This article is part of a series on the |
Arkansas National Guard |
---|
Arkansas National Guard |
Arkansas Army National Guard |
Arkansas Territorial Militia, (1804–1836) |
Arkansas Militia, 1836–1879 |
Arkansas State Guard, 1879–1907 |
Arkansas State Guard and the Spanish–American War |
Arkansas National Guard 1907–1949 |
Arkansas Air National Guard (1946–Present) |
Arkansas Army National Guard (1949–Present) |
See also |
The history of the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Global War on Terrorism begins with the expanded use of the National Guard for overseas duties as the United States reduced the size of the active army in an attempt to realize a "Peace Dividend" at the close of the "Cold War". Beginning in the 1990s Arkansas National Guard unit's experience increased Operations Temp and overseas training opportunities. In the late 1990s Arkansas National Guard units began deploying as part of peace keeping operations in the Balkans and in support of ongoing operations in Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. Following the terrorist attacks of 11 September 2001, the National Guard became deeply involved in the Global War on Terrorism, with units deploying to guard infrastructure such as Arkansas Nuclear One and airports as part of Operation Noble Eagle. The Guard initially replaced regular army units on missions such as Middle East peace keeping in order to free these units for combat operations. With the 2003 Invasion of Iraq, the Arkansas National Guard began deploying for combat operations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
39th Brigade units conducted numerous overseas training rotations throughout the 1980s and early 1990s. [1]
The Arkansas National Guard was directed to reorganize, consolidate and restation units effective 30 September 1996 as follows: [2]
New Unit | Former Unit | Station |
---|---|---|
Det 1, HQ and HQ Company, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | Battery A, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th Artillery | Wynne |
Det 1, Company A, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | Battery C, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th Artillery | Harrisburg |
Company C (Minus Det 1), 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | Battery B, 5th Battalion, (105mm)(Towed) 206th Artillery | Forrest City |
Det 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | Brinkley |
HQ and HQ Service Battery (Minus Det 1 (Fire Support)), 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | HQ and HQ Detachment, 217th Maintenance Battalion | Russellville |
Det 1, HQ and HQ Service Battery (Fire Support), 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | Det 1, HQ and HQ Service Battery (Fire Support), 5th Battalion, 206th Artillery | North Little Rock |
Battery A, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | Battery A, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense Artillery | Morrilton |
Battery B, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | Battery B, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense Artillery | Paris |
Battery C, 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery | Battery C, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense Artillery | Dardanelle |
Det 2, HQ and HQ Company, 39th Infantry Brigade | HQ and HQ Service Battery, 5th Battalion, 206th Artillery (105mm)(Towed) | West Memphis |
Det 1, 239th Engineer Company | HQ and HQ Battery, 1st Battalion, 233rd Air Defense Artillery | Booneville |
Det 1, Troop E, 151st Cavalry | Det 1, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | West Helena |
In March 2001, Company D, 1–153rd and Company D, 3–153rd deployed to Bosnia as part of the Multinational Stabilization Force (SFOR), Security Force Nine in order to assist with the enforcement of the mandate of the United Nations Mission in Bosnia and Herzegovina (UNMIBH). [3] The companies were attached to 3rd Squadron, 7th Cavalry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division for the deployment as part of Task Force Eagle. They performed presence patrols outside Forward Operating Base Morgan and Camp McGovern, and participated in the consolidation of weapon storage sites. The soldiers also guarded the sites. [4]
Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153 Infantry, and B Company, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry of the 39th BCT were activated for Operation Southern Watch, May through September 1999. [4] B/2-153 deployed to Kuwait while Company B, 3-153 deployed one platoon to Prince Sultan Air Base, Saudi Arabia and two platoons to Eskan Village in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 39th Brigade soldiers provided security at Patriot Missile Batteries during these deployments. The mission lasted a total of seven months, and was the first "pure" National Guard effort in the region. Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry carried on the 39th's role in Operation Southern Watch when they replaced B/2-153 IN in September 1999. [3]
