Washington National Guard The Washington National Guard is headquartered at Camp Murray , Washington and is defined by its state and federal mission . At the call of the Governor , the Washington National Guard will mobilize and deploy during times of state emergency to augment local jurisdictions and responders in their efforts to protect lives and property . The Washington National Guard is also subject to the call of the President of the United States to serve as part of the total U . S . Military force . Makeup . The Washington National Guard is made up of the Washington Army National Guard ( WAARNG ) and the Washington Air National Guard ( WA ANG ) . The WAARNG is a reserve component of the U . S . Army and the WA ANG is a reserve component of the U . S . Air Force . There are approximately 8 , 400 citizen - soldiers and airmen serving in the Washington National Guard ( 6 , 300 in the WAARNG and 2 , 100 in the WA ANG ) . WAARNG . The WAARNG is made up of four Major Subordinate Commands : 81st Brigade Combat Team ( headquartered in Seattle ) , 96th Troop Command ( headquartered in Tacoma ) , 66th Theater Aviation Command ( headquartered at Joint Base Lewis - McChord ) , 205th Leadership Regiment ( headquartered at Camp Murray ) . Washington Air National Guard . The Washington Air National Guard is made up of two Wings and an Air Defense Sector : 141st Air Refueling Wing ( headquartered at Fairchild Air Force Base in Spokane ) 194th Regional Support Wing ( headquartered at Camp Murray ) Western Air Defense Sector ( headquartered at Joint Base Lewis - McChord ) In 1853 President Fillmore signed the Organic Act creating the Washington Territory and appointing Major Isaac Stevens the first governor and commander - in - chief of the Territorial Militia . The Territorial Militia organized in 1855 and supported the Territorial Government , provided defense against Indian uprisings and sent a unit to fight for the Union in the Civil War . The Washington National Guard trained as completely uniformed and equipped force for the first time in 1890 on the shores of American Lake near Tacoma . Units of the Washington National Guard served in the Philippine Insurrection , both World Wars , the Berlin Airlift and the first Gulf War . Since September 11 , 2001 , the Washington National Guard units have served in support of Operation Noble Eagle , Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom . Approximately 700 members of the Washington National Guard served in support of the Hurricane Katrina Relief Mission in the gulf coast , and more than 300 served in support of Operation Jump Start ( the southwest border mission from September 2006 – June 2008 ) . The citizen soldiers and airmen of The Washington National Guard are dedicated to the mission of safeguarding lives and property in Washington State , and serving as sentinels for freedom overseas . We come from every community , profession and background from around the State of Washington – we are Neighbors Helping Neighbors Through a Tradition of Service . Washington National Guard historical timeline . 1853 . 1853 , President Fillmore signed the Organic Act creating the Washington Territory and Maj . Issac Stevens was appointed first governor and commander - in - chief of the Territorial Militia ( the beginnings of the Washington National Guard ) . 1855 – 1858 . 1855 – 1858 Washington Territorial Militia members informally mustered in support of the Territorial government involving local Indian uprisings . 1862 – 1865 . 1862 – 1865 Washington Territorial Militia members formed into the “ 1st Washington Territory Infantry ” and brought into service for the Civil War . 1885 . 1885 Washington Territory Militia “ officially ” formed and recognized as the Washington National Guard in the Legislative Assembly of Washington Territory . 1889 . 1889 – On November 11 , 1889 Washington became a state . 1890 . 1890 – State Legislature met and appropriated $ 20 , 319 . 33 for a “ Brigade Encampment ” to be held that summer . Completely uniformed and equipped for the first time , the Washington State National Guard trained on the shores of American Lake near Tacoma . 1890 – 1898 . 1890 – 1898 Washington National Guard members involved in additional Indian conflicts , civil unrest , riots and fire fighting . 1898 – 1899 . 