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| Texas Military Forces | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 18 February 1823; 202 years ago (1823) |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  State of Texas |
| Size | 23,200 personnel |
| Garrison/HQ | Building Eight,Camp Mabry,Austin, Texas, U.S. 30°11′03″N97°27′14″E / 30.1842173°N 97.4538338°E /30.1842173; 97.4538338 |
| Engagements | List of conflicts involving the Texas Military |
| Commanders | |
| Commander-in-chief | GovernorGreg Abbott |
| Adjutant general | Major General Thomas M. Suelzer |
| Joint Staff director | Vacant |
| Executive Director | Shelia Taylor |
| Command Sergeant Major | CSM Frederick M. Heard |
TheTexas Military Forces (TXMF) are the principal instrument through which theTexas Military Department (TMD) executes security policy forTexas, which has the second-largestpopulation andborder in the United States.[1]
The Texas Military Forces have a budget of $1.851 billion as of 2023.[2] Current forces include theTexas Army National Guard,Texas Air National Guard, andTexas State Guard of theTexas Militia. Former forces include theTexian Militia,Texian Army,Texian Navy,Texas Army,Texas Navy, andTexas Marines. It also included theTexas Rangers from their inception until 1935.[3]
The Texas Military Forces are administered by the Texas Military Department under command of theadjutant general of Texas, who is appointed by and subordinate to thegovernor of Texas, thecommander-in-chief-in-Texas, and is also subordinate to the President of the United States, the commander-in-chief.[4]
Texas Military Forces are inextricably linked and have served an integral role in the development,history,culture, and international reputation of Texas.[5] They were established with theTexian Militia in 1823 (thirteen years before theRepublic of Texas and twenty-two years before theState of Texas) byStephen Austin to defend theOld Three Hundred in theColony of Texas.[6]
Texas Military Forces sparked theTexas Revolution at theBattle of Velasco and becamelegendary at theBattle of Gonzales (the "Lexington of Texas").[7][8][9] Their legend continued at their defeat by Mexican forces atSiege of the Alamo, with events such as theImmortal 32 andTo the People of Texas & All Americans in the World, which resulted in one of the most notablelast stands in history.[10] As of 2018, theAlamo Mission is the most visited tourist attraction in Texas and one of ten manmadeUNESCO World Heritage Sites in the United States.[11] The Texas Military's legend was sealed at theBattle of San Jacinto, when they defeatedSanta Anna's army in 18 minutes, achieving independence from theCentralist Republic of Mexico and establishing the Republic of Texas, one of three colonies towin independence without foreign aid in world history and the onlyAmerican state (theThirteen Colonies wereaided by France, and theCalifornia Republic andRepublic of Hawaii were aided by the United States).[10] The artillery used during the battle, theTwin Sisters, are considered the "Holy Grail of Texas".[12]
During the 19th century, theTexas Rangers' service in theTexas-Indians Wars and fightingoutlaws significantly contributed to thefolklore of the "Wild West".[13]
During theAmerican Civil War, Texas Military Forces served under the command ofUnion andConfederate militaries. When the first units reached Virginia,Jefferson Davis greeted them by declaring:"Texans! The troops of other states have their reputations to gain, but the sons of the defenders of the Alamo have theirs to maintain."[14] TheTexas Brigade achieved distinction as Confederateshock troops, while theDavis Guards maintained Texas as the onlyConfederate State, along with Florida, unconquered by theUnion with their victory atSecond Battle of Sabine Pass. It is referred to as the "Thermopylae of the Confederacy" and the most one-sided Confederate victory of the war.[15][16] Texas Military Forces also fought at theBattle of Palemito Ranch.[17]
Texas Military Forces have not waged adomestic combat operation since the 19th century. Throughout the 20th and 21st centuries, they have been primarily engaged inmilitary operations other than war, includingmanmade andnatural disaster operations,search and rescue operations,counterdrug operations, andborder security operations. Most notably, theMexican drug war,Texas City Disaster,Hurricane Harvey,Hurricane Katrina,Hurricane Rita,Bastrop County Complex Fire,Operation Jump Start,Operation Phalanx,Operation Faithful Patriot,COVID-19 pandemic,George Floyd protests, andOperation Lone Star.
Under command of theUnited States Department of Defense, Texas Military Forces have served in theMexican War,Spanish War,Philippine War,Mexican Expedition,World War I,World War II,Cold War (Korea andVietnam campaigns), andWar on Terror. Since theSeptember 11 attacks, Texas Military units have been deployed for the war on terror more than any other state.[18]
Texas Military Forces are administered by the Texas Military Department under command of theAdjutant General of Texas, who is appointed by and subordinate to theGovernor of Texas, theCommander in Chief.[4]
Texas Military Forces exist undercivilian control. Since 1903, Texas Military Forces are authorized byTitle 32 of the United States Code andArticle 4 of the Texas Constitution to "execute the laws of the State, to suppress insurrections, and to repel invasions."[19][20] Texas Army National Guard and Texas Air National Guard units are also subject toTitle 10 of the United States Code, which legally empowers theGovernment of the United States tomobilize them when more resources are needed than available in theUnited States Armed Forces for war, national emergency, or national security.[21] Under Title 10, operations are conducted under command of theUnited States Department of Defense by theSecretary of Defense.
Awards and decorations of the Texas Military are the medals, ribbons, badges, tabs, trophies, plaques, certificates, memorials, monuments, holidays, and general honors that recognize service and achievement in the Texas Military Forces.
The history of conflicts involving the Texas Military Forces spans over two centuries, from 1823 to the present, under the command authority (the ultimate source of lawful military orders) of four governments including the Texan government (in 3 incarnations), theU.S. government, theMexican government, and theConfederate government.
