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The Army National Guard (ARNG), in conjunction with the Air National Guard, is an organized militia force and a federal military reserve force of the United States Army. They are simultaneously part of two different organizations: the Army National Guard of each state, most territories, and the District of Columbia (also referred to as the Militia of the United States), and the Army National Guard of the United States (as part of the federalized National Guard). The Army National Guard is divided into subordinate units stationed in each U.S. state and territory, as well as the District of Columbia, operating under their respective governors and governor-equivalents.
The foundation for what became the Army National Guard occurred in the city of Salem, Massachusetts, in 1636, the first time that a regiment of militia drilled for the common defense of a multi-community area.
The history of the Army National Guard in the United States dates from 1636, when the Massachusetts Bay Colony's government organized existing militia companies into three regiments. The National Guard's history continued through the colonial era, including the French and Indian War, and extends into the modern era, including participation in the War on Terror.
A militia was mustered in Spanish Florida in the 1500s, while on 13 December 1636 the Massachusetts Bay Colony's General Court passed an act calling for the creation of three militia regiments from the existing separate militia companies in towns around Boston. These regiments were formed due to the perceived need to defend the Bay Colony against American Indians, as well as colonists and military members from other European countries operating in North America, including the French in what is now Canada; the Spanish in what is now Florida, The Carolinas, and Georgia; and the Dutch in what was then New Netherland, which comprised what is now parts of New York, Connecticut, Rhode Island and Massachusetts.
The General Court required all able-bodied men between ages 16 and 60, except judges and clergy members, be considered members of the colony's militia, which was organized as the North, South, and East Regiments. Militia members were required to equip themselves, take part in regular training, and report to their units when called. (The lineage of the North, South and East Regiments has been maintained in the 21st century by: 1st Squadron, 182nd Cavalry Regiment and 1st Battalion, 181st Infantry Regiment (North); 1st Battalion, 101st Field Artillery Regiment (South); and the 101st Engineer Battalion (East).)
Several Army National Guard units were deployed to Southeast Asia and served in Vietnam, including:
Alabama's 650th Medical Detachment Team KJ (Dental Services) California's 1st Squadron, 18th Armored Cavalry Regiment Hawaii's 29th Infantry Brigade Idaho's 116th Engineer Battalion (Combat) Illinois' 126th Supply and Service Company Iowa's 2nd Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment Indiana's Company D (Ranger), 151st Infantry Regiment Kansas' 69th Infantry Brigade Kentucky's 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Regiment New Hampshire's 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment Rhode Island's 107th Signal Company (Separate), 1st Signal Brigade Numerous Engineer, Postal, Medical and Support units
The role of the National Guard expanded following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001. As part of the Global War on Terrorism, National Guard units and individual National Guard members performed sustained active duty during Operations Noble Eagle, Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom, both as part of scheduled mobilizations and as individual volunteers. As of 2013, the Army National Guard represents 40% of the US Army's total combat capability.
In addition to deployments for the Global War on Terrorism, National Guard members continued in their roles of disaster relief and providing support to law enforcement when required. These responses included Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and with additional troops sent in 2006, Hurricane Irene in 2011, and Hurricane Sandy and Hurricane Isaac in 2012.
In January, 2013 House Bill 1339, designated Salem, Massachusetts as the official birthplace of the National Guard. The Army National Guard continued to carry out a variety of missions in 2014, both in the United States and overseas, including activities to combat an Ebola epidemic in Africa in late 2014. In 2015 the Army National Guard conducted a variety of activities, including the deployment of soldiers to the Guantanamo Bay detention camp for security operations, and soldiers serving in Afghanistan as part of Operation Resolute Support.
In April and May 2015 members of the Army National Guard were called to respond to demonstrations in Baltimore, Maryland which took place to protest the Death of Freddie Gray.
Members of the Army National Guard in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma responded in late May and early June to spring floods caused by higher than normal rainfall. Also in 2015, Army National Guard members responded to wildfires in several states, including North Dakota,] Minnesota, and Alaska.
