New York National Guard

As a partner in the Total Force, the New York Army National Guard has the federal mission to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.

The State mission of the New York Army National Guard is to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies, or as otherwise required by state law.

The New York Army National Guard maintains 82 armories, and is present in 72 communities.

The New York Army National Guard attracted considerable attention in FY99 around the country and from the highest officials within the Defense Department. Soldiers from New York completed peacekeeping missions in Bosnia, provided helicopter support in Honduras, performed aviation patrols over Northern Iraq and provided transportation assistance to the National Science Foundation's US Antarctic program.

Domestically, the NYARNG provided relief to Puerto Rico during Hurricane Georges, conducted snow removal and emergency transport missions and fought forest fires in New York. Specialized Guard emergency services were also used during JFK Jr's crash and Hurricane Floyd. The NYARNG continued to define its role in the nation's Homeland Defense with the development of its Raid Assessment Initial Detection Team.

National Guard members are recognizable figures within their communities. "GuardHelp" programs have removed abandoned vehicles from nature preserves, reconstructed roads and conducted neighborhood cleanups. The Counterdrug and ChalleNGe programs fought illicit drug activity while educating and encouraging our nation's youth. Recent initiatives such as increasing State Active Duty pay, reforming the Tuition Incentive program and tax reductions for Guard members are strategies focused toward creating a relevant, military force posed for the challenges of the new millenium.