Jump to content

Rhode Island Army National Guard: Difference between revisions

Edit links
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous edit
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
KolbertBot (talk | contribs)
Bots
1,166,042 edits
m Bot: HTTP→HTTPS (v485)
→‎Vietnam: uppercase per direct link (Vietnam War)
 
(48 intermediate revisions by 31 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{short description|Component of the US Army and military of the U.S. state of Rhode Island}}
{{Infobox military unit
{{Infobox military unit
|unit_name= Rhode Island Army National Guard
|unit_name= Rhode Island Army National Guard
|image= US Army Rhode Island Army National Guard SSI.svg
|image= US Army Rhode Island Army National Guard SSI.svg
|image_size= 300px
|image_size= 220px
|caption= Rhode Island STARC Shoulder Sleeve insignia
|caption= Shoulder sleeve insignia of the Rhode Island State Area Command (STARC)
|dates=1638 - Present
|dates=1638 – Present
|country= [[United States]]
|country= [[United States]]
|allegiance= [[Rhode Island]]
|allegiance= [[Rhode Island]]
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|branch= [[United States Army]]
|type= ARNG Headquarters Command
|type= ARNG Headquarters Command
|role=
|role=
|[[File:RI ArmyNG SAC COA.gif|120px]]
|[[File:RI ArmyNG SAC Unit Insignia.gif|120px]]
|size=
|size=
|command_structure=[[Rhode Island National Guard]]
|command_structure=[[Rhode Island National Guard]]
|current_commander= Brig. Gen. Christopher Callahan
|current_commander= Maj. Gen. Christopher Callahan
|garrison= 2841 South County Trail, East Greenwich, RI 02818

|garrison= 645 New London Ave, Cranston, RI 02920
|ceremonial_chief=
|ceremonial_chief=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
|colonel_of_the_regiment=
Line 22: Line 20:
|colors=
|colors=
|march=
|march=
|battles=
|battles=
|notable_commanders=
|notable_commanders=
|anniversaries=
|anniversaries=
}}
}}


The '''Rhode Island Army National Guard''' (RIARNG) is the land force [[militia]] for the U.S. state of [[Rhode Island]]. It operates under [[Title 10 of the United States Code|Title 10]] and [[Title 32 of the United States Code|Title 32]] of the [[United States Code]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sup_01_10.html|title=Cornell University Law School - Title 10 US Code|accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/32/usc_sup_01_32.html|title=Cornell University Law School - Title 32 US Code|accessdate=2009-03-08}}</ref> and operates under the command of the state governor while not in federal service. National Guard units may function [[under arms]] in a state status, therefore 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 [[Riot|civil unrest]].
The '''Rhode Island Army National Guard''' (RIARNG) is the land force [[militia]] for the U.S. state of [[Rhode Island]]. It operates under [[Title 10 of the United States Code|Title 10]] and [[Title 32 of the United States Code|Title 32]] of the [[United States Code]]<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/usc_sup_01_10.html|title=Cornell University Law School — Title 10 US Code|access-date=2009-03-08}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/32/usc_sup_01_32.html|title=Cornell University Law School Title 32 US Code|access-date=2009-03-08}}</ref> and operates under the command of the state governor while not in federal service. National Guard units may function [[under arms]] in a state status, therefore 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 [[Riot|civil unrest]].


Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard may be called up for federal service by act of Congress. If federally activated, units operate as part of the Army National Guard of the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/32/101-|title=Cornell University Law School - Title 32 US Code: § 101. Definitions|accessdate=2009-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12401-|title=Cornell University Law School - Title 10 US Code: § 12401. Status|accessdate=2009-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/10105-|title=Cornell University Law School - Title 10 US Code: § 10105. Composition|accessdate=2009-03-15}}</ref> a reserve component of the United States Army.
Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard may be called up for federal service. If federally activated, units operate as part of the Army National Guard of the United States,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/32/101-|title=Cornell University Law School – Title 32 US Code: § 101. Definitions|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/12401-|title=Cornell University Law School – Title 10 US Code: § 12401. Status|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/10/10105-|title=Cornell University Law School – Title 10 US Code: § 10105. Composition|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> a reserve component of the United States Army.


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.
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.
Line 39: Line 37:
===Colonial era===
===Colonial era===


Note - Most of the information in this section is taken from ''Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647-1800'' by Joseph Jencks Smith published in 1900.
Note – Most of the information in this section is taken from ''Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647–1800'' by Joseph Jencks Smith published in 1900.


The Rhode Island National Guard traces it origins to the earliest known colonial defensive force which was formed on May 13, 1638, and 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.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/history/default.aspx|title=History of the Rhode Island Army National Guard|accessdate=2009-03-08|deadurl=yes|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406200435/http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/history/default.aspx|archivedate=2009-04-06|df=}}</ref>
The Rhode Island National Guard traces it origins to the earliest known colonial defensive force which was formed on May 13, 1638, and 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.”<ref>{{cite web|url=http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/history/default.aspx|title=History of the Rhode Island Army National Guard|access-date=2009-03-08|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406200435/http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/history/default.aspx|archive-date=2009-04-06}}</ref>


During the Colonial era, the organization of the Rhode Island Militia was fairly simple. Each town had at least one militia company commanded by a captain or a lieutenant. In May 1673 future governor [[John Cranston (governor)|John Cranston]] was appointed "captain in chief of the Colony Military Force". In 1675 Cranston was promoted to major.
During the Colonial era, the organization of the '''Rhode Island Militia''' was fairly simple. Each town had at least one militia company commanded by a captain or a lieutenant. In May 1673 future governor [[John Cranston (governor)|John Cranston]] was appointed "captain in chief of the Colony Military Force". In 1675 Cranston was promoted to major.


