North Carolina Army National Guard

The Adjutant General of North Carolina is responsible for the peacetime administration and training of military forces and commands the North Carolina National Guard. Units normally train two days each month and must perform a 15 day annual training period each training year. Guard personnel must attain and maintain readiness levels equivalent to their active duty counterparts. Upon activation, Army National Guard units become deployable assets of the U.S. First Army and the Air National Guard becomes an asset of the U.S. Air Force Major Command.

The Adjutant General's Department is comprised of the North Carolina Army National Guard and The North Carolina Air National Guard. The North Carolina National Guard, Army and Air, serve as the organized military force for the state. The NCNG has both a state and federal mission when ordered by the governor. Under the National Defense Act, the Army and Air National Guard are reserve components of the United States Army and Air Force. The National Guard may also be ordered by the Governor to serve the state during emergencies such as natural disasters and domestic unrest. The National Guard assists state agencies with natural disaster response and relief as well as protection of life and property.

The governor, as commander-in-chief of the National Guard of the state, appoints the Adjutant General. Governor James B. Hunt Jr. appointed Maj Gen Gerald A. Rudisill, Jr. to the position of Adjutant General in 1993. During FY99, the North Carolina National was comprised of about 11,700 traditional guard members, with state authorizations set at 10,285 for Army and 1,522 for Air. Typically, these men and women serve one weekend a month and 15 days a year. These traditional Guardsmen are supported by a full-time staff of state employees, federal technicians and Active Guard/Reserve personnel dispersed at various locations throughout the state. The headquarters for the organization is located at the Claude T. Bowers Military Center in Raleigh, NC.

North Carolina's Army National Guard is comprised of three major commands: 60th Troop Command, 30th enhanced Heavy Separate Brigade and the 30th Engineer Brigade (Theater Area). The North Carolina Air National Guard is comprised of the 145 th Airlift Wing and subordinate units. Overall, the North Carolina National Guard maintains a presence in 75 counties with 95 armories and other facilities. The Air Guard is located in Charlotte, Badin and New London. The National Guard had an economic impact of 288 million dollars in 1999, which includes earnings of traditional guardsmen as well as the full-time work force, state and federal contracts and tuition assistance to guardsmen.

In 1663 the Carolina Charter granted eight Lords proprietors the authority to levy, muster and train men. In 1711 North Carolina militia forces fight in the Tuscarora War. In 1744 North Carolina militia forces fight against Spanish troops in King George's War, and in 1756 North Carolina militia forces fight in the French and Indian War. In 1771 North Carolina militia forces defeated the regulators in Alamance County. In 1775 North Carolina militia forces fight in the American Revolution.

In 1792 Congress passes the uniform militia Act to provide central direction and control over state militias. In 1806 the state legislature establishes the Adjutant General's department to control and be responsible for the militia. In 1812 North Carolina militia volunteers fight in the war of 1812, and in 1846 North Carolina militia volunteers fight in the Mexican-American War.

In 1861 North Carolina supports the Confederacy during the civil war and contributes over 125,000 troops. The 119th And 120th infantry battalions of the 30th Infantry brigade trace their heritage to the 1st NC regiment of the civil war.

In 1877 the North Carolina general assembly creates the active and inactive Militia. The active becomes the North Carolina state guard, consisting of Nineteen armed companies. For the first time African Americans join the state guard, making up ten of the nineteen Companies.

In 1898 North Carolina state guard volunteers fight in the Spanish-American war. In 1903 the Dick Act exerts federal control over the state militias and the State legislature redesignates the active Militia the North Carolina national Guard. In 1916 the North Carolina national guard is mobilized for service against Pancho Villa.

In 1917 the general assembly authorizes the present organization of the guard with a general statue (gs 127) and the North carolina national guard is mobilized for World War I. Most of the North Carolina guardsmen serve in the 30th Division (Old Hickory). In 1918 the 30th Division is deployed for combat in Belgium and France.

In 1925 the 30th division is reorganized into the 30th national guard division consistIng of units from North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia. In 1940 the North Carolina National Guard is mobilized for training in preparation for World War II. In 1944 the 30th Infantry Division deploys to participate in the landings on D-Day (lead elements arrive 10 June 1944) and for 11 months fights in Europe, through France, Belgium, the Netherlands and into Gerany to the Elbe River.

