About the Center
Guarding History, Building Readiness
The National Guard’s nearly 400 year legacy of service in every American conflict is one of the most significant yet under-documented aspects of our national military history. A dedicated center that works directly with all 54 states, territories, and the District of Columbia to collect, preserve, and interpret the unique Guard history will ensure that the service and sacrifice of countless Soldiers and Airmen are not lost to time—and that these stories are told by the Guard itself.
In the twenty-first century the U.S. National Guard has undergone an epic transformation from a status as largely “weekend warriors” and disaster first responders, to a kinetic battlefield force in combat operations of all types. This change in the role of the Guard has formed a quiet revolution in the way that the United States fights its wars. It also has transformed the relationships between the Guard and the local communities it has hereditarily served.
At present, the U.S. Army Center of Military History (CMH) is not chartered to collect or preserve records related to National Guard missions conducted under Title 32 or State Active Duty. The CSNG is designed to fill this critical gap by engaging directly with the 54 state and territorial National Guard organizations and collaborating with academic institutions across the country to archive Title 32 domestic operations, the State Partnership Program (SPP), and other uniquely Guard-led missions.
Without the CSNG, much of the National Guard’s history—particularly at the state and local level—risks being lost or left fragmented. The National Guard Bureau, the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) and the National Guard Education Foundation (NGEF) have all signed MOU’s with CSNG.
The Center’s Mission
The mission of the Center for the Study of the National Guard (CSNG) is to create and apply knowledge to facilitate research and scholarship on the National Guard.
The Center’s Purpose
To achieve this mission, the CSNG will:
Locate, identify, collect, and preserve the documentary history of the National Guard
Plan, execute, transcribe, and preserve the oral histories of members and veterans of the National Guard
Serve as a centralized repository to facilitate research and publication on National Guard history
Evolve to meet the changing needs of the National Guard and the scholarly community
Image: XCTC D+9 [Image 17 of 17], by SSG Arturo Guzman (ARNG) via Defense Visual Information Distribution Service
Why Southern Miss
Since its founding in 1910, The University of Southern Mississippi has remained dedicated to preparing students for success. Southern Miss delivers programs to more than 13,000 students in Hattiesburg and Long Beach, at teaching and research sites across the Mississippi Gulf Coast, and online. As a community-engaged Carnegie R1 university, Southern Miss has earned distinction as one of the nation's leading research institutions and has consistently been recognized as one of the top military and veteran friendly schools in the nation. Southern Miss is known for pioneering work in polymer science, ocean science, spectator sports safety and security, in addition to being a national leader in cybersecurity, hydrography, nutrition, aquaculture, kinesiology, and economic development, and more.
Southern Miss is home to several functions integral to the Center for the Study of the National Guard’s mission, namely the Dale Center for the Study of War & Society, one of the top five military history programs in the country, as well as one of the oldest and most outstanding oral history centers in the country – The Center for Oral History & Cultural Heritage. Additionally, the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, the largest state-owned training facility, rests on the southern border of Hattiesburg.
Southern Miss produces graduates ready to enter fields that are leading the way in emerging technologies through programs such as computer engineering, information technology, and ocean engineering. We’re developing the next generation of business leaders, while also responding to critical workforce shortages by producing skilled professionals in education and nursing. With a tradition of excellence in the arts, we are one of only 36 public institutions in the nation accredited in four major areas of the arts.
With a culture marked by passion and persistence, Southern Miss is delivering graduates who are ready for life.