Guard News - The National Guard

DOD Leaders: Redefining Cybersecurity a Priority for All
October 23, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Cybersecurity is experiencing a dramatic transformation. What was once primarily the domain of IT specialists has evolved into a collective responsibility for all defense personnel... MORE

Gurpreet Bhatia, the Defense Department's principal director for cybersecurity, illustrates a point during a townhall discussion on cybersecurity Oct. 19, 2023 at the Herbert R. Temple Jr. Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall Station, Virginia. The event was part of a government-wide recognition of Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

Georgia National Guardsmen Prepare for Deployment
October 23, 2023 — MARIETTA, Ga. - After months of training and planning by key leaders and staff, the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team is completing readiness requirements before... MORE

A medic attends to a Georgia Army National Guard Soldier during readiness processing at Fort Stewart, Ga., Oct. 20, 2023.

Hokanson: National Guard Poised for Security Cooperation Partnership with Sweden
October 22, 2023 — STOCKHOLM – At the Swedish embassy in Washington in April, the National Guard’s top officer was invited to speak at a reception marking the Swedish army’s 500th anniversary.Several days later, the... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, talks with a Swedish Armed Forces officer from the driver's seat of a CV9040, Boden, Sweden, Oct. 17, 2023.

Virginia Guard Soldiers to Mobilize for Federal Duty in Europe
October 20, 2023 — RICHMOND, Va. – Approximately 70 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Headquarters, 329th Regional Support Group, will... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, participate in Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 23-8.05 July 28, 2023, at Fort Johnson, Louisiana. Conducted in support of the Hawaii Army National Guard’s 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the 529th was in charge of running the division support area, where they provided command and control of more than 400 National Guard Soldiers from five states providing food, water, fuel, ammunition and other supplies.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Plane Crash, Car Accident Victims
October 20, 2023 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing medically evacuated a victim of a car accident in Seward before rescuing two victims of a plane crash in... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, conducts aerial refueling from a U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard, over Alaska, Jan. 21, 2021, during Operation Noble Defender.

In Finland, Hokanson Sees a Country’s Cold Will to Defend Itself
October 19, 2023 — HELSINKI – The National Guard’s top officer recently visited Finland as part of a larger Northern European itinerary to strengthen the Guard’s security cooperation ties in the region.The Guard has... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Lt. Gen. Vesa Virtanen, chief of Defense Command, Finnish Defense Forces, meet with Col. Mika Rytkonen, commander of Finland’s South-Eastern Border Guard District, near Vaalimaa, Finland, Oct. 13, 2023. Hokanson visited Finland to enhance bilateral ties between the National Guard and Finland.

Alaska Airmen Conduct Agile Combat Employment Exercise
October 19, 2023 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The 168th Civil Engineering Squadron, 168th Security Forces, and 168th Medical Group, Alaska Air National Guard, joined forces to augment each other’s strengths during... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Daniel Bauer of the 168th Security Forces, Alaska Air National Guard, operates civil engineer squadron heavy equipment as a “dirt boy” during an agile combat employment training exercise at Fort Greely Donnelly Training area, Oct. 12-16, 2023. The exercise assessed the ability of the 168th Wing multicapable Airmen to perform ACE across a range of military combat operations in a complex and dynamic remote environment.

Pennsylvania Army, Air National Guard Conduct Joint Training
October 18, 2023 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Approximately 25 U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Pennsylvania National Guard worked together Oct. 13 to load a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter onto a C-17 cargo aircraft and... MORE

Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers and Airmen load a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter onto a C-17 cargo aircraft and transport it from Army Aviation Support Facility in Johnstown to Pittsburgh and back Oct. 13, 2023. The training prepared the Guardsmen to load and transport the helicopter to support domestic operations or overseas deployment.

Maryland Air Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense
October 18, 2023 — AMARI AIR BASE, Estonia - The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command Sept. 17-20 to host the cybersecurity exercise Baltic Blitz 23. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing,... MORE

The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host exercise Baltic Blitz 23 Sept. 17-20, 2023, at Ämari Air Base, Harijumaa, Estonia. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard, 12 service members from Poland, and 30 Estonians participated in the cyber exercise.

Weapons School Produces Guard Leaders in Growing Space Domain
October 17, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. - In the heart of Nevada’s Nellis Air Force Base, a select group of Air National Guard members hone their expertise at the Air Force Weapons School in the most crucial battlefront of... MORE

Air Force Master Sgt. Ryan Colon, pictured here as a technical sergeant with the Florida Air National Guard’s 114th Electromagnetic Warfare Squadron, poses in front of space-based equipment at Patrick Air Force Base, Florida, June 29, 2022. Colon is the first enlisted Airman in the Air National Guard to graduate from the Space Warfighter Advanced Instructor Course at the U.S. Air Force Weapons School in Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada.