Conflict/OPN | Unit | Date activated | #Activated |
---|---|---|---|
Operation Iraqi Freedom | 296th Medical Company | 10 February 2003 | 117 |
1123rd Transportation Company | 11 February 2003 | 167 | |
39th Infantry Brigade | 12 October 2003 | 2,850 | |
HHD, 2–114th Air Traffic Control | 5 December 2003 | 54 | |
Company C, 212th Signal Battalion | 13 October 2004 | 138 | |
Bravo Battery, 1–142nd FA | 2 August 2005 | 152 | |
25th Rear Area Operations Center | 17 September 2005 | 49 | |
77th Aviation Brigade (449th, 185th, 111th) | 1 April 2006 | 258 | |
2/142 Fires Brigade (HHC, A, B) | 13 July 2006 | 323 | |
875th Engineer BN | 19 July 2006 | 387 | |
Charlie Battery, 1–142nd FA | 6 January 2007 | 152 | |
213th Area Support | 2 July 2007 | 78 | |
HHC 871st Troop Command | 9 June 2007 | 29 | |
39th Infantry Brigade | 2 January 2008 | 3,320 | |
216th Military Police | 2 January 2008 | 105 | |
1123rd Transportation Company | 2 January 2008 | 112 | |
224th Maintenance Company | 2 January 2008 | 137 | |
1038 Engineer Company | 2 January 2008 | 110 | |
217th Support Battalion (Fires) | 2 January 2008 | 486 | |
Operation Noble Eagle | 212th Signal Battalion | 5 June 2003 | 262 |
Company A, 875th Engineer Battalion | 15 March 2003 | 98 | |
224th Maintenance Company | 15 March 2003 | 215 | |
HHSB, 1, 142nd FA | 13 March 2004 | 122 | |
25th Rear Area Operations Center | 7 February 2003 | 49 | |
OAF | Company B, 935th Corps Support Battalion | 30 January 2003 | 131 |
216th Military Police Company | 4 October 2002 | 124 | |
2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery Brigade | 3 September 2002 | 280 | |
Operation Enduring Freedom | 216th Military Police Company (duty at GTMO) | 16 July 2003 | 95 |
Det 1, 70th MPAD (duty at GTMO) | 8 August 2003 | 10 | |
1036th Engineer Company (SAPPER) | 7 November 2009 | 95 | |
1037th Engineer Company (MOB AUG) | 7 November 2009 | 95 | |
Arkansas Agricultural Development Team 1 (AR-ADT1) | 3 February 2010 | 64 | |
KFOR 5B | Company D, 114th ATS | 12 October 2003 | 19 |
KFOR 7 | Alpha Battery, 1–142nd FA | 17 June 2005 | 140 |
KFOR13 (Kosovo) | HHC 1 BN 114th Aviation | 11 April 2010 | 57 |
DET 1, CO F, 2nd BN 238th Aviation | 11 April 2010 | 20 | |
SFOR 15 (Bosnia) | Detachment 1, 149th Aviation Company | 5 February 2004 | 15 |
MFO (Sinai) | 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 8 October 2001 | 628 |
SFOR 15 (Bosnia) | Company D, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 3 February 2001 | 85 |
Company D, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 3 February 2001 | 85 | |
Operation Southern Watch (Saudi Arabia) | Company B, 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 28 May 1999 | 136 |
Operation Southern Watch (Kuwait) | Company B, 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 28 May 1999 | 136 |
Company C, 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry | 25 September 1999 | 136 |
In December 2006, the Arkansas National Guard deployed two 70-man companies for service on the southwest border in support of Operation Jump Start. [5] [6] The operation was a joint operation between the Arkansas Army National Guard and the Arkansas Air National Guard. The primary army troop providers were the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and the 35th Aviation Brigade. The 39th IBCT supplied to 70-man companies for service near Deming, New Mexico. The 35th Aviation Brigade supplies pilots and crews from the 1st Battalion, 114th Aviation to fly surveillance missions along the border area between Texas and Mexico. [6]
The Arkansas Army National Guard was authorized by National Guard Bureau in Memo NGB-ARF-T Organizational Authority Number 203-03 to create the Headquarters and Headquarters Company Aviation Brigade of the 35th Aviation Brigade in order to provide command and control to the state's aviation assets. Later, in 2006 the HHC Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division was reorganized as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 77th Theater Aviation Brigade by NGB Memo NGB-ARF-T Organizational Authority Number 26-06.
In 2005 and 2006, as a part of the United States Army's transition to a new modular force, which focused on shifting from a division centric force to a brigade centric force, the Arkansas Army National Guard once again underwent a re-organization. This redesign of the army was intended to make the force more easily deployable by making brigades more self-contained and less dependent on support organizations at the division level. Major changes in each Major Subordinate Command included:
39th Brigade Combat Team:
142nd Field Artillery:
87th Troop Command:
Along with this reorganization came a significant re-stationing of several units within the state of Arkansas.
