National Guard - Which Branch?

Hi all, a little confused here. I'm trying to understand where the National Guard falls in terms of the different branches of the military. Can someone shed some light on which branch they're under? Thanks!

The National Guard is actually a unique entity because it can serve a dual mission and falls under both the state and federal government.

In peacetime, the National Guard is under the command of individual states' governors, so you can think of them as state units. However, in times of war or national emergencies, the President can request the National Guard to support the federal mission and those units become part of the federal forces, often alongside active-duty Army or Air Force units.

Specifically, the National Guard comprises two branches: the Army National Guard, which is a reserve component of the U.S. Army, and the Air National Guard, which is a reserve component of the U.S. Air Force.

Different from the Reserve units of the Army or Air Force, the National Guard's state mission is to provide aid during natural disasters, civil disturbances, or other emergencies within their state. Federal missions can include deployments overseas in support of military operations.

So in short, the National Guard can fulfill roles under both the Army and the Air Force, depending on the circumstances. I hope this provides the clarity you were seeking!