Today's National Guard plays a vital role in the security and welfare of our nation. On any given day, approximately 30,000 Guardsmen carry out Federal missions around the world, and an additional 10,000 Guardsmen conduct State and Federal missions within the United States and its territories. National Guardsmen are part of an operational force nearly 450,000 strong that provides strategic depth to our nation's Army and Air Force.The National Guard brings unique relationships, authorities, and flexibility to the Joint Force. Due to the complex global security environment marked by rapid technological change, these attributes are instrumental in implementing the Department of Defense's National Defense Strategy (NDS). The National Guard directly supports the three tenets of the NDS: building a lethal force ready for any fight, strengthening alliances and seeking new partnerships, and reforming to improve performance and affordability.