Texas Army National Guard The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army , the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces ( along with the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard ) . Nationwide , the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army ' s available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization . National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau . Texas Army National Guard 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 . The Texas Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Texas . The Texas Army National Guard is composed of approximately 19 , 000 soldiers , and maintains 117 armories in 102 communities . Major subordinate commands . On 1 September 2009 , the Texas Army National Guard activated the 1st Battalion ( Airborne ) , 143rd Infantry Regiment , the only Airborne infantry battalion in the Army National Guard . The unit includes a battalion headquarters and headquarters company ( HHC ) , 3 rifle companies ( Cos A , B , and C ) , a weapons company ( Co D ) , and a forward support company ( FSC ) . Most elements of the battalion will be located in Texas , with Co B in Alaska and Co C in Rhode Island . Rather than converting an existing TX ARNG unit , the battalion is being built from the ground up . According to the US Army Center of Military History , " 1st Battalion , 143d Infantry Regiment is a separate infantry battalion . " As such , it is not subordinate to other commands in the state , although it may be attached for administrative purposes . Duties . Federal service . National Guard units can be mobilized at any time by presidential order to supplement regular armed forces , and upon declaration of a state of emergency by the governor of the state in which they serve . Unlike Army Reserve members , National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually ( except through voluntary transfers and Temporary DutY assignments TDY ) , but only as part of their respective unit s . However , there has been a significant amount of individual activations to support military operations ( 2001 - ? ) ; the legality of this policy is a major issue within the National Guard . Federal active duty callups . For much of the final decades of the 20th 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 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 ) . State service . State duties include disaster relief , emergency preparedness , security assistance to state law enforcement agencies , and some aspects of border security . The Governor can activate the National Guard components under his control for state active duty in Texas , and in support of adjacent states . History . The Texas Army National Guard has its roots in the Texas Militia formed by Sam Houston during the Texas Revolution of 1835 - 1836 . The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militia s into the present National Guard system . The 49th Armored Division was ordered to active federal service in October 1961 at Dallas and reverted to state control in August 1962 . The 49th was deactivated in 1968 and re - organized into three separate brigades , the 36th Infantry Brigade , 71st Infantry Brigade and 72nd . The division was reactivated on 1 November 1973 , with its headquarters at Camp Mabry , Austin , Texas .