Missouri National Guard
The Missouri National Guard (MONG), commonly known as the Missouri Guard, is a component of the Army National Guard and Missouri State Department of the National Guard. It is composed of Army and Air National Guard units. The department office is located in Jefferson City.
The Mission of the Missouri National Guard is "to provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise required by state law under the authority of the governor."
History
One of its first "official" engagements was during the Mexican-American War, where Missouri volunteers fought at the Battles of Embudo Pass and Taos and participated in the occupation of Chihuahua City.[1]
The Missouri National Guard though, officially traces its lineage to the Missouri State Militia, created in 1861 to counter Confederate guerrillas during the American Civil War. Missouri units fought for both Union and Confederate causes. The Confederate 1st Missouri Infantry Regiment, later part of the 138th Infantry Regiment lineage, fought at Shiloh, Corinth, Iuka, Champion Hill, the Siege of Vicksburg, the Atlanta campaign, Franklin, and Nashville, among other engagements across the Western Theater.
The Missouri Army National Guard was formally organized in 1877. It was first mobilized in the Spanish–American War (1898), raising six volunteer infantry regiments, though none deployed overseas.
In 1916, Missouri Guardsmen were sent to the U.S.–Mexico border at Laredo, Texas during the Mexican Punitive Expedition.[1]
During World War I, Missouri units of the 35th Infantry Division fought in the Lorraine and Alsace sectors and in the Meuse–Argonne Offensive, including the Battles of Cheppy, Vauquois, and Charpentry.[1]
In World War II, the Guard trained in the Louisiana Maneuvers before deploying to both the Pacific and European theaters. In the Pacific, Missouri units served in the Aleutian Islands campaign, mainly the 138th Infantry Regiment while other units fought at Leyte and Okinawa, mainly the 110th Engineer Regiment. After the war's end, the unit was sent to perform occupation duty in Seoul, Korea. In Europe, the 35th Infantry Division fought in the Invasion of Normandy and the Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace, and Central Europe campaigns.
The Missouri Air National Guard was established in 1947 and mobilized for service during the Korean War.[1]
Throughout the Cold War stages, the Missouri Guard was mainly stationed state side and helping with Missouri duties such as the 1922 Poplar Bluff railroad strike, the 1927 St. Louis tornado, and major flooding in 1951–1952 and 1993. Although not mobilized as full units for the Vietnam War, many Missouri Air Guard pilots served on active duty in Southeast Asia.[1]
In Operation Just Cause (1989), the 1138th Military Police Company was in Panama conducting Annual Training when eventually the invasion started, coming under fire and establishing the Empire Range EPW camp, this was the first Guard unit activated for combat since Vietnam. The same company deployed in the Gulf War, operating EPW Camp 301 in Saudi Arabia.[1]
Since 2001, Missouri units have deployed widely in the Global War on Terror. In Iraq, the 1140th Engineer Battalion fought in the Battle of Najaf (2004), while the 35th Engineer Brigade and several MP companies conducted security and detainee operations.
In Afghanistan, the 203rd Engineer Battalion conducted IED clearance (2009–2010), and the 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment flew AH-64 Apache's and UH-60 Black Hawks (2013–2014).
The 35th Infantry Division commanded multinational forces in Bosnia (2003–2004), and the 110th MEB deployed to Kosovo (2008–2009).
