The Utah National Guard comprises both Army and Air National Guard components. The Constitution of the United States specifically charges the National Guard with dual federal and state missions. The National Guard is the only United States military force empowered to function in a state status.
The Utah Army National Guard maintains 30 armories in 27 communities.
The Utah Army National Guard is a component of the United States Army and the United States National Guard. Nationwide, the Army National Guard comprises approximately one half of the US Army's available combat forces and approximately one third of its support organization. National coordination of various state National Guard units are maintained through the National Guard Bureau.
History The Utah Army National Guard can trace its origins as far back as 1849. In 1847, as Mormon settlers began arriving in what become known as Utah, it was realized that some sort of militia would be needed to protect the new settlements. The core of this new militia were former members of the Nauvoo Legion, which was formed in Nauvoo, Illinois, around 1840. For a number of years members of the Utah-based militia could be seen wearing elements of the old Nauvoo Legion uniforms. This new Utah based militia would also be referred to as the Nauvoo Legion. Some of the Utah-based Nauvoo Legion would carry lances, giving them a unique look when on horseback. Members of the Mormon Battalion, after finally arriving in Utah after the end of the Mexican–American War, would also join the new Nauvoo Legion.
The Nauvoo Legion would have been involved in the stillborn conflict between Mormons and Federal forces sent to Utah in the late 1850s. After it was apparent no major hostilities would break out, a somewhat more conciliatory relationship developed between Federal troops and the Legion.
In 1857 Nauvoo Legion members in Iron County participated in the murder of 120 immigrants moving through Utah to California. This event is known as the Mountain Meadows massacre. The Utah-based Nauvoo Legion participated in numerous efforts to quell problems with Indians, and also did certain protective duties in Utah during the Civil War.
As non-Mormon settlers and U.S. Government officials began to grow in numbers, it was perceived that the Nauvoo Legion was loyal mainly to the LDS church and Brigham Young, and not to the Utah territorial government. This perception was more acute after Brigham Young was removed as the territorial governor and a non-Mormon replaced him. The Utah militia was disbanded around 1887, and for a time a more direct control over any military matters was maintained directly by the Federal government. In 1894 the Utah National Guard was created, and since that time has operated in a purely secular manner. The Militia Act of 1903 organized the various state militias into the present National Guard system.
See History of the United States National Guard for a more complete history of the guard at a national level.
On January 19, 2021, the Utah National Guard, in cooperation with the Utah Department of Health, administered COVID-19 vaccinations to Guard members and the civilian population. A team of Utah National Guard soldiers and Airmen administered vaccines to civilians that are 70 years or older in Utah County. Captain Jeremy Metzger said they administered 1,400 vaccines at one of their locations.
The Utah Army National Guard was previously led by adjutant general Michael Turley. In 2023, Turley was recently placed on leave while under investigation for having an inappropriate relationship with a subordinate soldier. On August 21, 2023, Governor Cox appointed Brig. Gen. Daniel Boyack as the new adjutant general of the Utah National Guard.
Since 2023, the Utah Army National Guard has undertakes a series a series of initiatives to modernize its capabilities and expand its force structure. These have included participation in joint preparedness exercises, cybersecurity and homeland defense training and updates to medical and leadership development programs. the unit's aviation capabilities were expanded with the addition of new AH-64 Apache helicopters. In addition the guard announced the formation of a new battalion, adding more than 700 soldiers and intended to support both state emergency response and federal defense missions.
