

[Molloy]

In Australia our reserve army is known as the A.A.R. (Australian Army Reserve).

In American media I have seen & heard references to U.S.Army Reserve units.
Is the U.S. Army Reserve and the U.S. National Guard the same thing?

For our Pommie friends, what are the reserve forces in the U.K. refered to?

Hello General!

As far as I know, the Territorial Army (TA) is the principal reserve force in the UK - I know this year marks their centenary anyway.

As to the difference between the US National Guard and the US Army Reserve, not sure about that one at all, but quite curious like yourself, as it's a question that's struck me before. There's plenty of both serving and former US military members who frequent the forum though, so I'm sure they'll be able to clear it up very quickly!

Cheers,

Molloy.

 

[Mister Dave]

Both are part time organizations that can be called up for active duty as needed to supplement the "regular army". NG is administered at the state level, while the Army Reserve is a federal government entity. I suppose the NG is sort of equivalent to a state militia, but once on active duty status, administration switches from the state level to the federal level.

MD

 

[4th Hussar]

The National Guard evolved from the State militias. The states ,in theory, control when and if their guards are deployed outside their home states.

 

[The General]

Thanks guys.

The classic line in movies where the streets have decended into chaos has always been "Call out the National Guard!"

Now I finally know what that means. Cheers.

 

[binder001]

"Call out the Guard". That's a serious line in my area - not for riots, but the National Guard is traditionally one of the first agencies that a state governor can call on for an effective response to floods, tornadoes and severe storm damage, fires and other natural disasters. These Americans are willing to be called away from home, family and job to respond to others in need. They perform rescues, provide emergency medical services, bring in generators and lights, clear roads and other activities. Unfortunately when disaster brings out the worst in people, they also do provide armed security troops. In the current time period the Guard is (too often, IMHO) federalized to provide support to the active troops overseas.

Having grown up in the 1960's I also do remember the Guard being used to combat race riots in cities and to secure property from protestors.

One of the best lines in a movie comes from "Taps" where Ronnie Howard as a National Guard major faces the youngsters who have seized a school saying "Son, I'm the Governor's muscle".

 

[bobspelledbackwards]

In The UK they are refered as the Terrtorial Army

 

[Tex]

To make matters a little more confusing, there are State Guard/State Defense Force units, too. They are supposed to be reserves for the National Guard, so if a State's NG is called away, they will still have a State Guard. Unlike the National Guard, though, State Guards cannot be federalized; they answer only to the Governer.

I think New York and Texas are the states with the most organized State Guards.