Guard News - The National Guard

Tennessee National Guard serves with state partner Bulgaria
August 24, 2016 — NOVO SELO, Bulgaria - Airmen from all three units of the Tennessee Air National Guard (118th Wing, 164th Airlift Wing, 134th Air Refueling Wing) and Soldiers from the 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee... MORE

1st Sgt. Mike Ilko, 194th Engineer Brigade, Tennessee Army National Guard, shares bottled water with a young cattle herder Aug. 16, 2016, at Novo Selo Training Area, Bulgaria. Local cattle and sheep herders regularly herd thier animals across NSTA. Tennessee National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were on rotations to complete thier portions of projects as part of Operation Resolute Castle 16, an ongoing operation of military construction to build up Eastern European base infrastructure and help strengthen ties between Tennessee's state partnership with Bulgaria.

New National Guard Bureau chief has strong ties to Texas
August 23, 2016 — JOINT BASE SAN ANTONIO-LACKLAND, Texas – A former member of the 149th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard, was promoted Aug. 3 to the rank of general and became the 28th Chief of the National... MORE

Air Force Gen. (then Maj.) Joseph L. Lengyel, second from left, the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau, stands alongside fellow F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Texas Air National Guard, during an overseas deployment, circa 1996. Lengyel was a member of the wing from 1991-2004. Pictured left to right: Bryan Bailey (unknown rank), Lengyel, Mike Littrell (unknown rank), and Ray Segui (unknown rank). (Photo courtesy of Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel via www.Facebook.com/GeneralLengyel)

North Carolina National Guard trains with rural responders in hostage, drug lab scenario
August 22, 2016 — RURAL HALL, N.C. - A small town nightmare; local first responders investigated a hostage situation Aug. 17 at the Rural Hall train depot and found a chemical lab. Local fire, rescue, emergency... MORE

Operation Foothills Iron Horse at Rural Hall, North Carolina, Aug. 17, 2016, tests the readiness of the North Carolina National Guard's 42nd Civil Support Team to deploy for a joint response led by local first responders to natural and man-made chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) threats. “Interoperability is the big thing so we can work together,” said Melton J. Sadler, director, Forsyth County Emergency Management Department.

Delaware National Guard helps repair a school in Trinidad and Tobago
August 22, 2016 — BLANCHISSEUSE, Trinidad and Tobago − Looking out over a cliff, the leaves of palm trees sway in the wind, and coconuts lie on the ground ready to seed the next generation of trees. Further back from... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Chris Krawczyk explains the repairs being made to the Blanchisseus Primary School to U.S. Ambassador to Trinidad Frank L. Estrada during a site visit on August 10, 2016.

Louisiana National Guard reflect on efforts during flood response
August 22, 2016 — BATON ROUGE, La. – Since being activated one week ago on Aug. 12, the Soldiers and Airmen of the Louisiana National Guard have been working taround the clock conducting several missions including... MORE

General Joseph L Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, shakes the hands of Louisiana National Guard members participating in emergency flood operations in Baton Rouge on Aug. 12, 2016. Baton Rouge

U.S. marks National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week
August 22, 2016 — WASHINGTON — By presidential proclamation, this week is National Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve Week. The proclamation signed Aug. 19 by President Barack Obama calls on all Americans to... MORE

This week recognizes the important role employers play in the lives of Guard and Reserve members and their families.

South Dakota National Guard and Suriname Armed Forces partner to renovate school
August 19, 2016 — PARAMARIBO, Suriname, - Soldiers from the South Dakota National Guard and members of Suriname's Armed Forces partnered together to renovate some of the infrastructure at the O.S. 1 Santo Dorp School... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Louis Du Randt, right, 211th Engineer Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, and a Suriname Army soldier conduct renovation work at the O.S. 1 Santo Dorp School in Wanica, Suriname, Aug. 11, 2016. The renovation project was conducted as part of the Suriname and South Dakota State Partnership Program to provide training for military construction personnel while simultaneously assisting in a worthy community need.

Massachusetts Guard fighter pilot continues family legacy
August 19, 2016 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass., — Air Force Maj. Ashley Rolfe, a member of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, is making history at the 104th Fighter Wing here as the first female fighter... MORE

Maj. Ashley Rolfe is the first female fighter pilot for the Air National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing. Rolfe is an Air Force Academy graduate and combat veteran who has served in the Air Force for eleven years. Rolfe became an Air Force pilot after growing up as an Air Force “Brat” dependent, following her dad and granddad’s footsteps carrying on the family legacy. Rolfe’s swearing in ceremony took place at Barnes Air National Guard Base, July 26, 2016.

Texas National Guard hosts Chilean undersecretary
August 18, 2016 — AUSTIN, Texas - Key leaders from the Texas Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and State Guard met with Paulina Vodanovic, Chilean undersecretary of the Armed Forces, and other leaders during a... MORE

Key leaders from the Texas Army National Guard, Air National Guard, and State Guard met with members of the Chilean Undersecretary at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas, August 8, 2016. Through the States Partnership Program, Texas has been partnered with Chile since 2009. The program is designed to link a State’s National Guard with a partner nation’s military forces government agencies in a cooperative, mutually beneficial relationship.

Louisiana Guard continues response, postures for future missions
August 18, 2016 — BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard continues to conduct response efforts, recovery missions, and preposition vehicles and assets in potentially affected areas, as directed by Gov. John... MORE

Louisiana National Guardsmen convoy to a boat launch in order to conduct door-to-door Search and Rescue missions near Maurepas, La., Aug. 17, 2016. The Louisiana National Guard continues to conduct response efforts, recovery missions, and preposition vehicles and assets in potentially affected areas, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, since operations began, Aug. 12.

