Numbers

Army Lt. Gen. Steven Blum wants to overhaul the National Guard so that half of all forces remain available for duties at home.

25% Training
18-24 Months

25% Defense deployments
12-18 Months

50% State and homeland security missions
36-48 Months

MORE THAN WEEKEND WARRIORS

25%
of the National Guard is now activated and deployed overseas.

460,000
soldiers, pilots and airmen make up the National Guard.

37%
of the 130,000 troops serving in Iraq today are National Guard members.

250,000
troops, including Guard members, rotated into and out of Iraq this spring in the largest military movement since World War II.

50
state governors command National Guard units, unless they are mobilized for war by the president.