Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard winds down COVID-19 support, remains ready
April 8, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – With COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates decreasing, the Department of Defense ended its active-duty component’s support for coronavirus missions last week.But Defense... MORE

Senior Airman Carmen Gerda, 162nd Medical Squadron, aerospace medical technician, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a service member at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, May 6, 2021.

New policy helps Guard members coming off COVID duty
March 21, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – A new policy intended to help National Guard members who were activated to support COVID-19 operations is a “win for the health of the force.”That is according to Army Maj. Gen. Jill... MORE

Washington Air National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Forbes, right, 194th Medical Group optometrist, tests Lt. Col. Erik Eliel, 194th Air Support Operations Group director of operations, vision during a 194th Medical Group periodic health assessment rodeo, Camp Murray, Wash., May 4, 2019. The PHA rodeo meets requirements to maintain an Airman’s deployable status by giving immunizations, blood lab draws, HIV screening, and health assessment questionnaires.

National Guard’s top general stresses individual, unit readiness
March 4, 2022 — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Individual and small-unit readiness remain critical priorities, the National Guard’s top officer told a gathering of senior Army Guard leaders from across the nation this... MORE

Mission Sustainment Team students use AN/PVS-31A binocular night-vision goggles during a field exercise in Oklahoma City Feb. 10, 2022. The students used the night vision devices to learn how to observe their surroundings and conceal their movement in the dark.

Guard members reflect on health during Black History Month
February 25, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When Army Capt. Whennah Andrews submitted a nine-minute video in 2016 to the Army’s Uniform Policy Board to change the Army’s official regulation on grooming and appearance standards... MORE

Army Capt. Whennah Andrews, executive officer of the Army National Guard Office of the Chief Surgeon, explains a patient documentation form to a service member during training on procedures to test National Guard members for COVID-19 at the Herbert R. Temple Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington, Virginia, Jan. 22, 2022. The training provided guidance for National Guard Bureau service members assigned to test for the virus as part of COVID-19 response operations.

Rangers and National Guard support IVAS tropics test
February 8, 2022 — CAMP SANTIAGO, Puerto Rico — From minus 30 degrees Fahrenheit to over 90, the Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) was tested. In back-to-back extreme weather testing led by the Program... MORE

Rangers from 3rd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment participate in new equipment training on the IVAS Capability Set 4 during tropical weather testing in Camp Santiago, Puerto Rico, in March 2021.

Guard chief details changes to combat sexual assault, harassment
January 21, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard is instituting changes to better combat sexual assault and harassment in the ranks, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told the House Armed Services military personnel... MORE

U.S. Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, visits Soldiers deployed on Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, supporting the KFOR mission Nov. 24, 2021.

Soldiers, Airmen compete to make All Guard Endurance Team
January 20, 2022 — AUSTIN, Texas – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen put their endurance and strength to the test during the National Guard’s All Guard Endurance Team competition in Austin Jan. 15.The 120 Guard... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Samantha Wood, a medical specialist officer with Joint Forces Headquarters, California National Guard, places her medal around her neck after crossing the finish line of the Spartan DEKA FIT, a fitness competition that consists of 10 events, each preceded by a 500-meter run, in Austin, Texas, Jan. 15, 2022. Wood placed first overall among the National Guard women competing for a spot on the All Guard team.

National Guard helps medical facilities with COVID-19 peak
January 14, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – As COVID-19 infections surge, more than 15,600 National Guard members are supporting state and local officials dealing with the pandemic throughout the country.Of those responding,... MORE

Pvt. Aduyel Kusi, right, and Spc. Jake Casucci practice loading a wheeled-stretcher into an ambulance in Brockton, Mass., Dec. 28, 2021. The Massachusetts National Guard members are providing non-clinical assistance at medical facilities across the commonwealth during a COVID-19 surge.

Year in Review: National Guard delivered at home and abroad
December 22, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When a series of tornadoes slashed across parts of eight Midwest states late in the evening of Dec. 10, Spc. Zach Neisz sprang into action. He grabbed an ax, flashlight and medical... MORE

New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 508th Military Police Company, 108th Wing, and 177th Fighter Wing, arrive near the U.S. Capitol Jan. 12, 2021. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from every state, territory and the District of Columbia traveled to Washington to support federal and district authorities for the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

Shooters take aim at annual sniper championships in Arkansas
December 8, 2021 — BARLING, Ark. – Top snipers from the National Guard and international community are competing in the National Guard’s 51st Winston P. Wilson Championship and 31st Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting... MORE

Shooters take the line to zero their rifles at the Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Barling, Arkansas, Dec. 4, 2021. These shooters are part of the 33 sniper teams gathered at the 51st Winston P. Wilson and 31st Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Rifle Matches hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Fort Chaffee Dec. 4-9.

