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Texas Army National Guard

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Texas Army National Guard
Seal of the Texas Army National Guard
Founded18 February 1823 (as Texas militia)
Country United States of America
Allegiance Texas
TypeArmy
RoleLand warfare
Size18,160 (2017)[1]
Part ofTexas Military Department

Department of Defense

HeadquartersBuilding Eight
Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas
30°18′42.173″N 97°45′38.338″W
Motto(s)Always ready, Always there
March"Texas, Our Texas"
Websitetmd.texas.gov/army-guard
Commanders
Commander-in-ChiefGovernor of Texas Greg Abbott
Adjutant GeneralMajor General Thomas M. Suelzer
Commanding GeneralBrigadier General Gregory P. (Greg) Chaney
Command Sergeant MajorCommand Sergeant Major Michelle Thompson
Insignia
Shoulder sleeve insignia
Distinctive unit insignia

The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces (along with the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard).

Texas Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The Texas Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Texas.

The Texas Army National Guard is composed of approximately 19,000 soldiers, and maintains 117 armories in 102 communities.[citation needed] State duties include disaster relief, emergency preparedness, security assistance to state law enforcement agencies, and some aspects of border security. The Governor can activate the National Guard components under his control for state active duty in Texas, and in support of adjacent states.

History

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The Texas Army National Guard has its roots in the Texas Militia formed by Stephen F. Austin at his headquarters village of San Felipe de Austin. Austin was empowered to "organize the Colonists into a body of National Militia" in the 18 February 1823 decree authorizing Austin to form his colony in Mexican Texas. Commissioned as Lieutenant Colonel, Austin organized the 5-company battalion at San Felipe de Austin on 22 June 1824. Three companies were formed on the Brazos River and two on the Colorado. This militia structure formed the basis for several of the volunteer companies raised to fight in the Texas Revolution of 1836.{}

The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system. After World War II, the Texas National Guard was reorganized with the 36th Infantry Division and the new 49th Armored Division.[2]

The 49th Armored Division was ordered to active federal service in October 1961 at Dallas, for the 1961 Berlin Crisis, and reverted to state control in August 1962.[2] The 36th and 49th were inactivated in 1968 and reorganized into three separate brigades, the 36th Infantry Brigade, 71st Infantry Brigade and 72d Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (Dallas). The division was reactivated on 1 November 1973, with its headquarters at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.

McGrath says the 36th Brigade insignia with star was authorized for wear from 10 May 1967 – 1 November 1973, but never worn, because the brigade at the time was designated 71st.[3] The 36th Airborne Brigade was active from 1973, and inactivated on 1 April 1980.

In November 1976 the Texas Army National Guard, in the words of the AG Report 1975-76, was "organized into a State Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Public Information Detachment, the 49th Armored Division, and the Base Units Command of the State," both commanded by general officers. The 49th Armored Division had its headquarters in Austin; comprised three brigades, divisional artillery, and a Division Support Command; and was authorized a strength of 14,854 officers, warrant officers, and enlisted men. Its units were spread geographically across the entire state. The Base Units Command commanded every other unit in the TX ARNG except the division and the 100th Public Information Detachment. It consisted of one support center headquarters, one airborne brigade headquarters [the headquarters of the 36th Airborne Brigade)], one aviation group headquarters (111th), one support group headquarters, three battalions, one engineer dredge detachment, one assault support helicopter company, one air ambulance medical company, and one Combat Support Hospital (117th), with an authorized strength of 2,603 officers, warrant officers, and enlisted personnel (p. 5).

The 36th Brigade was reconstituted as a divisional formation (36th Brigade, 50th Armored Division) from 1988–92. In 1992 it became the 36th Brigade of the 49th Armored Division based at Houston, TX. It seems likely to have been active between 1992 and May 2004 when the 49th Armored Division became the 36th Infantry Division.

