Connecticut Military Department

The Connecticut Military Department is a state agency of the government of Connecticut. Its primary components are the Connecticut Army National Guard, the Connecticut Air National Guard, and four companies of the state militia. The Connecticut Military Department traces its origins to May 11, 1637 when the General Courts established a military arm of the government. In 1939, Military Dept. was established to consolidate the Adjutant General, Quartermaster General, Armory Board, and Armory Board Inspector.

Connecticut National Guard
The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status. Those functions range from limited actions during non-emergency situations to full scale law enforcement of martial law when local law enforcement officials can no longer maintain civil control. The National Guard may be called into federal service in response to a call by the President or Congress.

The federal mission assigned to the National Guard is: "To provide properly trained and equipped units for prompt mobilization for war, National emergency or as otherwise needed."

The state mission assigned to the National Guard is "To provide trained and disciplined forces for domestic emergencies or as otherwise provided by state law." The Connecticut National Guard bestows a number of decorations for services to or on behalf of the state.

Major General Thaddeus J. Martin is the current Connecticut Adjutant General (TAG).

Connecticut Army National Guard
The Connecticut Army National Guard was originally formed in 1672. During the War of 1812, the Federalist state government refused to place the state militia under control of the Democratic-Republican national government, which resulted in friction, especially following British attacks on New London and Stonington. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.

The 102nd Infantry Regiment fought with the 26th Infantry Division in World War I and then served with the 43rd Infantry Division from 1924 to 1951-52, including World War II and a deployment to West Germany during the Korean War. Other major historical regiments of Connecticut were the 169th Infantry and 192nd Field Artillery.

After 1968 the main formation in the state became the 43rd Infantry Brigade of the 26th Infantry Division.

Today the Connecticut Army National Guard is composed of approximately 5,000 soldiers. It maintains facilities in 22 communities. As of 1999, these facilities include 22 armories, eight maintenance shops, four aviation facilities, four training site facilities and two horse guard facilities. (as of 1999)

Its units include the 85th Troop Command, 143rd Area Support Group, 14th Civil Support Team (WMD), 248th Engineer Company, 250th Engineer Company, 143rd and 643rd Military Police Companies, 141st and 142nd Medical Companies, the 143rd Combat Service Support Battalion (formerly FSB), the 1109th Aviation Depot (AVCRAD), the 169th Regiment (Leadership), and the 192nd Military Police Battalion. The primary combat unit is the 1st Battalion, 102nd Infantry, assigned to the 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (United States), which is headquartered in Vermont.

Connecticut Air National Guard
The Connecticut Air National Guard traces its history back to World War I. It comprises approximately 1,200 airmen and officers assigned to the 103d Airlift Wing and 103rd Air Control Squadron. The 103d Airlift Wing is based in East Granby at the Bradley Air National Guard Base at Bradley International Airport.

Known as the "Flying Yankees", the 103d Airlift Wing is the third-oldest Air National Guard unit in the United States with a history dating back to World War I. Until 2008, the organization was known as the 103rd Fighter Wing (103 FW), operationally gained by the Air Combat Command (ACC) and equipped with A-10 Thunderbolt aircraft. As a result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) actions, the wing's A-10 fighter aircraft were reassigned to other units and the 103rd reequipped with C-21 Learjet aircraft as a "placeholder" flying mission under the Air National Guard's VANGUARD program until the 103rd's next flying mission could be determined. Following this change in mission, the unit was redesignated the 103rd Airlift Wing and placed under the operational claimancy of Air Mobility Command (AMC).

The 103rd Air Control Squadron is based in Orange, Connecticut, and is known as "Yankee Watch". The mission of the 103rd Air Control Squadron is real-time detection, identification and surveillance of air traffic for combat operations and homeland defense. The 103rd ACS is the oldest unit of its kind in the United States military.

The Connecticut Air National Guard counts one astronaut amongst its former members, Jack Swigert, who flew on Apollo 13. Swigert served with the CT ANG from April 1960 to October 1965.

Brigadier General Daniel L Peabody is the current Assistant Adjutant General-Air, for the CT ANG.

State Militia
The State Defense Force is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Connecticut and Executive Order. The State Defense Force (SDF) is the state’s authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the Connecticut National Guard in the event the Guard is mobilized. The SDF comprises retired active and reserve military personnel and selected professional persons who volunteer their time and talents in further service to their state.

Connecticut does not appear to have an active State Defence Force, instead having two ceremonial Governor's Horse Guard companies and two ceremonial Governor's Foot Guard companies. While all four companies are primarily ceremonial, the horse companies do drill in mounted search and rescue.

The First Company of the Horse Guard was created in 1788 as the Independent Volunteer Troop of Horse Guards in Hartford. A second Horse Guard company was created in 1808 in New Haven. Both were created to serve and protect the governor between his travels between New Haven and Hartford.