The Spanish exploration and settlement of southern Arizona by those who followed Marcos de Niza and Father Kino brought the presence of the military to Arizona. The Presidio of Tubac was established in 1752 with a garrison of fifty soldiers. Their mission was to protect the new settlers moving into Arizona from the south. While there was no organized militia at this time, certainly any citizens who assisted the military in the defense of their homes and loved ones can be counted as precursors to the citizen-soldiers who make up today's Arizona National Guard.

With the organization of the territorial government in 1864, we note the forerunners of the modern Arizona National Guard. In 1865, after Congress rejected Arizona's request for $250,000.00 to fund volunteers to fight the Apaches, the territorial legislature took matters into its own hands. In 1865, five companies, designated A-F, (there was no D) were mustered into service to fight Apaches. Most of the 350 or so men were Hispanics or Native Americans, the latter from the Pima (Company C) and Maricopa (Company B) tribes. Their officers were Anglos. 

Governor Safford issued a call for a militia force in October 1869. The legislature responded in 1870, but it was not until legislative action in 1877 that any serious attempt to organize the territorial military force could be documented. The attempt was serious in that $10,000.00 was appropriated to organize the First Arizona Infantry. In 1881 a new militia code was enacted. The new organization, consisting of ten companies of infantry, artillery, or cavalry, was to be known as the National Guard of Arizona. The new units took colorful names like the Mulligan Guards, later known as the Prescott Grays, the Galeyville Militia, and the Phoenix Rangers.

In 1889 William O. (Buckey) O'Niell was named Adjutant General. By 1890, National Guard units could be found in Flagstaff, Prescott, Phoenix, Tucson, Florence, and Tombstone. One hundred and nine years later, only Tombstone lacks a continuing National Guard presence.

With the outbreak of the Spanish-American War in April 1898, Arizona volunteers again answered the call. Many followed the leadership of Major Alexander Brodie, and Captains O'Niell and McClintock by joining the First US Volunteer Cavalry, or the "Rough Riders", which was commanded by Colonel Leonard Wood. Lieutenant Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, who eventually became the 26^th president of the United States, was the unit’s principle organizer. This unit would go on to achieve fame and notoriety at Kettle Hill, where Buckey O'Niell met his death. Other Arizonans trained near Lexington, Kentucky, while still others served in the Philippine campaign after the war.

The National Guard has left its mark on the state in more subtle ways. The National Guard Rifle Team was scheduled to compete in national matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, in August 1911. Looking for a distinctive insignia, Captain Charles W. Harris designed a flag for the team. Nan Hayden, wife of Carl Hayden stitched the flag together. In 1916, the Arizona Legislature formally adopted the ensign as the flag of the State of Arizona.

The modern National Guard takes its organization and mission from legislation enacted during the Progressive Era in the early part of this century. The Dick Militia Bill of 1903 and the National Defense Act of 1916, along with follow-on legislation, provide the format for training and funding that defines the National Guard's state and federal missions.

Between the wars, the Arizona National Guard was expanded and re-organized. Drills, rifle practice, and sweating under the sun during annual encampments continued. In 1929, the ninth legislature appropriated money for the construction of Fort Alexander M. Tuthill, south of Flagstaff as a Guard training site. Today Ft. Tuthill is a recreational complex for Luke Air Force Base.

On 16 September 1940, the National Guard of Arizona was again inducted into Federal Service. They first moved to Ft. Sill, Oklahoma, then on to Texas as part of the 45th Division. When the 45th was triangularized, the 158th was detached, beefed up, and by 2 January 1942 was in the Canal Zone for a year of jungle training. Out of this experience came the fabled Bushmasters, the 158th Regimental Combat Team. The 158th Regimental Combat Team's battle flag carries streamers from the New Guinea, Bismarck Archipelago, and Luzon Campaigns. General Douglas MacArthur said of the 158^th, "No finer fighting force ever deployed for battle."

