The Indiana Guard Reserve, formerly the Liberty Guard and the Indiana Legion, is a militia force that serves as the State Defense Force of the State of Indiana

Indiana

Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...

. The Indiana Guard Reserve serves under the exclusive authority of the Governor of the State of Indiana through his executive agent for military matters, The Adjutant General of Indiana. The Guard Reserve is a unique military organization designed to provide military support for the State of Indiana when units of the Indiana Army National Guard are activated for federal service or otherwise unavailable to the State of Indiana. When the Indiana Army National Guard enters active federal service and departs Indiana, the Indiana Guard Reserve remains in Indiana and becomes the Governor's military force. The Indiana Guard Reserve could be assigned missions of providing custodial management of armories, security for armories and possibly other state properties, and support to civilian authorities in natural disasters and other state emergencies.

Organization

The Indiana Guard Reserve is organized pursuant to Indiana Code IC 10-16-8. It is subdivided into seven subordinate commands:

• Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and serves a Headquarters for the Commanding General of the Indiana Guard Reserve.
• 1st Brigade - Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana and encompasses the northeast quarter of the state.
• 2nd Brigade - Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana and encompasses the northwest quarter of the state.
• 3rd Brigade - Headquartered in Bedford, Indiana and encompasses the southwest quarter of the state.
• 4th Brigade - Headquartered in Shelbyville, Indiana and encompasses the southeast quarter of the state.
• Training Command - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and administers the Indiana Guard Reserve Training Academy.
• Support Command - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana and serves as a supporting unit. The command has military police, medical and communication units, and has other support personnel assigned to it.

Purpose

The purpose of any State Defense Force is to provide the Governor of a state with a viable military force in the event that National Guard forces for that state have been mobilized into Federal Active Service. The Indiana Guard Reserve has prepared for several missions in the event that the Indiana National Guard

Indiana National Guard

The Indiana National Guard is the armed force of the state of Indiana. It consists of the Indiana Army National Guard and the Indiana Air National Guard, and is part of the larger Army National Guard and the Air National Guard...

 is federalized.

Training

The Indiana Guard Reserve offers specialized and general training to its soldiers. Some examples of training offered either at state or local levels include:

• Military Emergency Management Specialist certification
• Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) certification
• Basic First Aid certification
• Basic Military Training
• Basic and Advanced Non Commissioned Officer Training
• Basic and Advanced Officer Training

Historic Missions

The Indiana Guard Reserve has undertaken several missions in the past, including the following:

• Assisted Columbus Regional Hospital, Columbus, Indiana with security after the flooding in June 2008.
• Assisted in providing security for Vice President Dick Cheney's visit to Camp Atterbury in Edinburgh, Indiana in 2006
• Supplied traffic control and security for several past Indianapolis 500 Festival Mini-Marathons
• Supplied trainers for Junior Reserve Officer's Training Corps (JROTC) Camp
• Supplied traffic control and security for several past Indianapolis Shamrock Runs
• Supplied traffic control and security for several past (Senator Dick) Lugar Runs in Indianapolis
• Assisted in mobilizing and demobilizing activated National Guard and Reserve troops for missions overseas at Camp Atterbury
• Assisted as guides for the American Veterans Traveling Tribute (The traveling Vietnam Wall) in Noblesville, Indiana
• Provided security for several past Indianapolis Air Shows

History

Indiana's militia dates back to 1801 when it was first formed organized by Governor William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison

William Henry Harrison was the ninth President of the United States , an American military officer and politician, and the first president to die in office. He was 68 years, 23 days old when elected, the oldest president elected until Ronald Reagan in 1980, and last President to be born before the...

. During the American Civil War

American Civil War

The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...

 the Indiana Legion was created, giving the militia an official role in the state and distinguishing them from the regiments called to federal duty who would later become the Indiana National Guard

Indiana National Guard

The Indiana National Guard is the armed force of the state of Indiana. It consists of the Indiana Army National Guard and the Indiana Air National Guard, and is part of the larger Army National Guard and the Air National Guard...

. During the Civil War the Legion fought in the Battle of Corydon

Battle of Corydon

The Battle of Corydon was a minor engagement that took place July 9, 1863, just south of Corydon, which had been the original capital of Indiana until 1825, and was the county seat of Harrison County. The attack occurred during Morgan's Raid in the American Civil War as a force of 2,500 cavalry...

, was active throughout Morgan's Raid

Morgan's Raid

Morgan's Raid was a highly publicized incursion by Confederate cavalry into the Northern states of Indiana and Ohio during the American Civil War. The raid took place from June 11–July 26, 1863, and is named for the commander of the Confederates, Brig. Gen...

into Indiana, and patrolled the state's southern border and protected areas of importance. The Legion was renamed to the Liberty Guard in 1903 and served in various functions in the state. The Liberty Guard was renamed the Indiana Guard Reserve in 1916 and given a more formal role in the state.

Uniform

Personnel of the Guard Reserve will be authorized to wear the U.S. Army duty uniforms, both Class A and B, as well as the Class C (ACU's or BDU's). Ownership of the Dress Blue is optional. Wear of these uniforms is authorized with minor insignia modifications.http://mdisdf.org/recruit.html

For more information see JFHQIN-IGR Reg 10-4-9

Decorations

Decorations from prior service along with Guard Reserve and Indiana State awards are authorized for wear.http://mdisdf.org/recruit.htmlhttp://www.mdisdf.org/ribbons.jpg

For more information see JFHQIN-IGR Reg 10-4-10