Welcome to the 51st BCT 

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The United States Volunteers - Joint Service Command draws its heritage from the historic U.S. Volunteers, which made up the greater force of volunteer organizations that, with the regular components, became known as the Army of the United States. 

U.S. Volunteers was originally established through the Act of May 28, 1789 and was active throughout our nation's history.  Perhaps the most famous of the Volunteer Army was the 1st Volunteer Calvary during the Spanish-American War, known as "Roosevelt's Rough Riders."  

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Today, the USV-JSC serves two functions: 

1.) Render military funeral honors through the Authorized Provider Partnership Program, and 2.) Augment civilian emergency management agencies under the ICS system during natural disasters and emergency responses.

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Our soldiers are trained through FEMA to respond to emergency situations and natural disasters. Additional qualifications include the Military Emergency Management Specialist (MEMS) training through the State Guard Association of the United States (SGAUS).  

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The 51st BCT serves the 5th Regional Command, which incorporates Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin, and personnel fall under the U.S. Army Volunteer Reserve (USAVR).

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BCT priorities are:

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1. Constantly improve mission readiness of our force.

2. Strengthen solidarity and unity among our Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT), Military Emergency Management Specialists (MEMS), and Civilian partners.

3. Foster a team of highly-motivated patriots who are ready to serve.

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51st BCT capabilities include search and rescue, points of distribution, honor guard services, incident command, and safety patrols for public events.