Members of the South Carolina National Guard celebrate

Members of the South Carolina National Guard celebrate the 378th birthday of the National Guard with a cake-cutting ceremony and gathering of community supporters at the adjutant general's building, Dec. 12, 2014, Columbia, S.C. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Robert E. Livingston, Jr., the adjutant general for South Carolina, officiates the celebration joined by Sgt. Maj. Robert Gambrill, representing the oldest members of South Carolina National Guard, and Spc. Aaron Croft, representing the youngest members of the S.C. National Guard, during the birthday cake cutting using a sword from the South Carolina Military Museum. The origin of the National Guard dates to Dec. 13, 1636, when citizens in Massachusetts rose up to defend their colony, the roots of the “Citizen-Soldier.” The National Guard is the oldest military organization in the Department of Defense. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jorge Intriago/Released)