Mississippi Army National Guard
The Mississippi Army National Guard is Mississippi's Army National Guard component, combining state emergency-response responsibilities with federal military service as part of the United States Army.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
The Mississippi Army National Guard is the Army component of the Mississippi National Guard. It is a dual-status military organization: under state authority it can support Mississippi during emergencies, disasters, civil disturbances and other state missions, while under federal authority its units form part of the United States Army and can be mobilized for national defense and overseas operations. The organization is managed through the Mississippi Military Department and operates within the broader legal and institutional framework of the National Guard. Its institutional lineage reaches back to the militia of the Mississippi Territory. On 8 September 1798, Territorial Governor Winthrop Sargent issued an order organizing the territorial militia. A permanent legal foundation followed on 28 February 1799, when the territorial legislature enacted a militia law. This lineage is associated particularly with the 155th Infantry Regiment, whose historical honors include campaign credit for the War of 1812. The regiment is recognized as one of the few Army National Guard units with such credit and the only one west of the Appalachian Mountains. Mississippi militia and National Guard formations have participated in a wide range of American military campaigns and domestic missions. The force was involved in conflicts and expeditions from the Sabine Expedition of 1806 through the Korean War era. Its first major federal call-up occurred in 1916, when three Mississippi infantry battalions were sent to the Mexican border. These formations became the First Infantry Regiment and were redesignated the 155th Infantry Regiment in 1917 before serving with the 39th Division in France during the First World War. The 154th Infantry Regiment, formed largely from Arkansas National Guard personnel during the same period, also became part of Mississippi's postwar Guard structure. All Mississippi National Guard units were inducted into federal service in 1940 during the mobilization for the Second World War. During the Korean War period, 77 of the state's 81 units were called into federal service between 1950 and 1951, involving 6,515 Mississippi Guardsmen. The organization also expanded and reorganized its aviation, armor, artillery, engineering, sustainment and air-defense capabilities during the second half of the twentieth century. The Guard has repeatedly performed domestic missions. In 1962, President John F. Kennedy federalized Mississippi National Guard units during the University of Mississippi integration crisis, when the federal government enforced James Meredith's enrollment. Shortly afterward, Mississippi Guard personnel supported a state response near Natchez involving the planned removal of barges containing liquefied chlorine gas. The mission included warning and evacuation planning for communities that could have been affected by a release. Modern Mississippi Army National Guard capabilities include armored and infantry forces, field artillery, aviation, engineers, logistics, medical support, military police and specialized domestic-response formations. The force has maintained a broad statewide footprint, with approximately 97 armories in 93 communities cited in reference material. Its units use United States Army ranks, insignia, training standards and awards, while Mississippi also recognizes service through state-level honors. A 2016 structure included the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, the 184th Sustainment Command, the 168th Engineer Brigade, the 185th Aviation Brigade, the 66th Troop Command and other subordinate formations. The exact organization changes as the Army and National Guard reorganize. The Mississippi Army National Guard is not a commercial brand and does not sell consumer products. Its public-facing identity represents military readiness, community service, disaster response, professional development and constitutional service. Personnel may train on a part-time basis while maintaining civilian employment, although units and individuals can be placed on full-time federal or state orders. The organization remains active as a component of both Mississippi's emergency-management system and the United States defense establishment.
