West Virginia National Guard

West Virginia National Guard. The West Virginia National Guard is a part of the United States Army National Guard and the United States Air National Guard, with its headquarters in Charleston, West Virginia. It is a reserve component of the United States Armed Forces, and its mission is to provide trained units and personnel to support the United States Army and the United States Air Force during times of war or national emergency, as well as to provide support to the state of West Virginia during times of natural disasters or civil unrest, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard Bureau. The West Virginia National Guard has a long history, dating back to the American Civil War, when it was known as the West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, and has since participated in numerous conflicts, including World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021).

● History

The history of the West Virginia National Guard dates back to the American Civil War, when the state of West Virginia was formed in 1863 and the West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was established, with support from the United States Department of War and the United States Department of the Navy. The West Virginia Volunteer Infantry saw action in several battles, including the Battle of Gettysburg and the Battle of Antietam, alongside the Union Army and the Confederate States Army. In the late 19th century, the West Virginia National Guard was formed, with the West Virginia State Legislature passing a law in 1889 that established the West Virginia National Guard as a state militia, in accordance with the Militia Acts of 1792 and the Dick Act. The West Virginia National Guard has since participated in numerous conflicts, including World War I, where it saw action in France and Belgium, alongside the American Expeditionary Forces and the Allies of World War I, and World War II, where it saw action in Europe and the Pacific Theater, alongside the United States Army Air Forces and the United States Navy. The West Virginia National Guard has also participated in the Korean War and the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), with support from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization and the United Nations.

● Organization

The West Virginia National Guard is organized into several units, including the 151st Infantry Regiment, the 201st Field Artillery Regiment, and the 150th Aviation Regiment, which are part of the United States Army National Guard and the United States Air National Guard. The West Virginia National Guard is also home to the 130th Airlift Wing, which is a unit of the United States Air National Guard and is equipped with the C-130 Hercules aircraft, with support from the United States Air Force and the Boeing Company. The West Virginia National Guard has several facilities throughout the state, including the Coonskin Park facility in Charleston, West Virginia, which serves as the headquarters for the West Virginia National Guard, and the Camp Dawson facility in Kingwood, West Virginia, which is a training facility for the West Virginia National Guard, in coordination with the United States Army Training and Doctrine Command and the United States Air Force Air Education and Training Command.

● Deployments

The West Virginia National Guard has been deployed to several countries, including Afghanistan, Iraq, and Kosovo, in support of the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021), the Iraq War, and the Kosovo War, alongside the International Security Assistance Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The West Virginia National Guard has also been deployed to several states, including Louisiana and Mississippi, to support disaster relief efforts, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross. In 2005, the West Virginia National Guard was deployed to Louisiana to support relief efforts following Hurricane Katrina, with support from the United States Coast Guard and the United States Navy. In 2010, the West Virginia National Guard was deployed to Haiti to support relief efforts following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, alongside the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.

● Equipment

The West Virginia National Guard is equipped with a variety of vehicles and equipment, including the Humvee and the M1 Abrams tank, with support from the United States Army and the General Dynamics Land Systems. The West Virginia National Guard is also equipped with several types of aircraft, including the C-130 Hercules and the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, with support from the United States Air Force and the Sikorsky Aircraft. The West Virginia National Guard has also been equipped with several types of weapons, including the M4 carbine and the M249 light machine gun, with support from the United States Army and the Colt's Manufacturing Company.

● Notable Members

The West Virginia National Guard has had several notable members, including Joe Manchin, who served as a member of the West Virginia National Guard and later became a United States Senator from West Virginia, and Jay Rockefeller, who served as a member of the West Virginia National Guard and later became a United States Senator from West Virginia and the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation. The West Virginia National Guard has also had several members who have received awards for their service, including the Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star Medal, with support from the United States Department of Defense and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.

● Missions

The West Virginia National Guard has several missions, including supporting the United States Army and the United States Air Force during times of war or national emergency, and providing support to the state of West Virginia during times of natural disasters or civil unrest, in coordination with the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the National Guard Bureau. The West Virginia National Guard also has a mission to provide training and support to other countries, including Afghanistan and Iraq, as part of the War in Afghanistan (2001-2021) and the Iraq War, alongside the International Security Assistance Force and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The West Virginia National Guard has also been involved in several humanitarian missions, including providing support to Haiti following the 2010 Haiti earthquake, with support from the United States Agency for International Development and the United Nations Stabilisation Mission in Haiti.

Category:National Guard (United States)