Guard News - The National Guard

141st Air Control Squadron attends 2021 Southern Strike
May 25, 2021 — AGUADILLA, Puerto Rico – Airmen with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 141st Air Control Squadron attended 2021 Southern Strike training in Gulfport, Mississippi, April 15-29.These Airmen, from... MORE

Airmen from the 141st Air Control Squadron, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, prepare to depart to Gulfport, Mississippi, at Muniz Air National Guard Base, Carolina, Puerto Rico, April 14, 2021. The Airmen participated in the Southern Strike exercise in Gulfport April 15-29.

VNG adapts to changing COVID-19 support missions
May 25, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard is continuing COVID-19 response missions across Virginia with task forces supporting vaccine clinics and providing mobile vaccine teams to help administer... MORE

A Virginia National Guard Soldier vaccinates a citizen during a mobile COVID-19 vaccination clinic in Norfolk, Virginia. VNG teams are supporting a Federal Emergency Management Agency vaccine hub with mobile vaccination teams administering shots at satellite clinics in Hampton Roads.

NY National Guard honors Korean War MIA Soldier's return
May 25, 2021 — SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. – Major General Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, joined New York Army National Guard Soldiers to salute a Korean War Soldier whose remains were finally laid to rest... MORE

New York Army National Guard Military Forces Honor Guard members Sgt. Stanley Paul, left, Staff Sgt. Joshua Sanzo, right, and Staff Sgt. Kenval Small, fold the flag as they render final honors to Korean War MIA Cpl. Clifford Johnson during his funeral ceremony May 20, 2021, at the Gerald B.H. Solomon Saratoga National Cemetery in Schuylerville, N.Y. Johnson returned home after more than 70 years listed as missing in action following his death in North Korea near the Chosin Reservoir in December 1950.

Eagle II Soars at Northern Edge 21
May 25, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The F-15EX made its exercise debut at Northern Edge 21, flying 33 sorties and 89.8 hours with a team of six total force Air Force pilots at the controls.The... MORE

A U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle assigned to the 53rd Wing out of Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., takes off in support of Northern Edge 21 at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, May 12, 2021. Approximately 15,000 U.S. service members participated in a joint training exercise hosted by U.S. Pacific Air Forces May 3-14, 2021, on and above the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the Gulf of Alaska, and temporary maritime activities area.

NY National Guard continues staffing COVID vaccination sites
May 24, 2021 — NEW YORK, N.Y.– New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen now oversee three vaccination sites formerly run by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and active Navy and Air Force personnel... MORE

Tom Pescatore, 26, of Manhattan, New York, receives his second Pfizer vaccination from New York Air National Guard, Lt. Col. John Reynolds, a registered nurse assigned to the 105th Air Lift Wing 20, 2021.

NCNG Artillery Unit first to receive new M109A7 Paladin
May 24, 2021 — RALEIGH, N.C. –The 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment (1-113th FA), 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team (ABCT) conducted an artillery live-fire exercise with the newly fielded M109A7... MORE

Soldiers with the North Carolina National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, fire newly fielded M109A7 Self-Propelled Howitzer Systems at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, May 20, 2021.

From the ground to the sky: Idaho’s joint fire exercise
May 24, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen trained together May 18-19 to support a joint fire exercise that combined live mortars from the ground with close air support from above. Included... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard’s 2nd of the 116th Combined Arms Battalion and the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Air Support Operations Squadron and 190th Fighter Squadron joined forces from the ground to the sky in the large-scale joint training event on May 18 and 19, 2021.

Alaska Air National Guard rescue injured snow machiner
May 24, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured snow machiner May 23. Alaska State Troopers contacted the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center... MORE

An HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 41st Rescue Squadron flies through the air during a rapid-rescue exercise, Nov. 3, 2016, near Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.

National Guard security mission at U.S. Capitol concludes
May 23, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard’s U.S. Capitol security mission to support the U.S. Capitol Police ends May 23. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, spoke about the mission as... MORE

National Guard Soldiers provide security outside the U.S. Capitol during the 59th Presidential Inauguration Jan. 20, as part of the National Guard’s Capitol Response security mission.

111th Med Group vaccinates wingmen, achieves top readiness
May 20, 2021 — HORSHAM, Pa. – The 111th Medical Group has administered more than 900 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine to Airmen and Defense Department civilians on base from Jan. 27 to May 20 while maintaining its top... MORE

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Timi Jones, public affairs specialist for the 111th Attack Wing, ris vaccinated by Staff Sgt. Terrell Johnson, aerospace medical technician of the 111th Medical Group, at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, May 1, 2021.

New Jersey Guard Soldiers recognized for lifesaving actions
May 20, 2021 — MOORESTOWN, N.J. – Six New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers were recognized May 19 for saving an individual’s life at a COVID-19 vaccination site.It all began close to 7 p.m., Feb. 15, at a site... MORE

Col. Lisa J. Hou D.O., left, Interim Adjutant General, and State Command Sgt. Maj. Earnest Williams, right pose for a group photo with New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers left to right, Spc. Kevin D. Tran, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment; Staff Sgt. Manuel C. Rodriguez, Alpha Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery; Staff Sgt. Matthew L. Rehl, Bravo Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery; Pfc. Daniel E. Magay, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment; Spc. Jason M. Vaccarella, Detachment 1, Headquarters Battery, 3rd Battalion, 112th Field Artillery, and Spc. Angel Ferreira-Fernandez, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, after a ceremony at the COVID-19 Burlington County vaccination mega-site at Moorestown, N.J., May 19, 2021. The six Citizen-Soldiers with the 44th Infantry Brigade Combat Team performed life-saving measures when an individual went into cardiac arrest at the site Feb. 15. The Citizen-Soldiers are supporting the site’s healthcare workers by assisting in temperature screening, registering and guiding individuals through the various stations, and monitoring people after they received their vaccinations.