After theUnited States Armed Forces, Texas Military Forces are the most capable, mission-ready forces in the United States.[22][23][18] They includeinfantry,paratroopers,special forces,armored cavalry,field artillery,communication,cyber,intelligence,support,medical,engineering,civil affairs, andweapon of mass destruction response units totaling over 23,000 service members. It also maintains a fleet ofmanned andunmanned aircraft withstrike,reconnaissance, andtransport capabilities, a fleet ofrotorcraft, and a fleet ofriverine watercraft. It maintains a statewide network ofgarrison, training, and monitoring installations. It maintainscommand and control through shelter and mobiletactical operations centers.[23][18]
Texas Military Forces have undergone many re-designations, reorganizations, and reformations since 1823. Since 1846,Texas Militia units constitute the entirety of the Texas Military Forces.
The Texas Army National Guard is the currentland warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces for the State of Texas. Its major units include the 36th Infantry Division, the 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 72nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the36th Combat Aviation Brigade, the 71st Battlefield Surveillance Brigade, the 36th Sustainment Brigade, the 176th Engineer Brigade, the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, the 136th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, and the 136th Regiment (CA) (RTI).
The Texas Air National Guard is the currentair warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces for the State of Texas. It is composed of the 149th Fighter Wing, the 136th Airlift Wing, the 147th Attack Wing, the 254th Combat Communications Group, the 272nd Engineering Installation Squadron, and the 204th Security Forces Squadron. The 149th Fighter Wing prepares pilots for combat, the 136th Airlift Wing flies C-130s in-and out of theater and the 147th Reconnaissance Wing has recently acquiredReapers to be the eyes in the hostile sky.
The Texas State Guard is the currentstate defense force branch of the Texas Military Forces for the State of Texas. It assists and augments Texas military and civil authorities in times of state emergencies, and in on-going support of National Guard units and local communities.
The Texian Militia was themilitia forces of theTexianColony from 1823 to 1835 and the inaugurate force of the Texas Military. It was established byStephen F. Austin on August 5, 1823, for defense of theOld Three Hundred colonists against theKarankawa,Comanche, andCherokee tribes; among others. Its most notable unit, theTexas Rangers, remained in continuous service of Texas Military Forces until 1935.
The Texas Rangers were established as a unit of theTexian Militia in theTexianColony. During theTexas Revolution, it served as a unit of theTexian Army providingcavalry and conductingspecial operations such as demolition ofVince's Bridge andImmortal 32 relief force. During theRepublic of Texas, it continued to serve as a special forces unit employingguerrilla warfare in theTexas-Indian Wars.
The Texian Army, also known as the Revolutionary Army and Army of the People, was theland warfare branch of theTexian armed forces during theTexas Revolution. It spontaneously formed from theTexian Militia in October 1835 following theBattle of Gonzales. Along with theTexian Navy, it helped theRepublic of Texas win independence from theCentralist Republic of Mexico on May 14, 1836, at theTreaties of Velasco. Although theTexas Army was officially established by theConsultation of the Republic of Texas on November 13, 1835, it did not replace the Texian Army until after theBattle of San Jacinto.
The Texian Navy, also known as the Revolutionary Navy and First Texas Navy, was thenaval warfare branch of theTexian armed forces during theTexas Revolution. It was established by theConsultation of the Republic of Texas on November 25, 1835. Along with theTexian Army, it helped theRepublic of Texas win independence from theCentralist Republic of Mexico on May 14, 1836, at theTreaties of Velasco. It was replaced by theTexas Navy on March 23, 1839.
The Texas Army, officially the Army of the Republic of Texas, was theland warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces during theRepublic of Texas. It descended from theTexian Army, which was established in October 1835 to fight for independence fromCentralist Republic of Mexico in theTexas Revolution. The Texas Army was provisionally formed by theConsultation in November 1835, however it did not replace the Texian Army until after theBattle of San Jacinto. The Texas Army,Texas Navy, andTexas Militia were officially established on September 5, 1836, in Article II of theConstitution of the Republic of Texas. The Texas Army and Texas Navy were merged with theUnited States Armed Forces on February 19, 1846, after the Republic of Texas became the28th state ofAmerica.
The Texas Navy, officially the Navy of the Republic of Texas, also known as the Second Texas Navy, was thenaval warfare branch of the Texas Military Forces during theRepublic of Texas. It descended from theTexian Navy, which was established in November 1835 to fight for independence fromCentralist Republic of Mexico in theTexas Revolution. The Texas Navy,Texas Army, andTexas Militia were officially established on September 5, 1836, in Article II of theConstitution of the Republic of Texas. The Texas Navy and Texas Army were merged with theUnited States Armed Forces on February 19, 1846, after the Republic of Texas became the28th state ofAmerica.
The Texas Marines, officially the Marine Corps of the Republic of Texas, were thenaval infantry of theTexas Navy tasked with enforcing discipline aboard ships, providing security atshore stations,sharpshooting, andnaval boarding. It was officially established on January 14, 1836, and modeled after theUnited States Marines Corps.
Since 1846, Texas Militia units have constituted the entirety of the Texas Military Forces. Current units are theTexas Army National Guard,Texas Air National Guard, andTexas State Guard. Former units include the Texas Home Guard/State Troops (1861–65), Texas Volunteer Guard (1871-1904), Texas Reserve Militia (1905-1913), Texas Home Guard (1914-1918), Texas Reserve Militia (1919-1940), Texas Defense/State Guard (1941–45), and Texas State Guard Reserve Corps (1945-1965).
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