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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.

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May 7, 2025 — ROMA, Texas – A steady breeze rolled across a closed bridge crossing the Rio Grande, offering relief... MORE

A U.S. Soldier with the Texas Army National Guard monitors activity along the Rio Grande during a patrol near Roma, Texas, April 25, 2025.

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March 19, 2025 — EDGEWOOD, Md. – Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation... MORE

Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, celebrated their return home from federal deployment under the direction of U.S. Northern Command at Weide Army Heliport at the Army Aviation Support Facility at Aberdeen Proving Ground-South March 8, 2025.

Oregon National Guard Prepares for Southern Border Mission
March 13, 2025 — SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard's 1249th Engineer Battalion is preparing for a year-long... MORE

Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard's 1249th Engineer Battalion stand in formation during a change of command ceremony at the Anderson Readiness Center in Salem, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2024. The battalion is preparing for a year-long mobilization to support security operations along the southern border beginning October 2025.

District of Columbia Guard Returns from Border Mission
February 18, 2025 — WASHINGTON – About two dozen District of Columbia Army National Guard Aviation Command members... MORE

Left to right, Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, the adjutant general for the District of Columbia National Guard; Maj. Gen. John C. Andonie, commanding general (Interim) for the D.C. National Guard; Capt. Corbin Cali, aviation operations officer and Det 1 A Co 1/224th S&S commander; Sgt. 1st Class Richard Molezzo, Det 1 A Co 1/224th S&S NCOIC; Chief Warrant Officer 5 Bernard L. Aguon, command chief warrant officer for the D.C. National Guard, and Lt. Col. Ryan Rooks, state aviation officer for the D.C. Army National Guard. About two dozen D.C. Guard members returned home following a 12-month deployment to the southern border.

Texas National Guard Operation Lone Star Helps Secure Border
February 11, 2025 — ROMA, Texas - National Guard members continue to play a key role in sealing and securing the... MORE

A Texas Army National Guard Soldier looks across the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas, while taking part in border operations with the Texas Tactical Border Force, Feb. 5, 2025. The TTBF, comprising Texas National Guard members in a state active duty status, works with state and federal law enforcement officials, including U.S. Border Patrol, to deter, detect and stop illegal border crossings and to interdict transnational criminals.

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JTACs train during Exercise Ample Strike in the Czech Republic

Natochannel

Sept. 15, 2020 | 2:15

SYNOPSIS

Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTACs) from six NATO Allies gathered in the Czech Republic to practise calling in air strikes from Allied aircraft during exercise Ample Strike 20. It’s the job of the JTACs to make sure military jets hit their target. Held annually in the Czech Republic, the exercise enables JTACs to develop their skills calling in close air support from different Allied jets. This high-stakes, painstaking process can be complicated by language barriers, so practice is crucial. Participating nations included the Czech Republic, Estonia, Germany, Hungary, Slovakia and the United States. Footage includes shots of a Czech JTAC calling in airstrikes, shots of Czech soldiers clearing a village and an interview with a Czech JTAC.

TRANSCRIPT

1. (00:00) PANNING SHOT – CZECH AIR FORCE Mi-24 ATTACK HELICOPTERS FLYING OVERHEAD 2. (00:05) VARIOUS SHOTS – CZECH JOINT TERMINAL ATTACK CONTROLLER (JTAC) SETTING UP HIS HIDE SITE 3. (00:15) MEDIUM SHOT – CZECH JTAC GETTING OUT BINOCULARS 4. (00:21) MEDIUM SHOT – CZECH JTAC MAKING A NOTE 5. (00:29) VARIOUS SHOTS – CZECH JTAC WATCHING A CZECH AIR FORCE L-159A ATTACK JET FLY BY 6. (00:45) WIDE SHOT – CZECH SOLDIERS DISEMBARKING FROM CZECH AIR FORCE Mi-8 TRANSPORT HELICOPTER 7. (00:50) WIDE SHOT – CZECH AIR FORCE HELICOPTER TAKING OFF 8. (00:58) VARIOUS SHOTS – CZECH SOLDIERS STORMING VILLAGE DURING EXERCISE 9. (01:16) VARIOUS SHOTS – CZECH SOLDIERS INSIDE BUILDING 10. (01:29) SOUNDBITE (CZECH) – JOINT TERMINAL ATTACK CONTROLLER (NAME WITHHELD) CZECH ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES “The training in Ample Strike is primarily focused on cooperation between the JTACs, the ground forces and the air forces.” 11. (01:36) SOUNDBITE (CZECH) – JOINT TERMINAL ATTACK CONTROLLER (NAME WITHHELD) CZECH ARMY SPECIAL OPERATIONS FORCES “I think it’s good for two reasons. On one hand, all the armies must remain able to fight even during the coronavirus pandemic. We cannot stay at home in our home office, taking a rest. We must always maintain our abilities. That is one reason. And the other reason is that this exercise, which is focused on JTACs, provides us with the reassurance that this year we will meet the necessary numbers and types of flight guides which are required by regulations.” ###