Indiana Guard Reserve

The Indiana Guard Reserve (IGR) is the state defense force of Indiana. It is a military organization maintained under state authority rather than federal command and serves through the governor of Indiana, acting through the adjutant general as the governor's executive agent for military affairs. Its central purpose is to provide Indiana with an organized military capability if elements of the Indiana National Guard are called into federal service, while also supporting state and local authorities during emergencies and other approved missions. The organization is distinct from the Indiana National Guard's federally deployable components. Its personnel remain available to the state and can be assigned to missions that require military organization, command structure, logistical support, emergency-management expertise, security, or assistance to civil authorities. The IGR is organized under Indiana Code IC 10-16-8. In April 2022, the Indiana adjutant general directed a reorganization around a brigade command structure, with the Indiana National Guard's 81st Troop Command serving as the higher-headquarters element. The reorganization established a headquarters and headquarters detachment containing a command group, personal staff, special staff, and coordinating staff, with additional subordinate units to be established through subsequent orders. The IGR's operational role includes soldier support, incident management, community emergency preparedness, community support, and armory support. It has assisted with the mobilization and demobilization of military personnel at Camp Atterbury, supported an annual Army Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps leadership course, and provided security or traffic-control assistance for community activities. Its emergency-management work includes training members and civilian authority personnel, developing Community Emergency Response Team capabilities, and qualifying personnel as Military Emergency Management Specialists. Members may also receive training in CPR, first aid, basic military subjects, and officer and noncommissioned-officer development. The organization has performed a range of domestic missions. These have included decontaminating and distributing medical equipment and supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting with security at Columbus Regional Hospital after flooding in 2008, supporting security arrangements for Vice President Dick Cheney's 2006 visit to Camp Atterbury, helping activated National Guard and Reserve personnel during overseas mobilization and demobilization, supporting the American Veterans Traveling Tribute in Noblesville, and participating in Operation Allies Welcome. The IGR has also supplied instructors for JROTC activities and supported security at Indiana National Guard armories when Guard units were operating under federal orders. Indiana's state military tradition reaches back to the Civil War era. The Indiana Legion was established as a state militia organization and performed duties separate from Indiana units called into federal service. Its historical activities included responding to the Newburgh Raid, taking part in the Battle of Corydon, operating during Morgan's Raid into Indiana, patrolling the southern border, and protecting strategically important locations. The organization became known as the Liberty Guard in 1903 and was renamed the Indiana Guard Reserve in 1916, when it received a more formal state-defense role. A former air wing existed but was disbanded in the mid-1990s. Today, the Indiana Guard Reserve is best understood as a state emergency-support and defense organization rather than a commercial brand. It has no conventional product portfolio or consumer market. Its principal offerings are trained personnel, emergency-management capability, security assistance, military support, and organized augmentation for Indiana authorities. Personnel may wear U.S. Army uniforms with modifications identifying their state-defense-force status, and the organization maintains awards, qualification badges, and an IGR medallion for eligible members.

Indiana's state military tradition developed from nineteenth-century militia structures. During the American Civil War era, the Indiana Legion served as a state-controlled force distinct from Indiana regiments that entered federal service and later formed part of the Indiana National Guard tradition. The Legion performed internal-defense and security duties, including responding to the Newburgh Raid, fighting at the Battle of Corydon, operating during Morgan's Raid into Indiana, patrolling the state's southern border, and protecting important facilities and locations. In 1903, the organization was renamed the Liberty Guard. It continued to represent Indiana's state military capability and performed functions that could be assigned by state authorities. In 1916, it received the name Indiana Guard Reserve and was given a more formal role as Indiana's state defense force. The organization was intended to preserve a military resource under the governor's control, particularly when federally activated National Guard units might not be available for state missions. The modern Indiana Guard Reserve operates under Indiana Code IC 10-16-8 and under the exclusive authority of the governor, exercised through the adjutant general. Its mission is complementary to that of the Indiana National Guard. Rather than replacing federally deployable Guard units, it provides a state-based force able to support emergency management, civil authorities, security requirements, and military-family or troop-support functions. The organization has assisted at Camp Atterbury with the mobilization and demobilization of activated National Guard and Reserve personnel, supported JROTC leadership instruction, and provided personnel for public-safety and community-support activities. The IGR has also responded to specific emergencies and public events. It assisted Columbus Regional Hospital after flooding in June 2008, supported security during Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Camp Atterbury in 2006, helped guide visitors at the American Veterans Traveling Tribute in Noblesville, participated in Operation Allies Welcome, and supported Indiana's COVID-19 response by decontaminating and distributing medical equipment and supplies. Its continuing mission set includes incident-management training, Community Emergency Response Team education, emergency preparedness, armory support, and security or traffic control for approved events. The organization maintains general and specialized training pathways. These include Military Emergency Management Specialist certification, CPR and first-aid training, basic military instruction, and development programs for officers and noncommissioned officers. In April 2022, the Indiana adjutant general ordered a reorganization into a brigade command structure. The Indiana National Guard 81st Troop Command became the higher-headquarters element, while a headquarters and headquarters detachment was established with a colonel commanding officer, executive officer, senior enlisted adviser, and supporting staff elements. Further subordinate units were to be established through orders. The IGR formerly included an air wing, but that component was disbanded in the mid-1990s. Current personnel are authorized to wear U.S. Army service and operational uniforms with modifications identifying their status as members of a state defense force. The organization also maintains its own recognition system, including an IGR medallion and rifle and pistol qualification badges, while allowing eligible personnel with prior federal military service to wear authorized prior-service decorations.

