Title 12 — Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, and Military Affairs

(a) The militia shall be divided into two (2) parts: the organized, consisting of the active and inactive Army National Guard and Air National Guard; and the unorganized, consisting of all those persons of the militia not in the active or inactive Army National Guard or Air Natio…

The Governor, by virtue of his or her office, shall be Commander-in-Chief of the militia, except the parts thereof as are ordered into the service of the United States.

(a) (1) The Governor is authorized to make such rules governing the government, organization, discipline, and training of the militia as he or she may deem expedient.(2) Such rules shall conform to the provisions of this code and, as nearly as practicable, to those governing the …

All matters relating to the organization, discipline, and government of the organized militia, not otherwise provided for in this code or in rules issued pursuant thereto, shall be as prescribed by the customs and usages of the appropriate force or forces of the United States.

(a) There shall be an Adjutant General of the state who shall be appointed by the Governor and shall be a commissioned officer in the Adjutant General's department of the National Guard of this state and shall have rank not higher than lieutenant general. (b) To be eligible for a…

(a) In addition to being a state staff officer, the Adjutant General shall be the Chief-of-Staff to the Commander-in-Chief and the Secretary of the Department of the Military. (b) He or she shall perform the duties prescribed for him or her in this code and in the rules issued th…

(a) The Adjutant General shall have such assistance and such clerks, employees, and laborers as may be necessary from time to time who shall be appointed and may be removed by him or her at his or her discretion. (b) (1) The Adjutant General may designate those positions that req…

(a) (1) The Adjutant General is authorized to appoint, subject to the approval of the Governor, four (4) deputy adjutants general who will hold rank of not higher than one (1) grade below that held by the Adjutant General up to and including the rank of major general.(2) Two (2) …

The Adjutant General may designate by order any deputy adjutant general to act as the Adjutant General in the absence of the latter from his or her office or in case of his or her inability to perform the duties of his or her office. In the event of the inability of any deputy ad…

(a) After consulting with the Adjutant General, the Governor shall appoint, designate, and detail, subject to the approval of the Secretary of the Army and confirmation by the Senate, an officer of the National Guard as the property and finance officer for the United States. (b) …

(a) (1) The Governor shall have power to order into the active service of the state for such a period, to such extent, and in such manner as he or she may deem necessary, all or any part of the organized militia:(A) In case of invasion, disaster, insurrection, riot, breach of the…

(a) Whenever a member of the organized militia is ordered out for service of any kind, he or she shall have all powers, duties, and immunities of a law enforcement officer of the State of Arkansas in addition to all powers, duties, and immunities otherwise provided by law. (b) An…

(a) The Governor may order the National Guard or any portion thereof to perform military duty of every description within the state. He or she may authorize participation in small arms and gunnery competitions by any part of the National Guard anywhere outside the state or outsid…

Officers and enlisted personnel may be ordered for duty either by stating the substance of the orders telephonically, personally, by mail, or in such other manner as may be prescribed by the Governor as he or she deems necessary to accomplish the purpose. Upon having given notice…

(a) Whenever any portion of the militia is employed in aid of the civil authority, the Governor, if in his or her judgment the maintenance of law and order or preservation of the public health or security will thereby be promoted, may by proclamation declare the county, city, zon…

(a) The officer ordering any military duty shall have the power to excuse any officer or enlisted person for absence therefrom upon good and sufficient grounds. (b) The Governor, or commanding general of the National Guard with the approval of the Governor, may relieve any organi…

(a) Whenever it shall be necessary in case of invasion, disaster, insurrection, riot, breach of the peace, or imminent danger thereof, or to maintain the organized militia or any force thereof at the number required for public safety or prescribed by the laws of the United States…

Upon the termination of any emergency for which the National Guard of Arkansas has been ordered into the military service of the United States, all enlisted personnel, upon being released under honorable conditions from the Army or Air Force of the United States, shall continue t…

For all purposes under this code, members of the National Guard who entered the active military service of the United States in time of war or under a call, order, or draft by the President or who hereafter enter such service under like conditions or who enter and serve on active…

For all purposes under this code, officers and enlisted personnel of the National Guard who entered the active service of the United States in time of war or under a call or draft by the President or who enters such service under like conditions shall be entitled to credit for ti…

(a) (1) The Governor may award in the name of the State of Arkansas a medal, ribbon, or decoration for exceptional or meritorious service rendered by a member of the organized militia, including without limitation the:(A) “Arkansas Commendation Medal”;(B) “Arkansas Distinguished …

(a) The officers or noncommissioned officers or members of any unit or units of the organized militia may organize themselves into an association or associations. (b) The association or associations may adopt bylaws not inconsistent with the statutes of the state and alter and am…

(a) The Adjutant General may, at his or her discretion and with such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly, establish a Bureau of War Records. (b) The bureau shall function in close connection with the Arkansas State Archives and shall gather items of military hist…

(a) The Adjutant General may, at his or her discretion and with such funds as may be appropriated by the General Assembly, or with such funds as may be provided by the United States, develop and implement a National Guard Youth Challenge Program for the purpose of providing train…

(a) Juvenile participants in the Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program at Camp Joseph T. Robinson receiving services from the Arkansas National Guard are authorized to receive a monetary stipend, not to exceed fifteen dollars ($15.00) per week to defray personal hygiene…

Transportation to support Arkansas National Guard Youth Challenge Program activities for juvenile participants and staff may be provided by commercial lease or purchase of motor vehicles not to exceed six (6) vehicles.

A.C.A. § 12-61-127Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

A.C.A. § 12-61-128Current through all legislation of the 2025 Regular Session.Arkansas Code of 1987 Annotated Official EditionCopyright © 2026 by the State of Arkansas All rights reserved

(a) The organized militia shall be commanded by a general officer who shall be federally recognized or qualified for federal recognition in a rank not higher than lieutenant general. (b) He or she shall be responsible for the military efficiency of the Arkansas organized militia.…

The land force of the organized militia shall be the Army National Guard as contemplated under the laws of the United States and shall comprise the army units which are a part of the Arkansas National Guard on February 12, 1969, and such other army units as may be allocated, acce…

The air force of the organized militia shall be the Air National Guard as contemplated under the laws of the United States and shall comprise the air units which are a part of the Arkansas National Guard on February 12, 1969, and such other air units as may be allocated, accepted…

The inactive National Guard shall consist of the persons commissioned, appointed, or enlisted therein on February 12, 1969, such officers and enlisted persons as may be thereafter transferred thereto from the Army National Guard and the Air National Guard, and such persons as may…

(a) The system of discipline and training of the National Guard shall conform generally to that of the United States Armed Forces as it is now or may hereafter be prescribed by the President of the United States and conform to the provisions of the laws of the United States, exce…

(a) Members and units of the National Guard shall assemble for drill or other equivalent training, instruction, or duties during each year and shall participate in field training, encampments, maneuvers, schools, conferences, or other similar duties each year as may be prescribed…

The Governor may appoint, commission, and enlist female citizens of the state into the National Guard where the laws and regulations of the United States permit. While so serving, they will have the same status as male members of the military forces.

The Arkansas State Defense Force may be called to active duty at the discretion of the Governor, when any part of the Arkansas National Guard shall have been called or ordered into federal service, or in any other emergency when the Governor shall deem it necessary to supplement …

(a) The Arkansas State Defense Force shall be organized and governed by the terms of this code and by such rules as may be promulgated from time to time. (b) Except when otherwise provided, all provisions of this code and rules in respect to the Arkansas National Guard shall appl…

All duties imposed and all provisions relating to the privileges, immunities, and prohibitions of the Arkansas National Guard shall likewise apply to the Arkansas State Defense Force.

When organized for active state duty, the Arkansas State Defense Force shall be commanded by any general officer holding an Arkansas state commission, in a rank not above brigadier general, who shall be appointed by the Governor.

All officers and enlisted personnel of the organized militia not otherwise assigned may be assigned to the Arkansas State Defense Force for such time and in such manner as prescribed by rules promulgated by the Governor as he or she deems necessary.

Upon the release of officers and enlisted personnel from the Arkansas State Defense Force, they shall resume the status held by them prior to their activation.