Rhode Island Army National Guard
The Rhode Island Army National Guard (RI ARNG) is Rhode Island’s land force and a part of the U.S. Army and the National Guard. It can serve both the state and the nation. When not on federal duty, it answers to the state governor to help with domestic emergencies and disasters. The President can also call up RI ARNG units for federal missions, with the governor’s consent.
The RI ARNG is headquartered at 2841 South County Trail, East Greenwich, RI 02818. The current commander is Brig. Gen. Andrew Chevalier. Its insignia include the Rhode Island State Area Command (STARC) shoulder sleeve insignia and related flags.
History in brief
Rhode Island’s military forces go back to May 13, 1638, with the Traine Band in Portsmouth. Over the centuries, the militia evolved into the Rhode Island National Guard. The Militia Act of 1903 (the Dick Act) created federal funding and standard training, and in 1907 the Rhode Island Militia became the Rhode Island National Guard. The Guard has fought in major wars and taken part in many national and state missions, including Civil War actions, World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Desert Shield/Desert Storm, and deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. It has also provided disaster relief at home, such as during Hurricane Katrina.
Recent and notable activities
In the 2000s and 2010s, RI Guard units deployed overseas for missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. They also supported domestic operations, including homeland security and disaster response. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Rhode Island National Guard helped with vaccination efforts. In early 2021, Task Force Vax organized and carried out mass vaccination for Rhode Island residents, administering more than 336,000 doses (about 30% of all vaccines given in the state at that time).
Mission and vision
Mission: Provide well-trained, well-led, and well-equipped mission-ready units to support the National Military Strategy and state, local, and national officials as needed.
Vision: A ready, relevant, and reliable force of citizen soldiers capable of operating in joint and interagency environments.
This page was last edited on 2 February 2026, at 16:37 (CET).