# Missouri National Guard

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 origins to the Missouri State Militia, which was federally funded state militia conceived in 1861 and called to service in 1862 during the Civil War. It was a force designed to protect Missouri from Confederate guerillas.
The Missouri Army National Guard was formed in 1877. It was first mobilized en-masse during the Spanish–American War in 1898. During the war, it was split into six volunteer infantry regiments. The 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment was commanded by Col. Edwin Batdorf, the 2nd Missouri Infantry Regiment was commanded by Col. William K. Caffee, the 3rd Missouri Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. George P. Gross, the 4th Missouri Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. Joseph A. Corby, the 5th Missouri Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. Milton Moore, and the 6th Missouri Infantry Regiment commanded by Col. Letcher H. Hardeman.
The Missouri Air National Guard was established following World War II, in 1947. The Air Guard was first mobilized en masse during the Korean War.
For much of the final decades of the twentieth century, National Guard personnel typically served "One weekend a month, two weeks a year", with a portion working for the Guard in a full-time capacity. The current forces formation plans of the US Army call for the typical National Guard unit (or National Guardsman) to serve one year of active duty for every three years of service. More specifically, current United States Department of Defense policy is that no Guardsman will be involuntarily activated for a total of more than 24 months (cumulative) in one six-year enlistment period (this policy is due to change 1 August 2007, the new policy states that soldiers will be given 24 months between deployments of no more than 24 months, individual states have differing policies).
In December 1989, a contingent of 22 Military Policemen from the 1138th Military Police Company was in Panama on a two-week annual training when "Operation Just Cause" commenced. The MPs, who specialized in enemy prisoner of war operations, augmented the active duty force at Fort Clayton, taking enemy mortar and artillery fire when the invasion began. While serving in combat, the unit set up and operated the Empire Range EPW camp. The Missouri National Guard was the first National Guard unit to be called into active service since the end of Vietnam.
The 1138th was called upon once again to serve after the Invasion of Kuwait the following year. It was one of the first Guard units placed on alert status in August, 1990 but did not deploy until December, 1990. The Missouri Guard was the first Enemy Prisoner of War (EPW) unit to deploy as part of the 400th MP Battalion. Eventually it set up and operated the 301st EPW Camp, near the Saudi Arabian city of Hafar al-Batin (Hotel 301). It returned to West Plains, Missouri in May 1991 with a hero's welcome.
In 2012, Missouri organized the Missouri State Defense Force to serve as Missouri's official state defense force and to augment the Missouri National Guard during stateside missions. The Missouri State Defense Force was disbanded in 2022.
On August 18, 2014, in response to violent clashes which occurred during an imposed curfew in Ferguson, Missouri implemented after the killing of Michael Brown, Governor Jay Nixon issued an executive order deploying the Missouri National Guard to the city in order to "help restore peace and order and to protect the citizens of Ferguson."
In January 2017 the 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade was deployed in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve in Qatar.
In January 2021, Governor Mike Parson activated the Missouri National Guard to help administer COVID-19 vaccinations.
In June 2022, the 1138th Engineer Company (Sapper) participated in Exercise African Lion in Morocco as part of US Africa Command.
On November 8, 2022, Amendment 5 was approved by Missouri voters which separated the Missouri National Guard from the Department of Public Safety into its own department, the Missouri Department of the National Guard. The amendment was placed on the ballot by the Missouri Legislature after being introduced in the Missouri House of Representatives by Representative Adam Schnelting.

