West Virginia Army National Guard

The West Virginia Army National Guard is the largest component of the West Virginia National Guard, consisting of around 4,000 Soldiers who work and train in communities all around the state. The West Virginia National Guard maintains combat readiness to fight and win our nation’s wars, develops and strengthens homeland security and emergency response, and builds and fosters partnerships throughout West Virginia, the nation and the world. With its unique dual responsibility to the state and nation, the West Virginia National Guard answers to two executives: the governor of the State of West Virginia, and when federalized, the president of the United States.

Our Mission

The mission of the West Virginia Army National Guard is to maintain combat readiness and domestic emergency response capability, while building enduring partnerships throughout the state, nation, and around the world.
Always Ready … Always There

Our Units

Camp Dawson Garrison Training Center 

Located in Kingwood, Camp Dawson provides a vast array of capabilities including transient training infrastructure along with an auditorium, classrooms, barracks, computer labs, live fire ranges, more than 3,000 acres of light maneuver area and much more.

Medical Detachment

MEDDET provides medical services at Camp Dawson and Charleston for WVARNG units throughout the state, ensuring medical readiness by providing medical and dental evaluations and administering required immunizations, audiograms, and behavioral health screenings. 

Recruiting & Retention Battalion

The RRB develops, implements and monitors the State Strength Maintenance Program based on guidance from the National Guard Bureau and state leadership.

Special Operations Detachment – Europe 

SOD-E is based at Camp Dawson and is tasked with supporting the United States Special Operations Command – Europe (SOCEUR).