Texas Army National Guard

Texas Army National Guard
Joint Forces Headquarters Texas Army National Guard distinctive insignia
Allegiance	United States of America
Branch	United States Army
Type	ARNG Headquarters Command
Part of	Texas National Guard
Commanders
Commanding General	MG William "Len" Smith

The Texas Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army, the United States National Guard and the Texas Military Forces (along with the Texas Air National Guard and the Texas State Guard).

Texas Army National Guard units are trained and equipped as part of the United States Army. The same ranks and insignia are used and National Guardsmen are eligible to receive all United States military awards. The Texas Guard also bestows a number of state awards for local services rendered in or to the state of Texas.

The Texas Army National Guard is composed of approximately 19,000 soldiers, and maintains 117 armories in 102 communities. State duties include disaster relief, emergency preparedness, security assistance to state law enforcement agencies, and some aspects of border security. The Governor can activate the National Guard components under his control for state active duty in Texas, and in support of adjacent states.

The Texas Army National Guard has its roots in the Texas Militia formed by Sam Houston during the Texas Revolution of 1835 - 1836.

The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system. After World War II, the previous Texas ARNG 36th Infantry Division was reorganised as the 49th Armored Division.

The 49th Armored Division was ordered to active federal service in October 1961 at Dallas, for the 1961 Berlin Crisis, and reverted to state control in August 1962. The 49th was deactivated in 1968 and re-organized into three separate brigades, the 36th Infantry Brigade, 71st Infantry Brigade and 72nd Infantry Brigade (Mechanized) (Dallas). The division was reactivated on 1 November 1973, with its headquarters at Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas.