Guard News - The National Guard

Pennsylvania-California military ties date back to Civil War
May 11, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – As Soldiers of California’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade trade places with their counterparts of Pennsylvania’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, troops will be... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the California National Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade are taking over the aviation mission in the Middle East from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, taking part in Pennsylvania-California military cooperation that has been going on since the Civil War.

Alaska Army National Guard rescues four stranded boaters
May 11, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - A UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter aircrew with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued four people and a dog May 10... MORE

Sgt. Rosalind Stromberg, a crew chief from 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, Alaska Army National Guard, looks over the Kuskokwim River from the door of a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during a rescue mission May 10, 2021. The helicopter aircrew rescued four people and their dog from their boat on the river after they became stuck between Bethel and Kwethluk because of ice.

Alaska Army National Guard rescues two near Knik Glacier
May 11, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Aircrew from the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued a father and his daughter near Knik Glacier after their off-road... MORE

Task Force Phoenix UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), land at North Fort Hood, Texas, April 17, 2021, during a medevac training mission that was part of a culminating training exercise.

108th MCAS medics provide support at Lithuanian base
May 10, 2021 — MARIJAMPOLE, Lithuania – Two medics deployed with the 108th Medical Company Area Support, 213th Regional, are apart from their unit serving other Soldiers and Lithuanian counterparts at a base in... MORE

Sgt. Bradley Taylor, center, a medic with the Pennsylvania National Guard's 108th Medical Company Area Support, with two Lithuanian Army Soldiers on a Lithuanian Army base in Marijampole, Lithuania, where Taylor is providing medical support to U.S and Lithuanian troops. The 108th MCAS deployed to Europe in late February to provide medical support to U.S. and allied rotational forces in the region.

Partnerships forged during aerial firefighting training
May 7, 2021 — SAN BERNARDINO, Calif. – In the dry heat of the high desert, the California and Nevada Air National Guard, U.S. Forest Service, CAL FIRE, and multiple other firefighting agencies across the United... MORE

C130-E Hercules aircraft from the 152nd Airlift Wing during MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) training at the San Bernardino Air Tanker Base, California. May 5, 2021.

Airmen and Soldiers learn to communicate in joint training
May 7, 2021 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Bringing Airmen and Soldiers together through joint training is essential to increasing the interoperability of the Air and Army National Guard.Strong... MORE

Senior Airman Ivan Villavicencio, of the 104th Security Forces Squadron, signals to responders as a medical helicopter approaches during a joint training exercise between the Massachusetts Air and Army National Guard on March 12, 2021, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Mass.

63rd Civil Support Team trains with City of Altus
May 7, 2021 — Members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 63rd Civil Support Team partnered with first responders and emergency personnel from the City of Altus for a 72-hour field exercise, May 4-6... MORE

Members of the 63rd Civil Support Team, Oklahoma National Guard, partner with first responders as part of a 72-hour field exercise in Altus, Oklahoma, May 4-6, 2021.

This multi-day training event is one of several exercise scheduled around the state this year designed to test Guard members, emergency management personnel and first responders ability to quickly work to together during natural and man-made disasters. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Geoff Legler)

Delaware, West Virginia Air Guard units team up for training
May 7, 2021 — NEW CASTLE, Del. — The key to any airlift mission is safely and effectively loading and unloading the cargo, regardless of the type of aircraft. The 167th and 166th Airlift Wings partnered together to... MORE

The 167th and 166th Airlift Wings partnered together to conduct a joint cargo loading exercise as part of the 166th's home station operational readiness exercise on May 3 at New Castle Air National Guard Base, Delaware.

Guard marathoners compete while expecting
May 7, 2021 — LINCOLN, Neb. – Serving in the National Guard, raising a family, and keeping up a marathon training regimen would be a lot to manage under normal circumstances. Still, two women in the ranks have... MORE

Maj. Amanda Schmid, a helicopter pilot and full-time administrative officer with the Nebraska Army National Guard's 1-376th Aviation Battalion, runs the Lincoln half-marathon in Nebraska, May 2, 2021.

COVID milestone: Guard vaccinates 10 million people
May 6, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. — Ten million moms, dads, grandparents, friends, co-workers and neighbors are now vaccinated thanks to the ongoing efforts of National Guard members who are administering shots “in the... MORE

Specialist Jennifer Phillips, a combat medic with the Michigan Army National Guard’s Task Force Red Lion COVID-19 vaccination/testing team, administers the vaccination to employees and their families during a walk-in clinic for the Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command in Warren, Michigan, April 28, 2021.