In 1683 the town companies were organized into two regiments - the Regiment of the Islands (i.e., Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown and New Shoreham) and the Regiment of the Main (which covered the towns on the mainland of the colony). Each regiment originally was commanded by a major and the two majors presumably reported directly to the governor.
In 1683 the town companies were organized into two regiments – the Regiment of the Islands (i.e., Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown and New Shoreham) and the Regiment of the Main (which covered the towns on the mainland of the colony). Each regiment originally was commanded by a major and the two majors presumably reported directly to the governor.


In 1714 the Militia of the Island was designated the 1st Regiment and the Militia of the Main Land was designated the 2nd Regiment. The 1st Regiment consisted of six companies and the 2nd Regiment had nine companies. The number of companies in each town varied with its population with Newport and Providence having three apiece. In 1719 the rank of the regimental commanders was increased to colonel.
In 1714 the Militia of the Island was designated the 1st Regiment and the Militia of the Main Land was designated the 2nd Regiment. The 1st Regiment consisted of six companies and the 2nd Regiment had nine companies. The number of companies in each town varied with its population with Newport and Providence having three apiece. In 1719 the rank of the regimental commanders was increased to colonel.


In 1731, a regiment was formed for each of the three then existing counties - Newport, Providence and Kings which were designed the 1st, 2nd and 3d regiments respectively. The Newport County regiment had six companies, Providence County had 13 companies and Kings County had 9 companies.
In 1731, a regiment was formed for each of the three then existing counties Newport, Providence and Kings which were designed the 1st, 2nd and 3d regiments respectively. The Newport County regiment had six companies, Providence County had 13 companies and Kings County had 9 companies.


===American Revolution===
===American Revolution===
⚫
The Rhode Island Militia undertook its first military actions against England on July 19, 1769, when they sunk the British schooner [[HMS Liberty (1768)|HMS Liberty]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. Three years later, on the night of June 10, 1772, now under Captain [[Abraham Whipple|Abraham Whipple's]] command, the militia [[Gaspée Affair|seized and burned]] the British schooner {{HMS|Gaspée|1763|6}} 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. In July 1777, Captain [[William Barton (soldier)|William Barton]], with a hand-picked force, kidnapped British General [[Richard Prescott]] from [[Newport, Rhode Island]] and 3,000 enemy soldiers, in order to have someone high enough to swap to get captured American General [[Charles Lee (general)|Charles Lee]] back from the British.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://allthingsliberty.com/2016/01/the-organization-of-the-rhode-island-militia-1774-1783/|title=Organization of the Rhode Island Militia, 1774–1783|access-date=August 9, 2019|author=Robertson, John K.}}</ref>

⚫
The Rhode Island Militia undertook its first military actions against England on July 19, 1769, when they sunk the British schooner [[HMS Liberty (1768)|HMS Liberty]] in [[Newport, Rhode Island]]. Three years later, on the night of June 10, 1772, now under Captain [[Abraham Whipple|Abraham Whipple's]] command, the militia [[Gaspée Affair|seized and burned]] the British schooner {{HMS|Gaspée|1763|6}} 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. In July 1777, Captain [[William Barton (soldier)|William Barton]], with a hand-picked force, kidnapped British General [[Richard Prescott]] from [[Newport, Rhode Island]] and 3,000 enemy soldiers, in order to have someone high enough to swap to get captured American General [[Charles Lee (general)|Charles Lee]] back from the British.


Over twenty Rhode Island units had fought for independence including the [[1st Rhode Island Regiment|First Rhode Island Continentals]] who [[Siege of Yorktown|stood]] at [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]] for the surrender of British General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|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.
Over twenty Rhode Island units had fought for independence including the [[1st Rhode Island Regiment|First Rhode Island Continentals]] who [[Siege of Yorktown|stood]] at [[Yorktown, Virginia|Yorktown]] for the surrender of British General [[Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess Cornwallis|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.
Line 63: Line 60:
===American Civil War===
===American Civil War===


With the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Rhode Island Militia units formed the ten line companies of the [[1st Rhode Island Infantry|1st Rhode Island Detached Military]] Regiment under the command of Colonel [[Ambrose Burnside]]. Additionally, the [[Providence Marine Corps of Artillery]] was mobilized as the 1st Rhode Island Battery. The 1st Rhode Island fought at the [[First Battle of Bull Run|Battle of Bull Run]], under command of Major [[Joseph Pope Balch]] who succeeded to command after Burnside was promoted to brigadier general. The 1st Rhode Island discharged, along with the 1st Battery, when its 90 enlistment expired on August 2, 1861.
With the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Rhode Island Militia units formed the ten line companies of the [[1st Rhode Island Infantry|1st Rhode Island Detached Militia]] Regiment under the command of Colonel [[Ambrose Burnside]]. Additionally, the [[Providence Marine Corps of Artillery]] was mobilized as the 1st Rhode Island Battery. Both of these units fought at the [[First Battle of Bull Run]], under the command of Major [[Joseph Pope Balch]], who succeeded to command after Burnside was promoted to brigadier general. The 1st Rhode Island was discharged, along with the 1st Battery, when its 90-day Federal service obligation expired on August 2, 1861.


===Post-Civil War===
===Post-Civil War===
Line 85: Line 82:
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 [[Pancho Villa]] during the [[Mexican Expedition]]. The following year, Battery "A", Rhode Island Field Artillery, expanded to form the 1st Battalion, [[103rd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|103d Field Artillery]], an element of the [[26th Infantry Division (United States)|26th "Yankee" Division]] during [[World War I]].
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 [[Pancho Villa]] during the [[Mexican Expedition]]. The following year, Battery "A", Rhode Island Field Artillery, expanded to form the 1st Battalion, [[103rd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|103d Field Artillery]], an element of the [[26th Infantry Division (United States)|26th "Yankee" Division]] during [[World War I]].


The 103rd was shipped to France with the 26th Division and saw action in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns in 1918.
The 103d was shipped to France with the 26th Division and saw action in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns in 1918.


