Arkansas Army National Guard
Encyclopedia
The Arkansas Army National Guard is a component of the Arkansas National Guard
Arkansas National Guard
The Arkansas National Guard comprises both Army and Air components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status...

 and the United States National Guard
United States National Guard
The National Guard of the United States is a reserve military force composed of state National Guard militia members or units under federally recognized active or inactive armed force service for the United States. Militia members are citizen soldiers, meaning they work part time for the National...

. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.

Arkansas Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ran
United States Army enlisted rank insignia
The chart below represents the current enlisted rank insignia of the United States Army.This chart represents the U.S. Army enlisted rank insignia with seniority increasing left-to-right inside a given pay grade...

 ks
United States Army officer rank insignia
United States Army officer rank insignia in use today.-History:The structure of U.S. ranks has its roots in British military traditions. At the start of the American Revolutionary War, uniforms, let alone insignia, were barely affordable and recognition of ranks in the field was problematic...

 and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards
Awards and decorations of the United States military
Awards and decorations of the United States Military are military decorations which recognize service and personal accomplishments while a member of the United States armed forces...

. The Arkansas National Guard also bestows a number of state awards
Awards and decorations of the National Guard
Awards and decorations of the National Guard are presented to members of the United States National Guard and sometimes to members of the State Defense Forces in addition to regular United States military decorations...

 for local services rendered in or to the state of Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...

.

The Arkansas Army National Guard is composed of approximately 8,000 soldiers, and maintains 77 armories in 77 communities. The Arkansas Army National Guard also operates two major training facilities, Chaffee Maneuver Training Center (formerly Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee
Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center is in the northwest Arkansas region adjacent to the city of Fort Smith, located one mile southeast of Fort Smith Regional Airport. The Arkansas River flows eastward along the northern border of the post. Interstate 40 is five miles to the north on the...

), located near Fort Smith
Fort Smith
Fort Smith is the name of several locations:* Fort Smith, Northwest Territories, Canada* Fort Smith, Arkansas, United States* Fort Smith National Historic Site, in Fort Smith, Arkansas...

, Arkansas and Robinson Maneuver Training Center (formerly Camp Joseph T. Robinson) located in North Little Rock, Arkansas.

Current units

  • Arkansas Joint Force Headquarters (AR-JFHQ)

  • 39th Brigade Combat Team (BCT) – formerly 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate)
    • 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment : Malvern, Arkansas
      Malvern, Arkansas
      Malvern is the county seat of Hot Spring County, Arkansas. The city had a population of 10,318 at the time of the 2010 census and is also called the "Brick Capital of the World" because of the three Acme Brick plants in the area...

    • 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment: Searcy, Arkansas
      Searcy, Arkansas
      Searcy is the largest city and county seat of White County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2006 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 20,663. It is the principal city of the Searcy, AR Micropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of White County...

    • 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment : Warren, Arkansas
      Warren, Arkansas
      Warren is a city in and the county seat of Bradley County, Arkansas, United States. The United States Census Bureau estimated population in 2006 was 6,219....

    • 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment: Russellville, Arkansas
      Russellville, Arkansas
      Russellville is the county seat and largest city in Pope County, Arkansas, United States, with a population of 27,920, according to the 2010 Census. It is home to Arkansas Tech University and Arkansas Nuclear One, Arkansas' only nuclear power plant...

    • 39th Brigade Support Battalion: Hazen, Arkansas
      Hazen, Arkansas
      Hazen is a city in Prairie County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 1,637 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Hazen is located at ....

    • 39th Brigade Special Troops Battalion: Conway, Arkansas
      Conway, Arkansas
      Conway is the county seat of Faulkner County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 58,908 at the 2010 census, making Conway the seventh most populous city in Arkansas. It is a principal city of the Little Rock–North Little Rock–Conway Metropolitan Statistical Area which had...


  • 142nd Fires Brigade – formerly the 142nd Field Artillery
    Brigade
    • Headquarters & Headquarters Battery, 142nd Fires Brigade: Fayettville, Arkansas
    • 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment: Harrison, Arkansas
      Harrison, Arkansas
      Harrison is a city in Boone County, Arkansas, United States. It is the county seat. According to 2007 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 13,108. Boone County was organized in 1869, during reconstruction after the civil war. Harrison was platted and made the county seat. It is...

    • 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment: Fort Smith, Arkansas
      Fort Smith, Arkansas
      Fort Smith is the second-largest city in Arkansas and one of the two county seats of Sebastian County. With a population of 86,209 in 2010, it is the principal city of the Fort Smith, Arkansas-Oklahoma Metropolitan Statistical Area, a region of 298,592 residents which encompasses the Arkansas...

    • 217th Brigade Support Battalion : Booneville, Arkansas
      Booneville, Arkansas
      Booneville is a city in Logan County, Arkansas, United States, and the county seat of its southern district. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 4,082....

    • F Battery, 142nd Field Artillery Regiment : Fayettville
    • 142nd Signal Company Fayettville

  • 77th Theater Aviation Brigade: Camp Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
    North Little Rock, Arkansas
    the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...

     
    • 777th Aviation Support Battalion: Camp Robinson: North Little Rock, Arkansas
      North Little Rock, Arkansas
      the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...

    • 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation Regiment: Camp Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
      North Little Rock, Arkansas
      the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...


  • 87th Troop Command : Camp Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
    North Little Rock, Arkansas
    the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...

    • 871st Troop Command : North Little Rock, Arkansas
      North Little Rock, Arkansas
      the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...

    • 875th Engineer Battalion : Jonesboro, Arkansas
      Jonesboro, Arkansas
      Jonesboro is a city in and one of the two county seats of Craighead County, Arkansas, United States. According to the 2010 US Census, the population of the city was 67,263. A college town, Jonesboro is the largest city in northeastern Arkansas and the fifth most populous city in the state...

    • 25th Rear Area Operations Center : North Little Rock, Arkansas
      North Little Rock, Arkansas
      the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...


  • 233rd Regiment (RTI) : Camp Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
    North Little Rock, Arkansas
    the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...


  • 61st WMD CST: Camp Robinson North Little Rock, Arkansas
    North Little Rock, Arkansas
    the city was 62.55% White, 33.98% Black or African American, 0.41% Native American, 0.59% Asian, 0.03% Pacific Islander, 1.18% from other races, and 1.26% from two or more races...


Dual missions, state and federal

National Guard units can be mobilized at any time by presidential order
President of the United States
The President of the United States of America is the head of state and head of government of the United States. The president leads the executive branch of the federal government and is the commander-in-chief of the United States Armed Forces....

 to supplement regular armed forces, and upon declaration of a state of emergency
State of emergency
A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend some normal functions of the executive, legislative and judicial powers, alert citizens to change their normal behaviours, or order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. It can also be used as a rationale...

 by the governor of the state in which they serve. Unlike Army Reserve
United States Army Reserve
The United States Army Reserve is the federal reserve force of the United States Army. Together, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard constitute the reserve components of the United States Army....

 members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary DutY Assignments TDY), but only as part of their respective units.

Federal mission

For much of the final decades of the 20th century, National Guard personnel typically served "One weekend a month, two weeks a year
One weekend a month, two weeks a year
"One weekend a month, two weeks a year" is a former recruiting slogan used by the U.S. Army National Guard. It indicated the amount of time an individual would need to spend actively in the Guard to be a Guardsman with benefits...

", with a portion working for the Guard in a full-time capacity. The current forces formation plans of the US Army call for the typical National Guard unit (or National Guardsman) to serve one year of active duty for every six years of service. More specifically, current Department of Defense
United States Department of Defense
The United States Department of Defense is the U.S...

 policy is that individual Guardsman will be given 24 months between deployments of no more than 12 months each.

State mission

When not activated for its Federal mission, the governor through the State Adjutant General commands Guard forces. The governor can call the Guard into action during local or statewide emergencies, such as storms, drought, and civil disturbances, to name a few.