The 39th BCT, 142nd Fires Brigade and the 87th Troop Command activated 50-man County Recovery Teams under state control in order to support Ice Storm Recovery Operations in northern Arkansas, [7] in Sharp County, Arkansas, between 30 January to 6 February 2009.
After Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana in August 2005, elements of the Arkansas National Guard deployed to New Orleans by C-130s from the Little Rock Air Force Base to support the relief and recovery efforts as part of Operation Katrina. [8] Under tactical control of the Louisiana National Guard, Arkansas soldiers were given the mission of providing security and food and water to an estimated 20,000 people at the New Orleans Convention Center on 2 September. [9] By the afternoon of 3 September, all individuals staying in and around the Convention Center had been evacuated. The mission of the Arkansas Soldiers in Louisiana grew to the point that at one time the State Task Force was responsible for working with local officials in 14 parishes. Elements of the Arkansas National Guard stayed deployed in Louisiana until February 2006.
This list is intended to include those Arkansas National Guardsmen who died while on duty in support of combat operations during the Global War on Terrorism. This list may be shorter than the lists included in various unit histories because those lists include soldiers who were not Arkansas National Guardsmen prior to mobilization, but may have been attached or assigned later. Arkansas' 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team suffered a total of 33 casualties during its 2004–2005 deployment, however only 15 of these soldiers were Arkansas National Guardsmen.
Died of non-combat related injuries on 20 July 2006 in Baghdad, Iraq.
The 2nd Infantry Division is a formation of the United States Army. Its current primary mission is the pre-emptive defense of South Korea in the event of an invasion from North Korea. There are approximately 17,000 soldiers in the 2nd Infantry Division, with 10,000 of them stationed in South Korea, accounting for about 35% of the United States Forces Korea personnel.
The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, formerly called the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate) – nicknamed the Arkansas Brigade or the Bowie Team – is an infantry brigade combat team of the United States Army made up of soldiers from the Arkansas Army National Guard. The 39th IBCT was one of fifteen National Guard brigades designated as an enhanced separate brigade. Brigades with this designation received higher levels of training, more advanced equipment, and higher troop levels than normal National Guard brigades. It also made these brigades a self-contained combat unit capable of intelligence, reconnaissance, maneuver, fire support, combat service support, and command and control without having to require attachments or detachments during deployments. In 2005, it was converted to the standard modular IBCT design as part of Army transformation.
The 40th Infantry Division is a modular division of the United States Army. Following the army's modularization the division has become a four-brigade combat team with National Guardsmen from throughout the Pacific/Western United States and Oceania. Its division headquarters is located at Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California.
The 29th Infantry Division, also known as the "Blue and Gray Division", is an infantry division of the United States Army based in Fort Belvoir, Virginia. It is currently a formation of the U.S. Army National Guard and contains units from Virginia, Maryland, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina and West Virginia.
The 35th Infantry Division, formerly known as the 35th Division, is an infantry formation of the Army National Guard at Fort Leavenworth.
The 42nd Infantry Division (42ID) ("Rainbow") is a division of the United States Army National Guard. The 42nd Infantry Division has served in World War I, World War II and the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). The division is currently headquartered at the Glenmore Road Armory in Troy, New York.
The 34th Infantry Division is an infantry division of the United States Army, part of the National Guard, that participated in World War I, World War II and multiple current conflicts. It was the first American division deployed to Europe in World War II, where it fought with great distinction in the Italian Campaign.
The Arizona Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
The Arkansas Army National Guard (ARARNG) is a component of the Arkansas National Guard and the United States National Guard. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
The Louisiana Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When not Federalized the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of Martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.
The 142nd Field Artillery Regiment is a United States Army field artillery regiment currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery, headquartered in Harrison, Arkansas; 2nd Battalion, 142nd Field Artillery, headquartered in Fort Smith, Arkansas; and Battery F, 142nd Field Artillery stationed in Fayetteville, Arkansas, elements of the 142nd Field Artillery Brigade which is headquartered in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The regiment was created in 1917 from the former 2nd Arkansas Infantry. The 142nd Field Artillery shipped to France during World War I but did not see combat before the cessation of hostilities. The regiment was activated for World War II, but its battalions were redesignated as separate battalions, 1–142nd became the 936th Field Artillery Battalion, the 2–142nd became the 937th Field Artillery Battalion. The battalion's served throughout the European Theater of Operations. The battalions were activated again for the Korean War and served throughout the war. Following the Korean War, the separate battalions resumed their former designations of 1–142nd FA and 2–142nd FA. The 142nd Field Artillery Brigade, including both battalions, was activated for Operation Desert Storm. Elements of the 142nd Fires Brigade have been activated for service in Operation Noble Eagle and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 142nd Fires Brigade was instrumental in support and recovery operations located in New Orleans, Louisiana after hurricanes Katrina and Rita devastated the Gulf Coast.
