CARSON CITY, Nev. –
The Nevada National Guard was busy conducting training this month to meet updated federal guidelines for its National Guard Response Force.
For more than 20 years, National Guard NGRFs have been readily available to governors, Congress and the president to assist during emergencies but have varied in composition, training and equipment readiness across the states. Ongoing training this month will seek standardized training across all 53 states and territories with National Guard personnel.
In Nevada, the NGRF consists of 400 personnel statewide, including 300 Soldiers of the Nevada Army Guard and 100 Airmen of the Nevada Air Guard sourced from multiple units to provide a scalable, joint response. NGRF personnel will be prepared to respond to Nevada’s needs, ready within 24 hours activation, like the activation during the Davis Creek Fire in 2024 to safeguard evacuated neighborhoods. NGRF capabilities include civil disturbance operations, crowd control, area security, critical infrastructure protection and disaster response.
Guardsmen and women will be equipped with already-assigned personal protective gear, including face shields, body armor, and shin guards to ensure force protection. Additionally, the NGRF will train with non-lethal equipment, including tasers. Training focuses on de-escalation, site security, and the protection of critical infrastructure during domestic operations and natural disaster response.
Guardsmen from across the state — mostly part-time or traditional Guardsmen who make up the communities they live in and serve — will conduct training to meet the Department of War’s request.
All 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia are updating these requirements to meet new federal standards. The initiative follows a presidential executive order issued in August 2025, and Department of War guidance directing the National Guard resource, train, and organize a more standardized response force.
States and territories have been directed to ensure their NGRFs are trained, equipped and ready to conduct operations not later than April 1.
The Nevada National Guard serves a dual state and federal mission at the call of the governor and the president; however, the mission of the NGRF is to respond for protection of life and property here in Nevada. The Governor, in his discretion, would call the Nevada NGRF into action in response to requests for defense support from civilian authorities.
The Nevada National Guard seeks to educate the public about ongoing training, implementation of federal directives and misinformation. Nevada’s NGRF is not a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) as some states have been tasked to implement. It also differs from the Executive Order’s call for the D.C. military police battalion in the nation’s capital.