Commands 46MPCmdSSI.jpg46th Military Police Command (MI ARNG) 135 Sus Cmd SSI.jpg135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (AL ARNG) 167 Sus Cmd SSI.png167th Sustainment Command (Theater) (AL ARNG) 184th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (MS ARNG) 263ADABdeSSI.gif263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command (SC ARNG)
Divisions In addition to many deployable units which are non-divisional, the Army National Guard's deployable units include eight Infantry divisions.[64] These divisions, their subordinate brigades or brigades with which the divisions have a training oversight relationship, and the states represented by the largest units include:
Army Aviation Magazine wrote on March 31, 2021 that "The ARNG is pressing forward with the Division Alignment for Training (DIV AFT) effort. The DIV AFT intent is to enhance leader development and training readiness through codified relationships across echelons and states to develop combat capable division formations for large scale combat operations. The Director, ARNG.. recently convened a DIV AFT Initial Planning Conference to clarify unit alignments for all eight ARNG Division Headquarters and synchronize activities that will facilitate unity of effort between Division Headquarters and aligned for training States."
28th Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg 28th Infantry Division (PA ARNG) 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (PA ARNG) 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team (PA ARNG) 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade (PA ARNG) 29th Infantry Division SSI.svg 29th Infantry Division (VA ARNG) 30th Infantry Division SSI.svg30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (NC ARNG) 53rd Infantry Brigade.png53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (FL ARNG) 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (VA ARNG) 29th Combat Aviation Brigade (MD ARNG) 34th 'Red Bull' Infantry Division SSI.svg 34th Infantry Division (MN ARNG) 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team (MN ARNG) 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IA ARNG) 32nd infantry division shoulder patch.svg32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (WI ARNG) 116th Cavalry Brigade CSIB.svg116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team (ID ARNG) 34th Combat Aviation Brigade (MN ARNG) 35th Infantry Division SSI.svg 35th Infantry Division (KS ARNG) 33rd Infantry Division SSI.svg33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IL ARNG) USArmy 39th Inf Brig Patch.svg39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (AR ARNG) 45thIBCTSSI.png45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (OK ARNG) 35th Combat Aviation Brigade (MO ARNG) 36th Infantry Division CSIB.svg 36th Infantry Division (TX ARNG) 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (TX ARNG) 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (TX ARNG) 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team CSIB.svg155th Armored Brigade Combat Team (MS ARNG) USA - 256 INF BDE.png256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (LA ARNG) 36th Combat Aviation Brigade (TX ARNG) 38th Infantry Division SSI.svg 38th Infantry Division (IN ARNG) 37th Infantry Division CSIB.svg37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (OH ARNG) 76th IBCT shoulder sleeve insignia.jpg76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IN ARNG) US278ACRSSI.PNG278th Armored Cavalry Regiment (TN ARNG) 38th Combat Aviation Brigade (IN ARNG) 40th Infantry Division CSIB.svg 40th Infantry Division (CA ARNG) 29th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (HI ARNG) 41st Infantry Division SSI.svg41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team (OR ARNG) 79 Infantry Brigade Combat Team insignia.svg79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (CA ARNG) 81st ABCT Unit Insignia.svg81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (WA ARNG) 40th Combat Aviation Brigade (CA ARNG) 42nd Infantry Division SSI.svg 42nd Infantry Division (NY ARNG) 27th Infantry Division SSI.svg27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (NY ARNG) US Army 44th Infantry Division SSI.png44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (NJ ARNG) 86th BCT (MTN).jpg86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (VT ARNG) 42nd Combat Aviation Brigade (NY ARNG)
Multifunctional Support Brigades The Army National Guard fields 37 multifunctional support brigades.
