Each adjutant general shares a common responsibility for the state's National Guard plus a unique set of other responsibilities defined by the state's constitution, state statutes, and other state-level directives. In addition to their state responsibilities, each TAG is responsible to the federal government for the use and care of federal assets under the state's control. The
National Guard Bureau (NGB) in the Department of Defense provides a centralized administrative, funding, and procurement process to support the states' military departments. The
chief of the National Guard Bureau also provides input as a member of the
Joint Chiefs of Staff on national military activities as they relate to the National Guard. The 54 adjutants general collectively form the
Adjutants General Association of the United States (AGAUS) which strives to enhance both state and national military security. A professional military guard organization, the
National Guard Association of the United States serves to lobby both Congress and the Executive branch about common needs of the Guard as a whole and also provide support to members of the National Guard.
National Guard Each adjutant general commands their state's
Army and
Air National Guard units which are not on federal active duty. When a National Guard unit is federalized it is moved from state command to the
Department of Defense and placed under an Army or Air Force command.
State defense forces Twenty-three adjutants general have responsibility for military land forces that comprise
state level militias under the command of the various governors and generally have state support missions. Eight of which maintain a
naval militia division. Three adjutants general - California, Puerto Rico, and Texas - are also responsible for an air support component.
Emergency management agencies Some adjutant generals are responsible for oversight of the state's emergency management organization. These groups are non-military organizations but have a close working relationship with the state's National Guard and any state defense forces. They are the state level agency that works directly with the
Federal Emergency Management Agency in preparing for, responding to, and recovering from disasters.
Homeland security Some states have assigned their adjutant general the responsibility for overseeing
homeland security. In other states, this responsibility may be assigned to the state's
law enforcement agency instead.
Veteran’s affairs Some states place their veteran's affairs organization in the state's military department under the oversight of the state adjutant general. Other states have an independent veteran's affairs department. ==List of adjutants general==