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 to Prince Sultan Air Base, 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.