## Organization

| Direct reporting units | Component | Location of headquarters |
| Missouri Joint Force Headquarters | Army and Air National Guard | Jefferson City |
| 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade | Army National Guard | Kansas City |
| Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division | Army National Guard | Sedalia |
| 35th Military Police Brigade | Army National Guard | Jefferson Barracks |
| 35th Engineer Brigade | Army National Guard | Fort Leonard Wood |
| 35th Infantry Division | Army National Guard | Lexington |
| 1107th Theater Aviation Support Group | Army National Guard | Springfield |
| 70th Troop Command | Army National Guard | Lebanon |
| 131st Bomb Wing | Air National Guard | Whiteman Air Force Base |
| 139th Airlift Wing | Air National Guard | Rosecrans Memorial Airport |
| Missouri Army National Guard Support Elements | Army and Air National Guard | Varies |
The Missouri Army National Guard is authorized more than 11,500 soldiers and airman, Subordinate units within the Missouri National Guard include:
Missouri Army National Guard
* Joint Forces Headquarters-Missouri (Jefferson City)
* 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Kansas City)
** 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment (Assigned to the 39th IBCT ARARNG)
** 3rd Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment (Assigned to the 72nd IBCT TXARNG)
** 1st Battalion, 129th Field Artillery Regiment
** 220th Transportation Battalion
** 135th Signal Company
* 35th Infantry Division (Lexington)
* 35th Combat Aviation Brigade (Sedalia)
** 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (Assault)
** 935th Aviation Support Battalion
* 35th Military Police Brigade (Jefferson Barracks)
** 175th Military Police Battalion
** 205th Military Police Battalion
** 235th Engineer Team
* 35th Engineer Brigade (Fort Leonard Wood)
** 203rd Engineer Battalion
** 1140th Engineer Battalion
** 635th Forward Engineer Support Team - Main (FEST-M)
* 1107th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group (Springfield)
* 70th Troop Command
** 7th Civil Support Team
** 135th Army Band
** 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
** 135th Military History Detachment
** Detachment 1, 179th Cyber Protection Team
** 229th Multifunctional Medical Battalion
** 835th Combat Sustainment Brigade
* Missouri Army National Guard Support Elements
** Missouri Army National Guard Recruiter and Retention
** 140th Regional Training Institute
** Missouri Army National Guard Training Center
** Missouri Medical Detachment
Missouri Air National Guard
* 131st Bomb Wing (Whiteman AFB / Jefferson Barracks Air Guard Station)
** 131st Medical Group
** 131st Operations Group
** 131st Mission Support Group
** 131st Maintenance Group
** 157th Air Operations Group
** 131st Bomb Wing Staff
* 139th Airlift Wing (Rosecrans Air National Guard Base)
** 139th Operations Group
** 139th Mission Support Group
** 139th Maintenance Group
** 139th Medical Group
** Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
** 139th Airlift Wing Staff
Source: Missouri Army National Guard 2024 Staffed Military Facilities

## Major Facilities

Missouri Army National Guard
* Camp Clark, Missouri: Former POW Camp operated by the Missouri National Guard for unit training east of Nevada, Missouri
* 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
* Ike Skelton Training Site: Missouri National Guard Headquarters located in eastern Jefferson City, Missouri
* Jefferson Barracks Military Post: Jointly operated between the Missouri National Guard and United States Army Reserve
* Macon Training Site: Field training site located southwest of Kirksville, Missouri
* Truman Training Site: Unimproved training area located on Corps of Engineers land at Truman Reservoir
* Wappapello Training Site: Located south of Wappapello, Missouri on United States Forest Service land; open to the public except for fenced administrative areas
* Whiteman Air Force Base: 1-135th Aviation (Assault) is a tenant organization on Whiteman Air Force Base
In addition, the Missouri National Guard operates 15 Field Maintenance Shops across the state at various armories and installations.
Missouri Air National Guard
* Jefferson Barracks
* Whiteman Air Force Base
* Rosecrans Memorial Airport

## Decorations of the Missouri National Guard

Missouri National Guard State Awards:
* Missouri Meritorious Service Medal
* Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal
* Missouri Commendation Ribbon
* Missouri Desert Storm Ribbon
* Missouri 20 Year Long Service Ribbon
* Missouri 15 Year Long Service Ribbon
* Missouri 10 Year Long Service Ribbon
* Missouri 5 Year Long Service Ribbon
* Missouri First Sergeant Ribbon
* Missouri Expeditionary Ribbon
* Missouri State Emergency Duty Ribbon
* Missouri Panamanian Service Ribbon
* Missouri Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon
* Missouri Kosovo Campaign Ribbon
* Missouri Recruiting and Retention Ribbon
* Missouri Adjutant General's Twenty Ribbon
* Missouri Governor's Twelve Ribbon
* Missouri Basic Training Ribbon
* Governor's Unit Citation