Rhode Island Army National Guard The Rhode Island Army National Guard ( RIARNG ) is the land force militia for the U . S . State of Rhode Island . It was established under Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code and operates under the command of the state governor . The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function under arms in a state status , so they may be called up for active duty by the governor to help respond to domestic emergencies and disasters , such as those caused by hurricanes , floods , or civil unrest . With the consent of the governor , members or units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard may be appointed , temporarily or indefinitely , to be federally recognized armed force members , in the active or inactive service of the United States . If federally recognized , the member or unit becomes part of the Army National Guard of the United States , which is a reserve component of the United States Army . Army National Guard of the United States units or members may be called up for federal active duty in times of Congressionally sanctioned war or national emergency . The President may also call up members and units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard , with the consent of the state governor , to repel invasion , suppress rebellion , or execute federal laws if the United States or any of its states or territories are invaded or is in danger of invasion by a foreign nation , or if there ' s a rebellion or danger of a rebellion against the authority of the federal government , or if the President is unable with the regular armed forces to execute the laws of the United States . Because both state Army National Guard and the Army National Guard of the United States relatively go hand - in - hand , they are both usually referred to as just Army National Guard . The Rhode Island Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard and are maintained by the National Guard Bureau . Members and units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army . The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards in addition to state awards . History . The Rhode Island National Guard was established from the First Colonial Defensive Force on May 13 , 1638 called the " Traine Band " in Portsmouth , Rhode Island . The new force was founded as , “ Freemen as a militia subject to call and expected to perform certain military duties in the protection of the people . ” The Rhode Island Militia undertook its first military actions against England on July 19 , 1769 when they sunk the British schooner HMS Liberty in Newport , Rhode Island . Three years later , on the night of June 10 , 1772 , now under Captain Abraham Whipple ' s command , the militia seized and burned the British schooner in Narragansett Bay . On April 22 , 1775 , following the Battles of Lexington and Concord in Massachusetts , the Rhode Island General Assembly created a 1 , 500 man " Army of Observation " under the command of Brigadier General Nathanael Greene and sent them to Boston to serve in the new Continental Army under General George Washington . Major General James Mitchell Varnum was also involved in the war effort . Over twenty Rhode Island units had fought for independence including the First Rhode Island Continentals who stood at Yorktown for the surrender of British General Cornwallis . After the war , the militia reorganized into five brigades : the Bristol County , the Kent County , the Newport County , the Providence County , and the Washington County Brigades . In 1916 , Light Battery " A " , Rhode Island Field Artillery , was called into federal service on June 19 , 1916 for duty with General John J . Pershing to fight against Poncho Villa during the Mexican Expedition . The following year , Battery " A " , Rhode Island Field Artillery , expanded to form the 1st Battalion , 103d Field Artillery , an element of the 26th " Yankee " Division during World War I . During World War II , the majority of the Rhode Island National Guard units belonged to the 43rd Infantry Division under General Douglas MacArthur for service in the Southwest Pacific , fighting in the New Guinea , Northern Solomons , and Luzon campaigns . During the Korean War , the Rhode Island National Guard had units serving with the 43rd Infantry Division in Germany and the 705th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion on the island of Okinawa . During the U . S . involvement in Vietnam , the Rhode Island National Guard had two units called to Federal service . The 107th Signal Company was activated on May 13 , 1968 and served in the Republic of Vietnam until October 1969 . The 115th Military Police Company was activated for duty at West Point , NY until December 1969 . During Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm the Rhode Island National Guard had four units mobilized for duty . The 143rd Airlift Wing , out of Quonset Point , flew military airlift mission from the U . S . into Europe transporting passengers and cargo . The 118th Military Police Battalion conducted Enemy Prisoner of War detainee operations , the 119th Military Police Company oversaw three POW camps , and the 115th Military Police Company provided base security , VIP escort and security and custom missions . The current War on Terror has seen the largest mobilization and deployment of Rhode Island National Guard troops since the World War I . Strategic Plan . Mission : Provide well - trained , well - led , and well - equipped mission - ready units in support of the National Military Strategy and , as required , state and local officials . Vision : A ready , relevant , and reliable force of Citizen Soldiers capable of conducting full - spectrum operations in joint and interagency environments . Major Commands . 43rd Military Police Brigade 56th Troop Command Special Operations Detachment - Global RI Medical Command RI Historic Commands