The West Virginia National Guard is a part of the West Virginia Department of Military Affairs and Public Safety. It comprises the West Virginia Army National Guard and the West Virginia Air National Guard. Unlike some states, West Virginia does not maintain a state defense force, nor is there a naval component to the state's military forces.
The oldest active regiment in the U.S. Army (active, Reserve and National Guard) is the 201st Field Artillery, the "First West Virginia," founded in 1735 as a Virginia militia regiment.
History
The West Virginia National Guard traces its heritage to the 1735 militia company established in Berkeley County by Morgan Morgan. Originally formed for protection against Indian raids, militia units were quickly mobilized when necessary in war time. Militia units provided frontier service in the French and Indian War and during Dunmore’s War. Men from Western Virginia fought on all fronts in the Revolutionary War.
19th century During the War of 1812, Western Virginia militia units took part in the Northwest campaigns, and one company of Cabell County troops fought alongside Andrew Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815. Cabell, Berkeley, and Jefferson counties provided infantry regiments for service in the Mexican War of 1846-1848.
In 1861, the 81st Virginia General Assembly voted to secede from the United States following the Battle of Fort Sumter. However, opposition to secession and slavery as well as anti-Confederate, Pro-Union sentiments were strong in Northwestern Virginia. The counties that now compose of present-day West Virginia voted to secede from Virginia and establish their own separate, pro-Union state, and the West Virginia National Guard's separate identity truly began to coalesce during this period. West Virginia provided some 40,000 men for service in both Northern and Southern forces. Many enlisted in the regiments of bordering states, especially Kentucky, Ohio, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. These troops primarily saw service on West Virginia soil or in the Valley of Virginia. Federal and Confederate units from West Virginia were present at both the first land battle of the war at Philippi and at the Confederate surrender at Appomattox.
A few ceremonial and social militia companies were formed after the Civil War, but the state did nothing to encourage their formation. Although violence during the Railroad Strike of 1877 led industrialists to plead for more militia companies, organization of the militia continued to be slow due to a lack of popular and legislative support. However, national labor problems and the formation of the National Guard Association as a lobbying group resulted in federal legislation that furnished funding and material for Guard companies. In 1889, the West Virginia legislature renamed the militia the West Virginia National Guard and provided state support. The First Infantry Regiment was organized in northern West Virginia and the Second Infantry Regiment in southern West Virginia.
In 1898, the two regiments were merged into one for service in the Spanish-American War. The First West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was stationed in Georgia. Later, another regiment was formed, the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry, which served in Pennsylvania during the war.
Late 19th & 20th century The militia or National Guard was activated for service in areas of labor unrest in 1877, 1880, 1894, 1902, and 1912. Though there were hundreds of strikes during this period, most were controlled by local police authorities. When this failed, troops were called to duty. The most prolonged service took place in 1902 when a national coal strike brought miners out in the New River Gorge, and in 1912–13 when miners struck for union recognition on Paint and Cabin creeks in Kanawha County. Martial law was declared for the strike zone in 1912, and miners and mine guards were sentenced to prison for various violations. ‘‘Mother’’ Jones was among those brought before the court-martial.
In 1916, the West Virginia National Guard was activated in response to President Woodrow Wilson’s call for troops to pursue Pancho Villa on the Mexican border. Again, the regiments were merged and the Second West Virginia Volunteer Infantry was sent to the border. After several months the unit returned home, only to be federalized within weeks for service in World War I. The Second Regiment and a newly recruited First Regiment were absorbed into the 38th Infantry Division. The Second Regiment was reorganized and redesignated as the 150th Infantry while the First Regiment was broken up into support units. The 150th Infantry landed in Europe at the end of the war and saw no action in that conflict.
One of the West Virginian National Guard's most infamous actions was when it took part in the Battle of Blair Mountain during the West Virginia Mine Wars, the largest labor uprising in American history. It played a key role in the suppression of the labor revolt, backing the mine owners alongside other state, federal, and privately-hired forces.
Following World War I, the 150th and 201st Infantry Regiments were organized in southern and northern West Virginia, respectively. These units were federalized in January 1941 as President Franklin D. Roosevelt prepared the nation for war. The 150th spent World War II defending the Panama Canal while the 201st provided the first line of defense for the Aleutian Islands. The National Guard was dramatically changed after World War II. Artillery units, transportation, and engineering units were added to the 150th Infantry Regiment. Probably the biggest change, however, was the addition of a combat fighter squadron, bringing an important aviation component to the Guard
Since World War II, the Army and Air National Guard has served in a number of capacities, lending aid to West Virginians during natural disasters caused by periodic flooding and to victims of the coal refuse dam break on Buffalo Creek in 1972. As part of its military mission, elements of the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard were activated for duty during the Korean War, the war in Vietnam, the Gulf War of 1991, the Iraq War, in support of the peacekeeping mission to Bosnia in 1997–98, and more recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.
