Guard News - The National Guard

Nevada Guard on duty during ‘America’s party’ in Las Vegas
December 31, 2018 — LAS VEGAS – Nevada National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are making their final preparations to support the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department on New Year's Eve in Sin City – the site of the... MORE

Nevada National Guard Soldiers provide security support to local law enforcement on the Las Vegas Strip as fireworks shoot from the rooftops of hotels during the 2018 New Year’s celebration.

Bound by blood, brothers serve in military by choice
December 28, 2018 — FORT BLISS, Texas – Eight years since last seeing each other, two brothers from Central Valley, California, cross paths at a remote West Texas location, nestled between mountain ranges and riddled... MORE

Col. David Mendoza, deputy commander of inpatient services, William Beaumont Army Medical Center, with fraternal twin brother, Maj. James Mendoza, human resources officer, 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, a California Army National Guard unit out of San Diego, during a chance meeting at Fort Bliss, Dec. 4, 2018. The Mendoza brothers have served in the U.S. Army, Army Reserves and National Guard since graduating high school, rarely seeing each other.

Miss. Guard Soldiers provide marksmanship tips in Iraq
December 28, 2018 — CAMP TAJI, Iraq – For soldiers worldwide, rifle marksmanship is one of the most basic skills all soldiers must possess. Iraqi soldiers are learning how tedious the training can be and what it takes to... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Michael Garner, left, security forces platoon sergeant assigned to Task Force India Bravo, teaches an Iraqi army primary marksmanship instruction course at Camp Taji, Iraq, Dec.19, 2018.

Guard members reflect on busy 2018 and look ahead to 2019
December 28, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard closed out a busy year that saw Guard members deploy overseas, take part in international training exercises and respond to emergencies and large-scale natural... MORE

Soldiers with the North Carolina Army National Guard's 690th Brigade Support Battalion assist North Carolina Department of Transportation personnel with recovering snow plows and assisting stuck drivers during a winter storm, Dec. 9, 2018. The year kept National Guard members busy at home responding to snowstorms, wildfires and hurricanes. Guard members also took part in joint and multi-national training exercises, deployed overseas as part of contingency operations and celebrated milestones, such as the 25th anniversary of the Department of Defense's State Partnership Program, which pairs Guard elements with partner nations worldwide.

N.Y. National Guard conducts 11,155 military funerals in '18
December 26, 2018 — LATHAM, N.Y. – The New York Army and Air National Guard will have provided military funeral honors for 11,155 families of veterans and military members during 2018 by the midnight on Dec. 31. Those... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Joshua Sanzo hands a folded American flag to a family member during a funeral service for Cpl. Lewis Smith, U.S. Army, during the burial mass at Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery, on Dec. 20, 2018. Smith served in the United States Army from 1958 to 1960.

Maine Air Wing has been big on family ties since its beginning
December 26, 2018 — BANGOR AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Maine – The Maine Air National Guard was established in 1947, prior to the birth of the Air Force. Since then the wing finds itself deep-rooted in tradition and family... MORE

Staff Sgts. Erica Blanchette and Alyssa Nelson pose for a photo Dec. 20, 2018, at Bangor National Guard Base, Maine. The sisters, who are also identical twins, swore in eight months apart.

Glens Falls' Christmas Eve Road March continues for 15th year
December 26, 2018 — GLENS FALLS, N.Y. – Volunteers from across the New York National Guard joined more than 1,000 military family members, community supporters and Gold Star Families for the 15th annual Christmas Eve... MORE

Retired New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Arthur Coon, center in red jacket, steps off for the 15th annual Christmas Eve Road March in Glens Falls, N.Y., Dec. 24, 2018. Coon has organized the annual event to honor deployed service members since 2004 when Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard were deployed to Iraq.

Santa tracking all began as a newspaper ad error
December 20, 2018 — WASHINGTON, D.C. – Kids across the U.S. have grown accustomed to keeping track of the big guy's journey through the North American Aerospace Defense Command Santa Tracker. They can track his flight... MORE

Air Force Col. Harry Shoup, the operations officer at North American Aerospace Defense Command’s precursor organization, answered a wrong-number call on Dec. 24, 1955, and began the tradition of NORAD tracking Santa.

New York National Guard artillery troops honor WWII veteran
December 20, 2018 — NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. – Members of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion 258th Field Artillery honored one of their own from World War II during the annual St. Barbara's Ball on Dec. 7. Former... MORE

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. Marc Lindemann, commander of the 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, presents the Military Order of St. Barbara, the patron saint of the Field Artillery, to Army Pfc. Charles A. Brown, in New Windsor, N.Y., Dec. 7, 2018. Brown served in the 258th Field Artillery during WWII and donated his archives and records of the battalion’s combat actions in 2017 to the unit and the New York State Military History Museum.

Washington Guard, Malaysian army plan for upcoming exercises
December 19, 2018 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – With the goal of finalizing plans for multiple bi-national exercises, the Washington National Guard wrapped up the final planning conference for exercise Bersama Warrior and Keris... MORE

Washington National Guard and Malaysian Army Group Photo at Buloh Camp, Malaysia on Dec. 5, 2018.