The coast artillery companies, which were descended from infantry units, were also mobilized in 1917 and were used to garrison Rhode Island's coast defense forts for the duration of the war.
The [[United States Army Coast Artillery Corps|coast artillery]] companies, which were descended from infantry units, were also mobilized in 1917 and were used to garrison [[Coast Defenses of Narragansett Bay|Rhode Island's coast defense forts]] for the duration of the war.


Most Rhode Island units were demobilized in December 1918 following the signing of the [[Armistice]] with Germany on November 11.
Most Rhode Island units were demobilized in December 1918 following the signing of the [[Armistice of 11 November 1918|Armistice]] with Germany on November 11.


===Second World War===
===Second World War===


During [[World War II]], the majority of the Rhode Island National Guard units belonged to the [[43rd Infantry Division (United States)|43rd Infantry Division]] under [[General Douglas MacArthur]] for service in the Southwest Pacific, fighting in the New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon campaigns. Units which served with the 43d Infantry Division included the 103d and 169th Field Artillery battalions and the 118th Engineer Battalion. Stateside, the 243d Coast Artillery Regiment served with the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay.
During [[World War II]], the majority of the Rhode Island National Guard units belonged to the [[43rd Infantry Division (United States)|43d Infantry Division]] under [[General Douglas MacArthur]] for service in the Southwest Pacific, fighting in the New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon campaigns. Units which served with the 43d Infantry Division included the 103d and 169th Field Artillery battalions and the 118th Engineer Battalion. Stateside, the [[243rd Coast Artillery (United States)|243d Coast Artillery Regiment]] served with the [[Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay]].


===Korean War===
===Korean War===
Line 101: Line 98:
===Vietnam===
===Vietnam===


During the U.S. [[Vietnam war|intervention in Vietnam]], the Rhode Island National Guard had two units called into Federal service. The 107th Signal Company was activated on May 13, 1968 and served in the [[Republic of Vietnam]] until October 1969. The [http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/43mp/115mp/default.aspx 115th Military Police Company] was activated for duty at [[West Point]], NY until December 1969. During this mobilization, individual soldiers from the 115th MP Company were "levied" and sent to serve in Vietnam to replace casualties.
During the U.S. [[Vietnam War|intervention in Vietnam]], the Rhode Island National Guard had two units called into Federal service. The 107th Signal Company was activated on May 13, 1968 and served in the [[Republic of Vietnam]] until October 1969. The [https://web.archive.org/web/20140307020734/http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/army/43mp/115mp/default.aspx 115th Military Police Company] was activated for duty at [[West Point]], NY until December 1969. During this mobilization, individual soldiers from the 115th MP Company were "levied" and sent to serve in Vietnam to replace casualties.


===Post-Vietnam===
===Post-Vietnam===
Line 111: Line 108:
===Gulf War===
===Gulf War===


During [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|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.
During [[Gulf War#Operation Desert Shield|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, attached to the 14th Military Police Brigade and to the 1st Infantry Division during actual combat operations in Iraq, conducted Main Supply Route Security, Battlefield Circulation Control, and temporary holding of Enemy Prisoners of War; the 119th Military Police Company oversaw three [[POW|EPW (enemy prisoners of war)]] camps; and the 115th Military Police Company provided base security, conducted VIP escort/security missions, and custom missions.


===Interim 1991 to 2001===
===Interim 1991 to 2001===
Line 118: Line 115:


===Global War on Terrorism / Operation Iraqi Freedom===
===Global War on Terrorism / Operation Iraqi Freedom===
[[File:115th MP Company doing a vehicle search in Fallujah.jpg|thumb|Rhode Island Army National Guard in [[Fallujah]], [[Iraq]], 28 July 2003]]
[[File:115th MP Company doing a vehicle search in Fallujah.jpg|thumb|Rhode Island Army National Guardsmen in [[Fallujah]], [[Iraq]], 28 July 2003]]
The current War on Terror has seen the largest levels of mobilization and deployment of Rhode Island National Guard troops since the Second World War.
The current War on Terror has seen the largest levels of mobilization and deployment of Rhode Island National Guard troops since the Second World War.


In early 2002 the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 43d Military Police Brigade was mobilized and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide the nucleus of the Headquarters for [[Joint Task Force 160]] (JTF 160) in charge of detention of illegal combatants detained in operations in Afghanistan. JTF 160 was responsible for opening Camp Delta which was a detention facility which was a great improvement over Camp X-Ray where detainees were kept initially. It should be noted that the widely publicized and controversial interrogations of detainees were carried out by Joint Task Force 170 which was responsible for intelligence gathering at Guantanamo Bay. The 43d MP Brigade returned to Rhode Island in November 2002.
In early 2002 the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 43d Military Police Brigade was mobilized and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide the nucleus of the Headquarters for [[Joint Task Force 160]] (JTF 160) in charge of detention of illegal combatants detained in operations in Afghanistan. JTF 160 was responsible for opening Camp Delta which was a detention facility which was a great improvement over Camp X-Ray where detainees were kept initially. Widely publicized and controversial interrogations of detainees were carried out by Joint Task Force 170 which was responsible for intelligence gathering at Guantanamo Bay. The 43d MP Brigade returned to Rhode Island in November 2002.


In February 2003 the 118th Military Police Battalion, along with its subordinate units the 115th and 119th Military Police companies, was mobilized and sent to Kuwait, and later Iraq. The units were overseas from April 2003 to April 2004. Two soldiers from the 115th Military Police Company were killed in action and another in an accident. The 115th MP Company received the prestigious [[Valorous Unit Award]] for its combat service in Fallujah in 2003.
In February 2003 the 118th Military Police Battalion, along with its subordinate units the 115th and 119th Military Police companies, was mobilized and sent to Kuwait, and later Iraq. The units were overseas from April 2003 to April 2004. Two soldiers from the 115th Military Police Company were killed in action and another in an accident. The 115th MP Company received the prestigious [[Valorous Unit Award]] for its combat service in Fallujah in 2003.
Line 129: Line 126:
From 2003 to 2011 every unit of the Rhode Island National Guard, with the exception of the 88th Army Band and the Joint Forces Headquarters, would be mobilized at least once for service in either Iraq or Afghanistan.
From 2003 to 2011 every unit of the Rhode Island National Guard, with the exception of the 88th Army Band and the Joint Forces Headquarters, would be mobilized at least once for service in either Iraq or Afghanistan.