Field Artillery Brigades USA - 45 FAB.png45th Field Artillery Brigade (OK ARNG) 65 FIRES BDE-SSI Full Color.png65th Field Artillery Brigade (UT ARNG) 115FABdeSSI.png115th Field Artillery Brigade (WY ARNG) 130FABdeSSI.svg130th Field Artillery Brigade (KS ARNG) 138FABdeSSI.png138th Field Artillery Brigade (KY ARNG) 142FABdeSSI.gif142nd Field Artillery Brigade (AR ARNG) USA - 169 FAB.png169th Field Artillery Brigade (CO ARNG) 197th FA Brigade patch.png197th Field Artillery Brigade (NH ARNG)
Military Intelligence Brigades 58th Infantry Brigade SSI.svg58th Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (MD ARNG) 71st BfSB SSI.jpg71st Military Intelligence Brigade (Expeditionary) (TX ARNG) 300MIBdeSSI.gif300th Military Intelligence Brigade (Linguist) (UT ARNG) (TDA organization)
Functional Support Brigades and Groups Engineer Brigades 16th Engineer Brigade.png16th Engineer Brigade (OH ARNG) USA - 35 Eng Bde.svg35th Engineer Brigade (MO ARNG) 111EngrBdeSSI.jpg111th Engineer Brigade (WV ARNG) US Army 117 Engineer Brigade SSI.png117th Engineer Brigade (SC ARNG) 168EngineerBdeSSI.svg168th Engineer Brigade (MS ARNG) US Army 176th Engineer Brigade SSI.png176th Engineer Brigade (TX ARNG) 194EngrBdeSSI.svg194th Engineer Brigade (TN ARNG) 219th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade CSIB.svg219th Engineer Brigade (IN ARNG) 225EngineerBdeSSI.jpg225th Engineer Brigade (LA ARNG)
Air Defense Artillery Brigades 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.svg164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (FL ARNG) Insignia USA Army Brigade 174 ADA Bde SSI.svg174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (OH ARNG) US Army 678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade.png678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (SC ARNG)
Theater Tactical Signal Brigades 228SigBdeSSI.png228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade (SC ARNG) 261SigBdeSSI.svg261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade (DE ARNG) Military Police Brigades US Army 35th Military Police Brigade SSI.png35th Military Police Brigade (MO ARNG) 43MPBdeSSI.png43rd Military Police Brigade (RI ARNG) 49MpBdeSSI.svg49th Military Police Brigade (CA ARNG Combat service identification badge of the 92nd Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.svg92nd Military Police Brigade (PR ARNG US Army 142th Military Police Brigade SSI.png142nd Military Police Brigade (AL ARNG) 177MPBbeSSI.png177th Military Police Brigade (MI ARNG)
Other brigades 31st Chemical Brigade SSI.svg31st Chemical Brigade (AL ARNG) US Army 91st Cyber Bde SSI.png91st Cyber Brigade (VA ARNG)[67] (TDA organization) 100MissileDefBdeSSI.jpg100th Missile Defense Brigade (CO ARNG)
Other Groups United States Army Special Forces SSI (1958-2015).png19th Special Forces Group (UT ARNG) United States Army Special Forces SSI (1958-2015).png20th Special Forces Group (AL ARNG) 111th Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group (AL ARNG) 56th Theater Information Operations Group (WA ARNG) 71st Theater Information Operations Group (TX ARNG) 204th Theater Aviation Operations Group (LA ARNG) 1100th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (MD ARNG) 1106th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (CA ARNG) 1107th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (MO ARNG) 1108th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (MS ARNG) 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group (CT ARNG) 42nd RSG.jpg42nd Regional Support Group (NJ ARNG) 50th RSG.png50th Regional Support Group (FL ARNG) 109th Regional Support Group (SD ARNG) 115 RSG.png115th Regional Support Group (CA ARNG) 120th Regional Support Group (ME ARNG) 139th Regional Support Group (LA ARNG) 143rd Regional Support Group (CT ARNG) US Army 151st Regional Support Group SSI.png151st Regional Support Group (MA ARNG) 191st Regional Support Group (PR ARNG) 198th RSG.jpg198th Regional Support Group (AZ ARNG) US Army 201st Support Group SSI.png201st