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California National Guard

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California National Guard
Seal of the California National Guard
Active27 July 1849 (1849-07-27)
Country United States
Allegiance California
Branch United States Army
 United States Air Force
TypeNational Guard
RoleOrganized militia
Size24,000 (as of 2025)
Part ofNational Guard Bureau
California Military Department
Headquarters9800 Goethe Road, Sacramento, California 95827
Nickname(s)CalGuard
CNG
Commanders
Commander in Chief (Title 10 USC) President of the United States (when federalized)
Commander in Chief (Title 32 USC) Governor of California
Adjutant GeneralMG Matthew P. Beevers
Senior Enlisted LeaderCMSgt Lynn E. Williams
California National Guardsmen boarding a UH-60 Black Hawk military helicopter during training at Camp Williams, Utah in 2014

The California National Guard (Cal Guard) is part of the National Guard of the United States, a dual federal–state military reserve force in the state of California. It has three components: the California Army National Guard, California Air National Guard, and California State Guard. As of 2025, the California National Guard comprises approximately 24,000 personnel, making it one of the largest National Guard forces in the United States.[1]

Since 2001, members of the California National Guard have been deployed overseas more than 38,000 times. Thirty-one California Guardsmen have died while serving overseas in support of operations in Iraq, Afghanistan, Kuwait, and Guantanamo Bay.[2][3]

The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When under the control of its state governor, National Guard functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial 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 the president or Congress.

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the president serves as Commander-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."

Troops of the 160th Infantry Regiment of the California National Guard arriving in Los Angeles, August 17, 1924
California National Guard MPs, 1950

The governor of California may call individuals or units of the California National Guard into state service during emergencies or special situations. The state mission of the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

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Main article: Newsom v. Trump

In June 2025, the California National Guard became the subject of a high-profile legal and political dispute when President Donald Trump issued a memorandum federalizing up to 4,000 Guard members and deploying approximately 700 U.S. Marines to Los Angeles during protests following federal immigration raids.[4][5] Governor Gavin Newsom strongly opposed the move, asserting that it exceeded presidential authority under Title 10 and was unnecessary given local law enforcement's control.[6]

On 9 June, the State of California filed suit in the Northern District of California, Newsom v. Trump, seeking to block the deployment via a temporary restraining order. The lawsuit contends the executive order violated 10 U.S.C. § 252, the Tenth Amendment, and the Posse Comitatus Act.[7][8]

On June 12, 2025 Judge Charles Breyer of the Federal District Court in San Francisco issued a 36-page ruling, returning control of the National Guardsmen back to Gov. Newsom. The second paragraph of the ruling reads:

"At this early stage of the proceedings, the Court must determine whether the

President followed the congressionally mandated procedure for his actions. He did not.

His actions were illegal—both exceeding the scope of his statutory authority and violating

the Tenth Amendment to the United States Constitution. He must therefore return control

of the California National Guard to the Governor of the State of California forthwith."[9]

Components

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Military Museum Command

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California State Guard's Military Museum Command interim state museum is Camp Roberts Historical Museum.[10] militarymuseum.org is provided as a public service by the California Military Department.[10]

Adjutant General

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Major General Matthew P. Beevers serves as the Adjutant General of California since he was appointed by California Governor Gavin Newsom on 1 August 2022.

