Guard News - The National Guard

Arizona, Mississippi Soldiers are Best Warriors
September 21, 2020 — HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Soldiers from the Mississippi and Arizona National Guard won this year's premier Army National Guard Competition, known as the National Best Warrior Competition. Staff Sgt... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. Mitchell Scofield, front right, a cavalry scout with the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Regional Training Institute, and Cpl. Daniel D’lppolito, an infantryman with the Arizona Army National Guard’s Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, front left, hoist their pistols during the closing ceremony of the Army National Guard’s 2020 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Sept. 16. Scofield and D’lppolito earned the titles of Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively. Command Sgt. Maj. John F. Sampa, middle, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, joins Scofield and D’lppolito in celebrating their new titles. The two Soldiers will go on to compete in the 2020 all-Army Best Warrior Competition, to be held virtually later in the year.

US, Malaysia conduct virtual Airman-to-Airman talks
September 18, 2020 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Pacific Air Forces and Washington Air National Guard Airmen met with their Royal Malaysian air force counterparts in virtual Airman-to-Airman talks (A2AT)... MORE

Royal Malaysian air force Maj. Gen. Mohd Shahada bin Ismail, assistant chief of staff for operation and strategy department at RMAF Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur, delivers closing remarks during a virtual Airman-to-Airman talks engagement Sept. 14, 2020. The Malaysian military is a partner with the Washington National Guard under the Guard's State Partnership Program.

Idaho National Guard Soldier spent 309 days as a POW
September 18, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – Ray Servatius has a lot to think about at night. Mostly he thinks about that day in Korea when his plane was shot down. The pilot was likely dead before the plane hit the ground... MORE

Sgt. Ray Servatius, far right, spent 309 days as a prisoner of war in 1953 during the Korean conflict. The Idaho National Guard Soldier was captured after his plane was shot down.

Wyoming Air Guard 153rd AW activated again for firefighting
September 17, 2020 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing has once again been activated by extension to support fire suppression efforts in California.One C-130 Modular Airborne... MORE

The 153rd Airlift Wing tested the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) at the Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. 15, 2020. The unit was activated to assist fighting wildfires on the West Coast of the U.S.

159th Fighter Wing provides critical Hurricane Laura support
September 17, 2020 — KINDER, La. – The Louisiana Air National Guard provided critical supplies to residents affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura in central and west Louisiana. Airmen from the 159th... MORE

Airmen from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, load supplies in vehicles of residents affected by Hurricane Laura in Kinder, La., Aug 29, 2020.

Geospatial engineer fills key role in Kosovo deployment
September 17, 2020 — PRISTINHA/PRISTINA, Kosovo – At only 5 years old, Spc. Caleb Kaufmann rode beside his father in his semitruck traveling the westernmost states reading complex maps and topography books. He never... MORE

Spc. Caleb Kaufmann, a geospatial engineer Soldier with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, deployed to the KFOR Regional Command East mission sits on a stack of maps in the map depot Sept. 1, 2020, at Camp Film City, Pristina/Prishtina Kosovo. Kaufmann was the sole continuity between the outgoing Czech Republic NATO partners and incoming Austrian NATO partners in a warehouse with over 100,000 maps.

28th ECAB hurdles challenges, completes training
September 17, 2020 — FORT HOOD, Texas – Despite COVID-19 challenges, Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade completed training at Fort Hood to prepare for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brad Whitt, crew chief with Bravo Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, sits on a ramp and looks at the sunset out the back of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it flies over the 28th ECAB's mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues hiker at Hatcher Pass
September 17, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker Sept. 16 at Hatcher Pass. Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Kevin Kelly, Alaska... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 23, 2015. The 210th Rescue Squadron provides emergency rescue services for the citizens of Alaska in addition to training for wartime combat search and rescue missions.

Louisiana Air Guard on ground to help in hurricane's wake
September 16, 2020 — CAMERON, La. – Airmen from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, deployed their Mobile Emergency Operations Center (MEOC) and set up government support teams (GSTs) in Cameron Parish... MORE

Louisiana Air National Guard Master Sgt. Mark Cusimano, 159th Maintenance Group, offers supplies to a resident in Cameron Parish, La., Sept. 11, 2020. Approximately, 40 Airmen in six teams are working with local government to restore infrastructure and provide much needed supplies to area residents after Hurricane Laura.

Kentucky Guardsman feeds hundreds while restricted to India
September 16, 2020 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – In the Army, a culinary specialist prepares food in field or garrison operations. For Spc. Jayendra Patel, learning this military occupational specialty became an opportunity to do... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Spc. Jayendra Patel takes a moment while working for his unit in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby, Sept. 5, 2020. While stranded in his hometown in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used his experience as a culinary specialist to feed hundreds of people.

Michigan National Guard supports food banks
September 16, 2020 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – During normal times, one in every six people struggle with hunger in southwest Michigan, but these are not normal times and that struggle has only grown larger. For 38 years, the... MORE

Michigan National Guard members from the 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, work with the Food Bank of South Michigan, packaging donated granola for local food pantries in Battle Creek, Sep. 11, 2020. Since March, Michigan National Guard teams have supported food banks across Michigan, distributing more than 7 million pounds of food.