History
The Mississippi Army National Guard traces its lineage to the militia of the Mississippi Territory. On 8 September 1798, Winthrop Sargent, the territory's first governor, issued an order organizing the militia. On 28 February 1799, the territorial legislature enacted a law establishing the militia on a permanent basis. This early legal foundation became part of the lineage associated with the 155th Infantry Regiment. During the nineteenth century, the organization changed repeatedly as Mississippi's laws, military needs and available manpower changed. At some points the militia was weak or irregular; at others it was more systematically organized. Mississippi militia formations participated in conflicts and expeditions including the Sabine Expedition of 1806 and later American wars. The 155th Infantry Regiment received campaign credit for the War of 1812, an honor held by only a small number of Army National Guard units and particularly notable because it was the only credited unit from west of the Appalachians. The first major federal activation of Mississippi's National Guard came in 1916, when three infantry battalions were sent to the Mexican border. They formed the First Infantry Regiment and entered active service on 24 June 1916. In September 1917, the regiment was redesignated the 155th Infantry Regiment and served with the 39th Division in France during the First World War. The 154th Infantry Regiment, created during the same general period and composed largely of personnel from the Arkansas Army National Guard, later continued in Mississippi's Guard structure. In 1940, all Mississippi National Guard units were inducted into federal service for the Second World War mobilization. During the Korean War era, 77 of the state's 81 units entered federal service between 1950 and 1951. A total of 6,515 Mississippi Guardsmen served during that period. Postwar reorganization produced or incorporated additional formations, including armored cavalry, armor, field artillery, aviation and air-defense units. Aviation became a distinct organizational capability beginning in 1959. Rather than distributing a small number of aircraft and aviators among other units, Mississippi developed separate aviation companies and dedicated maintenance facilities. The reorganization included aviation activity in Jackson, Tupelo and Meridian. The 123rd Aviation Company was called to federal active duty during the 1961–1962 Berlin crisis. Mississippi aviation and maintenance units continued to evolve as the Guard adapted to changing Army structures. The Guard also played a significant role in the civil-rights crisis at the University of Mississippi. On 30 September 1962, President John F. Kennedy federalized Mississippi National Guard units so that they would no longer remain under state control during the federal enforcement of James Meredith's admission to the university. After most units were released, Mississippi authorities assigned Guard personnel to a separate emergency mission near Natchez. Engineers were preparing to remove sunken barges containing approximately 2.5 million pounds of liquefied chlorine gas, and Guard aviation and communications resources supported warning and evacuation planning for residents within the potential hazard area. By the early 1960s, Mississippi had approximately 151 Guard units, including formations associated with the 31st, or Dixie, Division and numerous non-divisional units. Later decades brought further changes in force design. The 198th Armor Regiment was constituted on 28 April 1959 and organized between May and September of that year. The 1st Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, once associated with the 155th Armored Brigade, was disbanded during the Army's modular transformation around 2010. The modern Mississippi Army National Guard combines combat-arms brigades with sustainment, engineering, aviation, training, medical, public-affairs, special-operations and civil-support capabilities. A 2016 structure listed the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 184th Sustainment Command, 168th Engineer Brigade, 66th Troop Command and 185th Aviation Brigade among its principal formations. The organization also maintained specialized units such as the 47th Civil Support Team, which is designed to assist civil authorities during chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other hazardous incidents. Its statewide network of armories and communities supports recruiting, training, readiness and emergency response. As a National Guard organization, it continues to operate under both Mississippi state authority and federal United States Army authority, with its precise unit structure subject to future reorganizations.
- 2016
Documented statewide force structure
[1]Reference material recorded a structure including the 155th Armored Brigade Combat Team, 184th Sustainment Command, 168th Engineer Brigade, 185th Aviation Brigade and 66th Troop Command.
- 2010
Armor unit disbanded during Army transformation
[1]The 1st Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment was disbanded as part of the Army's modular reorganization.
- 1962
Federalization during the Ole Miss crisis
[1]President Kennedy federalized Mississippi Guard units during the University of Mississippi integration crisis involving James Meredith.
- 1959
Aviation and armor reorganization
[1]Mississippi expanded separate aviation companies and support facilities, while the 198th Armor Regiment was constituted and organized.
- 1950
Korean War mobilization begins
[1]Mississippi units began entering federal service during the Korean War period; 77 of 81 units were called up between 1950 and 1951.
- 1940
World War II federal induction
[1]All Mississippi National Guard units were inducted into federal service during the national mobilization for World War II.