1898 – 1899 Washington National Guard members called into Federal Service during the Philippine Insurrection . 1916 . 1916 Washington National Guard members involved in Mexican Border dispute . 1917 – 1918 . 1917 – 1918 Washington National Guard members Federalized for in WWI . 1919 – 1940 . 1919 – 1940 Washington National Guard members involved in civil disturbance , labor conflicts , flooding assistance and fire fighting . 1941 – 1945 . 1941 – 1945 Nearly 12 , 000 Washington National Guard members were inducted into Federal Service at the beginning of WWII . 1946 – 1960 . 1946 – 1960 Washington National Guard members involved in Civil disturbance , Labor conflicts , Flooding assistance , Fire fighting . 1961 . 1961 Washington National Guard members activated for the Berlin Crisis and the Berlin Airlift . 1962 – 1979 . 1962 – 1979 Washington National Guard members involved in Flooding assistance , Fire fighting . 1980 . 1980 More than 2 , 000 members of the Washington National Guard are called to state active duty when Mt St Helens Erupted . 1981 – 1990 . 1981 – 1990 Washington National Guard members involved in assistance to Law Enforcement , Search and Rescue , Emergency recovery , flood assistance , etc . 1990 – 1991 . 1990 – 1991 Washington National Guard members activated in support of Operations Desert Shield / Desert Storm ( Gulf War 1 ) . 1991 – 1996 . 1991 – 1996 Washington National Guard members serve in support of state missions involving Winter Storms , flooding assistance , fire fighting , etc . 1997 . 1997 Washington National Guard members deployed to Bosnia in Federal Active service as part of Operation Joint Guardian . 1998 . 1998 Civil unrest at WSU campus and at the Makah Indian Reservation in the first dispute regarding “ Whaling ” in over a hundred years . 1999 . 1999 Assistance to Law Enforcement – World Trade Organization Conference Civil unrest on the streets of Seattle . Washington National Guard members deployed to Kosovo in Federal Active service as part of Operation Joint Guardian . 2000 . 2000 Washington National Guard members deployed to Macedonia in Federal Active service as part of Operation Joint Guardian . 2001 . 2001 Washington National Guard members involved in Wild land fire fighting . 2001 – 2002 . 2001 – 2002 In response to the September 11 , 2001 Terrorist attacks , Washington National Guard members began to be deployed in the U . S . and around world in support Operations Noble Eagle ( United States ) and Enduring Freedom ( Afghanistan ) including Washington ' s regional airports , the northern border with Canada , the Olympic Games and the search for terrorists in the Afghan mountains . 2003 – 2012 . 2003 – 2012 Since Sept 11 , 2001 more than 12 , 000 citizen soldiers and airmen have served in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom ( Iraq , Kuwait , Qatar , Saudi Arabia ) , and in support of Operation Enduring Freedom ( Afghanistan , Philippines , Cuba , Djibouti ( Horn of Africa ) , Korea , Uzbekistan ) . Nearly 900 Washington Guardsmen have served in support domestic operations of Noble Eagle within the United States to include Airport Security , Border Patrol , security at military bases , and miscellaneous missions in Bosnia , Germany , Egypt and Kuwait . 2005 . 2005 As a result of Hurricanes Katrina and Rita , over 750 Washington Guard pilots , mechanics , supply and admin specialists , truck drivers and many others supported Humanitarian Relief efforts in Louisiana , Mississippi and Alabama . 2007 . 2007 Nearly 500 citizen soldiers and airmen served on state active duty in the aftermath of the December 2 storm and subsequent flooding in Southwest Washington . Missions focused on evacuating stranded residents , door - to - door health and welfare checks , transportation of vital supplies and provision of generators . 2009 . 2009 Nearly 550 citizen soldiers and airmen responded statewide to battle snow and flooding . The eastern Washington mission focused on snow removal from roads and public school buildings , while western Washington missions focused on evacuating stranded residents , door - to - door health and welfare checks , transportation of vital supplies . Museum . The Washington National Guard Museum , " The Arsenal " , is located in its own building at the WANG headquarters at Camp Murray .