West Virginia National Guard The West Virginia National Guard is a part of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety . It comprises the West Virginia Army National Guard and the West Virginia Air National Guard . The leadership of the West Virginia National Guard includes : West Virginia Army National Guard . The West Virginia Army National Guard ( WVARNG ) is the United States Army component of the West Virginia National Guard . It has 38 units and activities stationed in 22 counties throughout West Virginia and overseas . The WV ARNG is supporting Homeland Security activities , and has deployed troops as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq , Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan , and peace keeping missions in Kosovo . The WVARNG has a three - fold mission : Units include the : Two units of the West Virginia Army National Guard , the 150th Cavalry Regiment and the 201st Field Artillery Regiment , are among the nineteen Army National Guard units with campaign credit for the War of 1812 . The 150th Infantry Regiment served with the 38th Infantry Division between the wars , served in the Panama Canal Zone during World War II , and was an armoured cavalry regiment for a time after World War II . West Viriginia is also home to the 249th Army Band , stationed in Morgantown , WV . The band ' s history dates back to the turn of the century when it consisted of two bands , the 201st Infantry Band in Morgantown , WV and the 150th Infantry Band in Bluefield , WV . Upon release from federal service in World War Two , these two bands were consolidated into the current 249th and was stationed in Fairmont , West Virginia . In 1995 , the 249th was stationed in Morgantown . The band is made up of members from throughout the state as well as surrounding states . These personnel make up a Concert Band , Ceremonial Band , Jazz Ensemble , Rock Band , and several other small ensembles including , but not limited to , a Brass Choir , Jazz Quartet , and Percussion Ensemble . West Virginia Air National Guard . The West Virginia Air National Guard is the air force militia of the WV NG . It is considered a part of both the United States Air Force and the West Virginia National Guard The West Virginia Air National Guard was officially federally recognized on March 7 , 1947 , as the 167th Fighter Squadron , based at Kanawha Airport in Charleston . During the early years of the 167th , it flew the T - 6 Texan trainer , P - 51 Mustang and P - 47 Thunderbolt . The unit was activated October 10 , 1950 during the Korean War , and was designated the 167th Fighter Bomber Squadron when it returned on July 10 , 1952 . In December 1955 , the unit was redesignated as the 167th Fighter Interceptor Squadron , and relocated to Eastern West Virginia Region Airport in Martinsburg , WV . Today the West Virginia Air National Guard is composed of two airlift units , the 130th Airlift Wing based in Charleston , and the 167th Airlift Wing based in Martinsburg . Currently , the 167th is flying the C - 5 Galaxy and the 130th is flying the C - 130 Hercules in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom . In addition , the 130th and the 167th Wings took part in Operation Desert Shield . Both units report to Air Mobility Command . 130th Airlift Wing . On 13 May 2005 , the Department of Defense released its Base Realignment and Closure , 2005 ( BRAC ) report , and the 130th Airlift Wing was one of the units slated to be eventually decommissioned . Its complement of eight C - 130H aircraft would be realigned to Pope Air Force Base , and its complement of expeditionary combat support ( ECS ) personnel to the 167th Airlift Wing . Upon learning of this , several former commanders of the 130th Airlift Wing along with members of the local Kanawha County Commission and the Yeager Airport Board of Directors formed the Keep ' Em Flying grassroots organization to try to prevent the unit from being decommissioned . Following an outpouring of community support , money was raised for newspaper ads and radio ads , and to hire analysts familiar with BRAC , all in an attempt to save the unit . On June 13 , 2005 , members of the BRAC commission came to Charleston to evaluate the base and talk to General Tackett , Governor Joe Manchin , Senator Robert Byrd , Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito and Col . Bill Peters , Jr . , former commander of the 130th and chair for Keep ' Em Flying . Following this visit , and taking in all the information that was presented to them during that time , the BRAC commission voted unanimously , 9 – 0 , to keep the unit intact . 167th Airlift Wing . Since the September 11 attacks 2001 on New York City and Washington , D . C . , the unit has had members deployed to the Afghan and Iraq wars . Unit members have received six Bronze Stars and two Purple Hearts in support of these operations . In December 2006 , the 167th received its first C - 5 Galaxy , out of a total of 11 aircraft . At present , the runway at Shepherd Field in Martinsburg is being expanded and reinforced to accommodate the much larger and heavier Galaxy .