The 1st Battalion, 103d Field Artillery, provides conventional and precision cannon artillery fires capabilities to battlefield commanders in order to neutralize or suppress the enemy. The Battalion is equipped with twelve M777A2 155mm howitzers that are towed by truck or transported by helicopter. The military professionals within the 103d are trained in a multitude of career functions including fire control specialists, cannon crewmembers, personnel and logistics specialists, medics, and communications specialists. Prepared to respond during domestic emergencies, the Battalion is trained and equipped to handle mass decontamination in the case of a nuclear, biological, or chemical incidents.
The Headquarters and Alpha Batteries are located in the historic Armory of Mounted Commands in Providence. Bravo Battery and Charlie Battery are stationed in North Smithfield and Bristol, respectively. The 103rd traces its lineage to the Providence Marine Corps of Artillery, which was activated in the American Civil War and the Spanish-American War. The 103rd served the state and nation in World War I, World War II, Operation Iraqi Freedom, and Operation New Dawn.
The Rhode Island National Guard's 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), is headquartered in Quonset, Rhode Island. The 1/126th provides command and control, air movement of troops and material, and aeromedical evacuation to battlefield commanders. Additionally they provide search and rescue, evacuation, and air movement capabilities to Rhode Island during state emergencies.
Soldiers within the GSAB are trained in a wide range of military occupational specialties including helicopter pilots, crew chiefs, flight medics, and equipment maintainers. Additional specialties supporting battalion operations include communications, medical, logistics, and human resources positions.
The men and women of the of the 1/126th have supported 13 overseas operations since 2004 in Honduras, Iraq, Panama, Afghanistan, Dominican Republic, Kuwait and the Bahamas.
Charlie Company, 1/143rd Infantry (Airborne) company headquartered in East Greenwich, RI. The 143rd Infantry Battalion is headquartered in Texas. The battalion, including Rhode Island’s Charlie Company, continues to serve as the 3rd maneuver Battalion for the 173rd IBCT (Airborne) out of Vicenza Italy highlighting a unique training relationship between active duty and National Guard maneuver units.
Airborne and ranger units are organized and equipped to conduct parachute assaults to close with the enemy to kill him, to destroy his equipment, and to shatter his will to resist. This close personal fight requires combat-ready units composed of skilled soldiers and resourceful leaders. These units are the result of a tough, thorough, and demanding training program conducted by leaders who understand the effective employment of airborne forces, the combined arms team, and joint operations.
Alpha Company, 1/182nd Infantry, is a light infantry company headquartered in East Greenwich, RI. An Infantry Company is an all-weather, all-terrain unit. Its mission is to close with the enemy by means of fire and maneuver to destroy or capture him, or to repel his assault by fire, close combat, and counterattack. Against this backdrop, the 1/182nd Infantry Company must also be ready to adapt to various levels of conflict and peace in differing environments. It requires bold, aggressive, resourceful, and adaptive leaders who are willing to accept known risks to accomplish the mission.
Infantry leaders must use their initiative and make rapid decisions to take advantage of unexpected opportunities. In order to succeed, Infantry companies must be aggressive, physically fit, disciplined, and well trained. The inherent strategic mobility of Infantry units dictates a need to be prepared for rapid deployment in response to the operational environment.
Alpha Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group is headquartered in Middletown, RI. The Soldiers of Alpha 2/19 are unique professionals with an innovative approach to waging war. Falling under the umbrella of Special Operations Forces (SOF), Special Forces is the United States military's premier Unconventional Warfare force. The missions undertaken by National Guard Special Forces encompass a broad spectrum of capabilities, including Unconventional Warfare, Counter-Terrorism, Direct Action, Foreign Internal Defense, and Special Reconnaissance.
Special Forces are built on individuals and small units who apply special skills with adaptability, improvisation, and innovation. Special operations require precise tactical-level planning, detailed intelligence, and knowledge of the cultures and languages of the operational areas. Rigorous training and mission rehearsals are integral to their success. Special operations conducted by small Special Forces units provide the US government with a wide array of military options.
Alpha 2/19 features combat diver and military freefall (HALO) capabilities and additionally supports training and selection of Soldiers for SF career entry and development.