146th Airlift Wing joins California Guard wildfire fight
August 18, 2016 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – The California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing has activated two C-130J Hercules aircraft joining state and local authorities supporting firefighting efforts across the... MORE

A California Air National Guard Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) equipped C-130 drops retardant over Palm Springs Aerial Tramway to fight wildfire.

Texas Guardsmen get back to basics with base defense
August 17, 2016 — Ft. Hood, Texas – Members of the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, like all Soldiers in the Texas Army National Guard, have two primary missions: domestic support and overseas warfighting. During... MORE

Soldiers from 636th Brigade Support Battalion, 836th Engineer Co. (Sappers), and 136th Military Police Co. participate in base defense training during the 136th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Exportable Combat Training Capability exercise at Ft. Hood, Texas, August 9-14. This exercise focuses on reinforcing and increasing proficiency in fundamental Soldier skills, such as shooting, moving, and communicating.

Louisiana Air National Guard provides security, aid and comfort
August 17, 2016 — BATON ROUGE, La. - The Louisiana Air National Guard mobilized more than 100 Airmen to maintain order and provide assistance at the Celtic Media Centre movie studio facility shelter in Baton Rouge in... MORE

Members of the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard transport flood evacuee and World War II veteran, Mr. Willis Woods from the Celtic Media Centre shelter to a special needs facility near the Louisiana State University campus on August 15, 2016. The Louisiana National Guard mobilized more than 1,000 guardsmen in response to heavy flash flooding that occurred in south Louisiana on August 13, 2006.

Units work together to have a blast at Northern Strike 16
August 17, 2016 — CAMP GRAYLING JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Mich., - Whether it is the newest Soldier or a seasoned non-commissioned officer, field artillery Soldiers enjoy going to Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver... MORE

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Charlie Battery out of Albion, Michigan, take part Exercise Northern Strike at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center. The Soldiers are responding to a call for fire by firing the M 777 "Howitzer" 155 mm Aug. 12 2016.

Texas Guard member donates kidney to stranger
August 16, 2016 — SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Every day holds the possibility for a miracle, but Arthur Corenblith, 56, husband and father of two, was quickly losing hope and questioned how many days he had left to... MORE

Texas Army National Guard Spc. Brittany Reppond, with the 197th Special Troops Support Company, based out of Camp Bullis, San Antonio, Texas, right, donates kidney to Arthur Corenblith, left, February 18, 2016, at the Methodist Specialty and Transplant Hospital in San Antonio. While working for a sales company at a local gas station, the Soldier saw a sign 'my brother needs a kidney' on a car and decided to donate. (Courtesy Photo)

Timing and training came together to save a life
August 16, 2016 — Charleston, W.Va. – How many times have you sat through additional training on a drill weekend and thought, ‘When am I ever going to use this training?’ Or passed by the Automated External... MORE

Col. Johnny Ryan, 130th Airlift Wing Commander, recognizes Chief Master Sgt. Steven Foster (left), Tech Sgt. Mark Haywood, and Master Sgt. Jeremy Callen all from the 130th Civil Engineering Squadron, for saving the life of Master Sgt. Bruce Chatterton (not pictured) who collapsed shortly after his physical fitness test on Aug. 6, 2016.

Louisiana National Guard focuses on response, recovery simultaneously
August 16, 2016 — BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard began providing shelter support to the Baton Rouge River Center last night, as directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, following search and rescue operations... MORE

Soldiers of the Louisiana National Guard offload citizens and pets displaced by rising floodwaters in Baton Rouge and the surrounding area at Celtic Studios in Baton Rouge, La., Aug. 14, 2016.

California Air National Guard completes life-saving mission on Pacific Ocean
August 15, 2016 — Moffett Federal Airfield, Calif. - California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing completed an overwater rescue mission on the Pacific Ocean, saving the life of a seriously ill... MORE

An HH-60 Pave Hawk from the Alaska Air National Guard preps for landing on the USS Anchorage. HH-60 pilots need to stay current on all kinds of operations, including “deck landing” qualifications, so they can be proficient in various types of real-world missions.

Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major visits deployed troops
August 15, 2016 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the senior enlisted leader of the Army National Guard, was the keynote speaker at the Basic Leader Course graduation August 12 at Camp... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, the senior enlisted leader of the Army National Guard, shakes the hands of Soldiers at the Basic Leader Course graduation August 12, 2016 at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. His remarks were part of his week-long visit to National Guard troops assigned to U.S. Army Central’s area of operations.

Texas National Guard patch ceremony to initiate Army of one
August 15, 2016 — AUSTIN, Texas - After months of planning, the first step in the process was underway. Once the “change patch” order was given, the Associated Units Pilot Program accomplished its first task.Soldiers... MORE

Soldiers from Alaska National Guard’s Bravo Company, 1st Battalion (Airborne), 143rd Infantry Regiment, salute their parent Texas National Guard battalion for the last time during a ceremony held at Camp Mabry in Austin, August 13, 2016. The battalion was identified to partake in the Army's Associated Unit Pilot Program which pairs select National Guard and Reserve units with Active Duty units to train and build readiness together, enabling the Army to provide more combat ready formations to combatant commanders. As a part of the restructure process and the pilot program, the battalion’s two out of state airborne companies will switch their Airborne status with two Texas Army National Guard infantry companies.

Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment

Alaska Army Guard, Marine Corps Enhance Aviation Tactics

Guard Chief Visits Pennsylvania Guard, Aviation Training Site

Kentucky, Tennessee Win Regional Best Warrior Competition

Ohio Guard Air Control Squadron Trains with NATO Partners