According to the RING and RIEMA (Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency) Annual Report 2008, on 6 September 2008, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 103rd Field Artillery Brigade and one of its component units, the 1043rd Maintenance Company, were to inactivate on 6 September 2008.<ref>http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/publicaffairs/Public%20Affairs%20Document%20Library/Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf, p.33, and {{cite web |url=http://www.blackanthem.com/News/living/Rhode-Island-Artillery-unit-Retire-Thier-Colors_printer.shtml |title=Archived copy |accessdate=2014-02-08 |deadurl=yes |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223023651/http://www.blackanthem.com/News/living/Rhode-Island-Artillery-unit-Retire-Thier-Colors_printer.shtml |archivedate=2014-02-23 |df= }}</ref> The other RING unit of the brigade, the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery (1/103rd FA), was to be reassigned elsewhere. The brigade was originally formed in 1979. The 1043rd Maintenance Company was merged with the 1207th Transportation Company and reorganized as the 1207th Forward Support Company (FSC) which became and integral unit of the 1/103rd FA providing maintenance and logistical support to the battalion.
According to the RING and RIEMA (Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency) Annual Report 2008, on 6 September 2008, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 103rd Field Artillery Brigade and one of its component units, the 1043rd Maintenance Company, were to inactivate on 6 September 2008.<ref>http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/publicaffairs/Public%20Affairs%20Document%20Library/Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140222202229/http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/publicaffairs/Public%20Affairs%20Document%20Library/Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf |date=2014-02-22 }}, p. 33, and {{cite web |url=http://www.blackanthem.com/News/living/Rhode-Island-Artillery-unit-Retire-Thier-Colors_printer.shtml |title=Rhode Island Artillery unit Retire Thier[sic] Colors |access-date=2014-02-08 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140223023651/http://www.blackanthem.com/News/living/Rhode-Island-Artillery-unit-Retire-Thier-Colors_printer.shtml |archive-date=2014-02-23 }}</ref> The other RING unit of the brigade, the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery (1/103rd FA), was to be reassigned elsewhere. The brigade was originally formed in 1979. The 1043rd Maintenance Company was merged with the 1207th Transportation Company and reorganized as the 1207th Forward Support Company (FSC) which became and integral unit of the 1/103rd FA providing maintenance and logistical support to the battalion.

===COVID-19 Pandemic Response Efforts===
[[File:Rhode Island National Guard (49866780841).jpg|thumb|right|National Guard perform multiple tasks at a COVID-19 test site at [[Rhode Island College]] in May 2020]]
During the beginning of the pandemic Governor [[Gina Raimondo]] ordered the Rhode Island National Guard and the [[Rhode Island State Police]] to stop motorists with New York license plates, as well as move door-to-door to find people who may have traveled recently from New York, to ask them to quarantine. Also anyone who had moved from New York state to Rhode Island in the past two weeks were asked to self-quarantine for 14 days in order to help stop the spread of the virus in Rhode Island.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rhode Island police, Guard stopping incoming New Yorkers to force quarantine|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/rhode-island-police-troops-stopping-incoming-new-yorkers-force-quarantine-n1171106|publisher=Phil McCausland|access-date= May 23, 2021|date=May 28, 2020}}</ref>

Upon EUA approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the Rhode Island National Guard was called upon by the Governor to develop a task force to plan for and execute the mass vaccination of the state of Rhode Island. From January through June 2021, Task Force Vax oversaw the administration of more than 336,000 vaccines to residents of Rhode Island, accounting for roughly 30% of all vaccinations administered within the state.<ref>{{cite web|title=Rhode Island National Guard helps administer COVID-19 vaccine|url=https://turnto10.com/news/local/rhode-island-national-helps-administer-covid-19-vaccine|publisher=Christina Vitale|access-date=22 May 2021|date=14 January 2021}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Rhode Island National Guard helps administer COVID-19 vaccine|url=https://www.providencejournal.com/story/news/columns/2021/02/24/ri-national-guard-makes-sure-vaccine-effort-runs-smoothly/4566828001/|publisher=Mark Patinkin|access-date=22 May 2021|date=24 February 2021}}</ref>


== Strategic plan ==
== Strategic plan ==
Line 137: Line 140:


'''Vision:'''
'''Vision:'''
A ready, relevant, and reliable force of Citizen Soldiers capable of conducting full-spectrum operations in joint and interagency environments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/Documents/UPDATED%20-%20Strategic%20Plan%20Command%20Goals%20and%20Objectives.ppt|title= Rhode Island National Guard Strategic Plan 2009-2018|accessdate=2009-03-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>
A ready, relevant, and reliable force of Citizen Soldiers capable of conducting full-spectrum operations in joint and interagency environments.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/Documents/UPDATED%20-%20Strategic%20Plan%20Command%20Goals%20and%20Objectives.ppt|title= Rhode Island National Guard Strategic Plan 2009-2018|access-date=2009-03-09}} {{Dead link|date=October 2010|bot=H3llBot}}</ref>


== Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard circa 2015 ==
== Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard circa 2015 ==
*[[43rd Military Police Brigade]]
* [[File:43MPBdeSSI.svg|30x30px]][[43rd Military Police Brigade]] (43rd MPB)
**Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 43d Military Police Brigade - Warwick
** Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 43rd Military Police Brigade (43rd MPB) – Warwick
**118th Military Police Battalion
** [[File:118MPBnDUI.jpg|26x26px]]118th Military Police Battalion (118th MPB)
***Headquarters Detachment, 118th Military Police Battalion - Warwick
*** Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 118th Military Police Battalion (118th MPB) – Warwick
***115th Military Police Company - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
*** 115th Military Police Company (115th MPC) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
***169th Military Police Company - Warren
*** 169th Military Police Company (169th MPC) – Warren
**[[103rd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|1st Battalion, 103d Field Artillery Regiment]]
** [[File:103rd Field ARtillery Regiment.jpg|26x26px]][[103rd Field Artillery Regiment (United States)|1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment]] (1-103rd FAR)
***Headquarters and Service Battery - Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
*** Headquarters and Service Battery (HSB) – Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
***Battery A - Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
*** Battery A – Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
***Battery B - North Smithfield
*** Battery B – North Smithfield
***Battery C - Bristol
*** Battery C – Bristol
***1207th Forward Support Company - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
*** 1207th Forward Support Company (1207th FSC) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
*[http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/SitePages/Home.aspx 56th Troop Command]
* [https://ri.ng.mil/Army-Units/ 56th Troop Command]
**Headquarters Detachment, 56th Troop Command - East Greenwich
** Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 56th Troop Command – East Greenwich
**[[1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment|1st Battalion (General Support), 126th Aviation Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/126/SitePages/Home.aspx|title=1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment|publisher=Rhode Island National Guard|date=December 25, 2016}}</ref> - Quonset Point
** [[File:126 Avn Rgt DUI.png|26x26px]][[1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment|1st Battalion (General Support), 126th Aviation Regiment]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/126/SitePages/Home.aspx|title=1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment|publisher=Rhode Island National Guard|date=December 25, 2016|access-date=December 25, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226054736/http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/126/SitePages/Home.aspx|archive-date=December 26, 2016|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}</ref> – Quonset Point
***Headquarters and Headquarters Company
*** Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
****Detachment 1
**** Detachment 1
***Company A
*** Company A
***Company D
*** Company D
****Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
**** Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
***Company E
*** Company E
****Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
**** Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
***Company F (UH-60A)
*** Company F (UH-60A)
****Detachment 2 at Quonset Armory
**** Detachment 2 at Quonset Armory
**Det 23, Operational Support Airlift Command - Quonset Point
** Detachment 23, Operational Support Airlift Command – Quonset Point
**Co A, 2d Battalion, [[19th Special Forces Group]] - Middletown
** [[File:United States Army Special Forces SSI (1958-2015).png|39x39px]]Company A, 2nd Battalion, [[19th Special Forces Group]] – Middletown
**Co A, 1st Battalion, 182d Infantry Regiment - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
** [[File:182 Inf Rgt DUI.jpg|28x28px]]Company A, 1st Battalion, [[182nd Infantry Regiment]] – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
**[http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/143/SitePages/Home.aspx Co C], 1st Battalion (Airborne), [[143rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|143d Infantry Regiment]] - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
** [[File:143 Inf Rgt DUI.png|30x30px]][http://ri.ng.mil/army/56tc/143/SitePages/Home.aspx Company C], 1st Battalion (Airborne), [[143rd Infantry Regiment (United States)|143rd Infantry Regiment]] – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
**861st Engineer Company - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
** 861st Engineer Company – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
**88th Army Band - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
** 88th Army Band – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
* 56th Quartermaster Rigger Support Team


Independent Units
Independent Units:
* Special Operations Detachment - Global (SOD-G) - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
* Special Operations Detachment – Global (SOD-G) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
* 13th Civil Support Team (WMD) - Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
* 13th Civil Support Team (WMD) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
* RIARNG Recruiting and Retention Command - Cranston
* RIARNG Recruiting and Retention Command – Cranston
* [http://ri.ng.mil/army/243rti/SitePages/Home.aspx 243d Regional Training Institute] - Camp Varnum, Narragansett
* [[243rd Coast Artillery (United States)|243d Regiment (Regional Training Institute)]] – Camp Varnum, Narragansett
* Rhode Island Medical Command - North Kingstown
* Rhode Island Medical Detachment – Providence, RI
* 110th [[Public affairs (military)|Public Affairs Detachment]] - Cranston
* 110th [[Public affairs (military)|Public Affairs Detachment]] – Cranston


==Adjutants General of Rhode Island==
==Adjutants General of Rhode Island==
Line 186: Line 190:
* Major General Peter Leo Cannon, 19 February 1941 – 9 August 1945
* Major General Peter Leo Cannon, 19 February 1941 – 9 August 1945
* Major General [[Leonard Holland]], January 1961 – August 1983 (longest serving Adjutant General of Rhode Island)
* Major General [[Leonard Holland]], January 1961 – August 1983 (longest serving Adjutant General of Rhode Island)
* Major General John W. Kiely,<ref>[http://www.arlingtoncemetery.net/jwkiely.htm John W. Kiely]</ref> 1983–1990
* Major General John W. Kiely, 1983–1990
* Major General N. Andre Trudeau, 1990–1995
* Major General N. Andre Trudeau, 1990–1995
* Major General Reginald Centracchio,<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131221134032/http://capitolwords.org/date/2005/09/13/S9982_recognition-of-the-retirement-of-major-general-reg/ Reginald Centracchio]</ref> 1 August 1995 – 1 September 2005
* Major General Reginald Centracchio,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://capitolwords.org/date/2005/09/13/S9982_recognition-of-the-retirement-of-major-general-reg/| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221134032/http://capitolwords.org/date/2005/09/13/S9982_recognition-of-the-retirement-of-major-general-reg/| url-status=dead| archive-date=2013-12-21|title=Reginald Centracchio}}</ref> 1 August 1995 – 1 September 2005
* Major General Robert T. Bray,<ref>[http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/9/981.html Robert T. Bray]</ref> 17 February 2006 – 1 July 2011
* Major General Robert T. Bray,<ref>[http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/9/981.html Robert T. Bray]</ref> 17 February 2006 – 1 July 2011
* Major General Kevin R. McBride,<ref>[http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/1/1134.html Kevin R. McBride]</ref> 1 July 2011 – June 2015
* Major General Kevin R. McBride,<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/1/1134.html|title=Kevin R. McBride}}</ref> 1 July 2011 – June 2015
* Brigadier General Christopher P. Callahan, 5 August 2015 – present<ref>http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2881.html</ref>
* Major General Christopher P. Callahan, 5 August 2015 – present<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalguard.mil/portals/31/Features/ngbgomo/bio/2/2881.html|title=Major General Christopher P. Callahan|website=National Guard Portals|access-date=August 9, 2019}}</ref>


