Guard News - The National Guard

New York Army National Guard troops help Kuwait missions move forward
December 6, 2012 — CAMP ARIFJAN, KUWAIT - They deployed in March and came to call themselves "The New York 39," but the New York Army National Guard Soldiers put their range of skills and experience to work in Kuwait,... MORE

Master Sgt. Steve Kirby, force protection NCO for ASG Kuwait, left, 1st Lt. Teofilo Espinal, Base Defense Liaison Team (BDLT) officer-in-charge, center, and Staff Sgt. Miguel Santiago plan the placement of concrete barriers just outside the camp here in October.

Young New York Guard member accepted to West Point
December 5, 2012 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Spc. Erin Colburn of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (BSTB) has been selected for admission to the United States Military Academy at... MORE

Spc. Erin Colburn receives a letter of conditional acceptance to West Point by Lt. Gen. Vincent K. Brooks, commanding general of Third Army/ARCENT.

New York National Guard Soldiers start transition home
December 5, 2012 — FORT MEADE, Md. - "Do not rush!" That's the guidance Col. Geoffrey Slack, the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team commander, and other leaders are stressing this holiday season to redeploying National... MORE

Soldiers of 27th Stability Transition Team, 174th New York National Guard STT, complete medical evaluation forms during their demobilization as Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center, Dec. 4, 2012. The 174th Soldiers are returning from a deployment to the Middle East.

50 years later, Florida Guard members share Vietnam stories
December 5, 2012 — With time, memories and photos fade.The photos are black and white – images of young men in military fatigues and muddy combat boots staring knowingly into a camera. The edges of the glossy prints are... MORE

Black-and-white photos serve as reminders of Lt. Col. David Butler's service in Vietnam.

Be careful when choosing higher education programs
December 4, 2012 — MADISON, Wis. - Soldiers looking to take advantage of their education benefits and pursue higher education are bombarded by marketing from traditional and online schools – and fighting through the... MORE

Education Services Officer Capt. Dustin Cebula discusses education benefits and the role of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's Education Services Office during an interview on Nov. 28, 2012.

Air National Guard chaplain feels the chill of Antarctic deployment
December 3, 2012 — MCMURDO STATION, Antarctica - As the cool winter air begins to roll into Sioux City this season, Capt. William Vit, an Air National Guard chaplain with the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Sioux City, Iowa,... MORE

Chaplain Capt. William Vit of Sioux City, Iowa, stands at the geographic South Pole. His Antarctic deployment is coming to end.

Transportation missions in Africa boost Soldier morale
December 3, 2012 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Soldiers from Task Force Longrifles have been tasked with a mission known simply as "The Border Run." The mission is vital to fellow Soldiers currently conducting force... MORE

Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment met at the border of Djibouti and Ethiopia to exchange supplies for the troops deployed to Camp Gilbert, Ethiopia.

From New York streets to Afghan skies, FDNY crew saves lives
December 3, 2012 — CAMP BASTION, Afghanistan - Four New York City firefighters, four airmen, four friends, one team, one HH-60 Pave Hawk, one crew deployed together with the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron to Camp... MORE

From left, Capt. Shaun Cullen, Capt. Tripp Zanetis, Tech. Sgt. Jim Denniston and Tech. Sgt. Erick Pound are all members of the 101st Rescue Squadron, New York Air National Guard, currently assigned to the 26th Expeditionary Rescue Squadron, take turns teasing each other.

Mississippi Soldiers foster productive farming patch in Afghanistan
December 3, 2012 — SHAR-E-SAFA, Afghanistan - When they arrived at the farm in September, the Mescal detachment of the Mississippi National Guard Agricultural Development Team 4 knew they had their work cut out for... MORE

Mississippi National Guard member Staff Sgt. Dean Fennell shows Afghan farmers how to maintain a rotor-tiller at a demonstration farm in Shahr-e Safa, Afghanistan, Nov. 13, 2012.

Oregon National Guard begins historic partnership with Vietnam
November 29, 2012 — SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard signed a pact with Vietnam as part of the State Partnership Program during a Tuesday ceremony in Hanoi.Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, adjutant general, Oregon,... MORE

Oregon National Guard Maj. Gen. Raymond F. Rees, adjutant general, Oregon, and Vietnam Lt. Gen. Tran Quang Khue, vice chairman of the National Committee for Search and Rescue (VINASARCOM), congratulate each other following the official signing ceremony for the State Partnership Program between Oregon and Vietnam on Nov. 27, 2012.

Africa mission brings Kentucky National Guard member home
November 27, 2012 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti - Most Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Regiment hail from Kentucky. Others are from Indiana, Florida and New York. But one bright, young Soldier calls Africa his... MORE

Pfc. Ismaila Pam, of Louisville, discusses his ties to Africa while on a mission there.

