in 1908, the united states army created the militia bureau to oversee training and readiness for the national guard as part of implementing the militia act of 1903. from 1908 to 1911, erasmus m. weaver jr. served as head of the army's militia bureau, the first person to hold the position. the national defense act of 1920 included a provision that the chief of the militia bureau be a national guard officer. in 1921 pennsylvania national guard officer george c. rickards became the first guardsman to serve as chief, and he held the post until his 1925 retirement.