21st century
The West Virginia National Guard was mobilized more frequently after the attack on the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001, than at any other time in its history. Elements of the West Virginia Army and Air National Guard served in action in Afghanistan and in Iraq.
The West Virginia National Guard was mobilized in support of reelected U.S. president Donald Trump's National Guard deployments in Washington, D.C. in 2025. On November 26, 2025, two members of The West Virginia National Guard were critically injured after the 2025 Washington, D.C. National Guard shooting. One of the two Guardsmen, 20-year-old Specialist Sarah Beckstrom, died from the injuries sustained. There is currently one suspect in custody.
Leadership The leadership of the West Virginia National Guard includes: Adjutant General: MAJ GEN James Seward, WVARNG Director, Joint Staff: BRIG GEN Patrick Chard, WVANG Senior Enlisted Leader: CSM James D. Jones, WVARNG Assistant Adjutant General for Army: BG Murray E. Holt II, WVARNG Command Sergeant Major: CSM Aaron T. Kincaid, WVANG Assistant Adjutant General for Air: Brig Gen David V. Cochran, WVANG Command Chief Master Sergeant: CWO Daniel J. Hutchins, WVANG
West Virginia Army National Guard
The West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) is the United States Army component of the West Virginia National Guard. It has 38 units and activities stationed in 22 counties throughout West Virginia and overseas.WV ARNG, About the WV Army National Guard, accessed May 2009 The WV ARNG is supporting Homeland Security activities, and has deployed troops as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq, Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and the Horn of Africa, and peace keeping missions in Kosovo.
The WVARNG has a three-fold mission: (a) Federal Mission: As a Reserve Component of the Army, maintain combat ready units and Soldiers who are available to mobilize in support of the U.S. National Military Strategy; (b) State Mission: Provide organized, trained and equipment units to protect life and property and to preserve peace, order and public safety when ordered by the governor; and (c) Community Mission: To add value to the communities in which we live, work and serve.
Organization As of February 2026 the West Virginia Army National Guard consists of the following units:
Joint Force Headquarters-West Virginia, Army Element, in Charleston Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters-West Virginia, Army Element, in Charleston West Virginia Recruiting & Retention Battalion, in Charleston West Virginia Medical Detachment, in South Charleston 153rd Public Affairs Detachment, in Charleston 249th Army Band, in Morgantown Special Operations Detachment-Europe (Airborne), at Camp Dawson Camp Dawson Training Center, in Kingwood Army Aviation Support Facility #1, at Mid-Ohio Valley Airport Army Aviation Support Facility #2 Wheeling, at Wheeling Ohio County Airport Combined Support Maintenance Shop #1, in Eleanor Field Maintenance Shop #4, at Camp Dawson Field Maintenance Shop #7, in Kenova 77th Troop Command, in Glen Jean Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 77th Troop Command, in Glen Jean 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Kenova Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Kenova Company A, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Middletown (RI) — (Rhode Island Army National Guard) Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Columbus (OH) — (Ohio Army National Guard) Company C, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Dawson Company D (Support), 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Kenova Company E (Forward Support), 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Kenova 1528th Forward Support Company (Special Operations) (Airborne), in Martinsburg 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Bluefield (part of 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team) Headquarters and Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Bluefield Troop A, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Holden Detachment 1, Troop A, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Gassaway Troop B, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Red House Troop C, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Glen Jean Troop D (Tank), 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, in Sanford (NC) — (North Carolina Army National Guard) Company D (Forward Support), 230th Brigade Support Battalion, in Glen Jean 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, in Fairmont (M109A6 Paladin) (part of 197th Field Artillery Brigade) Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, in Fairmont Battery A, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, in Elkins Battery B, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, in Morgantown Battery C, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, in Lewisburg 1201st Forward Support Company, at Camp Dawson 111th Engineer Brigade, in Red House Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, in Red House 771st Troop Command Battalion, in Gassaway Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 771st Troop Command Battalion, in Gassaway 156th Military Police Detachment (Law Enforcement), in Holden 157th Military Police Company (Combat Support), in Moorefield 753rd Ordnance Company (EOD), at Camp Dawson (part of 501st Ordnance Battalion (EOD)) 863rd Military Police Company, in Glen Jean 1935th Support Detachment (Contracting Team), in Buckhannon 3664th Ordnance Company (Support Maintenance), in Eleanor