On what date is the National Guard's birthday celebrated?

On what date is the National Guard's birthday celebrated?

• A. June 14, 1775
• B. August 4, 1790
• C. September 18, 1947
• D. December 13, 1636

Answer: (D)

The date the National Guard celebrates as its birthday is December 13, 1636. This marks the year the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a formal militia to defend the settlement and maintain order. That colonial militia is viewed as the ancestor of today’s National Guard, embedding the idea of citizen-soldier service that has carried through to the modern dual state-federal role. In contrast, other dates refer to different military milestones—such as the Army’s birthday on June 14, 1775, and other reorganizations in later years—so December 13, 1636 is the one tied specifically to the Guard’s long lineage.

The date the National Guard celebrates as its birthday is December 13, 1636. This marks the year the Massachusetts Bay Colony established a formal militia to defend the settlement and maintain order. That colonial militia is viewed as the ancestor of today’s National Guard, embedding the idea of citizen-soldier service that has carried through to the modern dual state-federal role. In contrast, other dates refer to different military milestones—such as the Army’s birthday on June 14, 1775, and other reorganizations in later years—so December 13, 1636 is the one tied specifically to the Guard’s long lineage.