Nevada National Guard

The Nevada National Guard consists of the Nevada Army National Guard, including distinguished units such as C Co. 1-168th GSAB Medevac "Wolfpack" and B Co. 1-189th Aviation "Mustangs" and the Nevada Air National Guard, including the 152nd Airlift Wing "High Rollers". The Nevada Office of the Military provides military organization for the Nevada National Guard, which consists of both the state’s Army Guard and Air Guard. It is the organized military force of the state, except when ordered into federal service.

Under the National Defense Act of 1947, the Army and Air National Guard are reserve components of the United States Army and Air Force. The state’s Guard may also be ordered by the governor to serve the state by protecting persons or property from either man-made or natural disasters and suppressing or preventing riot, insurrection, invasion or violence.

The governor is the commander-in-chief of the Nevada National Guard and appoints the adjutant general. Since June 2005, Maj. Gen. (Nevada) Cynthia Kirkland has served as Nevada’s adjutant general under former Gov. Kenny Guinn, and new Gov. Jim Gibbons.

Under the direction of the governor, the adjutant general is responsible for the supervision of all matters pertaining to the administration, discipline, mobilization, organization and training of the Nevada National Guard.

Nevada Army National Guard
The Nevada National Guard is one of the 54 members (50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia) of the United States National Guard, part of the United States reserve forces.

At the conclusion of fiscal year 2006, Brig. Gen. Francis “Frank” Gonzales was the assistant adjutant general for the Nevada Army Guard. On Sept. 30, 2006, the Nevada National Guard had 2,474 soldiers and 1,125 airmen totaling 3,599 members. That figure shows an increase of 533 members since Sept. 30, 2004, and marks an all-time high for total Nevada Guard soldiers and airmen.

The 17 percent increase in personnel during the past two years reflects Nevada as one of the fastest-growing of the Guard states and territories. In terms of total National Guard members, Nevada now ranks 45th among the states and territories, up from 47th in 2004. States with comparable numbers of personnel include: Montana (3,518), Alaska (3,732) and Vermont (3,628). Nevada Guard staff reports at the conclusion of the fiscal year revealed that the Nevada Army Guard stood at 108 percent of its federally authorized manning (2,292 soldiers).

At the conclusion of fiscal year 2006, about 250 Nevada soldiers and airmen remained deployed in southwest Asia. The majority of these were soldiers in the 593rd Transportation Company and 1-221st Cavalry. The soldiers currently deployed with 1-221st Cavalry are all volunteers who are assisting the Wisconsin Army Guard’s 121st Field Artillery Battalion on security mission in Iraq.

Traditional guardsmen in the Nevada National Guard train one weekend per month and 15 days a year in their respective military career fields. Nevada’s traditional guardsmen are supported by 474 full-time federal technicians, state employees and 314 Active Guard and Reserve personnel stationed at various locations around the state.

Units
Nevada’s Army Guard is composed of six major commands:
 * Joint Force Headquarters
 * 17th Sustainment Brigade
 * 991st Aviation Troop Command
 * 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry Regiment
 * 422nd Signal Battalion
 * 421st Regional Training Institute
 * The 92nd Civil Support Team for Weapons of mass destruction, a joint force unit of 22 soldiers and airmen headquartered in Las Vegas, began operation in late 2004 and is an important resource and asset to the state should a domestic chemical, biological or nuclear event occur.