The National Guard is the main armed force of the Commonwealth of Erie. As written in the Constitution, the National Guard is to act as the standing military for the Commonwealth, and may be used as a standing army in times of war and peace. As of 2013 the military had 38,500 active personnel and 14,500 reserve personnel. They are active within the nation, having been formed under federal law as the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania three years before the eruption.