Guard News - The National Guard

NH Air Guard joins Salvadoran partners in airshow as part of SPP
January 31, 2013 — ILOPANGO, EL SALVADOR - Airmen from the New Hampshire Air National Guard’s 157th Air Refueling Wing joined personnel from various United States federal agencies at the Ilopango Air Show here Jan. 26th... MORE

Senior Airman Beverly Cole, with the New Hampsire Air National Guard's 157th Air Refueling Wing, assists a Salvadoran child with wearing an aircrew flight helmet and vest at the 2013 Ilopango Air Show in Ilopango, El Salvador as part of the State Partnership Program, Jan. 26. The New Hampshire National Guard has partnered with El Salvador as part of the SPP since 2000 and has taken part in numerous yearly subject matter expert exchanges.

172nd Cav challenges Jay Peak, cold weather to hone mountain warfare skills
January 31, 2013 — JAY PEAK, Vt. - When some skiers started heading down the mountain to end their day on the slopes, the mountain Soldiers of the Vermont Army National Guard’s Troop A, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry... MORE

Soldiers with the Vermont Army National Guard's Troop A, 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry Regiment, make their way along Jay Peak, Vermont during an overnight reconnaissance training mission. The Soldiers tested their cold-weather survival skills while also training on a variety of reconnaissance and movement tasks and techniques.

Director of the Air Guard retires after more than 40 years of service
January 30, 2013 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, retired after more than 40 years of military service during a ceremony Tuesday hosted by Oklahoma Gov... MORE

Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, addresses the audience during his retirement ceremony Jan. 29, 2013, at Joint Base Andrews, Md. Wyatt retired after more than 40 years of military service culminating as the Director of the Air Guard where he was responsible for formulating, developing and coordinating all policies, plans, and programs affecting more than 106,700 ANG members in 89 wings and more than 200 geographically separated units throughout the United States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands.

New York Army National Guard learns from Army Community of Excellence Program
January 30, 2013 — LATHAM, N.Y. - The New York Army National Guard won a first place honorable mention, and a $30,000 award, for its 2012 submission in the Army Community of Excellence program. It was the first time... MORE

This leadership chart from the New York Army National Guard's 2012 Army Community of Excellence submission is a visual representation of the leadership process employed in New York.

Air National Guard reaches milestone securing the nation's capital
January 29, 2013 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The 113th Wing of the District of Columbia Air National Guard, stationed here as the quick reaction team, responsible for intercepting airborne threats to the nation’s... MORE

DOD, VA improve online access to benefits information
January 29, 2013 — WASHINGTON - The Defense and Veterans Affairs departments have released improvements to the functionality of eBenefits, a joint, self-service Web portal that provides registered users with secure... MORE

D.C. Air National Guard detachment responds to 4,000th alert since 9/11
January 28, 2013 — TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - The 113th Aerospace Control Alert Detachment of the District of Columbia Air National Guard at Joint Base Andrews passed a major air defense milestone Jan. 9, responding... MORE

Two U.S. Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft fly over the nation's capital on a recent mission.

Alaska Air National Guard member enjoys support mission in Antarctica
January 28, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - An Alaska Air National Guard member with the 176th Wing returned to Alaska in mid-January after spending 30 days in Antarctica supporting the National Science Foundation. Master... MORE

Master Sgt. Tyler Sutton, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, smiles while a penguin walks by the flight line near McMurdo Air Station, Antarctica. Sutton augmented the New York Air National Guard as an aircrew flight equipment specialist during a 30-day rotation in Antarctica supporting the National Science Foundation.

Air Force chief provides insight on 188th Fighter Wing's future during visit
January 28, 2013 — FORT SMITH, Ark. - The 188th Fighter Wing moved one step closer to its future during a Jan. 18 visit by Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark A. Welsh III. Welsh, along with Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt,... MORE

Lt. Col. Mike Flatten, 22nd Special Tactics Squadron; Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Mark Welsh; Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt, director of the Air National Guard; and a Special Operations JTAC discuss the training capabilities at the 188th Fighter Wing's Detachment 1 Razorback Range at Fort Chaffee, Ark., Jan. 18, 2013.