Adjutants General of California

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Name Term start Term end Notes
Theron R. Perlee 12 April 1850 5 October 1850
William H. Richardson 5 October 1850 2 May 1852
William Chauncey Kibbe 2 May 1852 30 April 1864
Robert Robinson 1 January 1864 1 May 1864
George S. Evans 1 May 1864 1 May 1868
James M. Allen 1 May 1868 23 November 1870
Thomas N. Cazneau 23 November 1870 21 December 1871
Lucius H. Foote 21 December 1871 13 December 1875
Patrick F. Walsh 13 December 1875 9 January 1880
Samuel W. Backus 9 January 1880 1 July 1882
George B. Crosby 11 January 1883 1 November 1887
Richard H. Orton 1 November 1887 9 January 1891
Charles Carroll Allen 9 January 1891 24 May 1895
Andrew W. Bartlett 24 May 1895 23 December 1898
Robert L. Peeler 23 December 1898 1 June 1899
William H. Seamans 1 June 1899 3 January 1902 Died in office
George Stone 13 January 1902 15 February 1904
Joseph B. Lauck 15 February 1904 7 January 1911
Edwin A. Forbes 7 January 1911 18 June 1915 Died in office
Charles W. Thomas Jr. 19 June 1915 15 December 1916
James J. Borree 16 December 1916 30 November 1923
Richard E. Mittelstaedt 1 December 1923 5 January 1931 Also served 1940–41
Seth E.P. Howard 6 January 1931 26 June 1935 Died in office
Paul Arndt 27 June 1935 17 October 1935
Harry H. Moorehead 18 October 1935 3 January 1939
Patrick J.H. Farrell 4 January 1939 10 June 1940
Richard E. Mittelstaedt 10 June 1940 3 March 1941 Second term
Joseph O. Donovan 3 March 1941 10 July 1942
Junnius Pierce 14 July 1942 13 January 1943
Ray W. Hays 14 January 1943 30 November 1944
Victor R. Hansen 27 December 1944 28 April 1946
Curtis D. O'Sullivan 29 April 1946 15 July 1951
Earl M. Jones 16 July 1951 31 December 1960
Roderic L. Hill 1 January 1961 1 January 1967
Glenn C. Ames 22 March 1967 5 June 1975
Frank J. Schober 6 June 1975 31 December 1982
Willard A. Shank 3 January 1983 13 February 1987
Robert C. Thrasher 14 February 1987 9 October 1992
Robert W. Barrow 10 October 1992 31 December 1992
Tandy K. Bozeman 1 January 1993 27 April 1999
Paul D. Monroe Jr. 29 April 1999 March 2004
Thomas Eres March 2004 6 June 2005
John Alexander 7 June 2005 1 August 2005
William H. Wade II 1 September 2005 1 February 2010
Mary J. Kight 2 February 2010 15 April 2011
David S. Baldwin 16 April 2011 31 July 2022
Matthew P. Beevers 1 August 2022 Present

Military academy

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The California National Guard maintains the California Military Academy at Camp San Luis Obispo, which houses the state's Officer Candidate School (OCS) program. This academy trains qualified enlisted personnel, warrant officers, and civilians to become commissioned officers in the California Army National Guard.

Upon completion of Basic Combat Training (BCT), OCS cadets attend monthly drills for approximately 16 to 18 months, followed by a two-week annual training. Graduates are commissioned as Second Lieutenants in the Army National Guard. [11] [12]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "About CalGuard". California National Guard. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  2. ^ "California National Guard: Remembering the Fallen". California National Guard. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  3. ^ Kovach, Gretel C. (18 January 2013). "S.D. National Guard Unit Preps For A Final Afghan Deployment". San Diego Union Tribune. Archived from the original on 9 May 2015. Retrieved 19 January 2013.
  4. ^ "California sues Trump, claiming he 'unlawfully' federalized National Guard for Los Angeles riots". New York Post. 9 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  5. ^ "Marines prepare Los Angeles deployment, protests spread across US". Reuters. 10 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  6. ^ "Judge sharply questions Trump's Guard deployment to Los Angeles". Politico. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  7. ^ "Judge promises quick ruling over Trump's use of National Guard in Los Angeles". Associated Press. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  8. ^ "Can Trump send troops to LA? Federal judge is skeptical of their deployment". CalMatters. 11 June 2025. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  9. ^ Newsom v. Trump, UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT FOR THE NORTHERN DISTRICT OF CALIFORNIA, Case No. 25-cv-04870-CRB, ORDER GRANTING PLAINTIFFS’ APPLICATION FOR TEMPORARY RESTRAINING ORDER, https://storage.courtlistener.com/recap/gov.uscourts.cand.450934/gov.uscourts.cand.450934.64.0.pdf
  10. ^ a b "California State Military Museums Program". militarymuseum.org. Retrieved 10 November 2022.
  11. ^ "California Military Academy (OCS)". California National Guard. Retrieved 12 June 2025.
  12. ^ "Officer Candidate School (OCS)". National Guard. Retrieved 12 June 2025.

Further reading

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  • Hudson, James J. "The California National Guard: In the San Francisco earthquake and fire of 1906." California Historical Quarterly 55.2 (1976): 137-149. online
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