Answer: Many New Mexicans joined the National Guard in the 1930s and early 1940s due to the availability of jobs during the Great Depression and the start of World War II. The National Guard provided a steady income for many families, and it was also seen as a way to serve their country during wartime. Additionally, the National Guard was used to enforce the New Deal policies of President Franklin D. Roosevelt, which provided economic relief to many New Mexicans struggling during the Depression.