More recently, the 110th MEB deployed to Qatar (2017), the 35th Combat Aviation Brigade commanded Task Force Trailblazer [1] in Iraq and Syria (2018–2019), and the 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment deployed to Kuwait and Syria (2023–2024), where Guardsmen engaged in combat and received Combat Infantryman Badges.[1][2]
In June 2025, the Missouri Air National Guard's 131st Bomb Wing, flying B-2 Spirit bombers from Whiteman AFB, participated in Operation Midnight Hammer, U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz, and Isfahan. The mission involved over 125 aircraft and the use of GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrators, and was the largest B-2 strike in U.S. history.[3][4][5][6]
On November 8, 2022, Missouri voters approved Amendment 5, establishing the Missouri Department of the National Guard as a cabinet-level agency independent of the Department of Public Safety. Missouri also briefly maintained a State Defense Force (2012–2022) for stateside support missions.[1]
Organization
| Direct reporting units | Component | Location of headquarters |
|---|---|---|
| Missouri Joint Force Headquarters | Army and Air National Guard | Jefferson City |
| 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade | Army National Guard | Kansas City |
| Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division | Army National Guard | Sedalia |
| 35th Military Police Brigade | Army National Guard | Jefferson Barracks |
| 35th Engineer Brigade | Army National Guard | Fort Leonard Wood |
| 35th Infantry Division | Army National Guard | Lexington |
| 1107th Theater Aviation Support Group | Army National Guard | Springfield |
| 70th Troop Command | Army National Guard | Lebanon |
| 131st Bomb Wing | Air National Guard | Whiteman Air Force Base |
| 139th Airlift Wing | Air National Guard | Rosecrans Memorial Airport |
| Missouri Army National Guard Support Elements | Army and Air National Guard | Varies |
The Missouri Army National Guard is authorized more than 11,500 soldiers and airman, Subordinate units within the Missouri National Guard include:
Missouri Army National Guard
- Joint Forces Headquarters-Missouri (Jefferson City)
- 110th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (Kansas City)
- 1st Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment (Assigned to the 39th IBCT ARARNG)
- 3rd Battalion, 138th Infantry Regiment (Assigned to the 72nd IBCT TXARNG)
- 1st Battalion, 129th Field Artillery Regiment
- 220th Transportation Battalion
- 135th Signal Company
- 35th Infantry Division (Lexington)
- 35th Combat Aviation Brigade (Sedalia)
- 1st Battalion, 135th Aviation Regiment (Assault)
- 935th Aviation Support Battalion
- 35th Military Police Brigade (Jefferson Barracks)
- 175th Military Police Battalion
- 205th Military Police Battalion
- 235th Engineer Team
- 35th Engineer Brigade (Fort Leonard Wood)
- 203rd Engineer Battalion
- 1140th Engineer Battalion
- 635th Forward Engineer Support Team - Main (FEST-M)
- 1107th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group (Springfield)
- 70th Troop Command
- 7th Civil Support Team
- 135th Army Band
- 70th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
- 135th Military History Detachment
- Detachment 1, 179th Cyber Protection Team
- 229th Multifunctional Medical Battalion
- 835th Combat Sustainment Brigade
- Missouri Army National Guard Support Elements
- Missouri Army National Guard Recruiter and Retention
- 140th Regional Training Institute
- Missouri Army National Guard Training Center
- Missouri Medical Detachment
Missouri Air National Guard
- 131st Bomb Wing (Whiteman AFB / Jefferson Barracks Air Guard Station)
- 131st Medical Group
- 131st Operations Group
- 131st Mission Support Group
- 131st Maintenance Group
- 157th Air Operations Group
- 131st Bomb Wing Staff
- 139th Airlift Wing (Rosecrans Air National Guard Base)
- 139th Operations Group
- 139th Mission Support Group
- 139th Maintenance Group
- 139th Medical Group
- Advanced Airlift Tactics Training Center
- 139th Airlift Wing Staff
Source: Missouri Army National Guard 2024 Staffed Military Facilities [7]
Major facilities
Missouri Army National Guard
- Camp Clark, Missouri:[7][8][9] Former POW Camp operated by the Missouri National Guard for unit training east of Nevada, Missouri
- Camp Crowder: Former Signal training and rocket engine manufacturing site; approximately 10% of the post remains for training southeast of Neosho, Missouri
- Fort Leonard Wood: Several Missouri National Guard units are tenant organizations on Fort Leonard Wood[7]
- Ike Skelton Training Site:[7][8] Missouri National Guard Headquarters located in eastern Jefferson City, Missouri
- Jefferson Barracks Military Post: Jointly operated between the Missouri National Guard and United States Army Reserve
- Macon Training Site:[8] Field training site located southwest of Kirksville, Missouri