History

The Arkansas National Guard traces its roots to the creation of the Territorial Militia in 1804. Interest in the Militia in Arkansas generally waxed and waned throughout the 19th century as various national emergencies arose and passed. Organizations existed at the county and city level, but regimental designations above the company level did not become stable until the closing years of the 19th century. During much of this time local militia companies were supported by private funds. Arkansas provided troops for the War with Mexico, the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

, and the Spanish-American War
Spanish-American War
The Spanish–American War was a conflict in 1898 between Spain and the United States, effectively the result of American intervention in the ongoing Cuban War of Independence...

 during the 19th century. In each case, in answer to the governor's call, local militia companies would turn out and be formed into regiments or battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...

s for induction into federal service. The militia was also heavily engaged in the violence that characterized the Reconstruction period following the Civil War.
Following the Spanish American War, the Federal Government slowly began to provide increasing funding and direction to the state militias with the organization formally changing its name from the Arkansas State Guard to the Arkansas National Guard following the passage of the National Defense act of 1903. Arkansas National Guard troops participated in the Mexican Expedition in 1916–1917 and returned home briefly before being mobilized again for World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...

. When the Arkansas National Guard units were mustered into Federal Service for World War I, their state designations were removed and they were renumbered in accordance with a national System. These new Regimental numbers are still represented today in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 153rd Infantry Regiment, formerly the 1st Arkansas Infantry, and the 142nd Field Artillery Regiment, formerly the 2nd Arkansas Infantry.
The Arkansas National Guard experience a massive expansion between World War I and World War II, with the first permanent armories being built and troops now directed to drill four times per month and to participate in a two week encampment in the summers. Arkansas provided many units for World War II. The 142nd Field Artillery, now redesignated as the 936 and 937th Field Artillery Battalions participated in the European Campaigns, while the 206th Coast Artillery and the 153rd Infantry served in the Aleutian Islands.

In 1947, as a result of the creation of the United States Air Force as a separate branch from the United States Army, the Arkansas National Guard was split into the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard
Arkansas Air National Guard
The Arkansas Air National Guard is the air force militia of the US state of Arkansas. It is, along with the Arkansas Army National Guard, an element of the Arkansas National Guard.-Units:* 188th Fighter Wing: The 188th Fighter Wing is located in Ft...

. Both organizations work for the Adjutant General of Arkansas. The Adjutant General may be either a member of the Air National Guard or the Army National Guard.
The 936th and 937th Field Artillery Battalions, along with several other Arkansas Army and Air National Guard units were mobilized again for service in the Korean War
Korean War
The Korean War was a conventional war between South Korea, supported by the United Nations, and North Korea, supported by the People's Republic of China , with military material aid from the Soviet Union...

. Throughout the Cold War
Cold War
The Cold War was the continuing state from roughly 1946 to 1991 of political conflict, military tension, proxy wars, and economic competition between the Communist World—primarily the Soviet Union and its satellite states and allies—and the powers of the Western world, primarily the United States...

 Arkansas National Guard units under went multiple re-organizations in response to the nation's Cold War strategy. No Arkansas National Guard Troops participated in the Vietnam War, but the state was called upon again to support Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm.

The years following the first Persian Gulf War saw a dramatic increase in the use of National Guard units for service overseas to support various peace-keeping operations. During the 1980s Arkansas Nation Guard units made multiple training rotations to Honduras during a period of increased Marxist activity. In the 1990s, Arkansas National Guard troops began participating in peace-keeping operations in Bosnia and assisted in the enforcement of a no-fly zone in Iraq by participating in Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch
Operation Southern Watch was an operation conducted by Joint Task Force Southwest Asia with the mission of monitoring and controlling airspace south of the 32nd Parallel in Iraq, following the 1991 Gulf War until the 2003 invasion of Iraq.-Summary:Operation Southern Watch began on 27 August 1992...

