Guard News - The National Guard

Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics
May 2, 2024 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Members of the 104th Fighter Wing attended the U.S. Air Force weapons school integration exercise April 6-20 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The two-week... MORE

Members of the 104th Fighter Wing attend a U.S. Air Force weapons school integration exercise April 6-20, 2024, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. This exercise combined multiple squadrons to test new air combat tactics through offensive and defensive counterair measures while using fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft.

Nebraska National Guard Assists with Tornado Response
May 2, 2024 — LINCOLN, Neb. – The Nebraska National Guard is assisting state and local first responders after a tornado caused widespread damage.Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen authorized the Nebraska National Guard to... MORE

On May 1, 2024, a Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew flew Nebraska Lt. Gov. Joe Kelly and FEMA and Nebraska Emergency Management Agency officials over the area damaged by a tornado to assess the extent of the damage.

Enduring Partners 2024 Begins with Thai-US Airmen Exchange
May 2, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The second iteration of Enduring Partners commenced April 30 with an opening ceremony officiated by Royal Thai Air Force Group Captain Sithipol Pomtri, exercise director, and U.S... MORE

Royal Thai Air Force Group Capt. Sithipol Pomtri, left, deputy director, office of operations and training, and Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, Washington Air National Guard commander, exchange Enduring Partners 24 exercise uniform patches on Camp Murray, Wash., April 30, 2024. EP24 is an exercise between the Washington Air National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force.

Virginia National Guard Formalizes Partnership with Finland
May 2, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard has been selected as the U.S. partner to the nation of Finland for the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, Gov. Glenn... MORE

The Virginia National Guard has been selected as the U.S. partner to the nation of Finland for the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, Gov. Glenn Youngkin announced May 2, 2024. The signing ceremony occurred at the Finnish Ministry of Defense in Helsinki.

Hokanson: Nation’s Investment in National Guard Comes at Pivotal Moment
May 2, 2024 — WASHINGTON – The National Guard is a dynamic operational force integral to the National Defense Strategy, the Guard’s most senior officer told lawmakers April 30, emphasizing that sustained mission... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, talks with Soldiers of the Alabama National Guard's 115th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Fort McClellan, Alabama, April 20, 2024.

Guam National Guard launches State Partnership with Palau
May 2, 2024 — KOROR, Palau – In a historic ceremony at the Ngarachamayong Cultural Center in downtown Koror, Palau President Surangel Whipps Jr., Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero and Col. Michael Cruz, adjutant general... MORE

From left, Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of U.S. National Guard Bureau; U.S. Ambassador Joel Ehrendreich; Palau President Surangel Whipps; Guam Gov. Lou Leon Guerrero; and Col. Michael Cruz, adjutant general of the Guam National Guard, formalize a State Partnership Program partnership between Guam and Palau in Koror, Palau, April 29, 2024. The partnership builds on thousands of years of common ancestry between the Second Island Chain islands and seeks to mutually benefit both partners in defense and security cooperation.

Maryland Air Guardsman Wins Innovation Award
May 1, 2024 — MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - The Air National Guard has recognized a Maryland Air National Guard Airman for innovation that helps improve efficiency and operational readiness at the 175th Wing.Capt. Kerry Guy,... MORE

Maryland Air National Guard Capt. Kerry Guy, 175th Wing contracting officer, poses for a photograph at Warfield Air National Guard Base, April 17, 2024, in Middle River, Maryland. Guy is the officer in charge of the 175th Wing Spark Cell, which was established in January 2022 and boasts over 60 members across 15 squadrons.

Iowa Air Guard Support Dog, Chaplain Reunite Post-Deployment
May 1, 2024 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa - For Adele (the dog, not the singer), after her person, Chaplain Lt. Col. Stephen Peters, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last fall, it was like he was gone for years in dog... MORE

After a six-month deployment, Chaplain Lt. Col. Stephen Peters is reunited with his dog, Adele, at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, April 30, 2024. Peters was serving as deputy command chaplain for U.S. Air Force Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar while Adele continued her duties as the morale support dog at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers Conduct Air Assault Drill
May 1, 2024 — WEYERS CAVE, Va. - Virginia National Guard Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conducted aviation training with crews with the 2nd... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Charlottesville-based Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct cold load training with aviation crews assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division April 5, 2024, at the Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport in Weyers Cave, Virginia.

Maryland Guard Joins Homeland Disaster Response Exercise
April 30, 2024 — FORT CARSON, Colo. - Over 45 Maryland National Guard Soldiers are providing public affairs and logistics support during the Vibrant Response 24 exercise in Colorado April 19 to May 3. VR is an annual... MORE

First Lt. Joseph Quinn, the executive officer in the 349th Composite Supply Company, California Army National Guard, participates in an interview on Fort Carson, Colorado, April 25, 2024, during the Vibrant Response exercise.