• 2022

  Reorganized as a brigade-level state force

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The adjutant general ordered a brigade command structure, with the Indiana National Guard 81st Troop Command serving as higher headquarters.

• 2008

  Assisted after Columbus flooding

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The organization helped provide security at Columbus Regional Hospital after flooding in Columbus, Indiana.

• 2006

  Supported security for a vice-presidential visit

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Indiana Guard Reserve personnel assisted with security for Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Camp Atterbury.

• 1916

  Organization renamed Indiana Guard Reserve

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The Liberty Guard became the Indiana Guard Reserve and received a more formal state-defense role.

• 1903

  Indiana Legion renamed the Liberty Guard

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  The state military organization adopted the Liberty Guard name and continued its state-controlled functions.

• 1861

  Indiana state militia tradition formalized during the Civil War era

  [1]Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org

  Indiana's state military organization developed into the Indiana Legion, a force responsible for state missions and distinct from Indiana units entering federal service.

A state-controlled military reserve and emergency-support organization that supplements Indiana's federally oriented National Guard capability and provides the governor with an organized force for domestic missions.

• Public safety and emergency response

  Emergency-management support

  The Indiana Guard Reserve provides trained personnel for incident-management activities, emergency preparedness, disaster-response support, and augmentation of Indiana Homeland Security and county emergency-operations activities. Its capabilities include Military Emergency Management Specialist training and Community Emergency Response Team education.

• Military support services

  Soldier and force support

  The IGR supports military personnel and related operations during mobilization and demobilization at Camp Atterbury. It can also support JROTC leadership programs and provide armory security when Indiana National Guard units are serving under federal orders.

• Community and public-event support

  Community support and security

  Personnel may assist civil authorities and communities with event security, traffic control, public preparedness education, and other approved support activities. The organization has also provided security assistance during emergency conditions and significant public visits.

• COVID-19 response

  Indiana · United States

  The Indiana Guard Reserve supported the pandemic response by decontaminating and distributing medical equipment and supplies.

  Outcome. The organization contributed state military personnel and logistical capacity to Indiana's public-health response.

  Source
• Operation Allies Welcome

  United States

  Indiana Guard Reserve personnel participated in Operation Allies Welcome, supporting the broader reception and relocation effort for eligible Afghan evacuees.

  Source
• American Veterans Traveling Tribute support

  Noblesville · Indiana · United States

  Members served as guides for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute, including its traveling Vietnam Wall exhibit, in Noblesville.

  Source
• JROTC leadership training support

  Indiana · United States

  The organization has supplied trainers for an annual week-long Army JROTC leadership course.

  Source

• 2022

  Adoption of a brigade command structureStrategy

  Background

  The Indiana Guard Reserve required a formal command arrangement capable of coordinating its state-defense and emergency-support responsibilities.

  Action taken

  The adjutant general ordered the IGR to reorganize into a brigade command structure, placing it under the higher headquarters of the Indiana National Guard's 81st Troop Command.

  Aftermath

  A headquarters and headquarters detachment was established, with additional subordinate units expected to be created through subsequent orders.

  Source

1. 1Indiana Guard Reserve — Wikipediaen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Indiana Guard Reserve — Indiana National Guardin.gov