On December 13, 2025, we celebrate the 389th birthday of the United States National Guard, the oldest military organization in the country.
The U.S. National Guard stands apart from every other military branch. For generations, its members have balanced civilian life with the responsibility of responding to local emergencies and serving in national defense missions at home and abroad.
Whether the danger is wildfires, hurricanes, overseas deployments, or humanitarian crises, members of the U.S. National Guard have stepped up time and again when their communities needed them most.
As we celebrate the U.S. National Guard’s birthday in 2025 and honor this long tradition of service, we also recognize the challenges many members face long after they hang up their uniform – including illnesses tied to toxic exposures during their service.
At Sokolove Law, our U.S. National Guard veterans asbestos lawyers are committed to supporting veterans and helping them understand their options after being diagnosed with an asbestos-related illness.
When Is the U.S. National Guard's Birthday?
The U.S. National Guard birthday is on December 13, marking the anniversary of the Guard’s founding in 1636. On this day in history, the Massachusetts Bay Colony organized their first militia regiments of citizen-soldiers to maintain security in the growing colonies.
Though the U.S. Guard has changed dramatically since those first regiments were established, the core idea has remained the same: citizens willing to train, serve, and defend their communities whenever called.
“389 years of ordinary Americans doing extraordinary things. From Lexington & Concord to the Middle East, and from disaster response to defending our Nation in cyberspace, your National Guard is Always Ready, Always There.”
– Steven Nordhaus, Chief of the National Guard Bureau
Over the centuries, different branches of the U.S. National Guard have also emerged. This evolution eventually led the U.S. Army National Guard and the U.S. Air National Guard — each with their own birthday and history.
U.S. Army National Guard Birthday
The U.S. Army National Guard birthday is celebrated on December 13, the same day as the official founding of the U.S. National Guard as a whole. This is because the U.S. Army National Guard traces its roots directly back to those first 17th-century militia units formed in 1636.
As the nation expanded, states developed organized U.S. Army Guard units that could support both local needs and federal missions. They’ve deployed in every major U.S. conflict, while also responding to state emergencies like hurricanes, wildfires, and search-and-rescue missions.
Today, the U.S. Army National Guard continues to serve as an important ground force of the U.S. Guard, ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice.
U.S. Air National Guard Birthday
Unlike the U.S. Army National Guard, the U.S. Air National Guard has a much more recent origin. The official birthday of the U.S. Air National Guard as a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force is September 18, 1947.
On this day, the first Secretary of the U.S. Air Force was sworn in under the National Security Act of 1947, establishing both the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Air National Guard as separate entities.
After this reorganization, U.S. Army Air Force units were transferred to the new U.S. Air National Guard, forming the modern air reserve force we know today.
U.S. Guard members often recognize two significant birthdays — the historic December 13 founding and the 1947 milestone marking the creation of the U.S. Air National Guard.
How to Celebrate the Birthday of the U.S. National Guard 2025
Each year, current members, veterans, their families, and supporters take time to reflect on the U.S. National Guard’s legacy of service.
The U.S. National Guard recognizes their birthday with a cake-cutting ceremony, where the oldest and youngest members of the celebrating unit join together to cut a cake.
You can also celebrate the birthday of the U.S. National Guard by:
- Reaching out to a U.S. National Guard member or veteran to thank them for their service
- Supporting community events honoring local U.S. Guard units
- Visiting a military museum or state U.S. Guard historical center
- Volunteering or donating to organizations that serve U.S. Guard families
Even simple gestures can carry deep meaning for those who routinely put their lives on hold to serve their state and country.
Celebrating the U.S. Guard’s legacy also means acknowledging the ongoing challenges many veterans face, including long-term health conditions linked to hazards they encountered in the line of duty.
U.S. National Guard Veterans & Asbestos Exposure
Many U.S. National Guard veterans were exposed to asbestos during their service, especially those who served before the late 1980s.
Before the dangers of this mineral were known to the public, asbestos was widely used across military bases in buildings, vehicles, aircraft, and more.
Asbestos exposure in the U.S. National Guard may lead to:
Because symptoms of these illnesses can take 20-50 years to appear after exposure, many U.S. National Guard veterans are only now getting sick.
Support is available for U.S. veterans with asbestos-related diseases, including free health care and monthly payments from VA benefits.
At Sokolove Law, our U.S. National Guard asbestos exposure attorneys can also help veterans and their families seek compensation by taking legal action.
"Veterans have a right to hold responsible the companies that produced and sold asbestos-containing materials to the military. Filing an asbestos legal claim does not impact VA benefits."
– Ricky LeBlanc, Managing Attorney at Sokolove Law
Get Help from a U.S. National Guard Veterans Asbestos Lawyer
At Sokolove Law, we’re proud to stand by our country’s military veterans – including those who served in the U.S. National Guard and were later diagnosed with an asbestos-related disease.
As a national mesothelioma law firm, our U.S. National Guard veterans asbestos lawyers can help families in all 50 states seek the justice and financial support they deserve.
To date, we've secured more than $5.3 Billion for families impacted by mesothelioma, including over $1.3 Billion for U.S. military veterans.
Our firm has over 45 years of experience supporting military veterans, and there are no upfront costs or hourly fees to work with us.
Call (800) 647-3434 now or fill out our contact form to get started with a free, no-obligation case review.