==See also==
==See also==
⚫
* [[Rhode Island Air National Guard]]
*[[Militia]]
⚫
*[[Rhode Island Air National Guard]]
* [[Rhode Island Naval Militia]]
* [[Rhode Island Naval Militia]]
* [[Rhode Island State Guard]]
* [[Rhode Island State Guard]]
* [[Rhode Island Independent Military Organizations]]
* [[List of United States militia units in the American Revolutionary War]]


==References==
==References==
Line 204: Line 209:
==External links==
==External links==
{{commons category|Rhode Island Army National Guard}}
{{commons category|Rhode Island Army National Guard}}
* [http://states.ng.mil/SITES/RI/Pages/Default.aspx Rhode Island National Guard official homepage]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20140319071031/http://states.ng.mil/SITES/RI/Pages/Default.aspx Rhode Island National Guard official homepage]
* [http://www.history.army.mil/ARNG/NG-RI.htm Bibliography of Rhode Island Army National Guard History] compiled by the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]
* [http://www.history.army.mil/ARNG/NG-RI.htm Bibliography of Rhode Island Army National Guard History] compiled by the [[United States Army Center of Military History]]


Latest revision as of 23:51, 1 June 2024

Rhode Island Army National Guard
Shoulder sleeve insignia of the Rhode Island State Area Command (STARC)
Active1638 – Present
CountryUnited States
AllegianceRhode Island
BranchUnited States Army
TypeARNG Headquarters Command
Part ofRhode Island National Guard
Garrison/HQ2841 South County Trail, East Greenwich, RI 02818
Commanders
Current
commander		Maj. Gen. Christopher Callahan

The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RIARNG) is the land force militia for the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It operates under Title 10 and Title 32 of the United States Code[1][2] and operates under the command of the state governor while not in federal service. National Guard units may function under arms in a state status, therefore 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.

Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard may be called up for federal service. If federally activated, units operate as part of the Army National Guard of the United States,[3][4][5] a reserve component of the United States Army.

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.

The Rhode Island Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard and is 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[edit]

Colonial era[edit]

Note – Most of the information in this section is taken from Civil and Military List of Rhode Island, 1647–1800 by Joseph Jencks Smith published in 1900.

The Rhode Island National Guard traces it origins to the earliest known colonial defensive force which was formed on May 13, 1638, and 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.”[6]

During the Colonial era, the organization of the Rhode Island Militia was fairly simple. Each town had at least one militia company commanded by a captain or a lieutenant. In May 1673 future governor John Cranston was appointed "captain in chief of the Colony Military Force". In 1675 Cranston was promoted to major.

In 1683 the town companies were organized into two regiments – the Regiment of the Islands (i.e., Newport, Portsmouth, Jamestown and New Shoreham) and the Regiment of the Main (which covered the towns on the mainland of the colony). Each regiment originally was commanded by a major and the two majors presumably reported directly to the governor.

In 1714 the Militia of the Island was designated the 1st Regiment and the Militia of the Main Land was designated the 2nd Regiment. The 1st Regiment consisted of six companies and the 2nd Regiment had nine companies. The number of companies in each town varied with its population with Newport and Providence having three apiece. In 1719 the rank of the regimental commanders was increased to colonel.

In 1731, a regiment was formed for each of the three then existing counties Newport, Providence and Kings which were designed the 1st, 2nd and 3d regiments respectively. The Newport County regiment had six companies, Providence County had 13 companies and Kings County had 9 companies.

American Revolution[edit]

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 HMS Gaspée 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. In July 1777, Captain William Barton, with a hand-picked force, kidnapped British General Richard Prescott from Newport, Rhode Island and 3,000 enemy soldiers, in order to have someone high enough to swap to get captured American General Charles Lee back from the British.[7]

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.

Post-Revolution[edit]

Several militia units were mobilized to defend Rhode Island against possible British attack during the War of 1812.

American Civil War[edit]

With the outbreak of the Civil War in April 1861, Rhode Island Militia units formed the ten line companies of the 1st Rhode Island Detached Militia Regiment under the command of Colonel Ambrose Burnside. Additionally, the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery was mobilized as the 1st Rhode Island Battery. Both of these units fought at the First Battle of Bull Run, under the command of Major Joseph Pope Balch, who succeeded to command after Burnside was promoted to brigadier general. The 1st Rhode Island was discharged, along with the 1st Battery, when its 90-day Federal service obligation expired on August 2, 1861.

Post-Civil War[edit]

After the Civil War, the RI Militia underwent a major re-organization which organized the units into a brigade consisting of two infantry regiments, a separate infantry battalion, an artillery battalion and a squadron of cavalry. Annual training was a six-day period initially at Oakland Beach in Warwick and later moved to Quonset Point in North Kingstown after a purpose-built camp for the Rhode Island Militia was developed there.

During the Spanish–American War, a regiment consisting of three battalions of four companies each was mobilized and called the 1st Rhode Island Volunteer Infantry. In addition to the 1st RIVI, two artillery batteries were mobilized. None of these units were sent overseas.

Militia Act of 1903[edit]

The greatest turning point in the history of the Rhode Island National Militia, and all other state militias, was the passage of the Militia Act of 1903. This act, also known as the Dick Act, was passed with the support of Secretary of War Elihu Root, who sought to reform the United States Army. The key provision of the Dick Act was that state militia forces would receive federal funding for paying their members as well providing equipment in exchange for adhering to the federal standards of training and organization. State militia forces adhering to federal standards were called the National Guard to distinguish them from more traditional militia forces.

