Guard News - The National Guard

Firefighter of 27 years focuses on safety; mentors Airmen
May 3, 2019 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – Thomas Zuffelato, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron fire lieutenant, began his firefighting career in 1992 when he switched from the active duty Air Force to the Nebraska Air... MORE

Fire Lt. Thomas Zuffelato, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighter, poses for a photo May 2, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Zuffelato is also a firefighter in the Connecticut Air National Guard at the 103rd Airlift Wing.

European Command and Maryland Guard host cyber forum
May 3, 2019 — ADELPHI, Md. – United States European Command and the Maryland National Guard hosted the Adriatic 5+ Cyber Forum at the Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland from April 24-26. The purpose of... MORE

Attendees of the Adriatic 5+ Cyber Forum pose for a group photo, at the Army Research Laboratory in Adelphi, Maryland, on April 25, 2019. The purpose of the forum was to share the latest in cyber security, to start establishing common terms and vocabulary, and to build out a plan to develop the Adriatic Charter countries cyber capabilities.

Fla. air defenders adopt new training to counter missiles
May 3, 2019 — STARKE, Fla. – The 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade recognized the accomplishments of 12 Soldiers graduating from the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command's Patriot Training Program during a... MORE

Maj. Gen. Timothy Sheriff, commander of the 263rd Army Air and Missile Defense Command hands graduation certificates to the 12 Soldiers of the 164th Air Defense Artillery Brigade who completed the Patriot Training Program, designed to teach Army National Guard air defenders how to properly integrate systems such as Patriot Surface to Air Missiles and THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense) within their commands, during a ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center.

Nevada Air Guard's High Rollers launch smartphone app
May 3, 2019 — RENO, Nev. – The 152nd Airlift Wing in Reno launched its platform within the U.S. Air Force Connect mobile application this month, allowing Airmen to access wing resources along with other military... MORE

An Air National Guard Airman from the 152nd Airlift Wing installs the AF Connect smartphone application onto his personal phone and selects the 152nd Airlift Wing as one of his favorites. This mobile application will enable him to have a plethora of military resources at his fingertips.

Air National Guard partners with UMass Dartmouth on cybersecurity
May 2, 2019 — DARTMOUTH, Mass. - The Massachusetts Air National Guard’s 102nd Intelligence Wing and the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth signed an agreement Monday to establish collaborative programs in the... MORE

Commander of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, Col. Virginia I. Gaglio and UMass Dartmouth Chancellor Robert E. Johnson signed a memorandum of understanding on April 29, 2019, agreeing to work together to develop mutually beneficial cybersecurity training and workforce development programs.

Alaska Army Guard saves two hunters who fell into Yukon ice
May 2, 2019 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Soldiers with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 207th Aviation Battalion saved two hunters after they broke through Yukon River ice while traveling on their... MORE

Image from night vision goggles shows hunting party with camp fire, as a Black Hawk helicopter crew from the Alaska Army National Guard arrives to rescue two cold and wet hunters who fell into the Yukon River when their snowmobiles crashed through the nice early May 1, 2019.

Louisiana Guard members aim for excellence
May 1, 2019 — NEW ORLEANS – Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cotten and Sgt. Allen Smith, both Shreveport residents with the Louisiana National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,... MORE

National Guard members from around the country participated in the 48th annual Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship at Fort Chaffee in Barling, Arkansas, March 29-April 3, 2019. Louisiana National Guard Sgt. Allen Smith and Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cotten, both Shreveport residents with 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took first place in the competition, hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center.

Citizen-Warrior: Ohio Guard Soldier follows competitive life
May 1, 2019 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – After her first year of college, Valerie Stearns came to the conclusion she wanted to do more with her life. “I realized that I had greater potential,” she said. “That is when I... MORE

Army 1st Lt. Valerie Stearns, the executive officer with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1191st Engineer Company, stands with Army Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., then-Ohio National Guard assistant adjutant general for Army, after Stearns won the lightweight division championship at the 2018 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament held at the Maj. Gen. Robert Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 19, 2018. Stearns has found that combatives is another way she can engage her competitive spirit.

Trio of Washington Guard members earn doctorate degrees
May 1, 2019 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – A trio of bandmates in the Washington Army National Guard’s 133rd Army Band can add “doctor” to their repertoire. “The band has historically been one of the most educated career... MORE

From left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Steve Friel, seated Staff Sgt. Joey Castilleja and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Pierson. Each member recently earned their doctorate degree.

Junior Leadership Conference enables ready fighting force
May 1, 2019 — ALPENA COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Mich. – “Leadership is serious. Lack of leadership can cost someone’s life.” Orvie Baker, formerly a member of the 82nd Airborne Division, spoke to a room of... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner receives a Michigan National Guard coin from Command Sgt. Maj. Catherine Farrell at the Michigan National Guard Joint Junior Leadership Conference held April 24-26, 2019, at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center. This is the first time both Michigan Air and Army National Guard members, ranks E1-E6, have joined to attend a professional development event like this.