After World War II, the Guard was reorganized several times under different operational doctrines. In 1967, the 158th Infantry was officially disbanded, and the Arizona National Guard converted to Military Police and Transportation units. The decades since World War II have brought change to the Arizona National Guard in many ways. With the formation of the Air Force as separate service, the Air National Guard was born. Major General (Ret.) Barry M. Goldwater was instrumental in the development and growth of the Air National Guard. Indeed, much of the streamlining of the Department of Defense in recent years is due to Senator Goldwater's efforts. The Guard, both Army and Air were involved in the Berlin Crisis. The 161^st Fighter Group, Air National Guard, and the 222^nd Transportation Company of Winslow, Arizona were called to support this cold war effort. The 1960s brought increased awareness in the role of the National Guard. Some National Guard units from other states were mobilized and served in Vietnam. During the Vietnam era, the National Guard became known as an alternative to serving in Vietnam. In a less flattering light, the National Guard was also stigmatized by the incident at Kent State University. Additionally, women began to play an ever-larger role in the Guard during the 1960s.

The 1980s can be characterized as a decade of growth. The Guard gained in numerical strength, added new equipment, and constructed new facilities. The Arizona Army National Guard no longer trained just at Florence or Ft. Huachuca. The Arizona Air National Guard no longer flew just above the Southwestern United States. Arizona Guard units deployed to Korea, Germany, Spain, Honduras and other places to train with their Active Duty counterparts. This Total Force concept was to prove invaluable in August 1990, when preparations for the Gulf War were initiated.

Dealing with the possibility of strike violence has been a regular state mission of the Arizona National Guard. In 1903, 1915 and again in 1983, the Guard was called to duty to deal with strikes in the copper mining towns of Clifton and Morenci. In 1983, the National Guard’s mission in Operation Copper Nugget was to provide support to Department of Public Safety, which was given the primary, law enforcement mission. The copper mines have not been the only source of labor strife. The Guard was ordered to duty by Governor Osborne in 1947 to restore order during the Lettuce Strike.

Two of the more notable state missions were the activation of the Arizona National Guard for the possibility of "invasions" from the west…California. In 1924 Hoof and Mouth disease plagued California. For several weeks, the Guard manned the crossings at Yuma and Ehrenberg and assisted with the de-lousing of livestock. There was also the "war" with California over the issue of water rights. For eight months in 1934, a contingent of National Guard troops occupied the Parker Dam site on the Colorado River and made preparations to repel a possible invasion from the west. The battle was settled when the U. S. Supreme Court issued an injunction prohibiting Arizona from interfering with the construction of the dam. The dam was completed in 1938.

There are the also the more traditional State missions for which the Guard is better known: fighting forest fires; flying helicopters with emergency supplies to isolated parts of the Navajo and Hopi reservations; opening Guard armories to shelter the homeless; performing emergency evacuations; and assisting with flood control operations. After the heavy rains of January 1993, members of the Guard were mobilized for duty along the entire length of the Gila River. The Guardsmen remained on duty for approximately five months, the longest period of State Active Duty in the history of the Arizona National Guard.

In August 1990, an Arizona Air National Guard KC-135 was on a routine flight ferrying several "Civilian Distinguished Visitors" to Europe. In mid-flight, the aircraft was given a new mission: refueling aircraft on their way to the Persian Gulf conflict. The aircraft and crew were re-directed to Moron, Spain. The distinguished visitors, left in Ramstein, Germany, had to make it home on their own.

In September, 1990, as the Guard community and the Bushmaster Association prepared to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Arizona National Guard’s participation in World War II, many of us were preparing for an historical "deja vu," the mobilization of two Army National Guard companies in support of Operation Desert Shield. As the call-up continued into December 1990, 10 Army National Guard units, more than 1000 soldiers in all, comprising 25% of the Arizona Army National Guard were called to serve in support of Operation Desert Shield/Storm. In addition, 530 members of the Air National Guard served in various locations overseas and in other states in support of the operation.