The Rhode Island Militia was officially re-designated as the Rhode Island National Guard by General Order No. 9 on April 15, 1907. The two Infantry regiments of the Brigade of Rhode Island Militia were re-organized as Coast Artillery companies in order to provide a trained reserve of soldiers trained to man the five coast defense forts in Rhode Island. Other units were a Cavalry squadron and a Light Artillery Battery.

A few of the chartered units of the Rhode Island Militia chose not to convert to National Guard units. This was mostly because they would be denied the privilege of electing their own officers. These units included the Artillery Company of Newport, Bristol Train of Artillery and the Kentish Guards. These units, along with several others, today comprise the Historic Military Commands of the Rhode Island Militia.

The position of commanding general of the militia was combined with that of the state adjutant general so the position of adjutant general was transformed from having only administrative responsibilities to having command authority over the units of the National Guard.

Mexican intervention and First World War[edit]

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 Pancho 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.

The 103d was shipped to France with the 26th Division and saw action in the Champagne-Marne, Aisne-Marne, St. Mihiel and Meuse-Argonne campaigns in 1918.

The coast artillery companies, which were descended from infantry units, were also mobilized in 1917 and were used to garrison Rhode Island's coast defense forts for the duration of the war.

Most Rhode Island units were demobilized in December 1918 following the signing of the Armistice with Germany on November 11.

Second World War[edit]

During World War II, the majority of the Rhode Island National Guard units belonged to the 43d Infantry Division under General Douglas MacArthur for service in the Southwest Pacific, fighting in the New Guinea, Northern Solomons, and Luzon campaigns. Units which served with the 43d Infantry Division included the 103d and 169th Field Artillery battalions and the 118th Engineer Battalion. Stateside, the 243d Coast Artillery Regiment served with the Harbor Defenses of Narragansett Bay.

Korean War[edit]

During the Korean War, the Rhode Island National Guard had units serving with the 43rd Infantry Division, which was mobilized for service in Germany, and the 705th Anti Aircraft Artillery Battalion which served on the island of Okinawa.

Vietnam[edit]

During the U.S. intervention in Vietnam, the Rhode Island National Guard had two units called into 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 this mobilization, individual soldiers from the 115th MP Company were "levied" and sent to serve in Vietnam to replace casualties.

Post-Vietnam[edit]

The Great Blizzard of 1978, which occurred on February 6, 1978, caused the largest mobilization of Rhode Island Guard units since the Korean War. Guardsmen assisted stranded motorists as well as in snow removal and providing emergency transportation.

The 103rd Field Artillery Brigade was formed within the RI ARNG in 1979, and in 1984-85, consisted of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the 103rd Field Artillery Regiment.[8]

Gulf War[edit]

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, attached to the 14th Military Police Brigade and to the 1st Infantry Division during actual combat operations in Iraq, conducted Main Supply Route Security, Battlefield Circulation Control, and temporary holding of Enemy Prisoners of War; the 119th Military Police Company oversaw three EPW (enemy prisoners of war) camps; and the 115th Military Police Company provided base security, conducted VIP escort/security missions, and custom missions.

Interim 1991 to 2001[edit]

The only extended overseas deployment of Rhode Island National Guard soldiers in this period was when the 119th Military Police Company was deployed to the Kapos Airbase in Taszar, Hungary from August 2000 to March 2001. It was a subordinate unit of the United States Army Support Element Taszar (USASET), formerly National Support Element Taszar, in support Operation Joint Forge, which was the NATO operation providing stability operations in Bosnia. Soldiers of the 119th provided convoy escorts between Taszar and NATO bases in Bosnia, main supply route patrols, law and order, force protection and various missions in support of the NATO Stabilization Force (SFOR). A small public affairs unit of the Rhode Island National Guard was also deployed to Taszar in support of SFOR in this time frame.

Global War on Terrorism / Operation Iraqi Freedom[edit]

Rhode Island Army National Guardsmen in Fallujah, Iraq, 28 July 2003

The current War on Terror has seen the largest levels of mobilization and deployment of Rhode Island National Guard troops since the Second World War.

In early 2002 the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 43d Military Police Brigade was mobilized and sent to Guantanamo Bay, Cuba to provide the nucleus of the Headquarters for Joint Task Force 160 (JTF 160) in charge of detention of illegal combatants detained in operations in Afghanistan. JTF 160 was responsible for opening Camp Delta which was a detention facility which was a great improvement over Camp X-Ray where detainees were kept initially. Widely publicized and controversial interrogations of detainees were carried out by Joint Task Force 170 which was responsible for intelligence gathering at Guantanamo Bay. The 43d MP Brigade returned to Rhode Island in November 2002.

In February 2003 the 118th Military Police Battalion, along with its subordinate units the 115th and 119th Military Police companies, was mobilized and sent to Kuwait, and later Iraq. The units were overseas from April 2003 to April 2004. Two soldiers from the 115th Military Police Company were killed in action and another in an accident. The 115th MP Company received the prestigious Valorous Unit Award for its combat service in Fallujah in 2003.

In late August 2005, a composite company from the 43d Military Police Brigade was sent to New Orleans to provide security and humanitarian assistance to survivors of Hurricane Katrina.

From 2003 to 2011 every unit of the Rhode Island National Guard, with the exception of the 88th Army Band and the Joint Forces Headquarters, would be mobilized at least once for service in either Iraq or Afghanistan.

According to the RING and RIEMA (Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency) Annual Report 2008, on 6 September 2008, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 103rd Field Artillery Brigade and one of its component units, the 1043rd Maintenance Company, were to inactivate on 6 September 2008.[9] The other RING unit of the brigade, the 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery (1/103rd FA), was to be reassigned elsewhere. The brigade was originally formed in 1979. The 1043rd Maintenance Company was merged with the 1207th Transportation Company and reorganized as the 1207th Forward Support Company (FSC) which became and integral unit of the 1/103rd FA providing maintenance and logistical support to the battalion.

