Minnesota National Guard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Minnesota National Guard
Minnesota National Guard Logo
Active	1850 - Present
Country	United States of America
Allegiance	State of Minnesota
Branch	National Guard
Type	Joint
Size	13,124[1]
Garrison/HQ	St Paul, Minnesota
Nickname	NorthStar Guard
Commanders
Current commander	Maj. Gen. Larry Shellito
Ceremonial chief	Governor Tim Pawlenty

Police cars, fire trucks and other vehicles escort three bus loads of U.S. Army Soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Brigade combat Team, 34th Infantary Division to the Brooklyn Park Armory in Minnesota July 17, 2007, after a deployment to Iraq. The Minnesota National Guard's 1st Brigade Combat Team has been deployed 22 months, with 16 months of the deployment in a combat zone

The Minnesota National Guard is composed of approximately 13,600 Soldiers and Airmen, spread out in 63 communities across the state. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, 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.

When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves as Commander-in-Chief. The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."

The Governor may call individuals or units of the Minnesota National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to use of the National Guard. The state mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law."

[edit] Major Units

• Minnesota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters
  • Headquarters, 34th "Red Bull" Infantry Division
    • 1st Brigade Combat Team
    • 2nd Brigade Combat Team, (Iowa National Guard)
    • 34th Combat Aviation Brigade
  • 133rd Airlift Wing
    • 109th Airlift Squadron
  • 148th Fighter Wing
    • 179th Fighter Squadron
  • 84th Troop Command
  • 347th Regional Support Group
  • 175th Regional Training Institute

[edit] External links

Minnesota National Guard, official sites

• Minnesota National Guard

[edit] References

1. ^ Source: http://www.MinnesotaNationalGuard.org/press_room/assets/Guard_101_Aug_2007.ppt