In 1950 a total of 11 North Carolina army guard units are mobilized because of the Korean Conflict In 1954 the 30th division becomes exclusively formed from North Carolina units.

In 1947 the National security act is passed creating the Air Force as a separate service and gave the Secretary of Defense overall supervision over military forces. In 1948 the 156th Fighter Squadron North Carolina air guard flying P-47 Thunderbolts at Morris Field (Charlotte) is federally recognized. In 1949 the 156th fighter squadron receives fhe faster P-51 Mustang fighter. In 1950 units of the north carolina Air national guard are called to active duty. The 156th fighter squadron is assigned to the 123rd fighter bomber wing in Kentucky. In 1955 the North Carolina air guard expands its facilities at Morris field, Charlotte. In 1957 the 145th fighter group is organized consisting of the 156th fighter squadron and other units. In 1960 the 145th fighter group is redesignated the 145th aeromedical transport group flying evacuation missions. In 1964 the 145th aeromedical transport group is redesignated the 145th air transport group (heavy) flying transport missions. In 1966 the North Carolina air guard begins to fly missions to Vietnam. In 1971 the 145th air transport group ends missions to vietnam flying over 11 million miles without an aircraft accident.

In 1967 the 30th infantry division is redesignated 30th infantry division (mechanized) consisting of units from North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

In 1973 the 30th infantry division (mechanized) is deactivated and the 30th infantry brigade (Mechanized) (separate) is organized. In 1983 - 2/252 armor battalion becomes the first national guard unit in the country to receive the M-1 Abrams main battle tank. In 1987 the 1-130th aviation becomes the first Reserve component unit to receive AH-64 Apache helicopters. In 1990 North Carolina army and air national guard troops are mobilized for operation Desert Shield.

In 1991 North Carolina Army and Air National Guard troops participate in Operation Desert Storm. Hundreds of ANG personnel from the 145th Airlift wing were deployed to Germany and other locations. Twelve ARNG units consisting of 2,300 soldiers deployed to Saudi Arabia, Fort Bragg and Germany.

In 1995 the 30th infantry brigade (mechanized) (Separate) was selected for conversion into an enhanced brigade. North carolina army and air national guard troops are mobilized for service in Bosnia, Hungary, and Germany.

In 1996 the 514th military police and individuals from the 449th aviation group are deployed to germany in support of operation joint Endeavor. Each deployment lasted approximately 270 days. The largest call-up to state Active duty (5,600) for relief operations for Hurricane Fran.

In 1997 the 111th, 112th, and 113th finance detachments deployed to Germany in support of Operation Joint Endeavor. The 514th MP Company returns from Germany. The 139 RTOC and 1454 Trans Co deployed to Operation Joint Guard. In 1998 the 1-130th AVN and Co E 130th AVN deployed 122 Guardsmen to Operation Southern Watch and returned in 1999.

FY99 was a year of challenges for the North Carolina Army National Guard. North Carolina led the nation in recruiting and launched an initiative to increase Hispanic representation. With the support of the state legislature and Governor Jim Hunt, the amount of tuition assistance provided to our members increased significantly.

North Carolina deployed an attack aviation task force to Kuwait in support of Operation Southern Watch, completing the first National Guard combat aviation rotation during an ongoing Army operation. The 30th Engineer Brigade participated in construction projects and exercises in Korea, Italy, Panama, the Marshall Islands, Moldova, Germany and Alaska. The 30th Heavy Separate Enhanced Brigade became part of the Army's 24th Integrated Division. Units from 60th Troops Command participated in State Partnership for Peace exercises in Moldova.

During FY99, Hurricane Dennis response and relief involved 750 Guard members in state active duty over a 12-day period. Hurricane Floyd then hit the state as a category four hurricane dumping over 20 inches of rain in eastern North Carolina. Massive flooding made Hurricane Floyd the worst natural disaster to hit the state in recorded history. Over 55,000 mandays of state active duty supported tens of thousands of North Carolina citizens.