Louisiana Army National Guard


The Louisiana Army National Guard is a component of the Louisiana National Guard, and the state's reserve force within the United States Army. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. When not federalized, national coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau. When activated under Title 32, the Louisiana Army National Guard remains under state command as it fulfills a federally assigned mission. When activated under Title 10, the Louisiana Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and is absorbed into the National Guard of the United States.
As of 2025, there are approximately 11,500 soldiers serving in the Louisiana Army National Guard, organized into 74 units in 44 parishes across the state. When called, units from the Louisiana State Guard may assist the Louisiana Army National Guard.
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History

The Louisiana Army National Guard was originally formed in the "18th Century when a militia was formed from among the civilian inhabitants of Colonial Louisiana to assist Royal French and Spanish troops in protecting the colony and preserving the peace" The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.
Several units of the Louisiana Army National Guard were activated in support of Operation Desert Shield/Desert Storm in 1990–1991. These included the 159th Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, which operated the only active hospital in southern Iraq in support of the 3d Armor Division during the ground war; the 812th Medical Detachment, which flew multiple Medevac missions during the ground war; the 3673rd Maintenance Company, which included members awarded the Bronze Star for their rescue actions during the Scud attacks in Dharan; and the 39th Military Police company, which assisted in managing the large number of POWs captured.
The 2003 invasion of Iraq saw the call up of several units including the 204th ATSG and the 1083rd, 1084th, 1086th, and 1087th transportation companies which upon entering the theater of operation fell under the command of V Corps during 2003–04. During OIF III the 256th Infantry Brigade served a combat tour during 2004-2005 and 2021 in Iraq/ Syria. Units of the 225th Engineer Brigade have been mobilized for duty in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Additionally, aviation components such as the 1/244th Aviation Helicopter Battalion, 204th Theater Air Operations Group and the 812th Med Company have served in an active capacity for OIF multiple times at one year intervals. 165TH CSS BN Mobilized in 2008. 773RD MP BN has mobilized as separate companies. 159TH Air Guard SQDN has been mobilized. 256TH IBCT mobilized for a second tour to Iraq on 5 January 2010. The 415th Military Intelligence Battalion mobilized for a second tour to Afghanistan on 29 Nov 2010.
After Hurricane Katrina the LA ARNG organized Joint Task Force Gator to assist in relief efforts.

Training

Louisiana Army National Guard 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. The Louisiana Army National Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Louisiana.

Service

For much of the final decades of the twentieth century, National Guard personnel typically served "one weekend a month, two weeks a year", with a portion working for the Guard in a full-time capacity. The current forces formation plans of the US Army call for the typical National Guard unit to serve one year of active duty for every three years of service. More specifically, current Department of Defense policy is that no guardsman will be involuntarily activated for a total of more than 24 months in one six-year enlistment period.

Units and formations

Facilities

Historic units

[State Partnership Program]

Louisiana has two countries in the SPP. Belize joined the SPP with Louisiana National Guard in 1996 and Haiti in 2011. Both of these nations fall under the area of operations of SOUTHCOM.