N.C. National Guard Soldiers get comfortable with new role as Sinai Peninsula observers
November 23, 2012 — CAMP ATTERBURY JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ind. - "Small arms fire. Sound the alarm!" one Soldier screamed to another in the guard tower as shots echoed in the air.The Soldiers did not return fire... MORE

Pfc. James Bambule, a gunner with the 7-32nd Forward Support Company, 5-113th Field Artillery Regiment, watch 'Bedouin protesters' chant and wave protest signs outside the outpost's gates while his squad leader, Staff Sgt. Gregory Forbes, calls for support during an exercise.

Guard members on Sandy response get close look at West Point cadet life
November 21, 2012 — WEST POINT, N.Y. - Three New York Army National Guard Soldiers who were part of the state response to Hurricane Sandy's devastation got a first-hand look at the United States Military Academy here as... MORE

New York Army National Guard Spc. Naseer Carter, Pfc. Douglas Dolan and Pvt. Rebecca Rousseau listen to West Point Cadet Sgt. Jordan Lee of Queens, N.Y., as he explains his experiences at the academy.

N.Y. Guard to help Sandy victims over Thanksgiving holiday
November 21, 2012 — NEW YORK - As Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 1,100 members of the New York National Guard continue their support of Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts or augment New York City... MORE

Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 369th Sustainment Brigade, the legendary "Harlem Hellfighters," prepare holiday meals at Manhattan's Jacob Javits Center for shipment and delivery to city distribution sites.

Alaska Air National Guard duo saves life of critically ill woman
November 20, 2012 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Jumping from the tail of an HC-130 into the frigid night, two elite pararescuemen of the Alaska Air National Guard felt their parachutes deploy before... MORE

Members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron perform a free-fall jump over the Malemute Drop Zone, on the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson installation. Two pararescuemen used a similar jump to save a woman.

Colorado aviators support Canadian brethren in major training exercise
November 20, 2012 — WAINWRIGHT, Alberta - Soldiers with Task Force Eagle endured frigid Canadian temperatures as they participated in high-readiness evaluation exercise, Maple Resolve, by providing heavy lift and medevac... MORE

Colorado Army National Guard members replace a bad transmission in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in below-freezing temperatures during operation Maple Resolve at the Canadian Manoeuver Training Center in Wainwright, Alberta Oct. 24, 2012.

Arizona National Guard shares knowledge with Kazakhstan unit
November 20, 2012 — PHOENIX - A contingent of Arizona Army National Guard soldiers that participated in the multi-national Exercise Steppe Eagle 12 in support of the Republic of Kazakhstan's elite Air Mobile Brigade is... MORE

Army Capt. Terrannce McIntosh, standing, shows his Kazakh counterpart troop positions during Exercise Steppe Eagle 12, conducted in Kazakhstan in September 2012. Arizona and Kazakhstan have been partnered under the National Guard's State Partnership Program for 20 years.

Hawaii Guard Soldiers ready to assist, advise Afghan forces
November 19, 2012 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Don't be too surprised if the shaka sign becomes the standard friendly greeting gesture between coalition forces and Afghan National Security Forces in southern... MORE

Sgt. Lamont Scott, of Waipahu, Hawaii, foreground, confirms his M-4 rifle's accuracy along with several dozen additional Soldiers from the Hawaii Army Guard's 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team at Kandahar Airfield's small arms rifle range Nov. 14, 2012.

National Guard essential in storm response
November 16, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members have played a key role in the large-scale, coordinated, whole-of-government response to the domestic emergencies triggered by Superstorm Sandy and Winter Storm... MORE

Spc. Jesse de la Cruz, center on truck, assists in evacuating a toddler at a rescue mission at Hoboken, N.J., Oct. 31. New Jersey National Guard soldiers from Foxtrot Company, 250th Brigade Support Battalion, were the first company from the NJNG to arrive in Hoboken. They successfully completed more than 25 missions, which included rescues and delivering food and water to local shelters. In addition, de la Cruz rescued a pregnant woman going into labor, who was held up in her home for two days without food, water, and electricity. The unit immediately transported her to the shelter hospital for medical treatment.

Air National Guard Strategic Planning Systems conference helping bridge to the future
November 16, 2012 — LEESBURG, Va. - The question of where the Air National Guard will be in 2025 was the topic of conversation for 300 senior ANG leaders from across the nation at the Strategic Planning Systems... MORE

Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the chief of staff of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, right, speaks with Brig. Gen. Steve Cray, the ANG Strategic Planning System vice chairman, during the ANG SPS at the National Convention Center, Leesburg, Va., Nov. 13, 2012.

Georgia Guard Activates First-Ever Electromagnetic Warfare Company

Arizona and Pennsylvania Air Guards Train Together in Montana

South Carolina Air Guard Widens Taxiway

Alabama Air Guard Participates in Checkered Flag 25-2

Alaska Army National Guard Conducts Medevac Mission