National Guard Celebrates 374 Years of Service

"Knowledge is, in every country, the surest basis of public happiness."

–George Washington, 1st president of the United States and member of the colonial militia

Did you know that the National Guard traces its roots back to 1636 with the Massachusetts Bay Colony militia? On December 13, 2010, the National Guard celebrates 374 years of helping local communities and serving the nation.

Tradition of Community Involvement

The colonial militias protected their fellow citizens from attack and later helped win the Revolutionary War. Today, the National Guard remains committed to making our nation and communities a safer and better place. But we’re doing it in some unexpected places, like classrooms, school auditoriums, and high school football fields.

How? Through the Partners in Education program. The program serves local communities through free educational resources for teachers, coaches, counselors, administrators, and students. The National Guard’s school programs can help young people learn essential life skills, improve their health and fitness, and prepare for a career or college.

Wish the National Guard a Happy Birthday!

Want to get involved in celebrating the National Guard’s birthday? Here are a few ways:

Twitter: Be sure to follow the NationalGuard and PartnersInEd Twitter accounts for birthday information, and post your own birthday messages/photos/etc. using the hashtag #Guard374.
Facebook: Want to wish the Army National Guard a happy birthday from your Facebook account? “Like” the National Guard and the Partners in Education programs (Guard Fit Challenge, YOU CAN School Program, and HUMVEE School Program) and you’ll be able to post your comment, photo, or video and connect with others who share your interests. Also, RSVP to the National Guard's month-long virtual Facebook birthday event to spread the word about the National Guard's birthday and see who else is wishing the National Guard a happy birthday.
YouTube: Post your Happy Birthday videos to the National Guard and tag them with Guard374. We'll gather the videos and may even post them on the National Guard's social media sites for others to see.
Flickr: Upload your Happy Birthday photos to Flick and add the tag Guard374. You may just see your photo/image on one of the National Guard's Facebook pages!

Resources for Educators

Whether you teach Social Studies, Physical Education, or Automotive Technology, coach a team, or run a college prep program, Partners in Education has a presentation that will benefit your students.

National Guard website | Facebook
Whether your students want to go to college or go straight to work, the National Guard can set them up for success with benefits that include career training, college tuition, and more.

Guard Fit Challenge website | Facebook
For physical education teachers, athletic directors, and coaches, Guard Fit Challenge is a new way to get high school students excited about fitness.

YOU CAN School Program website | Facebook
From leadership to study skills, more than 30 classroom presentations to help students develop the life skills they need to have successful futures.

HUMVEE School Program website | Facebook
Hands-on and memorable education experience offering your automotive technology students an up-close and personal look at a HUMVEE.

Heritage Outreach Program website
An introduction to American military history, the Heritage Outreach Program illustrates four wars with stories, images, maps, and artifacts.

ASVAB Career Exploration Program website
Future-oriented and empowering career exploration and planning materials, emphasizing the importance of planning and decision-making.