The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team is a modular brigade of the United States Army National Guard based in Washington, Oregon and California and is subordinate to the 7th Infantry Division. On 9 July 2015 it was announced that the 81st Brigade would convert from being an Armored BCT to a Stryker BCT. In September 2016 the 81st Brigade began the transition to a Stryker Brigade Combat Team. On 3 December 2016 the 81st Brigade became part of the 7th Infantry Division and now wears the 2nd Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia under the Associated Unit program.
The 206th Field Artillery Regiment is a United States artillery regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 206th Field Artillery, Headquartered at Russellville, Arkansas. The 1–206th FA is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The 153d Infantry Regiment is a United States infantry regiment, currently represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by the 1st Battalion, 153rd Infantry, headquartered at Malvern, Arkansas, and 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, headquartered at Searcy, Arkansas, elements of the 39th Brigade Combat Team. The regiment was also represented by the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment headquartered at Warren, Arkansas until that unit was deactivated on 5 September 2005. The regiment was activated as the 1st Arkansas Volunteer Infantry for the Spanish–American War, but did not deploy overseas. The regiment was activated for World War I, redesignated as the 153rd Infantry and shipped to France as a part of the 39th Division, but became a replacement division and personnel were reassigned to other AEF units. The regiment was activated for World War II and deployed to the Aleutian Islands, participating in the Aleutian Islands Campaign. Recently, elements of the regiment have participated in two deployments in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, in 2004 and again in 2008.
The 151st Cavalry Regiment was a United States Army cavalry regiment represented in the Arkansas Army National Guard by 1st Squadron, 151st Cavalry Regiment, headquartered in Warren, Arkansas, an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
The 1st Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at Malvern, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The 1–153rd has deployed companies in support of the Multi-National Security Force to Bosnia and to Saudi Arabia as part of Operation Southern Watch. 1st Battalion, 53rd Infantry has twice deployed as a battalion for Operation Iraqi Freedom, once from 2004–05 and a second time in 2008. The battalion was awarded the Meritorious Unit Citation for the period, 17 March 2004 – 23 March 2005.
The 2d Battalion, 153d Infantry Regiment , is an infantry battalion of the Arkansas Army National Guard, headquartered at Searcy, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. During World War II, the battalion was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. Following the attacks of 11 September 2001, the 2nd Battalion, 153rd Infantry, nicknamed the "Gunslingers", deployed to the Sinai on a peace keeping mission in order to free regular army soldiers for service elsewhere. The soldiers of the 2–153rd deployed under the flag of the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry during Operation Iraqi Freedom II. The battalion provided disaster relief operations to the citizens of Louisiana in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The Gunslingers were deployed to Iraq a second time in 2008 as a security forces battalion and conducted convoy security operations in western Iraq. Most recently, members of the 2-153rd deployed to Central America as part of the Regionally aligned forces mission in order to carry out a train-the-trainer and security cooperation mission in Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador. See also
3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry Regiment was a United States infantry battalion, headquartered at Warren, Arkansas, assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the Arkansas Army National Guard until it was deactivated on 5 September 2005. The history of the 3rd Battalion, 153rd Infantry as an individual battalion begins with the reorganization of the 39th Infantry Division in 1967 and the creation of the 39th Infantry Brigade (Separate). For history of the 3rd Battalion prior to 1967, see 153rd Infantry Regiment and 39th Infantry Division.
39th Brigade Support Battalion is an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), of the Arkansas Army National Guard. The battalion is headquartered at Hazen, Arkansas. The 39th Support Battalion was constituted on 2 November 1967 from existing units in central Arkansas and assigned to the 39th Infantry Brigade with headquarters in Hazen. Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 206th Field Artillery Regiment, at Hazen was reorganized and re-designated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 39th Support Battalion.
The 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Special Troops Battalion was headquartered in Conway, Arkansas and was an element of the Arkansas Army National Guard. On 15 September 2018, the 39th Special Troops Battalion was reflagged as the 239th Brigade Engineer Battalion, an element of the 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.