Guard News - The National Guard

Maryland Air Guard Conducts Combat Search and Rescue Training in Wisconsin
May 16, 2025 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - Nearly 50 Airmen and six A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft assigned to the Maryland National Guard’s 175th Wing deployed to Volk Field Air National Guard Base’s Combat Readiness... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 175th Wing, Maryland Air National Guard, prepare to board a HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter during combat search and rescue training at the Hardwood Range, Wisconsin, May 12, 2025. The HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter was part of the Combat Search and Rescue task force element during the week-long training. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Chris Schepers)

Missouri Airmen Go Analog in Cyber Attack Simulation
May 16, 2025 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Operations Group completed Operations Goes Dark, a four-day exercise held May 12-15 designed to simulate the effects of a cyber attack.During... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard, Boise Fire Department Conduct Water Rescue
May 16, 2025 — BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group, working with the Boise Fire Department, assisted in rescuing two rafters May 15 on the Owyhee River in Malheur County, Oregon. Two... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group, working with the Boise Fire Department, assisted in the rescue of two rafters on the Owyhee River in Malheur County, Oregon, May 15.

Pennsylvania Air Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing Wins Omaha Trophy
May 15, 2025 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing has added its name to an elite list of U.S. Air Force units, earning the prestigious Omaha Trophy for 2024.Earning the... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. John R. Pippy, Pennsylvania adjutant general chat with attendees as the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing, receives the of U.S. Strategic Command’s Omaha Trophy May 1, 2025.

Washington Air Guard Participates in 12th Airman-to-Airman Talks in Thailand
May 15, 2025 — PATTAYA, Thailand — Airmen from the Royal Thai Air Force, Pacific Air Forces, the Washington Air National Guard and members of the Joint United States Military Advisory Group in Thailand gathered in... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Kelly speaks with Royal Thai Air Force Airmen in an air domain awareness working group at an Airman-to-Airman Talks in Pattaya, Thailand, May 13, 2025.

Ten N.Y. Army National Guard Soldiers Receive Purple Heart
May 15, 2025 — NEW WINDSOR, N.Y. – Ten New York Army National Guard Soldiers received the Purple Heart—the award given to military members wounded in action—during a May 10 ceremony at the National Purple Heart Hall... MORE

Ten New York Army National Guard Soldiers who received the Purple Heart on May 10, 2025 at the Purple Heart Hall of Honor in New Windsor, New York display their certificates following the ceremony. The ten Soldiers were injured during a January 28, 2024 drone attack on a military outpost in Jordan known as Tower 22.

Arkansas Guard Participates in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala
May 14, 2025 — CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – More than 60 Arkansas National Guardsmen are participating in CENTAM Guardian 2025 in Guatemala.CENTAM Guardian 2025 is an annual multi-national exercise designed to... MORE

U.S. and Honduran infantrymen ruck at Mariscal Zavala, Guatemala, May 12, 2025. As part of CENTAM Guardian 25, infantrymen from Honduras, U.S., El Salvador and Guatemala, rucked to their exercise site where they will execute specific survival tactics in the Guatemalan jungles.

From the ChalleNGe Academy to the Pennsylvania Guard
May 14, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Scott Gabner ended up at the Keystone State ChalleNGe Academy the way many cadets do.He wasn’t doing well in school and often skipped out of school early. So, he decided to... MORE

Pfc. Scott Gabner works on a vehicle engine at the Unit Training Equipment Site at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., on April 29, 2025.

Pennsylvania Guard Aviation Partners with Coast Guard
May 14, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade crewed a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to assist the U.S. Coast Guard by... MORE

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade crewed a CH-47 Chinook helicopter to assist the U.S. Coast Guard by transporting three buoys May 7 in the Chesapeake Bay and Delaware Bay. During the winter, buoys are often displaced and washed up on beaches that are inaccessible to Coast Guard boats. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig)

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security
May 13, 2025 — NOGALES, Ariz. — In an effort to disrupt the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, Arizona National Guard members with Task Force SAFE — Stopping Arizona’s Fentanyl Epidemic — support U.S... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the Arizona Army National Guard and U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents inspect a cooler of fish for illegal drugs or other contraband items at the Dennis DeConcini Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona, April 30, 2025.