Major subordinate commands

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On 1 September 2009, the Texas Army National Guard activated the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment, the only Airborne infantry battalion in the Army National Guard. The unit includes the battalion headquarters and headquarters company (HHC), three rifle companies (Companies A, B, and C), a heavy weapons company (Company D), and a forward support company (FSC—previously Company E). Most elements of the battalion are located in Texas, but Company C is located in Rhode Island. Rather than converting an existing TX ARNG unit, the battalion was built from the ground up.[10] The 1st Battalion, 143rd Infantry Regiment is a separate unit and it is not subordinate to other commands in the state, although it is attached to the 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade for local administration. In 2016 Company B, which was originally located in Bethel, Alaska, was inactivated as part of the Alaska ARNG.[11] Troop C (LRS), 3rd Squadron, 124th Cavalry Regiment, Texas ARNG in Terrell, Texas was then used to reform Company B. During the same year, the battalion became affiliated with the 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team in Vicenza, Italy, and adopted the shoulder sleeve insignia of the 173rd ABCT.[12]

Historic units

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Additional Units

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  • 49th Finance Battalion
    49th Finance Battalion
  • 111th Engineer Battalion
    111th Engineer Battalion
  • 111th Medical Battalion
    111th Medical Battalion
  • 136th Military Police Battalion
    136th Military Police Battalion
  • 136th Regiment
    136th Regiment
  • 136th Signal Battalion
    136th Signal Battalion
  • 136th Signal Battalion (Obsolete)
    136th Signal Battalion (Obsolete)
  • 149th Aviation Regiment
    149th Aviation Regiment
  • 149th Personnel Services Battalion
    149th Personnel Services Battalion
  • 156th Engineer Battalion
    156th Engineer Battalion
  • 176th Engineer Battalion
    176th Engineer Battalion
  • 386th Engineer Battalion
    386th Engineer Battalion
  • 449th Support Battalion
    449th Support Battalion
  • 636th Support Battalion
    636th Support Battalion
  • 649th Military Intelligence Battalion
    649th Military Intelligence Battalion
  • 949th Support Battalion
    949th Support Battalion
  • Special Troops Battalion, 36th Infantry Division
    Special Troops Battalion, 36th Infantry Division
  • Special Troops Battalion, 72nd Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division
    Special Troops Battalion, 72nd Brigade Combat Team, 36th Infantry Division

References

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  1. ^ "Sunset Advisory Commission Staff Report 2018-2019 8th Legislature" (PDF). Texas Military Department. Retrieved 31 August 2019.
  2. ^ a b Brian Schenk, An Introduction to the 49th (Lone Star) Armored Division (1947–), Texas Military Forces Museum, Camp Mabry, Texas.
  3. ^ McGrath, 'The Brigade,' 233. Patch can be seen at http://www.usarmypatches.com/Infantry.htm
  4. ^ a b AirForces Monthly. Stamford, Lincolnshire, England: Key Publishing Ltd. May 2023. p. 18.
  5. ^ "Texas-based Army aviation unit receives national award".
  6. ^ "Become a Combat Advisor". 26 October 2020.
  7. ^ a b c d e f g h "71st Troop Command". Texas Military Department. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  8. ^ "TXARNG Soldiers prepare to support law enforcement for protests in Angelton, Texas".
  9. ^ a b c "71st Expeditionary Military Intelligence Brigade". Texas Military Department. Retrieved 15 April 2023.
  10. ^ Maruquin, Deric (16 September 2009). "36 ID Stands up Airborne Infantry Battalion". 36th Infantry Division. Archived from the original on 14 November 2009. Retrieved 28 December 2011.
  11. ^ Richardson, James (8 May 2016). "Bravo Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment Deactivation". Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Public Affairs. Retrieved 8 July 2020 – via DVIDS.
  12. ^ McBride, Michelle (14 August 2016). "Texas National Guard Patch Ceremony to initiate Army of One". Texas Military Department. Retrieved 8 July 2020.
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