User:Aleutian06/Arkansas National Guard History

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. While some organization occurred at the county and city level, no effect organization was maintained above the company level 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 Civil War, and the Spanish-American War 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 battalions 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. 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 time per month and to participate in a two week encampment in the summers. Arkansas provide 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 Airforce as a separte brance from the United States Army, the Arkansas National Guard was split into the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard. 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. Throughout the Cold War Arkansas National Guard units under went multiple re-organizations in response to the nations 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.

Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 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. 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 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, Rita and Ike.

The history of the Arkansas National Guard is divided into the following time periods


 * Arkansas Territorial Militia 1804-1836
 * Arkansas State Militia, 1836-1878
 * Arkansas State Guard, 1876-1903
 * Arkansas National Guard, 1903-1947
 * Arkansas Army National Guard
 * Arkansas Air National Guard

The Arkansas National Guard traces its roots back to the formation of a small territorial militia in 1804. Two hundred and six years latter, the Arkansas Guard continues its duel mission of service to the state and the nation, including historic deployments to Afghanistan, Iraq, Kosovo and other areas of the globe. Since Sept. 11, 2001, more than 12,000 of Arkansas’ Citizen Soldiers and Airmen have been mobilized to more than 50 locations, affecting every Army and Air Guard unit in the state. One Air Guard unit, the 123rd Intelligence Squadron, has been partially mobilized since August 2007 in support of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom -- without ever leaving their building at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville, Ark. The Arkansas Guard has also responded to 39 state active duty missions, assisted civil authorities with multiple counter-drug operations and deployed troops in support of the people of Haiti. All of this is part of a long legacy of service. On Oct. 1 of 1804 a law was enaacted in Indiana territory’s newly created District of Louisiana -- of which Arkansas was a part -- requiring that “all male inhabitants in the district be liable to perform militia duties...” When Arkansas became the 25th state in 1836 the militia was strong and well organized. After the Civil War, the militia was reorganized into he Arkansas State Guard, and in 1909 it was transformed into the Arkansas National Guard, gaining federal recognition and support.

The Air Guard was established in 1925 with the formation of the 154th Observation Squadron at Little Rock’s Adams Field. The Arkansas Guard has seen action in both World Wars, Korea, Desert Storm, and Operations Iraqi Freedom, Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle. During World War II, members of the Arkansas National Guard crossed the beaches of Normandy, stormed Mount Cassino, helped destroy the Polesti oil fields, defended Dutch Harbor, Alaska, participated in the Rhineland campaigns, and helped liberate Rome. The Arkansas National Guard has fought in the Mexican-American War, Civil War, Spanish-American War and infamous Brooks-Baxter War of 1874. The Arkansas Air National Guard entered the jet age with the introduction of the F-84 during the Korean War, and since then has flown a litany of historic aircraft. Today the 189th Airlift Wing flies the storied C-130 Hercules transport, and the 188th Fighter Wing flies the awesome A-10 Thunderbolt II “Wart- hog.” During Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, 13 Arkansas Army National Guard units were called into federal service, and members of 10 Air units were called up. More than 3,400 Arkansans were tapped for service. In 2003, the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team rumbled into Iraq as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom II, and was the first National Guard IBCT to go back when they deployed again in 2007. In 2006, the 87th Troop Command’s 875th Engineer Battalion deployed to Iraq, where they were able to clear over 1,200 IEDs. They did such a good job that the battalion’s1037th Route Clearance Company was called up again in 2009-2010 to clear IEDs in Afghanistan. The Arkansas National Guard also deployed its first 60- person joint Agriculture Development Team to Afghanistan in 2010, and is currently training the second ADT for deployment in early 2011.