Idaho Guard Airmen Push Limits in Joint Field Training
May 13, 2025 — IDAHO CITY, IDAHO – The sounds of rotor blades thumped overhead as the rotor wash of a UH-60 Black Hawk kicked up rocks and debris that slammed into the Airmen waiting during a simulated live... MORE

Idaho Air National Guard, trained with Idaho Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawks during a three-day field training exercise, including helicopter medical evacuation.

Pennsylvania Guard Competes in Governor’s Twenty Marksmanship Competition
May 13, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – More than 100 Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers and Airmen competed in the annual Governor’s Twenty marksmanship competition here May 9-10.The event, in which 103 service... MORE

A total of 103 Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers and Airmen competed in the annual Governor's Twenty marksmanship competition May 9 to 10, 2025 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. They earn the right to wear the coveted Governor’s Twenty tab on the left shoulder of the uniform, is a state-level National Guard award that is presented every year and is reflected on a service members’ official personnel record. It is recognized by both the Army and Air Force. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Zane Craig)

Missouri Guard Strengthens Ties with Panama Through Disaster Response Exchange
May 13, 2025 — PANAMA CITY - Six members of the Missouri National Guard and professionals from Panama shared expertise and best practices during a three-day expert exchange May 6-8.The Missouri National Guard's... MORE

Master Sgt. Chris Wertz, Missouri National Guard State Partnership Program NCO, speaks to members of the Panamanian National Police as 2nd Lt. Minor Perez, a MONG chaplain candidate, translates in Panama City, Panama, May 8, 2025.

N.Y. National Guard Aircrews Train with Forest Rangers to Prep for Wildfires
May 12, 2025 — SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard helicopter crews partnered May 8 with state Department of Environmental Conservation Forest Rangers to hone their firefighting skills along the... MORE

New York Army National Guard aircrews assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, prepare New York State Forest Rangers for familiarization training with water buckets for aerial firefighting in Schuylerville, New York, May 8, 2025.

Oklahoma Air Guard Airmen Maneuver Through TRADEWINDS25
May 12, 2025 — TETERON BAY, Trinidad – Mission Ready Airmen assigned to the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team of the Oklahoma Air National Guard strengthened critical self-sustaining skills and... MORE

One of the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team’s forward operating site sits near a flightline during TRADEWINDS 25 (TW25), Trinidad and Tobago, April 25, 2025.

Idaho Army National Guard Hosts Region VI Best Warrior Competition
May 12, 2025 — GOWEN FIELD, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard hosted the Region VI Best Warrior Competition May 4-9 at Gowen Field, challenging participants with six days of physically and mentally demanding events... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Edward Snyder from the North Dakota Army National Guard participates in the Combat Traning Scenario event of the 2025 Best Warrior Competition at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Boise, ID on May 07, 2025.

Canine Callie, DOD’s Only Search-and-Rescue Dog, Retires from Service
May 12, 2025 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – She deployed six times in support of rescue missions across the United States, searching for victims trapped in the wake of floods, tornadoes, an avalanche, a collapsed coal mine... MORE

Callie, the only certified search-and-rescue dog in the Department of Defense, is ready for some well-earned play time at the conclusion of her retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 24, 2025. Over the course of more than six years with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron, Callie served on numerous exercises and six real-world deployments, searching for survivors in the aftermath of floods, tornadoes, an avalanche, a collapsed coal mine tipple and multiple demolished buildings. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Emerge as Region II’s Best Warriors
May 9, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Sgt. Miles Crawford and Spc. Robert Ruiz-Rhoades will advance to the 2025 Army National Best Warrior Competition after winning the Region II competition here May... MORE

Spc. Robert Ruiz-Rhoades, left, of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Sgt. Miles Crawford, right, of the Maryland National Guard were named the winners of the Region II Best Warrior Competition at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, May 5-9, 2025. (U.S. Army National guard photo illustration by Spc. Skylin Simpson)

National Guard Spouse Highlights Strength of Family Support During Maine Visit
May 9, 2025 — AUGUSTA, Maine – Karen Raines, spouse of Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, engaged with Maine Army and Air National Guard units here during a visit... MORE

Karen Raines, spouse of Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, meets with family‑readiness volunteers at Joint Force Headquarters ‑ Maine, April 30, 2025.

Virginia National Guard Team Trains for Disaster Response
May 9, 2025 — FORT BARFOOT, Va. – Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted a collective training exercise responding to a simulated mass casualty radiological event at Fort Barfoot April 28 - May... MORE

34th CERFP conducts collective training exercise