Previously active units of the Utah ARNG have included: 115th Engineer Battalion 140th Field Artillery Regiment 145th Field Artillery Regiment 222nd Field Artillery Regiment
Units in June 2026 As of February 2026 the Utah Army National Guard consists of the following units:
Joint Force Headquarters-Utah, Army Element, in Draper Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Joint Force Headquarters-Utah, Army Element, in Draper Utah Recruiting & Retention Battalion, in Draper Utah Medical Detachment, at Camp Williams Utah Training Center, at Camp Williams Army Aviation Support Facility #1, at South Valley Regional Airport Combined Support Maintenance Shop #1, in Draper Unit Training Equipment Site #1, at Camp Williams 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams Group Special Troops Company, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams Tactical Unmanned Aerial Systems Platoon, at Camp Williams Advanced Skills Detachment, in Wendover Military Intelligence Company, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams 190th Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment, at Fort William Henry Harrison (MT) — (Montana Army National Guard) 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Lehi Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Lehi Company A, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Buckley (WA) — (Washington Army National Guard) Company B, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams Company C, 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Joint Forces Training Base – Los Alamitos (CA) — (California Army National Guard) Company D (Support), 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Lehi Detachment 1, Company D (Support), 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Buckley (WA) — (Washington Army National Guard) Company E (Forward Support), 1st Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Lehi 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Kenova (WV) — (West Virginia Army National Guard) 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Watkins (CO) — (Colorado Army National Guard) Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Ogden Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Ogden Company A, Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Ogden Company B, Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Ogden Company C, Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams Company D, Group Support Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), at Camp Williams 65th Field Artillery Brigade, at Camp Williams Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 65th Field Artillery Brigade, at Camp Williams 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, in Louisburg (NC) (M142 HIMARS) — (North Carolina Army National Guard) 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery Regiment, in Spanish Fork (M109A6 Paladin) Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery Regiment, in Spanish Fork Battery A, 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery Regiment, in Brigham City Battery B, 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery Regiment, in Manti Battery C, 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery Regiment, in Spanish Fork 214th Forward Support Company, in Tooele 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in Cedar City (M109A6 Paladin) Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in Cedar City Battery A, 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in Richfield Battery B, 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in St. George Battery C, 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery Regiment, in Beaver 213th Forward Support Company, in St. George 340th Brigade Support Battalion, in Seaside (CA) — (California Army National Guard) 190th Signal Company, at Camp Williams 97th Troop Command, in Draper 23rd Army Band, in Lehi 85th Civil Support Team (WMD), in Salt Lake City 128th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, in Lehi Detachment 3, Cyber Protection Team 174, in Draper 653rd Judge Advocate Trial Defense Team, in Draper 625th Military Police Battalion, in Springville Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, 625th Military Police Battalion, in Springville 115th Ordnance Company (Support Maintenance), in Draper 118th Transportation Company (Medium Truck) (Cargo), in Price Detachment 1, 118th Transportation Company (Medium Truck) (Cargo), in Vernal 144th Medical Company (Area Support), at Camp Williams 420th Military Police Company (Combat Support), in Salt Lake City 97th Aviation Troop Command, at South Valley Airport Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 97th Aviation Troop Command, at South Valley Airport Detachment 2, Company B, 1st Battalion (Security & Support), 112th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (UH-72A Lakota) Detachment 4, Company C, 2nd Battalion (Fixed Wing), 641st Aviation Regiment (Detachment 50, Operational Support Airlift Activity), at Wright Air National Guard Base (C-12 Huron) 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (part of 40th Combat Aviation Brigade) Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport Company A, 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (AH-64E Apache) Company B, 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (AH-64E Apache) Company C, 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (AH-64E Apache) Company D (AVUM), 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport Company E (Forward Support), 1st Battalion (Attack Reconnaissance), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (part of 35th Combat Aviation Brigade) Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at Wheeler Army Airfield (HI) — (Hawaii Army National Guard) Detachment 2, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at St. Cloud Airport (MN) — (Minnesota Army National Guard) Detachment 3, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at Waterloo Airport (IA) — (Iowa Army National Guard) Detachment 4, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at Bryant Army Heliport (AK) — (Alaska Army National Guard) Company A (CAC), 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at South Valley Airport (UH-60L Black Hawk) Company B (Heavy Lift), 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at Wheeler Army Airfield (HI) (CH-47F Chinook) — (Hawaii Army National Guard) Detachment 1, Company B (Heavy Lift), 2nd Battalion (General Support Aviation), 211th Aviation Regiment, at Bryant Army Heliport (AK) — (Alaska Army National Guard)