Guard News - The National Guard

Northern Lightning Exercise Concludes at Volk Field
September 3, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - More than 1,000 service members from nearly 25 units nationwide conducted Northern Lightning, a two-week joint-training exercise held annually at the Volk Field Combat Readiness... MORE

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing flies Aug. 9, 2024, during the Northern Lightning exercise at Volk Field, Wisconsin. Training between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft ensures the Air Force meets near-peer warfighting needs.

Oregon National Guard Hones Skills for Large-Scale Combat
September 3, 2024 — SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted an extended annual training at Fort Johnson, Louisiana's Joint Readiness Training Center. This intensive... MORE

Pfc. Braden Whitlock, an M249 SAW gunner with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, scans his sector of fire from a newly constructed fighting position during the Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 24-09 at Fort Johnson, La., July 28, 2024. The training exercise focused on large-scale combat operations as part of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Annual Training.

Texas Guard, Chilean Medics Train Together at Southern Fenix
September 3, 2024 — POZO ALMONTE, Chile – In the hot sun of the Atacama Desert in the Tacapacá region, Texas Army National Guard and Chilean combat medics are working together as part of the State Partnership Program to... MORE

Texas Army National Guard and Chilean army soldiers carry a litter off a U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while conducting medical evacuation training during Southern Fenix 24 at Campo Militar Pozo Almonte, Chile, Aug. 29, 2024.

DC Guard Helps Care for Native Americans in Montana
August 30, 2024 — FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. – Under the vast Montana sky, where horses and buffalo graze on tall prairie grass, 17 members of the District of Columbia Army National Guard Medical Detachment... MORE

Members of the District of Columbia Army National Guard Medical Detachment perform medical, dental and optometry clinic services during Innovative Readiness Training - Operation Walking Shield 2024 at the Fort Belknap Reservation, Mont., Aug. 2-17, 2024.

North Carolina Guard Delivers Books to Botswana Children
August 30, 2024 — RALEIGH, N.C. - Airmen from the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing worked with the North Carolina Army National Guard, the Botswanan Ministry of Education, Go Global NC, and the... MORE

North Carolina National Guard Soldiers unload books to be distributed to Botswana schools Aug. 16, 2024. The Guard flew 2,000 books more than 8,000 miles to Botswana for elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools.

Louisiana Guard Supports 101st Airborne Division Exercise
August 29, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard supported the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) refueling at Camp Minden, Louisiana, Aug 14.The exercise evaluated the... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard supported the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) refueling at Camp Minden, Louisiana, Aug. 14, 2024. The exercise evaluated the division’s effectiveness in executing large-scale, long-range air assault operations while testing its communication, logistical resupply and tactical skills.

Air Guard Hosts Junior Officer Leadership Development Course
August 29, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard hosted 60 company-grade officers from nine countries for the annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course at McGhee Tyson Air National... MORE

Participants in the 30th Annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development course pose for a photo in front of a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Aug.14, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. IJOLD is an annual event designed to expand International Air Reserve junior officers to leadership concepts while collaborating with other NATO nations to better understand differing military cultures.

US, Indonesia Begin Multinational Super Garuda Shield 2024
August 29, 2024 — SURABAYA, Indonesia - The United States and the Indonesian National Armed Forces officially launched the 2024 Super Garuda Shield exercise Aug. 26 with an opening ceremony at Juanda Naval Air Base... MORE

Multinational service members pose for a group photo following the opening ceremony of Super Garuda Shield 2024 at Juanda International Airport, East Java, Indonesia, Aug. 26, 2024. The annual exercise has grown into a combined and joint event focused on commitment to partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Tennessee Guardsmen Help Battle East Tennessee Wildfires
August 29, 2024 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard battled wildfires from the air in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week.At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the... MORE

A Tennessee National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion monitors wildfires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Aug. 27, 2024. The Guard dropped thousands of gallons of water on the fires from the air.

Idaho Air National Guard Trains with German Allies
August 29, 2024 — GOWEN FIELD, Idaho - German armed forces joint terminal attack controllers visited Idaho for the second time this year to train with their counterparts from the 124th Fighter Wing, Air Support... MORE

Tactical Air Control Party Airmen with the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, and members of the German Bundeswehr practice medevac procedures at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Boise, Idaho, Aug. 28, 2024.

Kentucky Guard Connects Regions in Natural Disaster Prep
August 28, 2024 — CLINTON, Ky. – Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s communication/IT support section’s Mission Command shop mobilized to western Kentucky to conduct an emergency deployment readiness... MORE

Master Sgt. Clinton Ragsdale inspects radio equipment in the Mobile Command Unit. Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Communication/Information Technology Mission Command mobilized through parts of western Kentucky Aug. 12-16, 2024, for a natural disaster response exercise.