- Truman Training Site:[8] Unimproved training area located on Corps of Engineers land at Truman Reservoir
- Wappapello Training Site:[8] Located south of Wappapello, Missouri on United States Forest Service land; open to the public except for fenced administrative areas
- Whiteman Air Force Base: 1-135th Aviation (Assault) is a tenant organization on Whiteman Air Force Base[7]
In addition, the Missouri National Guard operates 15 Field Maintenance Shops across the state at various armories and installations.[7]
Missouri Air National Guard
Decorations of the Missouri National Guard
Missouri National Guard State Awards:
- Missouri Meritorious Service Medal
- Missouri Conspicuous Service Medal
- Missouri Commendation Ribbon
- Missouri Desert Storm Ribbon
- Missouri 20 Year Long Service Ribbon
- Missouri 15 Year Long Service Ribbon
- Missouri 10 Year Long Service Ribbon
- Missouri 5 Year Long Service Ribbon
- Missouri First Sergeant Ribbon
- Missouri Expeditionary Ribbon
- Missouri State Emergency Duty Ribbon
- Missouri Panamanian Service Ribbon
- Missouri Afghanistan Campaign Ribbon
- Missouri Kosovo Campaign Ribbon
- Missouri Recruiting and Retention Ribbon
- Missouri Adjutant General's Twenty Ribbon
- Missouri Governor's Twelve Ribbon
- Missouri Basic Training Ribbon
- Governor's Unit Citation
Campaign streamers
| Mexican-American War | Operations / Campaigns |
|---|---|
| New Mexico 1847 | |
| Chihuahua 1848 |
| Civil War (Confederate Service) | |
|---|---|
| Shiloh 1862 | |
| Mississippi 1862 | |
| Louisiana 1863 | |
| Mississippi River 1863 | |
| Vicksburg 1863 | |
| Alabama 1864 | |
| Atlanta 1864 | |
| Nashville 1864 | |
| Alabama 1865 |
| Mexican Punitive Expedition | |
|---|---|
| Laredo, Texas 1916 |
| World War I | |
|---|---|
| Battle of St. Mihiel 1918 | |
| Meuse-Argonne 1918 (Includes Alsace-Lorraine Defense) |
| World War II | |
|---|---|
| Normandy 1944 | |
| Northern France 1944 | |
| Rhineland 1944 - 1945 | |
| Ardennes-Alsace 1944 - 1945 | |
| Central Europe 1945 | |
| Aleutian Islands Campaign 1942 - 1943 | |
| Battle of Leyte 1944 - 1945 | |
| Battle of Okinawa 1945 | |
| Pacific Theater - South Korea (Post WWII/Occupation Duties) 1945 - 1946 |
| Operation Just Cause | |
|---|---|
| Panama 1989 - 1990 |
| Gulf War | |
|---|---|
| Operation Desert Shield 1990 - 1991 | |
| Operation Desert Storm 1991 |
| Iraqi NO-FLY ZONE | |
|---|---|
| Operation Provide Comfort l & ll | |
| Operation Northern Watch | |
| Operation Southern Watch |
| Kosovo | |
|---|---|
| KFOR MNTF-E 2008 - 2009 |
| Global War on Terrorism | |
|---|---|
| Operation Iraqi Freedom 2003 - 2004 | |
| Operation Iraqi Freedom 2004 - 2006 | |
| Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan 2003 - 2006 | |
| Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan 2007 - 2008 | |
| Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan 2009 - 2010 | |
| Operation Enduring Freedom - Afghanistan 2013 - 2014 | |
| Operation Enduring Freedom - Qatar 2017 - 2018 | |
| Operation Inherent Resolve 2018 - 2019 | |
| Operation Spartan Shield - Kuwait 2023 - 2024 | |
| Operation Inherent Resolve 2023 - 2024 |
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Fame, Missouri National Guard Hall of. "Our History". www.monghof.org. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ Myers, Meghann (2024-03-01). "The National Guard's quiet role in Iraq, Syria and Jordan". Military Times. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ "Missouri Guard Airmen Play Critical Role in Iran Nuclear Strike Mission". National Guard. Archived from the original on 2025-07-12. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ "See the B-2 bombers involved in US strike on Iran return to Missouri Air Force base". AP News. 2025-06-22. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees; Stewart, Phil; Ali, Idrees (2025-06-23). "US bombing of Iran started with a fake-out". Reuters. Retrieved 2025-09-05.
- ^ "Missouri Guard Airmen Play Critical Role in Iran Nuclear Strike Mission By Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri, National Guard Bureau".
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "MONG Staffed Military Facilities 2024" (PDF).
- ^ a b c d e "Public Access to Army National Guard Training Areas" (PDF). Missouri Secretary of State. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
- ^ Dalton, Kate (5 February 2024). "The history of Nevada's Camp Clark". KSN 16, Four States Homepage. Nexstar Media Group. Retrieved 9 October 2024.
Bibliography
- Adjutant-General's Office (1902). Correspondence Relating to the War with Spain and Conditions Growing Out of the Same; Including the Insurrection in the Philippine Islands and China Relief Expeditions, Between the Adjutant-General of the Army and Military Commanders in the United States, Cuba, Porto Rico, China, and the Philippine Islands from April 15, 1898 to July 30, 1902. Vol. 1. Washington, D.C.: United States Government Publishing Office. p. 532. Retrieved December 21, 2022.