The largest mobilization since World War II caught many unprepared, particularly families who did not understand the dual Federal and State missions of the National Guard. However, in the spirit of citizen-soldiers from the days of Lexington and Concord to the present day, all that were called, answered the call. Once again Arizonans from Bisbee, Naco, Douglas, Nogales, Casa Grande, Coolidge, Claypool, Show Low, Flagstaff, Phoenix, and Tucson answered the call. The initial response from families and the community-at-large seemed to be "This can't be happening." Yet, the shock quickly gave way to acceptance. Yellow ribbons and other signs of support soon dotted the landscape. Lee Greenwood's song, "God Bless the USA," became a rallying cry. Families and soldiers alike cried to the haunting strains of "Wind Beneath My Wings."

Desert Storm showed the new face of the Guard. In Vietnam, the fighting force was predominantly male, single, and young, mostly 19 to 21 years of age. In Desert Storm, the force was male and female, married, and older…about 25 to 29 years old. The new face of the Guard was Captain Debra Clark, commander of the 222nd Transportation Company, leading her trucks into Iraq to provide much needed fuel for the 100-hour war. But the new face of the Guard had a tragic side as well. It was seen in the faces of SPC Dorothy Fails’ family, the Arizona National Guard's only Gulf War fatality. A truck driver from the 1404th Transportation Company of Show Low, SPC Fails died in a tragic traffic accident, leaving behind a husband and two children.

The 1990s has been a decade of change for the Arizona National Guard. The new action word is "downsizing," and it applies to the Guard. Budget and force cuts may force the closure of local armories and a restructuring of the force. Yet, even as the Active Component reduces its numbers, additional missions are being given to the Arizona National Guard. For several years the Guard has been involved in a counter narcotics (Joint Counter Narcotics Task Force, JCNTF) effort with neighboring states. The Guard is not only involved in assisting with drug interdiction, but also in drug demand reduction efforts. The Freedom Academy, operated by the JCNTF, has won national attention for its program to train selected high school students to become leaders and better citizens in their schools. "Project Challenge," a bold, basic training type program for at risk youth without a high school diplomas is now a successful program that is currently shepherding more than 100 students in their quest for a GED and a better life.

The continuing reduction in force of Active Duty units and the return of still more units from forward deployment make it increasingly likely that units of the Arizona National Guard will be asked to serve in the future. The possible deactivation of the 10th Mountain Division, Fort Drum, NY has such implications for Arizona. The 10th Mountain Division was the Active Duty unit deployed to Somalia for famine relief. If units like the 10th Mountain no longer exist, the Arizona Guard may well be called on to assist in similar efforts in the future. The 161st Air Refueling Group located at Sky Harbor took part in Operation Restore Hope in December 1992. The 855th Military Police Company, with units located in Sunnyslope and Yuma, has been designated a Humanitarian Support Unit.

Increasing pressure from world public opinion may force President Clinton to commit United States forces to the Balkans. From a military duty standpoint, we go where we are sent, perform the mission, and return home. From an historical point of view, we collectively understand the problems associated with deploying a force to that area of the world.

The official video history of the National Guard is called, "Always Ready, Always There." It is an expression of the willingness of citizen-soldiers to provide for the common defense. The United States Military has adopted a song with these words: "We were there when we were needed, we were there... It wasn't always easy, it wasn't always fair ... We were there when we were needed, we were there."

The Guard has been ready since Arizona’s pre-territorial days, and it stands ready today as men and women of today’s Arizona National Guard are part of the ongoing nationwide mobilization of Army and Air National Guard units ordered by President Bush in support of the global war on terror.

More than 4,600 Arizona Army and Air National Guard soldiers and airmen have answered the call and  been ordered to federal active duty in support of Operation’s Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom, and Iraqi Freedom since September, 2001.