COVID-19 Pandemic Response Efforts[edit]

National Guard perform multiple tasks at a COVID-19 test site at Rhode Island College in May 2020

During the beginning of the pandemic Governor Gina Raimondo ordered the Rhode Island National Guard and the Rhode Island State Police to stop motorists with New York license plates, as well as move door-to-door to find people who may have traveled recently from New York, to ask them to quarantine. Also anyone who had moved from New York state to Rhode Island in the past two weeks were asked to self-quarantine for 14 days in order to help stop the spread of the virus in Rhode Island.[10]

Upon EUA approval of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines, the Rhode Island National Guard was called upon by the Governor to develop a task force to plan for and execute the mass vaccination of the state of Rhode Island. From January through June 2021, Task Force Vax oversaw the administration of more than 336,000 vaccines to residents of Rhode Island, accounting for roughly 30% of all vaccinations administered within the state.[11][12]

Strategic plan[edit]

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.[13]

Units of the Rhode Island Army National Guard circa 2015[edit]

  • 43rd Military Police Brigade (43rd MPB)
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC), 43rd Military Police Brigade (43rd MPB) – Warwick
    • 118th Military Police Battalion (118th MPB)
      • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 118th Military Police Battalion (118th MPB) – Warwick
      • 115th Military Police Company (115th MPC) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
      • 169th Military Police Company (169th MPC) – Warren
    • 1st Battalion, 103rd Field Artillery Regiment (1-103rd FAR)
      • Headquarters and Service Battery (HSB) – Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
      • Battery A – Armory of Mounted Commands, Providence
      • Battery B – North Smithfield
      • Battery C – Bristol
      • 1207th Forward Support Company (1207th FSC) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
  • 56th Troop Command
    • Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 56th Troop Command – East Greenwich
    • 1st Battalion (General Support), 126th Aviation Regiment[14] – Quonset Point
      • Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC)
        • Detachment 1
      • Company A
      • Company D
        • Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
      • Company E
        • Detachment 1 at Quonset Armory
      • Company F (UH-60A)
        • Detachment 2 at Quonset Armory
    • Detachment 23, Operational Support Airlift Command – Quonset Point
    • Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group – Middletown
    • Company A, 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
    • Company C, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
    • 861st Engineer Company – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
    • 88th Army Band – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
  • 56th Quartermaster Rigger Support Team

Independent Units:

  • Special Operations Detachment – Global (SOD-G) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
  • 13th Civil Support Team (WMD) – Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich
  • RIARNG Recruiting and Retention Command – Cranston
  • 243d Regiment (Regional Training Institute) – Camp Varnum, Narragansett
  • Rhode Island Medical Detachment – Providence, RI
  • 110th Public Affairs Detachment – Cranston

Adjutants General of Rhode Island[edit]

  • Brigadier General Elisha Dyer, Sr., 1840–1845 (also served as Governor of Rhode Island)
  • Brigadier General Elisha Dyer Jr., February 7, 1882 – October 31, 1895 (also served as Governor of Rhode Island)
  • Brigadier General Frederic M. Sackett, November 1, 1895 – January 31, 1911
  • Brigadier General Charles Wheaton Abbot, Jr., February 1, 1911 – November 29, 1923
  • Major General Peter Leo Cannon, 19 February 1941 – 9 August 1945
  • Major General Leonard Holland, January 1961 – August 1983 (longest serving Adjutant General of Rhode Island)
  • Major General John W. Kiely, 1983–1990
  • Major General N. Andre Trudeau, 1990–1995
  • Major General Reginald Centracchio,[15] 1 August 1995 – 1 September 2005
  • Major General Robert T. Bray,[16] 17 February 2006 – 1 July 2011
  • Major General Kevin R. McBride,[17] 1 July 2011 – June 2015
  • Major General Christopher P. Callahan, 5 August 2015 – present[18]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Cornell University Law School — Title 10 US Code". Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  2. ^ "Cornell University Law School Title 32 US Code". Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  3. ^ "Cornell University Law School – Title 32 US Code: § 101. Definitions". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  4. ^ "Cornell University Law School – Title 10 US Code: § 12401. Status". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  5. ^ "Cornell University Law School – Title 10 US Code: § 10105. Composition". Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  6. ^ "History of the Rhode Island Army National Guard". Archived from the original on 2009-04-06. Retrieved 2009-03-08.
  7. ^ Robertson, John K. "Organization of the Rhode Island Militia, 1774–1783". Retrieved August 9, 2019.
  8. ^ Isby and Kamps 1985, 385.
  9. ^ http://states.ng.mil/sites/RI/publicaffairs/Public%20Affairs%20Document%20Library/Annual%20Report%20Final.pdf Archived 2014-02-22 at the Wayback Machine, p. 33, and "Rhode Island Artillery unit Retire Thier[sic] Colors". Archived from the original on 2014-02-23. Retrieved 2014-02-08.
  10. ^ "Rhode Island police, Guard stopping incoming New Yorkers to force quarantine". Phil McCausland. May 28, 2020. Retrieved May 23, 2021.
  11. ^ "Rhode Island National Guard helps administer COVID-19 vaccine". Christina Vitale. 14 January 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  12. ^ "Rhode Island National Guard helps administer COVID-19 vaccine". Mark Patinkin. 24 February 2021. Retrieved 22 May 2021.
  13. ^ "Rhode Island National Guard Strategic Plan 2009-2018". Retrieved 2009-03-09. [dead link]
  14. ^ "1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment". Rhode Island National Guard. December 25, 2016. Archived from the original on December 26, 2016. Retrieved December 25, 2016.
  15. ^ "Reginald Centracchio". Archived from the original on 2013-12-21.
  16. ^ Robert T. Bray
  17. ^ "Kevin R. McBride".
  18. ^ "Major General Christopher P. Callahan". National Guard Portals. Retrieved August 9, 2019.

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Rhode Island Army National Guard.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Rhode_Island_Army_National_Guard&oldid=1226810541"