NY Army National Guard Engineers hone construction skills
May 20, 2021 — YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. – Soldiers with the New York Army National Guard’s 152nd Engineer Company dumped the virtual training from 2020 and got down to being combat engineers again May 9-23 during annual... MORE

A New York Army National Guard Soldier assigned to the 152nd Engineer Company uses a dozer to clear tree trunks and debris at the National Guard Youngstown local training area in Youngstown, N.Y., May 15, 2021. The company returned to the field for collective training, constructing an Army Combat Fitness Course, a situational training exercise lanes course and a land navigation course.

Air National Guard units support Formidable Shield exercise
May 20, 2021 — PRESTWICK, Scotland – U.S. Air National Guard units from Iowa, Maine and Ohio are participating in the multinational missile defense exercise Formidable Shield 2021 in the United Kingdom this week... MORE

Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing move a fuel system icing inhibitor cart in place to begin refueling a U.S. Air Force KC-135 on the flight line at the Glasgow Prestwick International Airport, Scotland, May 18, 2021. The portable fuel injection system is used to add deicing fuel additive during ground refueling. Air Guard Airmen and their refueling aircraft are in Scotland providing air refueling support as part of NATO exercise Formidable Shield.

West Virginia's 130th Airlift Wing to convert to C-130J
May 20, 2021 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The 130th Airlift Wing at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base will convert to the C-130J-30 Super Hercules, Acting Air Force Secretary John P. Roth announced May 19.The 130th... MORE

Nineteen C-130J aircraft take part in an elephant walk before takeoff during an exercise March 15, 2018, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. Numerous C-130J units from around the Air Force participated in a training event to enhance operational effectiveness and joint interoperability.

Colorado National Guard joins ADRIATIC STRIKE 21 in Slovenia
May 20, 2021 — LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – The Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Medical Group has arrived in Slovenia to participate in operation ADRIATIC STRIKE 21. The exercise focuses on processing patients in a... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Susanna Wohlford, Colorado Air National Guard, 140th Medical Group medic, trains with a defibrillator during exercise ADRIATIC STRIKE 21 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 17, 2021. The exercise is part of DEFENDER-EUROPE 21, testing the command’s ability to integrate 30,000 U.S., allied, and partner forces from 26 nations to conduct operations in more than a dozen nations from the Baltics to Africa, to the Black Sea and Balkan regions.

Connecticut Guard cyber team honored for outstanding service
May 19, 2021 — HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard Joint Cyber Response Team was presented the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award May 12 for fortifying cybersecurity ahead of... MORE

Maj. Gen. Francis Evon, adjutant general for the Connecticut National Guard, front left, and leaders of the Guard's Joint Cyber Response Team with Connecticut Secretary of State Denise Merrill and Deputy Secretary of State Scott Bates after the team received the National Association of Secretaries of State Medallion Award May 12, 2021, for fortifying cybersecurity ahead of the 2020 presidential election.

National Guard participates in multinational exercise
May 19, 2021 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Army Guardsmen are participating in the largest exercise since COVID-19 shut down most training and travel. Exercise Defender-Europe 21 began with 26 nations, including the... MORE

National Guard units from Alabama, Florida, West Virginia, Tennessee and Ohio are participating in Defender-Europe 21 and linked exercises to demonstrate and develop the extensive military capabilities NATO allies need to prevent conflict.

Task Force Phoenix rises again in the Middle East
May 19, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – After more than two years of preparation and training, the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, as Task Force Phoenix, formally assumed its overseas mission.For the next nine months,... MORE

Task Force Phoenix Command Sgt. Maj. Refugio Rosas and Commander Col. Alan Gronewold await the arrival of visitors from Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve on the flight line before a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 16, 2021.

101st ESB Soldiers train for cooking competition
May 19, 2021 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Steam billows from under a small tarp out in the woods as Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard’s 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion receive their... MORE

New York Army National Guard Spc. Fatima S. Edwards, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, cooks chicken during training for the next Philip A. Connelly Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 15, 2021. The competition provides recognition for excellence in the preparation and serving of food in Army troop dining facilities and field kitchens.

Alaska National Guardsmen compete in marksmanship
May 19, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska National Guard hosted its annual marksmanship competition sponsored by Maj. Gen. Torrence Saxe, the adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard,... MORE

Alaska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen compete in a series of marksmanship events at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson May 15, 2021, as part of the 2021 Alaska National Guard Adjutant General Match. The marksmanship competition included timed pistol and rifle events.

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security

Idaho Guard Airmen Push Limits in Joint Field Training

Pennsylvania Guard Competes in Governor’s Twenty Marksmanship Competition

N.Y. National Guard Aircrews Train with Forest Rangers to Prep for Wildfires

Idaho Army National Guard Hosts Region VI Best Warrior Competition