The Nebraska Army National Guard is a group of Army National Guard units in the U.S. state of Nebraska. The Adjutant General for these units is Major General Craig W. Strong, who assumed his new duties in July 2023. The state's longtime 67th Infantry Brigade was reorganized in 2003 as the 67th Area Support Group. The brigade was again converted and reorganized in 2008 as the 67th Battlefield Surveillance Brigade. The brigade converted and reorganized again in 2016 as the 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB).

History

The Nebraska Army National Guard was traces its roots to its territorial militia, which was established on December 23, 1854. When it was founded, Nebraska had become a hotspot of unrest and tensions, as its southern neighbor Kansas became embroiled in a civil conflict known as Bleeding Kansas which would later be recognized as the prelude to the American Civil War. Although Nebraska itself was spared from the sectarian violence, its own origins began with a dispute between Mormon settlers in Nebraska and the native Sioux inhabitants of the region, which itself began when a cow owned by the Mormons wandered into Sioux territory and was killed. The Mormons attempted to attack the Sioux after they denied any wrongdoing, which triggered the Grattan massacre. As a result, on Dec. 23, 1854, then acting Governor Thomas Cuming of Nebraska established the Nebraska Territorial Militia, the predecessor to the Nebraska National Guard. The Nebraska Territorial Militia fought in its first conflict during the American Civil War, during which it supplied two volunteer militia units. However, when Nebraska achieved statehood in 1867, the new state did not bother to formally retain a state militia and instead relied on loosely organized, independent ones until 1881 due to costs and expenses. In 1881, the Nebraska Territorial Militia was reorganized into the Nebraska National Guard, and played a role in civil peacekeeping operations, waging conflicts against Native American tribes and being deployed internationally for the first time during the Spanish American War.

Adjutants General of Nebraska

The position of adjutant general was created by the Nebraska Territorial Legislature as a part-time position in 1864. It was made a full-time position in 1869. In 1871, the position was abolished, with its duties becoming an additional responsibility of the Secretary of State. The position was recreated as a full-time position when the state adopted a new military code in 1881.

Units

The Nebraska Army National Guard has one land component command with subordinate elements for mission command. They and their commanders are: Nebraska Army National Guard Joint Force (HQ at Lincoln) - BG Lynn M. Heng 92nd Troop Command (HQ at Lincoln) - COL Gary A. Ropers 67th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (67th MEB) of Lincoln - COL Todd D. Stevens 209th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) (HQ at Camp Ashland) - COL Shane Martin

Historic units