Army Guard Leaders Emphasize Modernization, Partnerships, Messaging
October 17, 2023 — WASHINGTON - Army National Guard Soldiers and leaders joined together this week in Washington for the 2023 annual Association of the United States Army meeting and exposition. The three-day event... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen leads a panel, “Director of the U.S. Army National Guard Seminar: The Next Greatest Generation is Now!” with four Army National Guard general officers Oct. 10, 2023, at the AUSA 2023 Annual Meeting and Exposition in Washington.

Western Air Defense Sector Gets New Training Facility
October 17, 2023 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The Western Air Defense Sector celebrated the opening of its new Mission Training Center during a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 5.The Continental North American... MORE

The Continental North American Aerospace Defense Command Region deputy commander, Royal Canadian Air Force Maj. Gen. Sean Boyle, center-right, and the Washington Air National Guard commander, U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh center-left, cut the ribbon on the Western Air Defense Sector’s new Mission Training Center with WADS leadership Oct. 5, 2023, on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash. The $2 million state-of-the-art facility provides high-end simulation capabilities for Airmen who manage and operate Command and Control Battle Management Systems in defense of the U.S. homeland under Operation NOBLE EAGLE.

Virginia Guard, Tajikistan Police Train on Marksmanship
October 16, 2023 — DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in a marksmanship exchange with female members of the Tajik National Police Sept. 5-9. The exchange supported the Department... MORE

Three Virginia National Guard Soldiers participate in a marksmanship exchange with female members of the Tajik National Police Sept. 5-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The Virginia Guard and Tajikistan have been partners for 20 years under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

California National Guard Airman Rescues Injured Car Wreck Victim
October 16, 2023 — MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. - “Always ready, always there.” It’s a concept drilled into every member of the National Guard from the time they take the oath. The call to serve could come at... MORE

U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Hyunsoo Kim rescued a driver trapped in his overturned vehicle Sept. 21, 2023, in Santa Clara, California.

Army Guard Squad Competes in Army Best Squad Competition
October 13, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Under the oppressive Georgia heat and humidity, 12 squads from throughout the Army — including a squad representing the Army National Guard — battled it out at Fort Stewart Sept... MORE

Soldiers representing the Army National Guard evacuate a simulated casualty during the 2023 U.S. Army Best Squad Competition at Fort Stewart, Georgia, Oct. 2, 2023. Twelve squads from throughout the Army competed to be named the Army’s Best Squad, and for individual Soldiers to earn the title Soldier or Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Oklahoma, North Carolina Air Guard Train on KC-46 Aircraft
October 12, 2023 — WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. - Members of the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron and 156th AES completed initial certifications for operations on the KC-46A Pegasus Sept. 15-17.A... MORE

Personnel with the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, Oklahoma National Guard, and 156th AES, North Carolina National Guard, discuss a patient treatment plan during a medical training scenario Sept. 15, 2023, in Oklahoma City. The two squadrons completed 35 aircraft and survival scenarios and 20 medical scenarios fon a 22d Air Refueling Wing KC-46A Pegasus aircraft.

Army Command Works to Engage With African Partners
October 12, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Africa is a continent of potential, and service members at the Southern European Task Force, Africa, work every day to help African partners turn that potential into reality, said... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and Ghana’s military leadership share a lighthearted moment following the culminating exercise at African Lion 2023 near Daboya, Ghana, June 13, 2023.

Iowa National Guard Medics Care for Homeless Veterans
October 12, 2023 — CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - “Give me strength to lead by caring.” It’s a line of the time-honored Army Combat medic prayer that encapsulates what’s often most endearing about the combat medic. They train... MORE

A medic from the 134th Ambulance Company out of Johnston, Iowa, checks the blood pressure of a veteran at the Five Seasons Stand Down resource fair in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Sept. 7, 2023. The medics provided care for veterans and others experiencing homelessness.

148th Fighter Wing EOD Flight Hosts Validation Course
October 11, 2023 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - The 148th Fighter Wing Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight created and hosted an advanced conventional course for 30 technicians at the Minnesota National Guard’s Camp Ripley... MORE

Explosive Ordnance Disposal technicians from across the Air National Guard, Air Force, Air Force Reserve, Navy and Wisconsin National Guard state partners from Papua New Guinea conduct lodged projectile training at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minnesota, Sept. 21, 2023. The Advanced EOD Conventional Course provided experience, validation and confidence in using EOD tools and procedures.

Washington Guard Joins Exercise with Partners in Malaysia
October 11, 2023 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Nine Washington National Guard members from the 194th Wing and Medical Command participated in the Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Sept... MORE

Lt. Col. Khadidja Harrell, a flight surgeon with the 194th Medical Group, poses for a photo with her Malaysian counterpart during the Indo-Pacific Military Health Exchange Sept. 26-29, 2023, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The multilateral military event focused on global health interoperability.

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