The Missouri National Guard (MONG), commonly known as the Missouri Guard, is a component of the Army National Guard and Missouri State Department of the National Guard. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The Department office is located in Jefferson City.
The Mission of the Missouri National Guard is "to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by state law under the authority of the governor."
History
The Missouri National Guard traces its lineage to the Missouri State Militia, created in 1861 to counter Confederate guerrillas during the American Civil War. Missouri units fought for both Union and Confederate causes. The Confederate 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment, later part of the 138th Infantry Regiment lineage, fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Champion Hill, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, and Nashville, among other engagements across the Western Theater. Earlier, during the Mexican–American War, Missouri volunteers fought at the Battles of Embudo Pass and Taos and participated in the occupation of Chihuahua City.
The Missouri Army National Guard was formally organized in 1877. It was first mobilized in the Spanish–American War (1898), raising six volunteer infantry regiments, though none deployed overseas. In 1916, Missouri Guardsmen were sent to the U.S.–Mexico border at Laredo, Texas during the Mexican Punitive Expedition.
During World War I, Missouri units of the 35th Infantry Division fought in the Lorraine and Alsace sectors and in the Meuse–Argonne Offensive, including the Battles of Cheppy, Vauquois, and Charpentry.
In World War II, the Guard trained in the Louisiana Maneuvers before deploying to both the Pacific and European theaters. In the Pacific, Missouri units served in the Aleutian Islands campaign, mainly the 138th Infantry Regiment and later fought at Leyte and Okinawa, mainly the 110th Engineer Regiment, with subsequent occupation duty in Seoul, Korea. In Europe, the 35th Infantry Division fought in the Invasion of Normandy and the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns. The Missouri Air National Guard was established in 1947 and mobilized for service during the Korean War.
Throughout the Cold War, the Guard frequently responded to state emergencies, including the 1922 Poplar Bluff railroad strike, the 1927 St. Louis tornado, and major flooding in 1951–1952 and 1993. Although not mobilized as full units for the Vietnam War, many Missouri Air Guard pilots served on active duty in Southeast Asia.
In Operation Just Cause (1989), the 1138th Military Police Company deployed in Panama, coming under fire and establishing the Empire Range EPW camp — the first Guard unit activated for combat since Vietnam. The same company deployed in the Gulf War, operating EPW Camp 301 in Saudi Arabia.
Since 2001, Missouri units have deployed widely in the Global War on Terror. In Iraq, the 1140th Engineer Battalion fought in the Battle of Najaf (2004), while the 35th Engineer Brigade and several MP companies conducted security and detainee operations. In Afghanistan, the 203rd Engineer Battalion conducted IED clearance (2009–2010), and the 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment flew AH-64 Apaches and UH-60 Black Hawks (2013–2014). The 35th Infantry Division commanded multinational forces in Bosnia (2003–2004), and the 110th MEB deployed to Kosovo (2008–2009). More recently, the 110th MEB deployed to Qatar (2017), the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade commanded Task Force Trailblazer in Iraq and Syria (2018–2019), and the 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment deployed to Kuwait and Syria (2023–2024), where Guardsmen engaged in combat and received Combat Infantryman Badges.
Domestically, the Guard has supported relief and security operations including the 2011 Joplin tornado, the 2014 Ferguson unrest, Missouri flooding in 2017, and the COVID-19 pandemic response in 2020–2021.
In June 2025, the Missouri Air National Guard’s 131st Bomb Wing, flying B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The mission involved over 125 aircraft and the use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, and was the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history.
On November 8, 2022, Missouri voters approved Amendment 5, establishing the Missouri Department of the National Guard as a cabinet-level agency independent of the Department of Public Safety. Missouri also briefly maintained a State Defense Force (2012–2022) for stateside support missions.
Thomas S. Zimmerman, of Springfield, Mo., is promoted to the rank of major by Brig. Gen. Michael B. Pace, commander of 35th Engineer Brigade, during a ceremony on Camp Liberty, Baghdad, Nov. 19.
Camp Crowder: Former Signal training and rocket engine manufacturing site; approximately 10% of the post remains for training southeast of Neosho, Missouri
Fort Leonard Wood: Several Missouri National Guard units are tenant organizations on Fort Leonard Wood[1]
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