National Guard Uses Partnerships to Build Interoperability
August 28, 2024 — FORT RILEY, Kansas – The 35th Infantry Division conducted a combined command post exercise with the 1st Infantry Division at the Mission Training Center at Fort Riley Aug. 9-23. Key components to a... MORE

Maj. Kade Garst, 35th Infantry Division staff member, discusses the tenets of military decision-making with Ancel Nunn, a subject matter expert from the Mission Command Training Support Program, Aug. 11, 2024, at the Mission Training Complex at Fort Riley, Kansas.

Florida Guardsman Honored for Rescuing Family
August 28, 2024 — PANAMA CITY, Fla. - When faced with uncertainty, people respond in various ways — some flee, while others confront the challenge head-on. U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Victoria Truppo, a personnel... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Victoria Truppo, 101st Air and Space Operations Group personnel specialist, middle, with leadership after she was awarded the 2024 Woody Braswell Heroism Award during the Adjutant General’s Leadership Summit in Orlando, Florida, June 28, 2024. Truppo rescued a mother and two children from drowning in powerful currents.

Air Guard Deploys for Toxic Swell Joint Training Exercise
August 28, 2024 — OAHU, Hawaii - The Air National Guard, the U.S. Marine Corps and international partners enhanced chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense capabilities during the two-week Toxic Swell... MORE

Participants in the Toxic Swell exercise train for CBRN warfare Aug. 5, 2024, in Oahu, Hawaii. Toxic Swell 2024 brought together military personnel from across the forces to prepare for any threat in the Indo-Pacific region.

New York Air Guard NCO Sings for Thousands at Yankee Stadium
August 27, 2024 — NEW YORK - New York Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Mayra Winnie belted out “God Bless America” in front of 41,996 people.Winnie, the personal and development superintendent for the New York Air... MORE

New York Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Myra Winnie belts out “God Bless America” during the 7th inning stretch of a New York Yankees game Aug. 10, 2024, at Yankee Stadium in the Bronx.

Ohio Air Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing Trains for Future Fight
August 27, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - More than 100 Airmen and 10 F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing deployed to Wisconsin in early August to participate in the Northern Lightning... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Erin Luke, a weapons specialist assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, salutes an F-16 pilot before takeoff during exercise Northern Lightning at Volk Field, Camp Douglas, Wis., Aug. 7, 2024.

New York Airmen Deploy to Train with Portuguese Counterparts
August 26, 2024 — LAJES FIELD AIR BASE, Portugal - Sixty-four New York Air National Guardsmen from the 105th Airlift Wing traveled to the Azores, a cluster of Atlantic islands that belong to Portugal, to train with... MORE

New York Air National Guard Master Sgt. Anderson Brooks, with the 105th Airlift Wing's Civil Engineer Squadron, and U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. David Proebstel, with the 765th Air Base Squadron, review fuels systems at Lajes Field, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal, Aug. 7, 2024. Airmen from the 105th CES deployed to the Azores for training.

Idaho Guard Helicopter Battalion Deploying to Kosovo
August 26, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - Family, friends and coworkers gathered on Gowen Field Aug. 22 to say farewell to Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion as they left... MORE

Family, friends and coworkers gathered on Gowen Field Aug. 22, 2024, to say farewell to Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st of the 183rd Assault Helicopter Battalion as they left Idaho to prepare to deploy overseas to support Operation Joint Guardian. Several UH-60M Black Hawk helicopters and more than 100 personnel deployed to Texas for additional training before departing to Kosovo for an 11-month rotation supporting the NATO peacekeeping mission.

Arizona National Guard Rescues 104 People from Flooding
August 26, 2024 — PHOENIX - An Arizona Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew evacuated 104 Havasupai tribal community members and tourists from Supai village in a flood-response mission Aug. 23-24.“State... MORE

An Arizona Army National Guard Soldier helps a child into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Aug. 24, 2024, at the Havasupai Indian Reservation. More than 100 people were evacuated out of the canyon after flood waters impacted the Havasupai community and tourists visiting Havasupai Falls.

Missouri River Crossing Showcases ND Guard Engineer Expertise
August 26, 2024 — KIMBALL BOTTOMS, N.D. - As the early morning fog drifted across the rippling current of the Missouri River, the North Dakota Army National Guard conducted a wet gap crossing exercise at Kimball... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Zachary Obrigewitch, a bridge crew member with the 957th Multi-role Bridge Company, North Dakota Army National Guard, waits to guide other Soldiers during boat launching operations as part of a wet gap crossing training exercise near Kimball Bottoms, North Dakota, Aug. 17, 2024. The exercise was part of a joint operation to test the unit’s ability to establish vital infrastructure in domestic and combat scenarios.

Alaska National Guard Fields Helicopter Engine Test Stand

Maryland National Guard Hosts 250th Annual Pass in Review

Louisiana Guard Conducts Disaster Response Training

Remains of World War II Airman Returned Home

Tennessee Guard Airmen Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross