Puerto Rico National Guard
| Puerto Rico National Guard |
DISTINCTIVE UNIT INSIGNIA |
| Active |
October 15, 1919–present |
| Country |
United States |
| Allegiance |
Puerto Rico |
| Branch |
National Guard |
| Size |
Authorized strength: 8,500 Army and 1,500 Air Force |
| Part of |
Puerto Rico Military Department |
| Garrison/HQ |
San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| Mascot |
Lamb |
The Puerto Rico National Guard (Spanish: Guardia Nacional de Puerto Rico[1]) is the component of the United States National Guard in the U.S. Territory of Puerto Rico. It comprises both Army and Air National Guard components with a total authorized strength of 10,000 soldiers and airmen. 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 under state / Territory control, the Governor serves as Commander-In-Chief.
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 of Puerto Rico may call individuals or units of the Puerto Rico 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."
History
After the Spanish American War in 1898, Puerto Rico came under the United States Flag and there was a discussion by the US military authorities over Puerto Rico's military value. There is no doubt it offered tremendous commercial value in expanding commerce between the US, Central and South America. Because of the political changes in the beginning of the 20th century the military importance of Puerto Rico grew. In 1906, a group of Puerto Ricans met with the Governor Winthrop, and the Commissioner of Interior, Lawrence H. Graham, to organize a National Guard of Puerto Rico. This attempt was met with enthusiasm by the public, and some companies were organized, in differents towns around the island: Yauco under the command of Captain Santiago Vivaldi, in Juana Díaz, commanded by Captain, Diaz-Brik, in Peñuelas by Captain Gabino Balasquide, the two in Ponce by Pedro Juan Amstrong, Mario Belaval, J. Oppenheimer, F. del Valle and Doctor Laguna. In San Juan there were three companies under Federico Vall-Spinosa, Justo Barros, J. del Barril, R. Swigett, J. Doere, Lugo Vinas and F. Fano.
As the companies were being formed, all of the officers and soldiers had to purchase their own uniforms and supplies, since there was no government funding for the enterprise. This organization failed due to existing U. S. Federal law, which prohibited the formation of any armed force within the United States and its territories without authorization from Congress.
During World War I, Puerto Ricans served in the 373d, 374th, and 775th Infantry Regiments of the National Army and the Puerto Rican Regiment of the Regular Army. Approximately 20,000 troops were trained at Camp Las Casas. The need for a Puerto Rican National Guard became apparent to a young Puerto Rican officer named Luis Raúl Estevez. He was the first Puerto Rican to graduate from the US Military Academy at West Point. He brought the matter up to the then governor of Puerto Rico, Arthur Yager, immediately after the conclusion of World War I. His efforts with the Governor and Legislature of Puerto Rico, were met with approval and the National Guard was organized in 1919. Ultimately, this officer was promoted Major General and appointed Adjutant General of the Puerto Rican National Guard.
The first regiment of the Puerto Rico National Guard, "First Infantry Regiment", was organized on June 2, 1920 and reorganized on December 26, 1922, as the 295th Infantry Regiment. On March 1, 1936, the 296th Infantry Regiment was organized. Before, the 296th existed as a battalion of the 295th Infantry Regiment.
Units
- Puerto Rico Army National Guard
Adjutant General
The Adjutant General is the Executive Officer and Commander of both the Puerto Rico National Guard and the Puerto Rico State Guard.
Governor Luis Fortuño appointed Major General Antonio J. Vicens as the 20th Adjutant General of the Puerto Rico National Guard on January 2, 2009. He holds a B.B.A-Management Degree from the University of Puerto Rico.
See Major General Antonio J. Vicens
List of Adjutant Generals
General David Carrión
General Fernando Chardón
General Emilio Díaz Colón
Major General Antonio J. Vicens
Major General William Miranda Marín (1990–1992)
Military installations
- Camp Santiago Joint Maneuver Training Center on 12,000 acres of land located in Salinas, Puerto Rico is Puerto Rico's National Guard premier training facility. Though has no permanent residents, Camp Santiago can house thousands of troops on a temporarily basis, some old barracks are being replaced with new 2 level barracks, a Puerto Rico National Guard Museum, a theater, a Class Six Shoppette and in 2009 AAFES opened a new Post exchange on base. With rifle and small arm ranges, a leadership reaction course, dinning facilities and classrooms makes Camp Santiago the best military training facility in Puerto Rico. An $1.7 million Urban Assault Course will be constructed at Camp Santiago. National Guard units from other states also come to Camp Santiago for their 2 weeks annual training. in 1975 this Military facility was renamed from Camp Salinas to Camp Santiago in honor of Specialist Four Héctor Santiago-Colón who received the Medal of Honor during the Vietnam War. Salinas, Puerto Rico was Specialist Four Hector Santiago's birth place.