Senior enlisted leaders tackle challenges facing Guard
November 1, 2021 — CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – Addressing challenges facing the National Guard and unleashing the collective experience and knowledge of senior enlisted leaders from across the country to identify solutions... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks to command senior enlisted leaders (CSELs) from across the 50 states, three territories and District of Columbia during his CSEL forum at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi, Oct. 28, 2021. During the three-day event, the senior leaders networked, shared best practices and discussed the future of the National Guard’s enlisted force.

National Guard aids Afghan evacuees in Operation Allies Welcome
October 8, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from throughout the nation continue to support Operation Allies Welcome, assisting Afghans as they safely resettle in the United States.Operation... MORE

U.S. Army Cpl. Sean Jackett, left, and Spc. Zackary Jensen, Wisconsin Army National Guard linguists, create signs in Dari and Pashto, Aug. 25, 2021, to place in a welcome area for Afghan people arriving at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center near Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.

Guard fights wildfires, responds to Ida, serves overseas
September 7, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard continues to live up to its promise, "Always Ready, Always There," with close to 59,000 Guard members on duty overseas or at home responding to Hurricane Ida,... MORE

Louisiana National Guardsmen with the 922nd Engineer Vertical Construction Company helped rescue 135 people and four dogs in the flooded community of LaPlace, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in south Louisiana Aug. 29, 2021.

Hokanson: ‘Whatever the combatant commanders need, we must be ready to deliver’
August 9, 2021 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Readiness for its primary mission of fighting America’s wars makes the National Guard’s domestic responses possible, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told enlisted troops here Sunday... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, addresses the 50th annual conference of the Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States, Albuquerque, New Mexico, Aug. 8, 2021.

Guard to recoup funding for training, readiness
August 4, 2021 — WASHINGTON - Lawmakers recently approved spending $521 million to reimburse the National Guard for securing the National Capital Region in the wake of the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.National Guard... MORE

National Guard Soldiers provide security outside the U.S. Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, 2021, as part of the National Guard’s Capitol Response security mission.

National Guard chief details contributions of force
June 25, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – National Guardsmen more than demonstrated their value to America the past year, and the need for their service has never been greater, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the chief of the... MORE

More than 80 New Jersey Air National Guardsmen deploy to U.S. Central Command to provide expeditionary support for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield .

Learning from the past helps prepare leaders for the future
June 24, 2021 — SHARPSBURG, Md. – As part of continuing professional development, National Guard members toured Antietam National Battlefield recently, taking in the details of one of the bloodiest days in American... MORE

Andrew Hargroder, a contract historian with the National Guard Bureau, points out key details on a map while discussing the Civil War’s Battle of Antietam with National Guard members during a guided tour of Antietam National Battlefield, June 16, 2021. The tour was part of a professional development event for the Soldiers and Airmen and emphasized the lessons learned from one of the bloodiest days in American military history.

African Lion: National Guard supports continent’s largest military exercise
June 20, 2021 — TANTAN, Morocco – F-16 Falcon fighter jets streaked by low and fast, while plumes of black smoke from steady artillery fire and dust thrown up by advancing M1A1 Abrams tanks drifted across the desert... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, at Camp Tifnit Training Area, Morocco, June 17, 2021. This image was acquired with a cellular device.

Annual posture statement touts ‘Year of the Guard’
June 9, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard released its annual posture statement June 9, detailing the Guard’s current operations and providing an overview of missions during a historic, unprecedentedly busy... MORE

The 2022 National Guard Bureau posture statement was released June 9, 2021, and outlines National Guard operations and the unprecedented 'Year of the Guard.'

Guard marathoners compete while expecting
May 7, 2021 — LINCOLN, Neb. – Serving in the National Guard, raising a family, and keeping up a marathon training regimen would be a lot to manage under normal circumstances. Still, two women in the ranks have... MORE

Maj. Amanda Schmid, a helicopter pilot and full-time administrative officer with the Nebraska Army National Guard's 1-376th Aviation Battalion, runs the Lincoln half-marathon in Nebraska, May 2, 2021.

Pennsylvania Guard WMD Civil Support Team Completes Exercise

Maryland Guard, Bosnia and Herzegovina Conduct JTAC Training

Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders

South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment

Army, Air Force Team up to Load Helicopters at Shaw AFB