US Congress votes to boost National Guard role

Lawmakers voted to elevate the head of the National Guard to a seat on the military's top council, granting unprecedented status to the country's part-time militia.

The proposed change was strongly opposed by all the chiefs of the armed services and the Pentagon's civilian leadership, who voiced concerns about creating possible friction and confusion in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the senior military body that advises the US president.

The proposed change was approved by the Senate as part of a large defense funding bill that was endorsed by the House of Representatives on Wednesday. President Barack Obama is expected to sign the bill into law as soon as this weekend, the White House said.

Under the bill, the National Guard chief would have full membership in the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which is currently comprised of a four-star chairman, a vice chief and the heads of each of the four armed services: the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps.

The National Guard, which falls under the authority of US states, and reserves -- under federal authority -- are made up of part-time "weekend warriors" who hold down civilian jobs and can be called up for duty in times of war abroad or for natural disasters at home.