- Fort Allen located 4 miles (6.4 km) south of Juana Díaz, Puerto Rico is the home of the Puerto Rico National Guard Language Center. Many PRNG and U.S. Army Reserve units are stationed at Fort Allen. The National Guard's Youth Challenge Program operates at Fort Allen graduating hundreds of high school dropouts in Puerto Rico each year. The Relocatable Over the Horizon (ROTHR) receiver site has being in operation at Fort Allen since the 1990s as part of a surveillance network which is designed to monitor flights over an area encompassing more than 1,000,000 square miles (2,600,000 km2) in South America. The (ROTHR) radar consists of 34 antennas and support structure from 71 to 123 feet (37 m) tall. There are barracks that can house military personnel on a temporarily basis, NGX has a Post exchange on base and an Armed Forces Reserve Center is under construction. Previously Fort Allen was a WWII U.S. Army Air Field known as Losey Army Airfield and later a U.S. Navy communications center. Since 1980 Fort Allen has being under control the Puerto Rico National Guard.
- Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico is the home of the Puerto Rico Air National Guard 156th Airlift Wing and the 198th Airlift Squadron. Muñiz ANGB has hangars, command offices, a recruiting office, classrooms, maintenance shops, a community club, a Family Readiness Center, a post barbershop and NGX has a Post exchange on base. Muñiz ANGB is also the home of the STARBASE youth program in Puerto Rico. Operation Coronet Oak shares Muñiz ANGB flight line with the 156th Airlift Wing which also flies C-130 military transport airplanes. In 1963 this Air base was renamed Muñiz Air National Guard Base while commemorating the 20th year of its federal recognition.
- Punta Salinas Radar Station in Toa Baja, Puerto Rico is operated by the Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 140th Air Defence Squadron. It's mission is to provide air traffic control to the FAA, Military and law enforcement operations.
- There are National Guard Armories in Aguadilla, Arecibo, Cabo Rojo, Caguas, Cayey, Ceiba, Coamo, Gurabo, Humacao, Juncos, Mayaguez, Peñuelas, Ponce, Sabana Grande, Vega Baja and San Juan. Some of this armories will be closed and Puerto Rico National Guard units will move into to brand new Armed Forces Reserve Centers in Ceiba, Mayaguez, Fort Allen and Fort Buchanan.
- Drug Demand Reduction Program -
- The mission is to use the National Guard’s resources to help create the best opportunity for America’s youth to make the decision to be drug-free. The Drug Demand Reduction Program works closely with local law enforcement, education and community-based organizations to reduce the chances of exposure of illegal drugs to our nation's children. They also contribute to drug prevention by providing National Guard led education based, leadership and motivational programs. Drug Demand Reduction directly interacts with children through their KEY National Initiative, Drug Free Starts with Me. The program visits local schools and communities around the island to increase awareness and motivation, and provide leadership, guidance and support to America’s adolescence about their choice to remain drug-free.
- The mission of this youth program is to intervene in and reclaim the lives of 16-18 year old high school dropouts, producing program graduates with the values, life skills, education, and self-discipline necessary to succeed as productive citizens. Founded in the 1990s during the administration of Governor Pedro Rosselló, thousands of dropouts have participated in the program.
- As an acronym of Science and Technology Academies Reinforcing Basic Aviation and Space Education, this youth program is aimed at students from 4th - 12th grade to improve their math and science skills thru aviation. The program starts at the elementary school level in order to attract and prepare students at an early age for careers in engineering and other science-related fields of study. The program principally exposes at-risk children and their teachers to real world applications of math and science through experiential learning, simulations, and experiments in aviation and space-related fields. The program also addresses drug use prevention, health, self esteem and life skills within a math- and science-based program. Founded in 1995 by SSgt Elaine Montgomery, the program celebrates its 15th anniversary in May, 2010.
See also
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Puerto Rico portal |
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United States Army portal |
References
- ^ https://www.pr.ngb.army.mil/R&R/index.html
External links
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