Guard News - The National Guard

Idaho Guard works with SWAT team to boost marksmanship
June 17, 2019 — MELBA, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard marksmanship team participated for the first time in the urban and rural sniper training held in Melba by the Treasure Valley's SWAT sniper element. The... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Jared Frogley, the IDNG state marksmanship NCO in charge engages precision fire on targets with a bolt-action scope rifle as the Idaho National Guard marksmanship team participated for the first time in the urban and rural sniper training held in Melba by the Treasure Valley's SWAT sniper element. The Meridian Police Department sponsored the course and the SWAT team instructors volunteered their time and to produce the intense 50-hour, five-day course, held from June 3 through June 7, 2019.

Multinational exercise expands Ohio-Serbia State Partnership
June 17, 2019 — SOUTH BASE, Serbia — Up and down the green valley and rolling hills of Preševo in Southern Serbia, 10 countries' soldiers endured the summer heat and patrolled for peace under one banner: Platinum... MORE

Members of the 838th Military Police Company out of Youngstown, Ohio, conduct a cordon and search exercise in the lush green Preševo Valley June 13, 2019, as part of Platinum Wolf 2019 in South Base, Serbia. Platinum Wolf is a multinational peacekeeping exercise designed to enhance interoperability and cooperation between partner and allied nations while building relationships. As part of Department of Defense’s State Partnership Program, the Ohio National Guard has had a state partnership with Serbia since 2006.

Power outage doesn't dim community health clinic in Illinois
June 17, 2019 — CAIRO, Ill. — Cairo Junior/Senior High School lost power Sunday morning during an Innovative Readiness Training mission that provides a no-cost health clinic to the surrounding community in Cairo... MORE

Navy Reserve Lt. Cmdr. Andrew Tellington, left, a dentist with the Operational Health Support Unit, Bremerton; Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ashley Craig, center, the dental noncommissioned officer in charge and a dental technician with the 175th Medical Group, Baltimore, and Air Force Capt. Aaron Gause, a dentist resident at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, complete a dental procedure after a power outage stripped the facility of electricity. The lack of power introduced a new obstacle for service members to overcome while training in a real world scenario.

Freedom Award 2019 recipients named
June 14, 2019 — WASHINGTON – The Department of Defense announced the 15 recipients of the 2019 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest U.S. government honor to employers for support of... MORE

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve has announced its Freedom Award recipients for 2019.

Under pressure: Providing critical care when it matters most
June 14, 2019 — SWANTON, Ohio – While other children watched "Sesame Street" or "Lamb Chop's Play-Along," Kaitlyn Newkirk watched shows about trauma surgeons. Even as young as three years old, her dad would find her... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Kaitlyn Newkirk, a clinical nurse assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, poses for a portrait March 18, 2019, at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. As a clinical nurse, she draws blood, gives shots, and teaches self-aid and buddy care to all 180FW Airmen to ensure they have the skills to provide life-saving first aid during the often chaotic and high-stress situations they might face in deployed environments.

Vermont Guard Soldiers and Airmen in Senegal for exercise
June 14, 2019 — TAMBACOUNDA, Senegal – U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Vermont National Guard traveled to Senegal to participate in military medical readiness exercise, MEDREX 19-2, held from April 7-19. This... MORE

Dr. Theresa Aida B. Ndiaye, director of the Regional Center Hospital at Tambacounda, Senegal, and U.S. Army Maj. Christopher Gookin review the list of supplies that were brought to Senegal, on April 9, 2019. Vermont Guardsmen worked with their Senegalese counterparts to share best practices while providing the Department of Defense with cost-effective ways to strengthen alliances and attract new partners in conjunction with the State Partnership Program.

National Guard Bureau chief to Army: Happy birthday!
June 14, 2019 — On behalf of the entire National Guard, I extend best wishes and congratulations to our fellow warfighters of the United States Army on the occasion of their 244th birthday! Since its founding on June... MORE

Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, delivered a happy birthday message to the U.S. Army, which is celebrating its 244th birthday.

Djiboutian and Kentucky officer candidates train together
June 14, 2019 — GREENVILLE, Ky. – The Kentucky State Officer Candidate School (OCS) hosted four officer cadets and two English language instructors from Kentucky’s State Partnership Program nation of Djibouti, during... MORE

Members of the Djiboutian Military train with Kentucky National Guard’s officer and warrant officer candidates at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., April 11-14, 2019.

Firefighters practice water rescue at Global Dragon
June 13, 2019 — PERRY, Ga. – Firefighter Airmen from across the country participated in water rescue training, during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, held at the Guardian Centers of Georgia.During Domestic Operations... MORE

Fire Protection Airmen from around the country participate in water rescues during Global Dragon 2019, held at the Guardian Centers of Georgia in Perry, Ga., June 3, 2019.

Florida Guard discusses capabilities for hurricane season
June 12, 2019 — STARKE, Fla. – Ahead of any dangerous hurricane or potential natural disaster, the governor of Florida has the authority to activate the state's National Guard. Since the numbers and specific... MORE

Maj. Gen. James O. Eifert, Florida's adjutant general, meets with Division of Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz, left, at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center's post headquarters to discuss the Florida National Guard's natural disaster response capabilities.

