Guard News - The National Guard

Soldier's journey from refugee to pilot goes full circle
May 26, 2021 — FARKE AIRFIELD, Albania – If there is someone who knows about hard work and determination, it's 2nd Lt. Valdeta Mehanja, a pilot with the 1-131st Aviation Regiment. Mehanja is an Albanian native born...

Louisiana National Guard responds to flooding
May 26, 2021 — BATON ROUGE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard, directed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, responded to flooding throughout the state following multiple days of steady rain since May 18. At the height of the...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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,...

Retired Texas Air National Guard Pilot Recalls Protecting Air Force One on 9/11

Nebraska Guard Strengthens Disaster Response Readiness

Kentucky Guard Strengthens Skills During Patriot 2026

113th Wing Recognized for Air Defense, Combat Performance

Washington Guard Concludes Extended Wildfire Response