The 43d Military Police Brigade serves as the command element for the 118th Military Police Battalion and the 1/103d Field Artillery Battalion. They have the capability to conduct and oversee all three military police disciplines; police operations, detention operations, and security and mobility support. Additionally, the Brigade functions as the regional Military Police command headquarters and the State’s National Guard Task Force Headquarters capable of responding to Domestic Homeland Defense/Security missions. The 43d provides protection measures to critical infrastructure and promote stability and security at home and abroad.
The 56th Troop Command provides command and control, administrative, and logistical support to A 2/19, A 1/182, C 1/143, 110th PAD, 1-126th GSAB, 88th Army Band, and the 861st Engineer Company during peacetime training and state emergencies. Additionally they host Leapfest annually, the largest static line parachute competition in the world.
The 88th Army Band serves as a combat multiplier by supporting morale and esprit de corps to the Soldiers and Airmen of the Rhode Island National Guard. They also serve an important role in public outreach, engaging with more than 100,000 audience members annually on behalf of the Rhode Island National Guard.
The 110th Public Affairs Detachment provides media relations and logistical and operational control of media members on the battlefield. Domestically the 110th PAD supports the Rhode Island Army National Guard’s media relations, community engagement, and command information efforts through written and graphical media. During state emergencies they assist in keeping the public informed by engaging with media and publishing command-released information.
The 115th Military Police Company is based in Warwick, RI. It provides maneuver and mobility support, area security, law and order operations, and internment and resettlement operations to battlefield commanders. During peacetime they can be activated to provide law enforcement, search and rescue, and other support functions for state emergencies. The more than 160-man Company contains all the communications, maintenance, supply, and mess-section personnel necessary to self-sustain during operations.
The 118th Military Police Battalion provides command and control, administrative, and logistical support to the 169th Military Police Company and 115th Military Police Company during peacetime training and state emergencies. They provide administrative and logistical support to prison operations in contingency operations while deployed.
The 169th Military Police Company is headquartered in Warren, RI. It provides maneuver and mobility support, area security, law and order operations, and internment and resettlement operations to battlefield commanders. During peacetime they can be activated to provide law enforcement, search and rescue, and other support functions for state emergencies. The more than 160-man Company contains all the communications, maintenance, supply, and mess-section personnel necessary to self-sustain during operations.
The 243rd Regional Training Institute in Narragansett, RI, provides military occupational specialty qualification training, leadership and professional development training, and instructor qualification training. They currently host and teach Officer Candidate School, Basic Military Police Course, and Pre-Command Course.
The 861st Engineer Company, headquartered in East Greenwhich, RI, provides horizontal construction, limited vertical construction, and survey capability while conducting engineer operations that include initial base camp construction, non-explosive obstacle breaching, area clearing, and construction of aircraft operations platforms in support of Brigade Combat Teams.
Additionally, the 861st provides support to civil authorities in order to open and maintain key ground and protect critical infrastructure. The 861st also provides search and extraction capabilities to New England CERFP and civil authorities in order to rescue and recover personnel and equipment from collapsed structures.
The 1207th Forward Support Company is headquartered in East Greenwich, RI. The 1207th is a multi functional logistical support unit that provides transportation, supply, maintenance, and food service support to their assigned maneuver battalions in order to sustain unified land combat operations. In peace time they are trained and equipped to handle mass decontamination in the case of a nuclear, biological, or chemical emergency.
The RING Medical Detachment, located in Providence, RI, plans, coordinates, and executes all health force efforts, maintains and manages electronic healthcare records of Soldiers, oversees the transfer and transition of Soldier healthcare information between units, civilian medical organizations, and federal agencies.
The RI Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion conducts strength maintenance operations supporting recruiting, retention, and attrition management operations. They provide promote opportunities for service and foster increased public awareness of the Rhode Island Army National Guard.
The Special Operations Detachment - Global support the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) in planning and execution of special operations by providing Command and Control capabilities with a detachment of Special Forces personnel. This detachment provides depth and ensures that SOCOM is postured to meet global mission requirements.