Hawaii National Guard team mentors Afghan Uniformed Police
January 28, 2013 — FORWARD OPERATING BASE LAGMAN, Afghanistan - "Hippos" is the name the 11-man Security Forces Assistance Team goes by when rolling off Forward Operating Base Lagman for a mission. Assigned as advisers... MORE

Hawaii Army National Guard Maj. Kevin Carbrey, commander of Security Forces Assistance Team 21, gives a mission brief before leaving Forward Operating Base Lagman, Afghanistan, on Jan. 14, 2013.

Kentucky honors militia's role in War of 1812 Battle of the River Raisin
January 25, 2013 — MONROE, Mich. - Re-enactors depicting the War of 1812, select Kentucky Guardsmen and Canadian dignitaries met to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Battle of the River Raisin in Monroe, Mich.,... MORE

Kentucky National Guard historian John Trowbridge (first row, second from left) and adjutant general of Kentucky Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini stand with Kentucky Militia re-enactors at a Kentucky Memorial established in 1904 to honor the fallen Soldiers of Kentucky during the Battle of the River Raisin in Monroe, Mich., Jan 19, 2013.

New York Army National Guard to begin moving women into positions in combat battalions
January 25, 2013 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Women will be able to fill officer and noncommissioned officer (sergeant) positions in the New York Army National Guard's four combat battalions under a proposal announced Thursday by... MORE

Female soldiers of the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion conduct premobilization training Aug. 10, 2012. The battalion, based in Yonkers, deployed to Afghanistan in October 2012.

Air National Guard director to retire
January 25, 2013 — WASHINGTON - Air Force Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, Air National Guard director, is scheduled to retire after more than 40 years of military service during a ceremony hosted by Oklahoma Gov. Mary... MORE

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, addresses mission readiness and other challenges facing the ANG in future years during the Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technical Exposition at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 18, 2012.

Wisconsin Army National Guard recruiter named nation's best
January 24, 2013 — MADISON, Wis. - Wisconsin's top Army National Guard recruiter is now officially the best in the nation.Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mannel, a Wisconsin Army National Guard recruiter from New Richmond, Wis.,... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mannel, center, poses with leadership after the National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer of the Year competition in Nashville on Jan. 15, 2013. Mannel went on to win the competition.

Defense Department expands women's combat role
January 24, 2013 — WASHINGTON - Following a unanimous recommendation by the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta announced Thursday the end of the direct ground combat exclusion rule for female... MORE

Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta hands Army Lt. Col. Tamatha Patterson a document he signed during a news conference at the Pentagon, Jan. 24, 2013, to lift the Defense Department's ban on women in direct ground combat roles.

Military kids website helps parents and educators too
January 23, 2013 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash. - The Defense Department website for military children has added new features to help parents and educators explain difficult topics of the military lifestyle to... MORE

Kentucky agriculture department offers new programs for veterans
January 23, 2013 — FRANKFORT, Ky. - Serving in the military and farming are said to be two of the hardest jobs one could have. New initiatives launched by Kentucky’s Department of Agriculture aim to make both just a... MORE

Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner James Comer, shown with Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, the state adjutant general, announced two new initiatives to benefit Veterans and military farmers during a press conference at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Jan. 22, 2013.

Air National Guard safety director inducted into Hall of Fame
January 23, 2013 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The director of the Air National Guard, Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, inducted the Air National Guard (ANG) director of safety, Col. John D. Slocum, into the Air Force Safety... MORE

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, presents Col. John D. Slocum, the director of ANG Safety, with the Air Force Safety Hall of Fame Award during a town hall meeting Jan. 22, 2013 at Joint Base Andrews, Md.

National Guard computer defense teams supported inauguration
January 22, 2013 — WASHINGTON - In support of the 57th Presidential Inauguration, National Guard computer network defense (CND) teams from seven states conducted defensive cyber operations (DCO) in Washington, D.C.The... MORE

Members of the U.S. armed forces, members of Congress, security personnel, and spectators cheer for the arrival of President Barack Obama during the 57th Presidential Inauguration in Washington, D.C., Jan. 21, 2013.

Gen. Frank Grass visits National Guard Soldiers in Kabul
January 22, 2013 — KABUL, Afghanistan - For his first overseas trip since becoming the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau last September, Gen. Frank J. Grass came here Jan. 15 to visit mobilized National Guard... MORE

Army General Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visits with Army National Guard troops in Kabul, Afghanistan, Jan. 15, 2013.

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