Army National Guard

Activation

The ARNG operates under Title 10 of the United States Code when under federal control, and Title 32 of the United States Code and applicable state laws when under state control. It may be called up for active duty by the state or territorial governors to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters, such as those caused by hurricanes, floods, and earthquakes, as well as civil disorder. The District of Columbia Army National Guard is a federal militia, controlled by the president of the United States with authority delegated to the secretary of defense, and through him to the secretary of the Army.

Members or units of the National Guard may be ordered, temporarily or indefinitely, into the Regular U.S. Army. If mobilized for federal service, the member or unit becomes part of the U.S. ARNG, which is a reserve component of the U.S. Army. Individuals volunteering for active federal service may do so subject to the consent of their governors. Largely on the basis of a 1990 U.S. Supreme Court decision, governors generally cannot veto involuntary activations of individuals or units for federal service, either for training or national emergency.

The president may also call up members and units of the ARNG, in its status as the militia of the several states, to repel invasion, suppress rebellion, or enforce federal laws. The Army National Guard is one of two organizations administered by the National Guard Bureau, the other being the Air National Guard. The director of the ARNG is the head of the organization, and reports to the chief of the National Guard Bureau. Because the ARNG is both the militia of the several states and a federal reserve component of the Army, neither the chief of the National Guard Bureau nor the director of the ARNG "commands" it. This operational command authority is performed in each state or territory by the state adjutant general, and in the District of Columbia by the commanding general of the D.C. National Guard when a unit is in its militia status. While under federal activation, the operational command authority is transferred to the commanders of the unified combatant commands, who command all U.S. forces within their area of responsibility. The chief of the National Guard Bureau and the director of the ARNG serve as the channel of communications between the Department of the Army and the ARNG in each state and territory, and administer federal programs, policies, and resources for the National Guard.

The ARNG's portion of the president's proposed federal budget for the 2018 fiscal year is approximately $16.2 billion to support an end strength of 343,000, including appropriations for personnel pay and allowance, facilities maintenance, construction, equipment maintenance and other activities.

History

The Army National Guard is constantly reorganizing. After the end of World War II, a large new land force for the National Guard was planned, to become the Army National Guard for the first time, as the new Air National Guard was just being established.

From November 1945, the Army Staff prepared a provisional postwar National Guard force list, including 24 divisions. It reached that total by counting the prewar 18 National Guard infantry and four National Guard cavalry divisions, the Americal Division (which had been largely composed of Guard units), and the 42nd Infantry Division. Most soldiers considered the 42nd Division, initially organized with state troops in 1917, as a Guard unit. The fact that the new plan allowed each of the forty-eight states to have at least one general officer also helped earn its acceptance. In the end it was necessary to approve a 27-division structure with 25 infantry divisions and 2 armored divisions to accommodate the desires of all the states. During this process New York, for example, successfully petitioned the War Department for the 42d Infantry Division. When the allotment was completed, the Guard contained the 26th through 48th and the 51st and 52d Infantry Divisions and the 49th and 50th Armored Divisions. The number 39 was used for the first time since 1923. Although a 44th Infantry Division had existed during the interwar years, the postwar 44th in Illinois was a new unit, as were the 46th, 47th, 48th, 51st, and 52d Infantry Divisions and 49th Armored Division. The 50th Armored Division replaced the 44th Infantry Division in New Jersey.

To prepare for challenges in Western Europe, the new troop basis of 1952 authorized the conversion of four National Guard infantry divisions to armored divisions. New York, California, Georgia, and Florida agreed to convert the 27th, 40th, and 48th Infantry Divisions. Later, Tennessee split off the 30th Armored Division from the existing 30th Infantry Division it had previously shared with North Carolina.

The 44th Division was disbanded in late 1954.

The 34th and 51st Divisions were disbanded in 1963. They both became Command Headquarters, Divisional, retaining a National Guard general officer position, to supervise training of combat and support units in the former division area. The 34th Division became a Command Headquarters (Divisional) on 1 MArch 1963. The 35th and 43rd Infantry Divisions also disappeared at the same time.

Units and formations

Deployable Army units are organized as Table of organization and equipment (TOE) organizations or modified table of organization and equipment (MTOE) organizations. Non-deployable units, such as a state's joint force headquarters or regional training institutes are administered as Table of distribution and allowance (TDA) units.

Commands

46th Military Police Command (MI ARNG)

135th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (AL ARNG)

167th Sustainment Command (Theater) (AL ARNG)

184th Sustainment Command (Expeditionary) (MS ARNG)

263rd 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. 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 31 March 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 (PA ARNG)

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (PA ARNG)

56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team (PA ARNG)

256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (LA ARNG)

28th Combat Aviation Brigade (PA ARNG)

28th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade (OH ARNG)

29th Infantry Division (VA ARNG)

48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (GA NG)

53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (FL ARNG)

116th Mobile Brigade Combat Team (VA ARNG)

29th Combat Aviation Brigade (MD ARNG)

29th Infantry Division Sustainment Brigade (NC ARNG)

Multifunctional Support Brigades

The Army National Guard fields 37 multifunctional support brigades.

