What is the Difference Between Army and National Guard?

The main difference between the Army and the National Guard lies in their roles, structure, and deployment opportunities. Here are some key differences:

1. Role: The National Guard serves a dual role, serving both the community and the country. It is organized and controlled by the individual states, with the state governor acting as commander in chief. The Army, on the other hand, is a federal entity and serves the country as a whole.
2. Structure: The National Guard consists of the Army National Guard and the Air Force's Air National Guard. The Army is a separate entity within the Department of Defense.
3. Deployment: Both Army Reserve and National Guard Soldiers can be called into full-time service to support Army combat missions. However, the National Guard is more likely to be deployed for state emergencies and disaster relief, while the Army is primarily focused on federal missions and overseas deployments.
4. Operational Tempo (OPTEMPO): The main difference between Active Duty service and Guard service is the number of training and deployment days. The National Guard typically requires training drills one weekend a month and two weeks per year.
5. Veteran Status: National Guard members are given Veteran status if they have served for 30 consecutive days in a war.

In summary, the Army and the National Guard serve different roles and structures, with the National Guard having a more local focus and the Army being a federal entity. Deployment opportunities and operational tempo also vary between the two.

Comparative Table: Army vs National Guard

Here is a table comparing the differences between the Army and the National Guard:

Please note that the information provided is based on the search results and may not cover all possible differences between the Army and the National Guard.