New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa
April 30, 2024 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Seven hundred New York Army National Guard Soldiers will take part in the multinational African Lion training exercise in Tunisia and Morocco in May.Most of the New York National Guard... MORE

African Lion provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands, including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command, and strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.

Virginia Guard Avionics Team Tackles High-flying Challenges
April 30, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. - Tucked behind a blue door at the Virginia Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility is the organization’s avionics section, where a small group of full-time Soldiers work to... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct maintenance on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter April 2, 2024, at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Sandston, Virginia. The Soldiers are part of the AASF’s avionics shop, which troubleshoots, diagnoses and repairs avionic components and wiring on the VNG’s Black Hawk fleet.

New Jersey Guardsman Rescues Injured Worker
April 30, 2024 — SYRIA - U.S. Army Sgt. Lauren Shalabi was picking up her meal at a market in North East Syria and wasn’t expecting chaos but was ready for it. Her daily routine on March 24 was abruptly interrupted... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Lauren Shalabi, an automated logistics specialist assigned to the 250th Brigade Support Battalion, 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, New Jersey Army National Guard, in Syria, April 24, 2024. Shalabi used her military and civilian skills to provide medical aid to a severely injured worker in Syria.

Georgia Guard Provides Airborne Safety Training
April 29, 2024 — SAVANNAH, Ga. –The Georgia Army National Guard Safety Office hosted its 10th annual Joint Parachute Operations Mishap Preventative Orientation Course Enhanced (POMPOC-E) April 17 - 26 at the Air... MORE

A U.S. Army Soldier conducts a free fall airborne jump out of a C-130 Hercules cargo plane during the Joint Parachute Operational Mishap Preventative Orientation Course Enhanced (POMPOC-E) April 25, 2024, at the Plantation Airpark, Sylvania, Georgia.

California Guard, U.S. Forest Service Train on Aerial Firefighting
April 29, 2024 — PORT HUENEME, Calif.– The U.S. Forest Service held its annual certification and training event for the aerial firefighting program known as MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) with the... MORE

A military C-130J aircraft discharges a pressurized water stream from the rear of the aircraft over a green marshland with a creek affixed against a light blue sky.

Air Guard Leaders Host 2024 Wing Leader Conference
April 29, 2024 — HENDERSON, Nev. – U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director, Air National Guard, and Chief Master Sgt Maurice L. Williams, command chief Air National Guard, hosted ANG senior leaders and... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Micheal A. Loh, director, Air National Guard (ANG), speaks about the ANG’s role in implementing changes for Great Power Competition during the 2024 Wing Leader Conference (WLC), Henderson, Nevada, April 24, 2024.

Guard, Partner Nations Collaborate at State Partnership Program Conference
April 26, 2024 — LAS VEGAS – National Guard members and leaders from partner nations came together last week to participate in the State Partnership Program conference—an annual forum to collaborate about global... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, addressed the attendees virtually at the State Partnership Program conference.

North Carolina, North Dakota, Maine Honored for State Partnerships
April 25, 2024 — LAS VEGAS - The North Carolina National Guard and Moldova were awarded the 2023 Partnership of the Year at the State Partnership Program’s annual conference April 16-18.Brig. Gen. Timothy Brower, the... MORE

(Left to right) Brig. Gen. Timothy Bower, Brig. Gen, Vice Director Vice for Strategy, Policy, Plans, and International Affairs, National Guard Bureau, Brig. Gen. Sergiu Cirimpei, Deputy Chief of Defense of the Moldovan Army, Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, North Carolina Adjutant General, Elanie Marshall, North Carolina Secretary of State Elaine Marshall, Capt. Kory Dearie, North Carolina National Guard, State Partnership Coordinator, Lt. Col. Valeriu Burusciuc, Moldovan Army State Partnership Program Director, Col. Michael Marciniak, Director of Plans and Programs, Maj. Michael Sterling, North Carolina National Guard State Partnership Program Director and Col. Scott Humphrey, Chief, International Affairs, NGB.

Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment
April 24, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted intensive live-fire squad exercises April 19 at the Orchard Combat Training Center, honing crucial... MORE

A fire team from the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team fires at targets while conducting a squad live-fire exercise at Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho April 19, 2024. The intensive range tested Soldiers' abilities to maneuver under simulated combat conditions with pop-up targets and live ammunition.

Alaska Army Guard, Marine Corps Enhance Aviation Tactics
April 24, 2024 — MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. - Aviators from the Alaska Army National Guard graduated from the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor course April 22, marking a significant moment in the... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sara Becker, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew chief assigned to 207th Aviation Troop Command, scans the area while waiting for passengers during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-24 at a forward arming and refueling point near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 8, 2024. The training iteration marked the first time that conventional U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews participated in the highly competitive and rigorous joint training course that integrates all Marine aviation assets, ground forces, command and control systems, logistics and air defense.

NASA Apollo, Artemis Missions Cross Paths at Colorado Guard Site

South Carolina Air Guard Showcases ACE Concepts

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training