The South Dakota National Guard is part of the South Dakota Department of Military & Veterans Affairs. It was created in 1862 as the State Militia. Its headquarters is located in Madison, South Dakota. It consists of the South Dakota Army National Guard and the South Dakota Air National Guard. The Guard in South Dakota was first activated 1862 by the territorial governor, and consisted of six companies of militia, composed of cavalry and infantry. In April 1898 the first infantry was federailzed and deployed to the Philippines.