Who is the Pennsylvania Army National Guard
By: Nicole Barela-Vess, Program Development Manager Thursday, March 16, 2023 01:30 PM
“Keystone” is derived from architecture as a central stone in an arch that holds other stones in place. In the early days of our nation, Pennsylvania was coined “The Keystone State” for its significant contributions geographically, economically, and politically. Fast-forward, 276 years, the Keystone expands beyond state lines in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard.
Founded by Ben Franklin in 1747, The Associators of Philadelphia were formed by local volunteers and citizens that came together to defend Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, during King George’s War. Today, the Pennsylvania Army National Guard continues to help preserve the volunteer associator’s ancestral legacy to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by responding to domestic emergencies in our community and foreign operations overseas to our nation.
“Oh, like the Reserves?” No, not like the Reserves. The National Guard is an entirely separate entity and not the Reserves. The National Guard serves a dual mission to the state and the federal government.
“Ok, but what does that mean?” It means the National Guard is twice as awesome. Each state in the United States has a dedicated National Guard, and the Pennsylvania Army National Guard is the third largest National Guard in the country behind California and Texas.
Let’s expand further. When President Abraham Lincoln called the nation to defend the Capital in 1861, the Allen Rifles, a volunteer troop from Allentown, PA, was the first to arrive at the Capitol. As a result, President Lincoln awarded the troop as the “First Defenders.”
On January 6, 2021, The Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers were activated by Governor Wolf to deploy to Washington, D.C., in support of the Presidential inauguration and security of the Capitol. Muhlenberg students were among those to deploy to Washington, D.C and protect the House of Representatives.
But what does that have to do with Muhlenberg College?”
I am glad you asked because rooted in Muhlenberg’s commitment to an inclusive and diverse campus, honoring historical heritage from the Lutheran Church - the Muhlenberg College student body includes students that serve in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard! These Citizen-soldiers are students committed to upholding the mission of Muhlenberg College while executing ethical and civic values for lives of leadership and service outside of the classroom.
About the Muhlenberg College School of Continuing Studies
For more than 100 years, Muhlenberg College’s School of Continuing Studies has provided lifelong learners the opportunity to continue and enhance their education in ways that recognize their experience, maturity, motivation, life circumstances and capacity for independent scholarship. Through a rich variety of certificates and baccalaureate degrees, the School of Continuing Studies aligns a rigorous, high-quality and student-centric curriculum with the needs and trends of our regional economy.
About the Muhlenberg College School of Graduate Studies
The Muhlenberg College School of Graduate Studies offers a variety of post-baccalaureate certificates and master’s degrees aimed at enhancing intellectual and career development through challenging coursework grounded in the liberal arts. With a mix of graduate certificate pathways and master’s degrees aligned with workforce and economic trends, the Muhlenberg College School of Graduate Studies enables students to prepare for professional work and career advancement, with a focus on leadership and innovation.
