wars and conflicts, we now maintain the most powerful professional armed forces in the world. but we never disbanded our official militia. since 1903, it's been organized as part of the u.s. army and can be called up by state governors and the president in times of crisis. it's a militia that has evolved from minutemen and muskets to pilots in supersonic fighter jets and has a name that you probably know -- the united states national guard. >> we're your neighbors, your schoolteachers. we come from all walks of life because we're motivated by patriotism and the desire to serve the country. >> i've come to arlington, virginia, to talk to the guard's second in command, lieutenant general mark sassville. what are the different kinds of militias? >> the first category, which is what we are, is federally recognized, and their primary job is to fight the nation's wars. the second category is the state