Regional Support Group (GA ARNG) 213th Regional Support Group (PA ARNG) 272 RSG.png272nd Regional Support Group (MI ARNG) 297th Regional Support Group (AK ARNG) 329th Regional Support Group (VA ARNG) 347thRSG.png347th Regional Support Group (MN ARNG) 635th Regional Support Group Patch.png635th Regional Support Group (KS ARNG) 734 RSG.png734th Regional Support Group (IA ARNG) 1889 RSG.png1889th Regional Support Group (MT ARNG) 121-48-DUI-left.png48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (GA ARNG), associated with United States Army 3rd Infantry Division SSI (1918-2015).svg3rd Infantry Division 81st patch.png81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team (WA ARNG), associated with 7th Infantry Division SSI (1973-2015).svg7th Infantry Division 86th BCT (MTN).jpg86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (VT ARNG), associated with Shoulder sleeve insignia of the 10th Mountain Division (1944-2015).svg10th Mountain Division 143 Inf Rgt DUI.png1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment (TX ARNG), associated with 173AirborneBCTSSI.jpg173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team 151 Inf Rgt DUI.png1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment (IN ARNG), associated with 25th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia.png2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division 840th Engineer Company (TX ARNG), associated with 36 Eng Bde SSI.jpg36th Engineer Brigade 249th Transportation Company (TX ARNG), associated with 1st Cavalry Division Patch.svg1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade 1176th Transportation Company (TN ARNG), associated with US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg101st Sustainment Brigade 1245th Transportation Company (OK ARNG), associated with 1st Cavalry Division Patch.svg1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade 2123rd Transportation Company (KY ARNG), associated with US 101st Airborne Division patch.svg101st Sustainment Brigade
Army units partnering with Army National Guard headquarters include: 5th Engineer Battalion Coat of Arms.png5th Engineer Battalion, associated with USA - 35 Eng Bde.svg35th Engineer Brigade (MO ARNG). Yankee Division.svg26th Infantry Division, inactivated 1 September 1993. 27th Infantry Division SSI.svg27th Infantry Division, reorganized as 27th Armored Division, 1 February 1955. (See below.) 27th Armored Division Empire.jpg27th Armored Division, inactivated 1 February 1968. 30th US Armored Division SSI.png30th Armored Division, inactivated 1 December 1973. (See below.) 30th Infantry Division SSI.svg30th Infantry Division, inactivated 4 January 1974. 31st ID SSI.svg31st Infantry Division, inactivated 14 January 1968. Units allocated to 30th Armored Division. 32nd infantry division shoulder patch.svg32nd Infantry Division, inactivated 1 December 1967. 33rd Infantry Division SSI.svg33rd Infantry Division, inactivated 1 February 1968. US 37th Infantry Division Patch.png37th Infantry Division, inactivated 15 February 1968. US 39th Infantry Division.svg39th Infantry Division, inactivated 1 December 1967. 40th US Armored Division SSI.png40th Armored Division, inactivated 29 January 1968. 41st Infantry Division SSI.svg41st Infantry Division, inactivated 1 January 1968. 43rd Infantry Division CSIB.svg43rd Infantry Division, inactivated 16 December 1967. US Army 44th Infantry Division SSI.png44th Infantry Division, inactivated 10 October 1954. 45thIBCTSSI.png45th Infantry Division, inactivated 1 February 1968. 46th Infantry Division CSIB.svg46th Infantry Division, inactivated 1 February 1968. 47th Division Shoulder Patch.svg47th Infantry Division, inactivated 10 February 1991. 48th US Armored Divison SSI.png48th Armored Division, inactivated 29 January 1968. 49th US Armored Division SSI.svg49th Armored Division, inactivated 1 May 2004; reflagged as the 36th Infantry Division. 50th US Armored Division SSI.svg50th Armored Division, inactivated 1 September 1993.
