The Connecticut Army National Guard was originally formed in 1672. During the War of 1812, the Federalist state government refused to place the state militia under control of the Democratic-Republican national government, which resulted in friction, especially following British attacks on New London and Stonington.
After the American Civil War came to an end in 1865, a segregated company was raised in the Fifth battalion of the Connecticut National Guard so that men of color in New Haven could serve their state.[1] Company A (1870-1919[2]), bearing throughout its service monikers to honor its primary instigator, James H. Wilkins - a sergeant with the famous 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry during the Civil War who bore the national flag at the Battle of Olustee - was also known as the Wilkins Guard,[3] the Wilkins Old Guard, and the Wilkins Tigers.[4]
After 1968, the main formation in the state became the 43rd Infantry Brigade of the 26th Infantry Division. The brigade was disbanded during the 1990s. It was reorganized and redesignated as the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 143rd Area Support Group on 30 September 1997.[6]
Sites and units from 1999
In 2007, the Connecticut Army National Guard was composed of approximately 5,000 soldiers.[7] It maintains facilities in 22 communities. In 1999, these facilities included 22 armories, eight maintenance shops, four aviation facilities, four training site facilities.
Its units[when?] include the 85th Troop Command, 143rd Area Support Group, 14th Civil Support Team (WMD), 248th Engineer Company, 250th Engineer Company, 143rd and 643rd Military Police Companies, 141st and 142nd Medical Companies, the 143rd Combat Service Support Battalion (formerly FSB), the 1109th Aviation Depot (AVCRAD),[when?] the 169th Regiment (RTI), and the 192nd Military Police Battalion. The primary combat unit is the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry Regiment, assigned to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, which is headquartered in Vermont.
One CT ARNG aviation base is the Army Aviation Support Facility at Bradley International Airport where the 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment operate the CH-47F, UH-60A/L, HH-60M & C-12U[8] Other CT ARNG aviation units included Detachment 2, Company C, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment (HH-60M)[9] and Company B, 2nd Battalion (General Support), 104th Aviation Regiment (CH-47F)[10]
Units in 2026
As of February 2026 the Connecticut Army National Guard consists of the following units:[11][12]
Detachment 1, Company B (Heavy Lift), 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 104th Aviation Regiment, at Bradley International Airport (CH-47F Chinook)
↑Saunders, Ernest (1977). Blacks in the Connecticut National Guard: A Pictorial and Chronological History 1870 to 1919. New Haven, Connecticut: New Haven Afro-American Historical Society.
↑"Obituary of James H. Wilkins". Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers. Library of Congress. Connecticut Western News. Retrieved 23 March 2020.
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