Utah Army National Guard

Infobox Military Unit
unit_name = Headquarters, State Area Command
Utah Army National Guard


caption = Utah STARC Shoulder Sleeve insignia
dates =
country = United States
allegiance = Utah
branch = Army National Guard
type = ARNG Headquarters Command
role =
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command_structure = Utah National Guard
current_commander =
garrison = Draper, Utah
ceremonial_chief =
colonel_of_the_regiment =
nickname =
patron =
motto =
colors =
march =
mascot =
battles =
notable_commanders =
anniversaries =

The Utah National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. The Utah Army National Guard maintains 30 armories in 27 communities.

The Utah Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National 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.

Units and Formations

*97th Troop Command
*640th Regiment (RTI)
*I Corps Artillery
*19th Special Forces Group (Airborne)
*211th Aviation Group
*115th Engineer Group (CBT)
*300th MI Brigade (Linguist)
*Army Aviation Support Facility (AASF)
*85th WMD CST
*1457th Engineer Combat Battalion

History

In one sense the Utah Army National Guard was originally formed in 1849. In 1847, as Mormon settlers began arriving in what become known as Utah, it was realized that some sort of militia would be needed to protect the new settlements. The core of this new militia were former members of the Nauvoo Legion, which was formed in Nauvoo, Illinois around 1840. For a number of years members of the Utah based militia could be seen wearing elements of the old Nauvoo Legion uniforms. This new Utah based militia would also be referred to as the Nauvoo Legion. Some of the Utah based Nauvoo Legion would carry lances, giving them a unique look when on horseback. Members of the Mormon Battalion, after finally arriving in Utah after the end of the Mexican-American War, would also join the new Nauvoo Legion.

The Nauvoo Legion was necessarily involved in the would-be conflict between Mormons and Federal forces sent to Utah in the late 1850s. After it was apparent no major hostilities would break out, a somewhat more conciliatory relationship developed between Federal troops and the Legion.

In 1857 the honorable reputation of the Utah based Nauvoo Legion took a blow when Nauvoo Legion members in Iron County participated in the murder of 120 immigrants moving through Utah to California. This event is known as the Mountain Meadows massacre. The Utah based Nauvoo Legion participated in numerous efforts to quell problems with Indians, and also did certain protective duties in Utah during the Civil War.

As non-Mormon settlers and U.S. Government officials began to grow in numbers, it was perceived that the Nauvoo Legion was loyal mainly to the LDS church and Brigham Young, and not to the Utah territorial government. This perception was more acute after Brigham Young was removed as the territorial governor and a non-Mormon replaced him. The Utah militia was disbanded around 1887, and for a time a more direct control over any military matters was maintained directly by the Federal government. In 1894 the Utah National Guard was created, and since that time has operated in a purely secular manner. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.

See History of the United States National Guard for a more complete history of the guard at a national level.

ee also

*State Defense Forces
*Militia
*Home Guard
*36th Combat Aviation Brigade -- approx. 40 Utah ARNG soldiers deployed to Iraq with the 36th CAB in Sep 2006.
*Transformation of the Army National Guard

References

*United States National Guard, accessed 4 Nov 2006
* [http://www.utahguard.com/ Utah Army National Guard] , accessed 28 Nov 2006
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/arng-ut.htm GlobalSecurity.org Utah Army National Guard] , accessed 28 Nov 2006
* [http://www.cascom.army.mil/odct/Documents/AUSA_Briefing_26_Sep_05.ppt Unit Designations in the Army Modular Force] , accessed 23 Nov 2006

External links

* [http://www.ngb.army.mil/ The National Guard Bureau]
* [http://www.ngb.army.mil/gallery/heritage/index.asp/ The National Guard Bureau Heritage Collection]
* [http://www.1800goguard.com/ The Army National Guard Recruiting Site]
* [http://www.citizentosoldier.com/ Information about joining the guard]
* [http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/arng.htm GlobalSecurity.org Army National Guard page]