Wisconsin Army National Guard The Wisconsin Army National Guard ( “ Guard ” ) has dual state and federal roles , and is jointly funded and maintained by both governments . Its federal mission is to provide trained units to the United States Army in time of war or national emergency . Its state mission is to help civil authorities protect life and property and preserve peace , order , and public safety in times of natural or human - caused emergencies . The governor , who is the commander in chief of the Guard when it is not activated for federal service , appoints the adjutant general who directs the Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs , of which the Guard is a part . Members of the National Guard are typically part - time soldiers who attend unit drills one weekend per month and serve a two - week annual tour of active duty . All officers and enlisted personnel must meet the same physical , education , and other eligibility requirements as members of the active - duty services . History . Guard members continue the legacy of the “ Minutemen ” of the American Revolution — citizen - soldiers trained and ready to put their peacetime pursuits on hold when called upon to serve their state or nation . Throughout much of its history , the U . S . has maintained only a small standing army . Instead , it has primarily relied on the militia system for security which , formalized in the Uniform Militia Act of 1792 , embraced the principle of universal military obligation for most able - bodied males . Militia members participated in periodic compulsory unit training musters , and were responsible for providing their own weapons . In 1848 , the first session of the Wisconsin Legislature provided for the distribution of federal arms and military equipment . Wisconsin Guard troops fought in the Civil War , the Spanish - American War , both the First and Second World Wars , and the Korean War . Guard members have been activated on numerous other occasions , including for the Berlin Crisis the Persian Gulf War , peacekeeping operations in the Balkans , and current operations in Afghanistan and Iraq . Pre – World War I . Called the State Militia until 1879 , the Wisconsin National Guard was appointed by the first adjutant general of the Wisconsin Territory in 1839 . The modern history of the division originated in the spring of 1861 with the 1st Battalion , 128th Infantry and the 2nd Regiment , 1st Wisconsin Cavalry . They were made up of independent companies recruited from throughout Wisconsin and was organized and activated into Federal service . The 2nd Wisconsin was joined by several other regiments to form the famous Iron Brigade , which soon became one of the most feared and respected units on either side in the Civil War for its performance in such battles as Antietam and Gettysburg . It was nicknamed the " Iron Jaw Division " for its toughness in combat . The 4th Infantry Battalion , Wisconsin National Guard , was organized on 25 April 1884 from Milwaukee companies . They were expanded and in 1890 redesignated as the 4th Infantry Regiment which was activated for Federal service in the war with Spain . They were reorganized on 10 June 1899 as the 1st , 2nd , and 3rd Infantry Regiments in the Wisconsin National Guard . In 1916 , Troop A was stationed at the Mexican border under General John Pershing to guard against the raiding Mexican General Pancho Villa during the Pancho Villa Expedition . Troop B was ordered to Camp Wilson near San Diego , California , and on arrival were assigned as the Divisional Headquarters Troop of the 12th Provisional Division until the final breaking up of that division . The 1st , 2nd , and 3rd Infantry Regiments were mustered into Federal service on 30 June 1916 for Mexican Border service . The Guard unit ' s Troop A and Troop B were mustered out of Federal Service on 20 October 1916 and 6 March 1917 , respectively . The regiments were mustered out at Fort Sheridan , Illinois , on 19 January 1917 ( 1st ) , 28 February 1917 ( 2nd ) , and 14 December 1916 ( 3rd ) . World War I . When the United States declared war on Germany on 11 April 1917 , the Wisconsin Adjutant General ordered the Milwaukee Troops to add a squadron , and Troop C and Troop D were added . The Guard units ' Troop A and Troop B had been mustered out of Federal Service less than a year earlier on 20 October 1916 and 6 March 1917 , respectively . The Adjutant General then directed the unit to add a new regiment , and the Second and Third Squadrons were formed as the First Wisconsin Cavalry , with units organized in various cities . Troop E commanded by Captain John S . Coney was formed in Kenosha on 10 May 1917 , and the Wisconsin Cavalry was officially formed on 29 May 1917 . Only two months later , the 32nd Division was activated in July 1917 at Camp MacArthur , Waco , Texas of National Guard units from Wisconsin and Michigan . Wisconsin furnished approximately 15 , 000 men , and another 8 , 000 troops came from Michigan . The division was made up of the 125th and 126th Infantry Regiment s ( 63rd Infantry Brigade ) and the 127th and 128th Infantry Regiment s ( 64th Infantry Brigade ) , as well as three artillery regiments within the 57th Field Artillery Brigade . On 4 August 1917 , Battery F , 121st Field Artillery regiment was the first unit to arrive at Camp MacArthur . The remainder arrived as soon as trains could be mustered for transportation . Structure . There are currently about 9 , 600 members in the Wisconsin National Guard . They reside in all of the state ’ s 72 counties , ranging from less than ten in several lightly populated counties in the northeastern part of the state to about 1 , 100 each in Dane and Milwaukee counties . Over 600 live in other states , with 70 percent of those residing in Illinois and Minnesota . The approximately 7 , 400 Army Guard soldiers train in armories located in 67 communities throughout the state . Most of the units are assigned to one of three major commands : the 32nd Infantry Brigade , headquartered at Camp Douglas ; the 64th Troop Command , headquartered at Madison ; and the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade , headquartered at Oak Creek . In addition the 426th Regiment ( Regional Training Institute ) is also active , heir to the traditions of the 426th Infantry Regiment . 32nd Infantry Brigade . The 32nd Infantry Brigade is the largest unit in the Wisconsin National Guard . Formed in 1967 from the deactivated 32nd Infantry Division , the Red Arrow Brigade is formed of three battalions of light infantry as well as support and engineer units . 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade . The 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigadeis based out of Oak Creek , Wisconsin . Formed from the deactivated 57th Field Artillery Brigade and 264th Engineer Groop . 64th Troop Command . The 64th Troop Command provides administrative , training and logistical support to unique , specialized or smaller Wisconsin Army National Guard units that are not part of other major deployable units . The command includes aviation , sustainment and support , personnel , military police , band , transportation , maintenance , public affairs , rear area operations command , and medical units .