History of Joint Force Headquarters
For many years there has existed a State Headquarters group of military personnel whose duties included the administrative, supply, transportation, mobilization and recruiting of the National Guard. This headquarters has been structured in various ways over the years. In the early days of the Ohio Militia this headquarters consisted primarily of the Adjutant General and his staff; this included the Quartermaster General, Surgeon General, Judge Advocate General and various aides-de-camp and clerks assigned as needed. The group would transform as necessary, usually gaining manpower during periods of mobilization to handle the mustering of Ohio troops into federal service. The staff would also outline polices and regulations, oversee annual training, conduct inspections and ensure the distribution of equipment to the field. Following the Militia Act of 1903, the staff gained the United States Property and Disbursing Officer to oversee the administration of Federal property and funds. During World War I the state staff was broken up by the induction of the majority of members into the Federal service. After the war the State Staff received its federal recognition on May 1, 1919 with strength of approximately 20 officers. The number of personnel assigned to the staff was based upon the total allotment of troops to the state. For many years following the war Ohio did not exercise its privilege of organizing an enlisted group to support the staff. However, in 1935 recruiting began and by 1938 the staff included some 30 enlisted men. As was the case during World War I the state staff was broken up when many of its members mobilized with the 37th Division for World War II. Following the war the state staff was reorganized and federally recognized on 21 April 1947 at Fort Hayes in Columbus. Concurrently, it was redesignated as Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment, Ohio Army National Guard. With the new name the mission of the organization continued to be the command and control of the Ohio Army National Guard. It was also during this period that the unit began adding additional manpower and the strength rose to approximately 100 officers and enlisted men. On 30 November 1948 HHD, OHARNG was given allotment of a Shoulder Sleeve Insignia (SSI) for wear by its members and other state units not authorized their own SSI. When the 37th Infantry Division ceased to exist on 15 February 1968 HHD, OHANRG was consolidated with HHD, 137th Signal Battalion. This unit was first organized on 6 May 1921 and is credited with participation in the Northern Solomons and Luzon (with arrowhead) campaigns as well as the Philippine Presidential Unit Citation. On 1 April 1983 the unit was reorganized as Headquarters, State Area Command, Ohio Army National Guard and included a detachment that functioned as the Troop Command for separate units. In 1987 three additional detachments were organized to include the Training Site Support Detachment, Ohio Military Academy and Joint Task Force. Later, a Recruiting and Retention Detachment as well as a Medical Detachment were organized. In 2002, these detachments were given their own Unit Identification Codes (UIC) and became separate units under STARC. Only one year later STARC reorganized as Joint Force Headquarters and left behind its mission of an administrative headquarters. The JFHQ is a mission capable, tactical headquarters with both Army and Air personnel. It is organized to provide command and control to military units of any branch in response to emergencies such as terrorist attacks or natural disasters. In September, 2005 JFHQ was put to the test when it supported thousands of Ohio Soldiers and Airmen during the Hurricane Katrina and Rita disasters.
