New York Air National Guardsmen walk out to an HH-60 Pave Hawk prior to a training mission, April 20, 2009New York Air National Guardsmen performing a hurricane rescue in 2017
The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the "Militia of the Several States," now embodied as 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 Governor may call individuals or units of the New York National Guard into 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."
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."
Unlike United States Army Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary Duty Assignments (TDYs), but only as part of their respective units. However, there have been a significant number of individual activations to support military operations after the September 11 terrorist attacks; the legality of this policy is a major issue within the National Guard.
New York Guard
The state defense force of New York is the New York Guard, a military entity authorized by both the State Code of New York and executive order. The New York Guard is the state's authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the New York National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The New York Guard comprises a large number of retired active and reserve military personnel and selected professionals who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.
The New York Aid to Civil Authority Medal is an award of the State of New York given to the New York State Organized Militia.[6] The New York Aid to Civil Authority Ribbon is awarded any member of the New York Organized Militia who performs any period of state active duty.
For each succeeding award, a medal device (shield) will be attached to the suspension ribbon and service ribbon. These devices shall be:
Silver (to represent one additional award)
gold (to represent five additional awards)
The Counterdrug Service Ribbon may be awarded to any member of the New York State Organized Militia who is ordered to duty in support of a counterdrug mission for thirty cumulative days.
The New York Counterdrug Ribbon is an award of the New York National Guard.[7] The New York Counterdrug Ribbon is awarded to any member of the New York State Organized Militia who satisfactorily completes thirty days of service related to counter-drug operations.[8] Time spent at the National Interagency Counterdrug Institute does not count towards this award's eligibility requirement.[7]
