Hurricane Helene

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The Guard in 2024: Deployments, hurricanes, wildfires and new leadership
December 27, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. – As 2024 began, Soldiers with 1st Squadron, 221st Cavalry Regiment, Nevada Army... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Isaac Bradshaw, a combat medic with C Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion, North Carolina Army National Guard, wraps his arms around an older couple and uses his body to block them from debris and strong winds produced by the rotor wash of a landing CH-47 Chinook helicopter in Burnsville, North Carolina, Oct. 10, 2024. The Chinook crew responded in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, bringing generators, fuel, and other supplies to the remote area that was isolated when floodwaters washed away the main road in and out of the area.

New York Guard Helps Floridians Recover from Hurricane
October 22, 2024 — PALMETTO, Fla. – Forty-three New York Army National Guard Soldiers spent a week assisting the... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Tyler Linendoll, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, cuts downed tree branches with a chainsaw following Hurricane Milton in Palmetto, Florida, Oct. 11, 2024. Soldiers from the 27th IBCT worked with members of the Florida Army National Guard to provide relief to communities impacted by the hurricane.

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Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, meets with Florida National Guard leaders and Guardsmen mobilized in Tampa, Florida, to help communities affected by Hurricane Milton Oct. 16, 2024.

North Carolina Guard Clears Roads after Tropical Storm Helene
October 16, 2024 — NEBO, N.C. - “The troops are here!” said Western North Carolina resident Rick Brite, who watched as... MORE

North Carolina National Guardsmen with the 113th Sustainment Brigade and the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team conduct bridge-building operations in Nebo, N.C., Oct. 9, 2024, to connect roads for residents following Tropical Storm Helene.

Florida National Guard Responds to Storms in and out of State
October 15, 2024 — STARKE, Fla. - The end of September and beginning of October proved to be a heavy lift for Soldiers... MORE

Florida Army National Guard Soldiers prepare for a flight during Hurricane Helene support missions at Army Aviation Support Facility 1 in Florida Sept. 29, 2024. Members of the 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion provided aerial capabilities for an Emergency Management Assistance Compact.

Florida National Guard Assists Tornado Victims
October 13, 2024 — FORT PIERCE, Fla. - The Florida National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, quickly... MORE

U.S. Soldiers assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, deliver water, meals and non-perishable goods to senior citizens in the Spanish Lake community in Port St. Lucie, Florida, Oct. 11, 2024. The state of Florida established point of distribution centers throughout Florida and deployed staging areas to ensure supplies were available to those in need.

Virginia Guard Aids Hurricane Response in Florida, Virginia
October 10, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard is helping Florida respond to Hurricane Milton while it... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Cedar Bluff-based 1033rd Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, assist with food and water distribution Oct. 5-6, 2024, in Damascus, Virginia. Approximately 20 1033rd Soldiers with tactical trucks capable of high-mobility transportation are staged in Abingdon to support the response to Hurricane Helene.

New York National Guard Troops Assist with Hurricane Response
October 10, 2024 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. - The New York National Guard dispatched 65 Soldiers and Airmen to Florida Oct. 9 to... MORE

Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat team board a C-17 Globemaster III from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing as they head to Camp Blanding Joint Training Center near Jacksonville, Florida, to support the Florida National Guard response to Hurricane Milton’s landfall.

National Guard Helps Hurricane Milton, Helene Victims
October 9, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Over 11,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were conducting Hurricane Milton and... MORE

Tennessee Guardsmen Support Hurricane Recovery
October 9, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nearly 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen, with more than 150 vehicles and... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ryan Schulze, 118th Wing pavements and construction equipment craftsman, cuts a fallen tree with a chainsaw during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Oct. 5, 2024. Airmen continue to commute to the town and surrounding areas daily to help clear debris and help local residents in need due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.

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Ft. Hood Army equipment testing unit leaders encourage AER donations

U.S. Army Operational Test Command

March 15, 2023 | 2:42

Story by Michael Novogradac

U.S. Army Operational Test Command Public Affairs

WEST FORT HOOD, Texas — Leaders of the unit responsible for testing new and modernized equipment before it is fielded to Soldiers began the 2023 Army Emergency Relief campaign with a video urging workforce donations.

“My goal is to make sure that everyone in the command understands the benefits that AER can provide to you and your family,” said Col. George C. Hackler, U.S. Army Operational Test Command commander.

AER’s annual fundraising campaign for the Army’s official nonprofit began March 1 and continues through May 15.

Mr. Robert Stone, OTC’s Civilian Executive Director reminded folks how AER has been around for 81 years helping Soldiers and their families.

“In the last year alone, AER awarded $65 million in grants, scholarships, and loans to more than 40,000 Soldiers in need,” he said. “That aid was only possible because of the Soldiers, leaders, Family members, and Civilians that donated.”

OTC’s senior enlisted advisor reminded everyone that AER is about “Soldiers helping Soldiers,” and how emergencies can always happen.

“Look to your left and your right at your battle buddies. You never know when an emergency involving financial stress will come up,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Martin M. Conroy. “AER is about providing relief for hardship.

“Whether it is car repairs, rent assistance, utility bills, or youth scholarships,” he continued, “there are over 30 categories of assistance to assist our Soldiers through the hardships so we can ultimately focus on the mission and readiness.”

Thanking AER for all its support year after year, Col. Kevin S. Capra, deputy commander and chief of staff said, “AER is here for us. Let’s make sure that we’re here for AER.

“Every donation counts. So, remember — financial readiness is readiness.”

Reflecting on how OTC helped three of its own Soldiers through the AER Quick Assistance Program, OTC’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company Commander Capt. Nastassia J. Smith established unit AER representatives in 10 directorates.

“We wanted to see if we could get 100 percent in-person contact of everybody,” she said. “That face-to-face really matters to make sure people understand and they know that not only is the unit there for them, but AER is here for them.”

For more information about AER and its programs, visit www.aerhq.org

To donate, go to www.aerhq.org/donate

For more on the AER Annual Campaign, go to https://www.armyemergencyrelief.org/campaign

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About the U.S. Army Operational Test Command:

As the Army's only independent operational tester, OTC enlists the "Total Army" (Active, National Guard, and Reserve) when testing Army, joint, and multi-service warfighting systems in realistic operational environments, using typical Soldiers to determine whether the systems are effective, suitable, and survivable. OTC is required by public law to test major systems before they are fielded to its ultimate customer - the American Soldier.