Nevada National Guardsmen collaborate with Romanian engineers
June 12, 2019 — CINCU, Romania – Imagine sweltering heat, skin sticking to your uniform, humidity causing sweat to pour out from under your helmet and stinging your eyes as you squint uneasily through a brutal... MORE

Second Lt. Vincent Owyong, of the 240th Engineer Company based in Las Vegas, Nevada, speaks with a soldier from the Romanian Land Forces (who chooses to be unnamed) during a construction project in Cincu, Romania, May 31st, 2019. The project is part of exercise Resolute Castle 2019, a multi-national joint exercise with real-world outputs of completed construction projects that build and enhance training capabilities around Eastern Europe.

North Dakota Guard leaders meet key leaders in Romanian city
June 12, 2019 — SLOBOZIA, Romania – Saber Guardian 19 is an exercise about bringing allies together and working alongside each other to maintain relationships based on trust that are essential for ensuring global... MORE

Col. Jon Erickson, the commander of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, stationed out of Fargo, North Dakota, and the police chief of Slobozia, Romania, exchange gifts at the end of a key leader meeting. Erickson gave a plaque with a bison on top that represents an important part of North Dakota while the police chief gave him his hat. Saber Guardian 19 is an exercise about bringing allies together, to work alongside of each other in order to maintain relationships based on trust that are essential for ensuring global security.

Resident opens heart and home to Oklahoma Guard members
June 11, 2019 — SAND SPRINGS, Okla. – Two weeks ago, a man named Bob and the Soldiers of Headquarters Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment had never met. They would have never met. They would... MORE

Sand Springs, Oklahoma, resident Bob Casebold sits in his garage with Spc. Kailey Bellville, a unit supply specialist in Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, after she helped lay sandbags around trees at his Sand Springs home May 30, 2019.

Alaska Guard members rescue bear-attack victim near Galena
June 11, 2019 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th, and 212th Rescue Squadrons, as well as Soldiers of the Alaska... MORE

An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter operated by Alaska Air National Guardsmen with the 210th Rescue Squadron takes off for aerial live-fire gunnery training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, March 19, 2019. A similar aircraft helped rescue a person mauled by a bear on June 10, 2019.

S.C. National Guard tests Soldiers during night fire drill
June 10, 2019 — EASTOVER, S.C. – The South Carolina National Guard’s 218th Regional Training Institute conducted a fire emergency evacuation drill on Saturday at 1:30 a.m. to test the response of Soldiers staying in... MORE

U.S. Soldiers attending training at the 218th Regional Training Institute, South Carolina Army National Guard, are tested on evacuation, safety and accountability measures during a night-time fire drill held at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina, June 8, 2019.

Minnesota Guard partners with Kuwait peers for terror drill
June 10, 2019 — KUWAIT CITY, Kuwait – Kuwait Special Forces soldiers, armed with automatic weapons, quickly navigate four tactical vehicles through a compound and come to a screeching halt at strategic locations in... MORE

Members of the Kuwait Ministry of Interior’s Special Weapons and Tactics team prepare to breach a building while pulling security on May 2, 2019, during a joint exercise with a simulated terrorist, explosive ordnance, and chemical situation at the Kuwait Special Forces Training Center. The exercise was crafted to build a shared understanding of Kuwait Civil Authorities and U.S. forces procedures while reacting to any disaster, natural and manmade alike.

D-Day anniversary provides a reminder partnerships matter
June 9, 2019 — OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, France – From his VIP vantage point high above Omaha Beach, looking out across the sand and the English Channel with eyes wide open, Leonard Jindra sees sand, water and a lone... MORE

Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief, National Guard Bureau, book-ended his visit to D-Day 75th anniversary ceremonies with stops in countries where National Guard troops are supporting exercises. "You can draw a straight line from D-Day to the partnerships I saw in action," he said. "Our readiness and our lethality ... are our living tribute to those men who sacrificed so much 75 years ago." In this image, Lengyel is seen visiting Pennsylvania National Guard troops in North Macedonia, June 9, 2019.

New York Soldier is honored for his academic work
June 7, 2019 — ALBANY, N.Y. – For the past couple of years, when Maj. Keith Casserly wasn’t on the job as unit commander of the New York Army National Guard’s Medical Command, he’s been in class, the library, or... MORE

New York Army National Guard Major Keith Casserly with the atmospheric sampler he used to conduct a study of particulate air pollution along bus routes in Albany, N.Y. outside New York National Guard headquarters in Latham on May 15, 2019. Casserly conducted the study as part of his studfies toward a Masters in Public Health and was recognized by the State University of New York, Albany, with an award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Civil engineer Airmen learn disaster skills at Global Dragon
June 7, 2019 — PERRY, Ga. – Civil engineer operations students from the 147th Attack Wing learned route-clearing skills during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, held at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, May 29. In the... MORE

Civil engineer team members participate in a route clearing exercise simulating an after effect of a tornado during Exercise Global Dragon 2019 at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, held in Perry, Ga., May 29, 2019. Global Dragon is a biannual, Air National Guard led joint training exercise focusing on career fields across the Mission Support enterprise in as close to real-world conditions as possible.

Emergency Management Airmen suit up at Global Dragon 2019 
June 7, 2019 — PERRY, Ga. – Emergency Management team members held a Level-A Olympics, donning chemical protective gear before participating in various training games during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, June 3, at... MORE

Georgia Guard Trains to Bolster Domestic Response Capabilities

Nordhaus, Raines: National Guard Delivers Outsized Impact at Home, Abroad

Specialized Oregon Guard Unit Conducts Training at Camp Rilea

Caine: When you Mobilize the Guard, you Mobilize the Nation

Wildfire Response During Training Proves Oklahoma Guard Ready to Fight Fires