The force is equipped by the federal government and jointly maintained subject to the call of either.

[1] The professional head of the North Carolina Army National Guard is the Adjutant General.

The charter gave to the Proprietors the right "to Leavy Mufter and Trayne all sortes of men of what Conditon or wherefoever borne in the said Province for the tyme being".

[2] The North Carolina Army National Guard is organized into six major commands.

These units come under supervision of the Adjutant General in time of peace, and automatically become part of his command when they are first ordered into active service in the active military services of the United States in case of emergency:[3] Regiments of the North Carolina Army National Guard are listed in order of precedence according to the U.S. Army Regimental System -- Army National Guard where seniority does not always bring priority:[11][12]