26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MA ARNG)

55th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (PA ARNG)

67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (NE ARNG)

110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MO ARNG)

130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (NC ARNG)

136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (TX ARNG)

141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (ND ARNG)

149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (KY ARNG)

157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (WI ARNG)

158th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (AZ ARNG)

196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (SD ARNG)

204th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (UT ARNG)

218th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (SC ARNG)

226th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (AL ARNG)

404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (IL ARNG)

648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (GA ARNG)

45th Field Artillery Brigade (OK ARNG)

65th Field Artillery Brigade (UT ARNG)

Functional Support Brigades and Groups

16th Engineer Brigade (OH ARNG)

35th Engineer Brigade (MO ARNG)

111th Engineer Brigade (WV ARNG)

117th Engineer Brigade (SC ARNG)

168th Engineer Brigade (MS ARNG)

176th Engineer Brigade (TX ARNG)

194th Engineer Brigade (TN ARNG)

219th Engineer Brigade (IN ARNG)

225th Engineer Brigade (LA ARNG)

164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (FL ARNG)

174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (OH ARNG)

678th Air Defense Artillery Brigade (SC ARNG)

228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade (SC ARNG)

261st Theater Tactical Signal Brigade (DE ARNG)

35th Military Police Brigade (MO ARNG)

43rd Military Police Brigade (RI ARNG)

49th Military Police Brigade (CA ARNG)

92nd Military Police Brigade (PR ARNG)

142nd Military Police Brigade (AL ARNG)

177th Military Police Brigade (MI ARNG)

Regular Army – Army National Guard Partnership

In 2016, the Army and the Army National Guard began a training and readiness initiative that aligned some Army brigades with National Guard division headquarters, and some National Guard brigades with Army division headquarters. Among others, this program included the National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team becoming affiliated with the Army's 10th Mountain Division and the National Guard's 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment affiliating with the Army's 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team. In addition, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division began an affiliation with the National Guard's 36th Infantry Division.

48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (GA ARNG), associated with 3rd Infantry Division

1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment (TX ARNG), associated with 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team

1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment (IN ARNG), associated with 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division

840th Engineer Company (TX ARNG), associated with 36th Engineer Brigade

249th Transportation Company (TX ARNG), associated with 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade

1176th Transportation Company (TN ARNG), associated with 101st Sustainment Brigade

1245th Transportation Company (OK ARNG), associated with 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade

2123rd Transportation Company (KY ARNG), associated with 101st Sustainment Brigade

Army units partnering with Army National Guard headquarters include:

By state

The Army and Air National Guard in each state are headed by the state adjutant general. The adjutant general (TAG) is the de facto commander of a state's military forces, and reports to the state governor.

Leadership

Upon the creation of the United States Air Force in 1947, the National Guard Bureau was organized into two divisions; Army National Guard and Air National Guard. Each were headed by a major general who reported to the chief of the National Guard Bureau. The head of the Army National Guard was originally established as the chief of the Army Division at the National Guard Bureau. The position was downgraded to brigadier general in 1962 due to force reduction. It was renamed to Director of the Army National Guard and elevated back to major general in 1970. The position was later elevated to the rank of lieutenant general in 2001. The Army National Guard is also authorized a deputy director which was originally established as a brigadier general office in 1970. It was elevated to the rank of major general in 2006.

The director of the Army National Guard oversees a staff which aids in planning and day-to-day organization and management. In addition to a chief of staff, the director's staff includes several special staff members, including a chaplain and protocol and awards specialists. It also includes a primary staff, which is organized as directorates, divisions, and branches. The directorates of the Army National Guard staff are arranged along the lines of a typical American military staff: G-1 for personnel; G-2 for intelligence; G-3 for plans, operations and training; G-4 for logistics; G-5 for strategic plans, policy and communications; G-6 for communications; and G-8 for budgets and financial management.

Prominent members

U.S. presidents

Of the 45 individuals to serve as president of the United States as of 2025, 33 had military experience. Of those 33, 21 served in the militia or ARNG.

George Washington, commissioned a major in the Virginia Militia in 1753. He attained the rank of colonel before resigning his commission at the end of the French and Indian War.

Thomas Jefferson, colonel and commander of the Albemarle County Militia at the start of the American Revolution

James Madison, colonel in the Orange County Militia at the start of the American Revolution and aide to his father, James Madison, Sr., who was the commander.

James Monroe, served in the militia while attending the College of William and Mary. After being wounded at the Battle of Trenton while serving in the Continental Army, he returned to Virginia to recruit and lead a regiment as a militia lieutenant colonel, but the regiment was never raised. In 1780 the British invaded Richmond, Virginia, and Jefferson commissioned Monroe as a colonel to command the militia raised in response and act as liaison to the Continental Army in North Carolina.

Andrew Jackson, commander of the Tennessee Militia as a major general prior to the War of 1812.

William Henry Harrison, commander of Indiana Territory's militia and Major General of the Kentucky Militia at the start of the War of 1812.

John Tyler, commanded a company called the Charles City Rifles, part of Virginia's 52nd Regiment, in the War of 1812.

James Polk, joined the Tennessee Militia as a captain in a cavalry regiment in 1821. He was subsequently appointed a colonel on the staff of Governor William Carroll.

Millard Fillmore, served as inspector of New York's 47th Brigade with the rank of major. Commanded the Union Continentals, a militia unit raised to perform local service in Buffalo, New York, during the American Civil War.