Louisiana National Guard

The Louisiana National Guard consists of the Louisiana Army National Guard, a reserve component of the United States Army, and the Louisiana Air National Guard, a reserve component of the United States Air Force, under the United States Department of Defense.

The guard is directed by an adjutant general appointed by the Governor of Louisiana. Unless federalized by order of the President of the United States, which places members on active US military duty status, the Louisiana National Guard is under the jurisdiction of the Louisiana Military Department.

The National Guard has both active and inactive (reserve) members as well as full and part-time members. Part-time Guard members are referred to as 'weekend Warriors' both by the military and civilians.

The Governor may call individuals or units of the Louisiana National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

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."

The National Guard traces its beginning to 1636 and the militia of the colonies. In 2011 the National Guard celebrated 375 years of service. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.

From 1968 to 1972 in the second term of Governor John J. McKeithen, the adjutant general was David Wade, then a retired Lieutenant General in the United States Air Force, who had commanded Barksdale Air Force Base in Bossier City from 1963 to 1966. In 1980, Governor Dave Treen elevated Ansel M. Stroud, Jr., from assistant adjutant general to adjutant general, a position which Stroud filled until 1997.

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