.
Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the National Guard transitioned from the nation's strategic reserve to a part of the operational force. In the immediate crisis following the attacks, National Guard troops were deployed to provide security at airports, nuclear plants, and other critical infrastructure in the state and around the nation, as part of Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle
Operation Noble Eagle is the name given to military operations related to homelandsecurity and support to federal, state, and local agencies...

. Arkansas troops participated in operations to support peace-keeping operations in the Sinai and Kosovo to free up regular Army troops for combat, but the state has also contributed multiple troops for the Global War on Terrorism. Every major unit in the Arkansas National Guard has now deployed at least once in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and the state's 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team became the first National Guard brigade to deploy to Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....

 for a second time when it deployed in 2008.

Throughout its service to the nation during times of war, the Arkansas National Guard has continued to perform its role of providing service to the citizens of the state during times of disaster. The Guard has responded to numerous tornadoes, floods and fires, in addition to being called upon to provide security and quell violence in times of civil disturbance. The Guard has also provided support to neighboring states, most notably Louisiana during Hurricanes Katrina
Hurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...

, Rita and Ike.

War with Mexico

  • Colonel Archibald Yell

  • Corporal Darian Steward

  • Corporal Pleasant Williams

  • Corporal Richard Saunders

  • Corporal Wilson Tomberlin

  • Captain Andrew Porter

  • Private Andrew Teague

  • Private Clairborne Taylor

  • Private David Hogan

  • Private Franklin Brown

  • Private George Martin

  • Private Green Higgins

  • Private Harman Winn

  • Private Harrison Penter

  • Private Jacob Ray

  • Private John Milliner

  • Private John Pelham, Jr.

  • Private Thomas Rowland

  • Private William Phipps

  • Private William Robinson

206th Coast Artillery Regiment

  • Private Claude H. Biggs, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

  • Private Allen C. Collier, Jr., HQ Battery, 2nd Battalion, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, Killed in Action, 3 June 1942

  • Private James E. Harrington, Battery E, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

  • Private Hugh Bryan Timberlake, Battery B, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

  • Private James R. Wiles, Battery C, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 3 June 1942

  • Private Charles W. Hill, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942

  • Private Ambrose D. Regalia, Battery F, Killed in Action, Dutch Harbor, Alaska, 4 June 1942

Killed in action listed on the Battery C, 206th CA monument in Jonesboro, Arkansas

This monument includes the names of several former 206th Coast Artillery members who were Killed in Action with other units after the breakup of the 206th Coast Artillery Regiment in 1944.
  • Kenneth Burkhart
  • Clifford Cloud
  • Joseph J. Eble
  • John H. Franklin
  • Charles Hutton
  • Cletis Jeffers
  • Fred Johnson
  • James Lemmer
  • Owen "H" Lynch
  • Carl Neal
  • Ray Shreeve
  • Frank Sweeney
  • Roy Wiles (probably the same as Pvt. James R. Wiles listed as KIA from Dutch Harbor)

Korea

  • Corporal Donald Osbourn

  • Captain Paul Blew

  • Private First Class Fred Rose, Jr.

  • Private First Class Jarrell Graham

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004

  • Sergeant First Class
    Sergeant First Class
    Sergeant First Class is the seventh enlisted rank in the U.S. Army, above Staff Sergeant and below Master Sergeant and First Sergeant, and is the first senior non-commissioned officer rank...

     William W. Labadie Jr.
    of Bauxite, Age 45. Killed in Action, 7 April 2004

  • Captain Arthur L. Felder of Lewisville, Age 36. Killed in Action, 24 April 2004

  • Chief Warrant Officer
    Chief Warrant Officer
    Chief warrant officer is a military rank used by the Canadian Forces and the Israel Defence Forces.-Canada:In the Canadian Forces, a chief warrant officer or CWO is the most senior non-commissioned member rank in the Canadian Army and the Royal Canadian Air Force...

