The Indiana Guard Reserve, formerly the Liberty Guard and the Indiana Legion, is the state defense force of the state of Indiana. 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 supplement the Indiana National Guard and to defend Indiana if any part of the Indiana National Guard is in active federal service. The Indiana Guard Reserve also provides MEMS qualified soldiers who can augment Indiana Homeland Security missions and County Emergency Operations activities.
The Indiana Guard Reserve is organized pursuant to Indiana Code IC 10-16-8. It is subdivided into the following 7 Major Subordinate Units:
Headquarters - Headquarters consists of the following:
General Staff - Consists of the Adjutant General of Indiana, the Commanding General of the Indiana Guard Reserve, the Deputy Commander of Logistics/Support, the Deputy Commander of Operations/Training, the Chief of Staff, the Deputy Chief of Staff, and the Secretary of General Staff.
Commander's Personal Staff - Consists of the Command Sergeant Major of the Indiana Guard Reserve division and the STARC Liaison.
Commander's Special Staff - Consists of the Inspector General, Staff Surgeon, Staff Chaplain, Staff Judge Advocate General, Assistant Staff Judge Advocate, Provost Marshal, and the Public Affairs Officer.
Coordinating Staff Group - Consists of the following departments:
G-1 Personnel and Administration - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-1/ Director of Personnel, Personnel Management Officer, and the EEO/Mobilization Officer.
G-2 Intelligence - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-2/Director of Intelligence.
G-3 Operations, Plans, and Training - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-3/Director of Operations, Plans Officer, Training Officer, and the Operations Sergeant Major.
G-4 Logistics - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-4/Director of Logistics, Deputy Director Logistics, Procurement Officer, General Supply Technician, and the Logistics Sergeant Major.
G-5 Civil Affairs - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-5/Director of Civil Affairs, Director of Recruiting/Retention, Recruiting Sergeant Major, and the Civil Affairs Sergeant.
G-6 Information Systems - Consists of the Assistant Chief of Staff G-6/Director of Information Systems, Deputy Assistant Chief of Staff G-6/Chief Information Officer, Cyber Security Officer, Database Management Officer, Infrastructure Management Officer, and the Website Management Officer.
Headquarters - Consists of the Commandant and the Sergeant Major.
Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment - Serves as headquarters for the Indiana Guard Reserve General Staff and support personnel, Search and Rescue Detachment, and the Chaplains Corps. Consists of the Commander, First Sergeant, and the Supply Sergeant.
Office Management - Consists of the IGR Andministrative Assistant.
1st Brigade - Headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and encompasses the northeast quarter of the state. The 1st Brigade consists of the following subordinate units:
1st Battalion - Headquartered in Kokomo, Indiana.
2nd Battalion - Headquartered in Marion, Indiana.
3rd Battalion - Headquartered in South Bend, Indiana.
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. The 3rd Brigade consists of the following subordinate units:
1st Battalion - Headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana.
2nd Battalion - Headquartered in Evansville, Indiana.
3rd Battalion - Headquartered in Jasper, Indiana.
4th Battalion - Headquartered in Terre Haute, Indiana.
4th Brigade - Headquartered in Shelbyville, Indiana, and encompasses the southeast quarter of the state. The 4th Brigade consists of the following subordinate units:
1st Battalion - Headquartered in Anderson, Indiana.
2nd Battalion - Headquartered in Columbus, Indiana.
3rd Battalion - Headquartered in New Albany, Indiana.
Training Command - Headquartered at at Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (CAJMTC), and holds most trainings at the Indiana Regional Training Institute (IMA).
Support Command - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and serves as a supporting unit. The command consists of the following units:
Headquarters Company.
Military Police Company.
Signal Company.
Medical Company.
The Indiana Guard Reserve contains the following 4 Specialized Units:
Chaplains Corps - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana within the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. The Chaplains Corps provides religious services and counseling to Indiana Guard Reserve members.
Medical Command - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, and provides medical support for IGR members and during large-scale emergency situations.
Search and Rescue Detachment - Headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana within the Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment. The Search and Rescue Detachment carries out Search and Rescue missions and also trains Search and Rescue teams.
Ceremonial Unit - Provides an honor guard for community events and military funerals.
Purpose and missions
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 is federalized.
Some of the missions performed by IGR include:
Soldier Support - Provides support to deploying or returning military personnel and civilian contractors during the deployment mobilization/demobilization process at Camp Atterbury, and hosting an annual, week-long Army JROTC leadership course;
Search and Rescue - Provides trained search and rescue teams for statewide deployment, as well as search and rescue training support;
Incident Management - Provides emergency management training for state defense force members and civilian authority personnel, as well as internal qualification for IGR members;
Community Emergency Response Teams - Provides education in disaster preparedness and basic response for members and civilians;
Community Support - Provides support for community events, such as security and traffic control; and
Armory Support - Provides security to Indiana National Guard armories during times when the ING is deployed under federal orders.
The Indiana Guard Reserve offers specialized and general training to its members. 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
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
Indiana's militia dates back to 1801 when it was first formed organized by Governor William Henry Harrison. During the American Civil War 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. During the Civil War the Legion played a prominent role in the Newburgh Raid, fought in the Battle of Corydon, was active throughout Morgan's Raid 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.
There was formerly an Air Wing of the IGR, which wore a slightly-modified Air Force uniform. It was disbanded in the mid-1990s.
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 ). Ownership of the Dress Blue is optional. Wear of these uniforms is authorized with minor insignia modifications.[1]
The following ribbons are awarded to members of the Indiana Guard Reserve.
The Indiana Guard Reserve also awards the INGR Medallion and expert, sharpshooter, and marksman badges for both rifle and pistol. Members who have previously served in the federal military may wear decorations awarded for prior service may also be worn on the uniform.