Brothers carry on family service in the Guard
April 30, 2019 — SCHENECTADY, New York – For brothers Jack and Joshua Seeberger this truly is a family affair. Their father, Scott Seeberger retired as a master sergeant from the 109th Airlift Wing in 2012 serving... MORE

Brothers Jack and Joshua Seeberger enlisted together in 2018 and are now serving as loadmasters in the 109th Airlift Wing.

Iowa Air train in Puerto Rico providing no cost medical care
April 30, 2019 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Iowa National Guard Airmen are providing no-cost medical care to civilians in Puerto Rico this week as part of the Air National Guard Innovative Readiness Training program.The goal... MORE

Omaha Nebraska resident Technical Sgt. Jessica Martinez 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group, Iowa Air National Guard, talks with a patient at the site of care in Ponce, Puerto Rico on April 29, 2019.

104th Fighter Wing trains with Royal Canadian Air Force
April 29, 2019 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – The 104th Fighter Wing conducted dissimilar air combat training with the Royal Canadian Air Force 425th Tactical Fighter Squadron from April 23-26. The training opportunity gave... MORE

Lt. Col. Nathaniel 'Kona' Zajac and Maj. Mark 'Mr. Chow' Silvers, 104th Fighter Wing pilots, walk onto the flight line prior to training with the Royal Canadian Air Force April 25, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. The 104th FW and the RCAF spent five days conducting dissimilar aircraft training together.

P-51 Mustang returns to Kentucky Air Guard after 63 years
April 29, 2019 — LOUISVILLE – A P-51 Mustang arrived back on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 12, more than six decades after departing. The Mustang, serial number of 44-74202, was once... MORE

Kentucky Air Guardsmen pose with a P-51 Mustang aircraft, serial number of 44-74202, on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, circa 1953-1956. The same aircraft, now restored, came home to fly in the 2019 Thunder Over Louisville air show on April 13.

For the sustainment command, it's all about managing change
April 29, 2019 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – Just as Brig. Gen. Clint E. Walker and Soldiers of the 184th Sustainment Command started the process of assuming mission command, the priority of effort shifted. The U.S. would... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kim Ralston, 184th Sustainment Command, briefs members of the 1st Theater Sustainment Command’s Syrian Logistics Cell in Erbil, Iraq, April 24, 2019.

Washington cyberteam stands up to protect DoD infrastructure
April 29, 2019 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - As the use of technology increases, so does the threat of a dangerous cyber attack that can shut down our utilities, cripple our transportation system and threaten our democracy... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Brian Gosch (left) off Milton, Washington, points out a network abnormality to Capt. Sameer Puri of Federal Way, Washington, during Cyber Shield 19 at Camp Atterbury, Ind., from April 5-19, 2019.

Texas celebrates 10 years of partnership with Chilean forces
April 26, 2019 — AUSTIN, Texas – It is a well-known fact the National Guard’s core mission includes fighting America’s wars and securing the homeland, but perhaps a lesser-known mission is that of building enduring... MORE

Texas military leaders and Chilean military leaders pose for a photo at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, April 12, 2019. The Texas National Guard and Chilean armed forces converged in Austin to discuss and celebrate their partnership that started one decade ago.

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers respond to tornado
April 26, 2019 — NEW ORLEANS – At the request of Gov. John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana National Guard is conducting debris removal missions and moving Meals Ready to Eat (MRE’s), bottled water and other supplies into... MORE

Louisiana National Guard members with the 527th Engineer Battalion, headquartered in Ruston, Louisiana, clean debris after tornados touched down in their community, April 25, 2019.

Washington Soldiers participate in Malaysian disaster course
April 26, 2019 — KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia – With a focus on building relationships among emergency management professionals, the Washington Emergency Management Division and Washington National Guard participated in the... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jonathan Steinbach from the Washington Army National Guard and Chris Utzinger, response section manager for the Washington Military Department Emergency Management Division, deliver a presentation in front of nearly 50 stakeholders from natural disaster response agencies in the Indo-Asia-Pacific area during the first Malaysian Civil-Military Coordination on Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Course, at the Malaysian Armed Forces Officer Mess, Wisma Perwira, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, April 18, 2019.

S.D. Guard, Suriname join to provide medical, dental care
April 25, 2019 — ALBINA, Suriname – Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard traveled to the South American county of Suriname to provide medical and dental services to the population of Albina, April 10-12... MORE

U.S. Army dentists Lt. Col. Eric Unkenholz, Col. Murray Thompson, and Maj. Kevin Donlin and Staff Sgt. Samantha Wempe, dental technician, all with the South Dakota National Guard, perform dental work and tooth extractions on adults and children in Albina, Suriname, April 10, 2019. A SDARNG medical/dental team partnered with Suriname military and civilian medical personnel to assist with ongoing efforts of improving systemic and oral health in the region.

Puerto Rico Air Guard Conducts Deployment for Training at Aviano

Alaska Air Guard 168th Medical Group Trains for High-Stakes Missions

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm