Guard News - The National Guard

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.

La. Guard trains Belize Defence Force YCP Cadre
April 25, 2019 — PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program welcomed staff from Belize’s Youth Challenge Program to attend the Challenge Program Instruction Course at Gillis W. Long Center... MORE

Belize Youth Challenge Program cadre mentor YCP cadets during the agriculture class at the Belize YCP near Belize City, Belize. The Belize YCP is a two-phase program designed to teach 15-17 year old at risk males how to be productive members of their communities. The program in Belize is modeled after the Louisiana National Guard's YCP.

Oklahoma Guard kids spend the night aboard a WWII submarine
April 24, 2019 — MUSKOGEE, Okla. – With a faint scent of rusted steel throughout the echoing halls, Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) children and volunteers had a unique opportunity Friday to spend the night in the... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) children experience a unique opportunity to spend the night aboard the historic USS Batfish (SS 310) submarine, April 19, 2019, in celebration of the Month of the Military Child.

109th Airlift Wing Operations Center wins Air Force Award
April 24, 2019 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The 109th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s Air Transportation team here was recently selected for the 2018 Air Force Air Transportation Activity of the Year... MORE

Thirteen of the 50 Air Transportation specialists from the 109th Airlift Wing at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York, pose for a photograph at Muniz Air National Guard Base in Puerto Rico on March 16, 2019, while supporting the 156th Air Transportation Operations Center at Muniz ANGB to help out with Vigilant Guard 2019. The 109th Air Transportation Operations Center was named best Air Transportation Activity in the Air Force for 2018.

West Virginia Guard medic in right place to save wreck victim
April 24, 2019 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Being at the right place at the right time with the proper training can make the difference between life and death. Just ask Staff Sgt. Bradley Owens, a combat medic with the West... MORE

Staff Sgt. Bradley Owens, a combat medic with the West Virginia Army National Guard’s (WVARNG) Company C, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, poses with Iraqi nationals during a tour of duty in Taji, Iraq, in 2016. Owens recently was able to apply his 68W training to assist a driver whose vehicle had careened off an interstate overpass in Parkersburg, W.Va.

New York's 109th Airlift Wing begins missions in Greenland
April 24, 2019 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – Airmen of the 109th Airlift Wing kicked off their annual support for National Science Foundation research in Greenland on Tuesday, as 80 Airmen and three... MORE

The first of several LC-130 Hercules from the 109th Airlift Wing New York Air National Guard base in Schnectady, New York, takes off to Greenland in support of the National Science Foundation research projects.

N.J. Airman adopts and brings home a dog from Kuwait
April 23, 2019 — LUMBERTON, N.J. – The month leading up to Staff Sgt. Dannielle Garcia’s deployment was a somber one. First, her dog Pepper was diagnosed with a brain tumor, then she made the tough decision to... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Dannielle Garcia and her dog Mina sit for a portrait in Lumberton, N.J., March 4, 2019. Garcia volunteered to care for Mina after she was found as a stray on a base in Kuwait in 2018, and had her shipped home in January of 2019. Garcia is an Emergency Management Specialist with the 108th Civil Engineer Squadron.

Guard, Reserve and Navy Test Helicopter Countermeasures Over Water

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