The Alabama National Guard comprises both Army (Alabama Army National Guard) and Air (Alabama Air National Guard) components. The Guard is part of the Alabama Military Department, seemingly overseen by the Adjutant General of Alabama.
The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.
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 Governor may call individuals or units of the Alabama 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."
Alabama also maintains its own military force, the Alabama State Defense Force. This force is federally recognized, but is separate from the National Guard and is not meant to be federalized, but rather service the state exclusively, especially when the National Guard is deployed and unavailable.
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“While over Alabama earth
These words are gently spoken:
Serve—and hate will die unborn.
Love—and chains are broken.”
—Langston Hughes (20th century)
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—For the State of New Jersey, U.S. public relief program (1935-1943)
“What is the structure of government that will best guard against the precipitate counsels and factious combinations for unjust purposes, without a sacrifice of the fundamental principle of republicanism?”
—James Madison (1751–1836)