- 1917
155th Infantry Regiment designation adopted
[1]The First Infantry Regiment was redesignated the 155th Infantry Regiment and later served in France with the 39th Division.
- 1916
Mexican Border mobilization
[1]Three Mississippi infantry battalions entered federal service for duty on the Mexican border and formed the First Infantry Regiment.
- 1799
Permanent militia law enacted
[1]The territorial legislature passed a law on 28 February establishing a permanent militia framework and strengthening the lineage later associated with the 155th Infantry Regiment.
- 1798
Territorial militia organized
[1]Governor Winthrop Sargent issued an order on 8 September organizing the militia of the Mississippi Territory.
Products and positioning
A statewide military institution positioned around dual state-and-federal service: maintaining combat readiness for the United States Army while providing Mississippi with trained personnel and specialized capabilities for emergencies, disasters and community support.
Armored brigade
155th Armored Brigade Combat Team
A major Mississippi Army National Guard brigade formation combining armored, infantry, field-artillery, engineer and brigade-support elements. The brigade provides deployable combat power and can also support state missions when activated by Mississippi authorities.
Logistics command
184th Sustainment Command
A command responsible for coordinating sustainment and logistics capabilities, including transportation, maintenance, supply and other support functions required by Guard formations during training, domestic response and federal operations.
Military engineering
168th Engineer Brigade
An engineering formation supporting construction, mobility, infrastructure, route-clearance and emergency-response missions. Its subordinate units provide specialized engineering capacity for military operations and civil-support tasks.
Army aviation
185th Aviation Brigade
The Guard's aviation brigade-level capability, providing aircraft, aircrews, maintenance and aviation command support for military operations, emergency response, transport and other authorized missions.
Civil support and hazardous-material response
47th Civil Support Team
A specialized team designed to assist civilian authorities during suspected chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or other hazardous-material incidents. Its role is to provide military expertise and support rather than replace civilian emergency agencies.
Military education and training
154th Regiment Regional Training Institute
A Mississippi Army National Guard training organization providing professional military education and specialized instruction for Guard personnel and, where authorized, other military students.
Brand decisions
2010
Disbandment of the 1st Battalion, 198th Armor RegimentStrategyBackground
The United States Army's modular transformation changed the organization of National Guard combat formations.
Action taken
The 1st Battalion, 198th Armor Regiment, formerly associated with the 155th Armored Brigade, was disbanded.
Aftermath
Mississippi's force structure shifted toward the reorganized brigade model and other contemporary Army formations.
1962
Federalization for the University of Mississippi integration crisisOtherBackground
The federal government sought to enforce James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi during a major civil-rights confrontation.
Action taken
President John F. Kennedy placed Mississippi National Guard units on federal active duty, removing them temporarily from state control.
Aftermath
The mobilization connected the Mississippi Army National Guard directly to federal enforcement of the university's integration and remains one of the organization's most consequential domestic deployments.
1959
Separate aviation-company structure adoptedStrategyBackground
Mississippi reorganized aviation capabilities from small aviation detachments distributed among units toward separate aviation companies with dedicated maintenance support.
Action taken
The state developed aviation companies in Jackson, Tupelo and Meridian and established full-time maintenance facilities in several locations.
Aftermath
The change gave the Mississippi Guard a more scalable aviation organization and established a foundation for later brigade-level aviation capabilities.
Recent events
- 1962
Mississippi National Guard units federalized during the Ole Miss integration crisis[1]
Other
President John F. Kennedy placed Mississippi National Guard units on active federal duty during the confrontation over James Meredith's enrollment at the University of Mississippi.
- 1962
Mississippi Guard supports chlorine-barge emergency planning near Natchez[1]
Other
Following the Ole Miss mobilization, Mississippi Guard personnel were assigned a state mission involving warning and evacuation planning during the planned removal of barges carrying liquefied chlorine gas near Natchez.
Sources2 sources
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