Lansing, Mich.-The Soldiers and Airmen of the Michigan National Guard are available for media interviews in celebration of the 372nd birthday of the National Guard that will occur on Dec. 13. In order to ensure that interview requests are filled, we ask news organizations to coordinate interviews this week.

The National Guard is the only military branch organized to deploy in support of both state and federal emergencies. The primary state mission is to protect the lives and property of Michigan citizens during times of natural disaster and to preserve the peace, order, and public safety at the direction of the governor. The Guard's federal military mission is to assist the federal government in defending sovereign interests of the United States when they are threatened or violated.

The Michigan National Guard has Soldiers and Airmen located in 44 armories, three training facilities (Camp Grayling, Fort Custer and the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center) and two Air Bases (Battle Creek and Selfridge) across the state.

Today, approximately 1,700 Michigan National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are deployed across the globe in support of the war on terrorism; however, as the Guardsmen serve the nation abroad, more than 85 percent of the force remains available, trained and ready to respond to a state emergency including a terrorist event.

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