Pennsylvania National Guard
Pennsylvania National Guard | |
---|---|
Active |
As militia: 1747-1870 As reserve:1870-present |
Country | United States |
Branch |
United States Army United States Air Force |
Role |
State Militia Reserve force |
Size |
Full Time: 3,500 Part Time: 15,500 |
Garrison/HQ | Fort Indiantown Gap |
Motto(s) | "Civilian in peace. Soldier in war." |
Commanders | |
Current commander | Major General James R. Joseph |
The Pennsylvania National Guard is composed of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard. It is one of the largest National Guards in the United States. It has the third-largest Army National Guard of all the states and the fourth-largest Air National Guard.[1] These forces are respective components of the United States Army and Air Force. The state air and ground national guard forces are governed through the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, headquartered at Fort Indiantown Gap.[1]
History
John Oppell Foering noted, "without question the Washington Grays (Philadelphia) have been the parent and pattern of the militia of the City and State, as well as the foundation upon which was erected the magnificent National Guard of Pennsylvania if not of the entire country."[2] The sculpture to the 1st Regiment Infantry National Guard of Philadelphia is positioned adjacent to John Wilson's sculpture Washington Grays Monument.
After the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait in August 1990, eight Army and Air Guard units from Pennsylvania[3] were mobilized for duty during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. Among ANG units involved were the 193rd Special Operations Wing, flying C-130s modified to transmit radio and television signals, and the 171st Air Refueling Wing. Seemingly the four Army units were scheduled to all return home by May 1991.[4] Every member returned home safely.
Following the end of the Cold War, National Guard State Partnership Programs were established across Europe. In 1993, the Pennsylvania – Lithuania National Guard Partnership was initiated.
Quarterly Magazine
Pennsylvania National Guard Quarterly Magazine - Guardians
Leadership
The command element of the Pennsylvania National Guard is the Joint Staff.[5]
Commander-in-Chief: Governor Tom Wolf
The Adjutant General: - Major General James R. Joseph
Deputy Adjutant General - Army: Vacant
Deputy Adjutant General - Air: Brigadier General Anthony J. Carrelli
See also
- Pennsylvania National Guard awards and decorations
- List of Pennsylvania state agencies
- Northeast Counterdrug Training Center
- Media Armory
- Pennsylvania State Guard
References
- 1 2 "About the Pennsylvania National Guard". Pennsylvania DMVA. 2008. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
- ↑ John Oppell Foering. "Register of the members of the "Artillery corps, Washington grays" of the city of Philadelphia who served in the war of the rebellion 1861-1865". 1912. p. ix
- ↑ Historical Highlights of the Pennsylvania National Guard, accessed January 2014.
- ↑ Ron Devlin, State Guard Units Scheduled to Return Home by May, The Morning Call, April 21, 1991.
- ↑ "PA Army National Guard". Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. 2007. Retrieved 2007-01-17.
External links
- Official Website of the Pennsylvania National Guard
- PA Department of Military and Veterans Affairs official website
- Pennsylvania National Guard Official Facebook Page
- Pennsylvania National Guard Official Twitter Page
- Pennsylvania National Guard Official Flickr Page
- Pennsylvania National Guard Official YouTube Channel
- Pennsylvania National Guard Associations
- Pennsylvania National Guard Quarterly Magazine - Guardians