Portland Airmen participate in Sentry Savannah 2021
May 6, 2021 — SAVANNAH, Ga. – Recently, Sentry Savannah, the Air National Guard’s primary large-scale 4th and 5th generation fighter exercise, concluded after several days of hard-hitting training off the coast of... MORE

Portland partakes in Sentry Savannah 2021

Florida, Mississippi, Georgia, CST units train together
May 6, 2021 — FORT WALTON BEACH, Florida — The Florida National Guard's 44th Civil Support Team geared up responding to a training scenario where an unknown chemical and/or biological threat was detected. They... MORE

Air Force Staff Sgt. Gregory Kassner, a team member with the 44th Civil Support Team collects a sample of potentially hazardous material during a multi-CST exercise in Ft. Walton Beach, Tuesday May 4.

Chief details National Guard contributions in a year of trial
May 5, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. –Over the past year, National Guard members were called on time and again to help their fellow U.S. citizens. They deployed to operations around the world, National Guard Bureau Chief... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard's 3rd Battalion of the 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, take part in their deployment ceremony in Lafayette, La., Nov. 10, 2020. This unit joins the approximately 2,000 Louisiana guardsmen deploying to the Middle East to support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.

2021 Lincoln National Guard Marathon
May 5, 2021 — LINCOLN, Neb. - After a year hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, nearly 200 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen representing 42 different states and U.S. territories returned to the 2021 Lincoln... MORE

National Guard members run in front of the Nebraska State Capitol building on Sunday, May 2, 2021, during the annual Lincoln Marathon.

167th emergency responders participate in all hazards exercise
May 5, 2021 — MARTINSBURG, W.V. – The 167th Airlift Wing emergency responders participated in a week-long, all hazards response training exercise, April 26-30.Facilitated by Federal Resources, the Counter CBRN... MORE

Chris Keesee, center, CBRN training project manager for Federal Resources, assists U.S. Air Force 1st Lt Samuel Gerard, with 167th bioenvironmental engineering, and Staff Sgt. Austin Lloyd, 167th Airlift Wing firefighter, as they test an unknown substance on a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft as part of a Counter CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) All-Hazard Management Response, or CAMR, exercise at the 167th AW, Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia, April 30, 2021. CAMR is a hybrid program of classroom lecture, discussion and tabletop exercises that culminate in a full scale emergency response exercise.

Sisters and brother-in-law follow brother, join Washington Guard
May 5, 2021 — PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – After graduating from high school, Mark James admits he was a little lost. “I did an early program and I graduated high school a year and a half early,” said Mark. “I looked... MORE

From left to right with Staff Sgt. Tramal Williams: Kelsey James, Balint Moreland, Courtney James, Caitlin James join brother Mark James as a member of the Washington Army National Guard.

Michigan ANG supports Air Force communication networks in Europe
May 5, 2021 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – When faced with challenging or unforeseen circumstances, the air component staff at U.S. Air Forces Europe – Air Forces Africa has long had a proven provider of solutions... MORE

Members of the 110th Wing (pictured from left to right), Senior Airman Donovan Wentworth, 110th Communications Flight; Staff Sgt. Jennifer Rumsey, Tech. Sgt. Justin Oosterbaan, Lt. Col. Daniel Fawcett, Tech. Sgt. Robert Zellers, Master Sgt. Brian Leonard, Tech. Sgt. Lewis Banks, Staff Sgt. Robert Rainone, 217th Air Component Operations Squadron and Staff Sgt. Ryan Swartzendruber, the 110th Operations Group, stands for a team photo on April 29, 2021, at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Battle Creek, Mich.

Interagency training preps Cal Guard for aerial firefighting
May 5, 2021 — SUTTER CREEK, Calif. – Wildfires are an unfortunate reality many Californians face each year, and as 2021 unfolds as an arid year, the threat of wildfires is increased throughout the state. Between... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopter from the 129th Rescue Wing, California National Guard, deploys its water bucket on a simulated fire during annual joint aerial fire fighting training near Ione, California, April 24, 2021.

SDNG trains with firefighters on hazmat response
May 4, 2021 — RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota National Guard’s 82nd Civil Support Team worked with the Rapid City Fire Department on annual hazardous materials training April 28-29. The joint training enables... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Russ Reed checks the protective equipment of Staff Sgt. Jerico Witte as members of the South Dakota National Guard’s 82nd Civil Support Team and the Rapid City Fire Department conduct annual hazardous material training in Rapid City, S.D., April 29, 2021.

Iowa Air Refueling Wing tests emergency response in exercise
May 4, 2021 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Members of the 185th Air Refueling Wing Fire Department participated in a mass casualty exercise directed by the Federal Aviation Administration at the Sioux Gateway Airport Brig... MORE

A helicopter from Wings Air Rescue arrives at Sioux Gateway Airport Col. Bud Day Field to pick up a load of simulated casualties to deliver to a hospital during a Federal Aviation Administration mass casualty exercise at the airport in Sioux City, Iowa, May 1, 2021. The Iowa Air National Guard's 185th Air Refueling Wing participated in the exercise.

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