Soldiers, airmen, and supporters celebrated the Tennessee National Guard’s 250th birthday at Nashville’s Joint Force Headquarters

Chattanooga, TN – According to the state officials, the event honored the Guard’s long-standing history, accomplishments, and contributions to the state and nation over the past two and a half centuries.

Maj. Gen. Warner Ross, Tennessee’s Adjutant General, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Crockett, Tennessee’s Senior Enlisted Leader, hosted the ceremony. Hundreds of servicemembers attended the event, which included a ceremonial cake cutting and speeches from guest speakers who reflected on the organization’s rich heritage.

The ceremony provided an opportunity to recognize the sacrifices and achievements of past and present members of the Tennessee National Guard.

The Tennessee National Guard traces its origins back to 1774, before Tennessee had even achieved statehood. That year, amid attacks on the Virginia frontier by Shawnee Indians, Lord Dunmore, the Royal Governor of Virginia, ordered four regiments of militia and volunteers to organize and repel the attackers. Capt.

Evan Shelby, a militia leader from the Watauga settlement—located in present-day Sullivan and Carter counties in Tennessee—formed the settlement’s first volunteer militia company, known as the Fincastle Company.

On August 17, Shelby and 49 militiamen marched from their homes to join the larger Virginia regiments, marking the first time “Tennesseans” deployed for war as a militia.

This historic milestone served as a powerful reminder of the Tennessee National Guard’s enduring legacy and its ongoing commitment to service and defense.