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With the end of the Cold War, the "peace dividend" saw the downsizing of the U.S. military. The result was increased commitment to the Total Force concept-and increased use of the National Guard and reserve forces.
Throughout the 1990s, Michigan National Guard members saw duty at home and abroad. From September 1995 to February 1996, Company D, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation was activated for service in Haiti during Operation Uphold Democracy. The 110th Fighter Wing saw service in Bosnia in 1994 in support of the United Nations Operation Deny Flight and again in 1997 as part of the U.S. Operation Decisive Edge.
Nearly 1,200 soldiers of Michigan's 46th Infantry Brigade were called up to provide security and support during the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Ga. Serving with them were members of the Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Wing Security Police Squadron.
Overseas, Michigan National Guard soldiers from Detroit's 1776th Military Police Company and the 210th Military Police Battalion were called to a year of active duty, December 1995 to December 1996. They served at various U.S. military facilities in Germany so their active Army counterparts could deploy to Bosnia as part of Operation Joint Endeavor.
The U.S. Air Base at Taszar, Hungary, had the help of the 1439th Engineer Detachment from Grayling. The firefighters were activated December 31, 1996 through August 12, 1997 in support of peacekeeping operations that were ongoing in Bosnia.
When tensions began to reach the breaking point with Kosovo refugees being forced out of their homes in Yugoslavia, the 110th Fighter Wing answered the call. Joining with other A-10 "Thunderbolt" units from other state National Guards and active-duty Air Force personnel, the Michigan Air National Guard members formed the 104th Expeditionary Operations Group and took over a "bare bones" air base in Italy. Guard members were deployed from mid-May to early July 1997.
Elements of the Michigan National Guard were some of the last to serve at U.S. military installations in Panama before the return of those facilities to the Republic of Panama. The 171st Airlift Squadron of the 127th Wing is the last Air National Guard unit to perform missions from Howard Air Force Base in Panama and members of the 1775th and 46th Military Police Companies provided law enforcement services and security as Fort Clayton, Panama was closed down.
