| Mississippi National Guard | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Active | 1798 (1798)–present |
| Country |  United States |
| Allegiance |  Mississippi |
| Type |  National Guard |
| Role | Organized militia Armed forces reserve |
| Size | ~12,275 personnel |
| Part of | Mississippi Military Department National Guard of the United States |
| Headquarters | Jackson, Mississippi |
| Website | ng |
| Commanders | |
| Commander in Chief | GovernorTate Reeves |
| Adjutant General of Mississippi | Major General Bobby M. Ginn Jr.,MSARNG |
| Insignia | |
| Abbreviation | MSNG |
TheMississippi National Guard (MSNG), commonly known as theMississippi Guard, is both a Mississippi state and a federal government organization, part of theUnited States National Guard. It is part of theMississippi Military Department, a state agency of the government of Mississippi. The Adjutant General of Mississippi (TAG), Major General Bobby Ginn, serves as the executive director and is subordinate to the Commander-in-Chief, theGovernor of Mississippi, in matters relating to the department and the state militia forces.[1]
The Mississippi Code of 1972, Title 33, Chapter 3, titled "Military Affairs", details the duties and responsibilities of the Adjutant General of Mississippi. The Adjutant General of Mississippi, via the Mississippi Military Department, is expressly authorized to "issue such orders, rules and regulations as may be necessary in order that the organization, training and discipline of the components of the militia of this state will at all times conform to the applicable requirements of the United States government relating thereto. Orders, rules and regulations issued hereunder shall have full force and effect as part of the military code of this state".[2]
The state militia forces formally break down into three broad classes: The Mississippi National Guard (MSNG), theMississippi State Guard (MSSG), and the unorganized militia.
TheConstitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. In fact, the National Guard is the onlyUnited 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 ofmartial 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 thePresident orCongress.
When National Guard troops are called to federal service, the President serves asCommander-in-Chief. 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." TheGovernor may call individuals or units of the Mississippi National Guard into state service during emergencies or to assist in special situations which lend themselves to the use of the National Guard. 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."
National Guard units can be mobilized at any time bypresidential order to supplement regular armed forces, and upon declaration of astate of emergency by thegovernor of the state in which they serve. UnlikeArmy Reserve members, National Guard members cannot be mobilized individually (except through voluntary transfers and Temporary Duty AssignmentsTDY), but only as part of their respectiveunits. However, there has been a significant number of individual activations to support military operations (2001-?); the legality of this policy is a major issue within the National Guard.
During the Vietnam War, service in the National Guard was highly sought after. An enlistment in the Guard prevented a person from being sent to combat. In 1968, the Mississippi National Guard had 10,365 soldiers. At the time only 1% of them were black. At that time, the population of the state was more than forty percent black.[3]
In November 2020, following the legislative retirement of thestate flag of Mississippi in June, the National Guard changed their official seal for identification due to the old one containing the former flag.[4]
In February 2024, a helicopter carrying two members of the national guard were killed when the helicopter crashed.[5]
The Mississippi National Guard consists of the:
Mississippi'sstate defense force, theMississippi State Guard, is a military entity authorized by both the State Code of Mississippi andexecutive order. The State Guard is the state's authorized militia and assumes the state mission of the Mississippi National Guard in the event the MS National Guard is mobilized. This force is federally recognized, but are separate from the National Guard and are not meant to be federalized. 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.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location (link)