In Poland, Guard members contribute to deterrence mission
December 19, 2018 — WARSAW, Poland — Guard members supporting a NATO mission in Poland are helping preserve peace while also building readiness, observed Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard... MORE

Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief, National Guard Bureau, meets with Polish Armed Forces civilian and military leaders, Warsaw, Poland, Dec. 14, 2018.

Mich. and V.I. Guard build relationships stronger than storm
December 18, 2018 — ST. CROIX, Virgin Islands – One hundred and thirty Soldiers from the Michigan National Guard arrived in the U.S. Virgin Islands, prepared to provide disaster assistance, less than 20 hours after... MORE

Soldiers passing in the night before a dimly lit C17 from the 172nd Air Wing of the Mississippi National Guard, are arriving for a training exercise in the Virgin Islands to provide support to civil authorities in a post hurricane training scenario.

New York Air Guard members help NORAD track Santa
December 18, 2018 — ROME, N.Y. – As North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) Tracks Santa ramps up this year, the New York Air National Guard members and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel of the Eastern Air... MORE

New York Air National Guards Master Sgt. Shane Reid, front, and Tech. Sgt. Brady King, both of the 224th Air Defense Squadron, train for upcoming Santa tracking operations at the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome. A headquarters unit of the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD), EADS supports the NORAD Tracks Santa operation every year.

N.Y. National Guard Soldiers test problem-solving skills
December 17, 2018 — WEST POINT, N.Y. – Sixteen Officers and NCOs from the New York National Guard's 642nd Aviation Support Battalion spent their December drill weekend honing their teamwork and problem solving skills at... MORE

Officers and noncommissioned officers assigned to the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, New York Army National Guard, work together on the “river crossing” obstacle at the United States Military Academy Leadership Reaction Course at West Point, N.Y., on Dec. 8 2018. The training was designed so 642nd senior leaders could test their problem solving and decision-making skills while learning how to work better together.

West Virginia National Guard aided in mine rescue operations
December 17, 2018 — CHARLESTON, W. Va. – When the West Virginia Watch Center, operated by the West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management (DHSEM), received a call on Dec. 9 that four people were... MORE

Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, West Virginia National Guard, assist in convoy operations of mine rescue teams with the West Virginia Miners’ Health, Safety, and Training agency at the Rock House Powellton coal mine in Whitesville, W.Va., Dec. 12, 2018. The WVNG assisted rescue operations for three missing people. A fourth person left the mine earlier.

CENTCOM: SPP underscores commitment to regional stability
December 14, 2018 — MacDILL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – A National Guard-administered program that has paired states with foreign nations around the world since 1993 continues to strengthen defense relations in the Middle... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Jon K. Mott, right, U.S. Central
Command's director of exercises and training, and U.S. Army Staff
Sgt. Michael Tousey prepare to cut the cake to honor the National
Guard's 382nd birthday Dec. 13, 2018. The National Guard-administered State Partnership Program, established in 1993, is a key component of CENTCOM's mission and the National Defense Strategy.

Joint Task Force Civil Support is prepared for any CBRN disaster
December 13, 2018 — FORT EUSTIS, Va. – Task forces can be formed at the time of a crisis, but a unit in Newport News, Va., Joint Task Force Civil Support (JTF-CS), works 365 days a year with people on call 24/7 for the... MORE

A decontamination team of Airmen and Soldiers care for casualties in a simulated mass casualty decontamination line during the 503rd Military Police Battalion field training exercise at Camp Blanding, Fla., on Oct. 24, 2018. Army Maj. Gen. William “Bill” Hall participates as a mock victim of a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear catastrophe. (Courtesy photo by Navy Chief Petty Officer Zach McKinley)

Tenn. Guardsmen celebrate Ukrainian holiday with orphans
December 13, 2018 — YAVORIV, Ukraine – Soldiers from the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment of the Tennessee National Guard visited the local orphanage for children with special needs to celebrate and participate in a... MORE

Children from local orphanage pose for picture alongside members of the 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment deployed in Yavoriv, Ukraine, Dec. 12, 2018. Many regiment members have visited with the children regularly.

Pa. Guard welcomes Lithuanians to Fort Indiantown Gap
December 13, 2018 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Lithuania's vice minister of defense and other senior officials visited the Pennsylvania National Guard's Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) here... MORE

Lithuanian senior officials visited the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) Dec. 5, 2018. The delegation toured the Black Hawk Aircrew Trainer (BAT) simulation system, the Non-Rated Crewmember Manned Module (NCM3), and the Aviation Maintenance Instructional Building (AMIB).

National Guard Bureau chief pens holiday message
December 12, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. – As we enter the holiday season, let's all take a moment to reflect on our accomplishments and achievements over the past year. This year, National Guard units supported emergency... MORE

Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, issued his holiday message Dec. 12, 2018.

Guard, Partner Nation Leaders Collaborate at Annual State Partnership Program Conference

North Carolina, North Dakota, Maine Honored for State Partnership Work

Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment

Alaska Army Guard, Marine Corps Enhance Aviation Tactics

Guard Chief Visits Pennsylvania Guard, Aviation Training Site