     Patrick W. Kordsmeier
    of North Little Rock, Age 49. Killed in Action, 24 April 2004

  • Staff Sergeant
    Staff Sergeant
    Staff sergeant is a rank of non-commissioned officer used in several countries.The origin of the name is that they were part of the staff of a British army regiment and paid at that level rather than as a member of a battalion or company.-Australia:...

     Billy J. Orton
    of Carlisle, Age 41. Killed in Action, 24 April 2004

  • Staff Sergeant Stacey C. Brandon of Hazen, Age 35. Killed in Action, 24 April 2004

  • Specialist
    Specialist (rank)
    Specialist is one of the four junior enlisted ranks in the U.S. Army, just above Private First Class and equivalent in pay grade to Corporal. Unlike Corporals, Specialists are not considered junior non-commissioned officers...

     Kenneth Melton
    of Batesville, Age 30. Killed in Action, 25 April 2004

  • Staff Sergeant Hesley Box of Nashville, Age 24. Killed in Action, 6 May 2004

  • Sergeant First Class Troy Leon Miranda of Wickes, Age 44. Killed in Action, 20 May 2004

  • Sergeant Russell L. Collier of Harrison, Age 48. Killed in Action, 3 October 2004

  • Sergeant Ronald Wayne Baker of Cabot, Age 34. Killed in Action, 13 October 2004

  • Sergeant Michael A. Smith of Camden, Age 24. Died of Wounds, 26 November 2004

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2005

  • Specialist Jimmy D. Buie of Floral, Age 44. Killed in Action, 4 January 2005

  • Specialist Joshua S. Marcum of Evening Shade, Age 33. Killed in Action, 4 January 2005

  • Specialist Jeremy W. McHalffey of Mabelvale, Age 28. Killed in Action, 4 January 2005

  • Staff Sergeant William T. Robbins of, Beebe, AR, HHC, 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Died at Camp Taji, Iraq, on 10 February 2005, of non-combat related injuries.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2006

  • Specialist Derek James Plowman of Everton, AR, Battery C, 1st Battalion, 142nd Fires Brigade.

Died of non-combat related injuries on 20 July 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2007

  • Sergeant First Class John G. Brown, 43, of Little Rock, Ark., 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Ark.

  • Major Michael V. Taylor, 40, of North Little Rock, Ark., 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Ark.

  • First Sergeant William T. Warren, 48, of North Little Rock, Ark., 1st Battalion, 185th Aviation Regiment (Air Assault), 77th Aviation Brigade, Camp Robinson, Ark.

  • Sergeant John R. Massey, 29, of Searcy, Ark., C Battery, 142 Fires Brigade, Ozark Ark.

Operation Iraqi Freedom 2008

  • Sergeant First Class Anthony Lynn Woodham, Age 37, of Rogers, Ark., Heber Springs, Ark., died 5 July, at Camp Adder, Tallil, Iraq, from non-combat related injuries.

  • Specialist James M. Clay, Age 25, of Mountain Home, Ark.; Little Rock, Ark.; died 13 November 2008 in Anbar province, Iraq, of injuries sustained in a vehicle accident.

See also

  • Coats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry Regiments
    Coats of arms of U.S. Armor and Cavalry Regiments
    This page has been split as follows:* Coats of arms of U.S. Armor Regiments* Coats of arms of U.S. Cavalry Regiments-See also:* commons:Field Army insignia of the United States Army* Corps insignia of the United States Army...

  • Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery Regiments
    Coats of arms of U.S. Artillery Regiments
    Coats of arms of US Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with field artillery, air defense artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...

  • Coats of arms of U.S. Infantry Regiments
    Coats of arms of U.S. Infantry Regiments
    Coats of arms of US Infantry Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with infantry regiments in the US Army. By Army regulation, all regiments of the US Army organized under a Table of Organization and Equipment are authorized a coat of arms to be displayed on the organization's standard, called...

  • Coats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery Regiments
    Coats of arms of U.S. Air Defense Artillery Regiments
    Coats of arms of US Air Defense Artillery Regiments are heraldic emblems associated with Field artillery, Air Defense Artillery, and coast artillery regiments in the US Army...


External links

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