Hawaii airlift unit uses flares in astronaut rescue training
September 16, 2020 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – The Hawaii Air National Guard [HIANG] 204th Airlift Squadron added area illuminating flares to its rescue repertoire during a flare training operation off the... MORE

Hawaii Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Makaio Roberts, 204th Airlift Squadron loadmaster, arms a flare as Master Sgt. Randy Yamada monitors for proper technique during flare deployment training Aug. 27, 2020, in the air around Hawaii. The area illuminating flares can be used in astronaut rescues in support of NASA's SpaceX Human Space Flight program.

Mississippi Guard ready to respond to Hurricane Sally
September 16, 2020 — HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Mississippi Army National Guard (MSNG) Soldiers are ready to assist in the aftermath of Hurricane Sally, which made landfall along Alabama's Gulf Coast as a Category 2 storm... MORE

Mississippi Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to an engineer composite team pack supplies in preparation to conduct high-water rescues in response to Hurricane Sally at Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center, Miss., Sept. 15, 2020. The Mississippi National Guard is prepared to conduct civil support operations, including search and rescue and debris removal, to support local and state authorities.

National Guard serves throughout nation, world
September 16, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Americans regard the National Guard as a U.S.-based force, but, in truth, it's hard to go anywhere in the world and not see a Soldier wearing an Army National Guard patch.The past few... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Travis Pruett, 134th Air Refueling Wing medical technician, Tennessee Air National Guard, tests a patient at a COVID-19 drive-up testing station in Blount County, Tennessee, Apr. 9, 2020.

185th ARW exercise held despite COVID-19, Hurricane Sally
September 16, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing is conducting a mobility exercise this week after making a last-minute decision to move the event away from the Gulf Coast... MORE

Iowa Air National Guard members from the 185th Air Refueling Wing board a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, Sept. 14, 2020, for a mobility training exercise.

National Guard helps fight fires across Washington
September 16, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – More than 50 members of the Washington National Guard are helping the Department of Natural Resources battle wildfires. Three hand crews were pulled together Sept. 10 to assist... MORE

A Washington Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter loads up a water bucket in a lake near Bonney Lake, Wash., Sept 9, 2020. Washington National Guard flight crews dropped more than 280,000 gallons of water on the Sumner Grade Fire.

HING, Indonesia hold slimmed-down Gema Bhakti SPP exercise
September 16, 2020 — HONOLULU – Gema Bhakti 2020, a military planning exercise involving U.S. and Indonesian militaries under the National Guard State Partnership Program (SPP), was held via videoconference this year due... MORE

Hawaii National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participate in Gema Bhakti 2020, a joint military operation planning exercise, via a virtual meeting space, Honolulu, Hawaii, Aug. 26, 2020. Gema Bhakti is an annual military planning exercise with the Hawaii National Guard State Partnership Program, INDO-PACOM and the Indonesian Armed Forces. This years exercise was held in several locations scattered across the world in the last week in August 2020.

Pease Airmen first to execute coronets with KC-46A Pegasus
September 15, 2020 — KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – Pease achieved another historic first in military aerial refueling. A year after the 157th Air Refueling Wing became the first Air National Guard unit in the country to field... MORE

From left, Capt. Erik Earle, Capt. Chris Schimmel, Maj. Matt Valentino, Master Sgt. Brett Peterson, Capt. Jordan Gauvin, Chief Master Sgt. Michael George and Maj. Leon Rice pose in front of a KC-46A Pegasus on Sept. 8, 2020, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The Pease Airmen executed the first official transoceanic coronet ever accomplished with a Pegaus refueler, which began Sept. 9 and involved 16 aerial refuelings of five F/A-18 jets.

Connecticut Air Guard squadrons collaborate to safely train
September 15, 2020 — EAST LYME, Conn. – The COVID-19 pandemic has presented new challenges to training large groups. The week of Sept. 10, members of the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron, 103rd Security Forces Squadron,... MORE

Connecticut National Guard Airmen from the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron protect a convoy during expeditionary operations training at Stones Ranch Military Reservation in East Lyme, Connecticut, Sept. 10, 2020. Members of the 103rd Civil Engineer Squadron, 103rd Security Forces Squadron, 103rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, and 103rd Medical Group combined their expertise to conduct this key readiness training while protecting the health of participants.

Tennessee Guard tests Hurricane Sally first responders
September 15, 2020 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Soldiers with the Tennessee National Guard’s Task Force Medical conducted COVID-19 testing on nearly 40 emergency responders preparing to depart for Louisiana to assist with... MORE

Mississippi National Guard Spc. Jan Lao and Pfc. Mckenzie Smith of the 890th Engineer Battalion load supplies onto a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle in Gulfport, Miss., Sep. 14, 2020. The Soldiers will be part of a 10-person team on standby to rescue residents from flooded areas due to Hurricane Sally.

Maine Guard Airmen Exercise Rapid-Response Communications Skills

Louisiana Guard Hosts International Interrogation Competition to Build Readiness

Air Reserve Component Test Center Marks Milestone With F-35 Test Force at Eglin AFB

Texas Guard Members Bolster Border Patrol Efforts along Rio Grande

Washington Army Guard Soldiers Participate in Norwegian Foot March