Are the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard the same thing? Do all branches of the armed forces have reserve units? Do any branches other than the Army have National Guard units?
What’s the difference?
From Army National Guard: Frequently Asked Questions (funnily enough):
The Army Reserve is completely controlled by the federal government and serves solely as a federal reserve to the Active Army. The Army National Guard , on the other hand, may be controlled by either the state or the federal government, depending on the circumstance. The Army Guard force structure consists of Combat, Combat Support and Combat Service Support units, while the Army Reserve force is primarily comprised of Combat Support and Combat Service Support. The ARNG consists of approximately 360,000 soldiers versus just over 200,000 in the USAR. Both organizations are part of The Army, which consists of the Active, Guard and Reserve components.
From Ohio Army National Guard: Frequently Asked Questions :
Although the National Guard and the Army Reserve are both part of this nations Reserve Forces, there are several differences between us. One difference is that the Army National Guard serves both the State and Nation in times of need. We are here to assist civil leaders during natural disasters, state emergencies, or civil unrest. That means that the National Guard serves in a dual role and may be called out to provide help in state and federal matters.
Another big difference is in educational benefits. Both forces are eligible for the Montgomery GI Bill, but only the National Guard offers a 100% tuition grant to any state supported college.
Finally, National Guard units must be mobilized as a unit, while a Army Reserve soldier can be mobilized individually.
What other National Guard branches exist?
Yes. The Air National Guard . That’s all.