Guard News - The National Guard

Revamped program aids separating service members
December 12, 2012 — WASHINGTON - Major changes to the Transition Assistance Program will revolutionize the way the military prepares those leaving the services, with mandatory participation in programs throughout their... MORE

Army National Guard launches Facebook page to promote health and fitness
December 11, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard today launched a Facebook page to promote health, wellness and fitness among Army National Guard Soldiers and their families. The page, which can be found at... MORE

The Army National Guard launched a Facebook page Dec. 11, 2012, to promote health, wellness and fitness.

South Dakota National Guard combat lifesavers train in South America
December 10, 2012 — PARAMARIBO, Suriname - The South Dakota National Guard sent three service members to South America on a medical training exchange with service members from South Dakota's partner nation, Suriname.Lt... MORE

South Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Kelley Crane, combat lifesaver and emergency medical technician, conducts combat medical training with Soldiers from Suriname's armed forces, in Paramaribo, Suriname, Nov. 24, 2012.

Wounded Warriors return to Afghanistan; believe 'It was all for something'
December 10, 2012 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - After being medically evacuated out of Afghanistan, embarking on the long road to recovery and learning to live life with less than they had before, eight wounded... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Lyle Yantz, of Sedalia, Mo., and several other service members participating in Operation Proper Exit are greeted at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Dec. 6, 2012. Operation Proper Exit brings severely wounded service members back to the theater where they sustained their injuries to provide a firsthand progress update on the continuing mission and to help in the healing process.

These two Soldiers know that fuel is more than what's at the pumps
December 10, 2012 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Most people may not know what all goes into managing bulk fuel while deployed overseas. Back in the United States, fuel is stored in underground and above-ground tanks, and... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Garold Pennell, a petroleum supply specialist and assistant to the responsible officer at Camp Buehring Tactical Petroleum Terminal, 38th Sustainment Brigade, explains the use of a hydrometer at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Nov. 1, 2012.

New "Stop the Loss" safety campaign aids Army National Guard readiness
December 10, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard (ARNG) Combined "Stop the Loss" campaign, designed to promote positive personal behavior patterns that reduce risk and enhance readiness, has been launched.The... MORE

DOD clarifies post-secondary education expectations
December 7, 2012 — WASHINGTON - The Defense Department has issued new policy guidelines intended to provide better protection for members of the military and veterans who seek tuition assistance for post-secondary... MORE

Va. Guard engineers and VDF to support 150th Anniversary of the Battle of Fredericksburg
December 7, 2012 — BOWLING GREEN, Va. - Soldiers from the Virginia National Guard's Bowling Green-based 189th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion will provide the latest in military mobile bridging technology in... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers perform bridging operations July 24, 2012, at Fort A.P. Hill. They will perform similar duties for the re-enactment this weekend of the Battle of Fredericksburg.

New York National Guard's 'Fighting 69th' Returns to Fredericksburg
December 7, 2012 — FREDERICKSBURG, VA. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers from Company A, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry visit the historic battlefields of their regiment this weekend as part of the Civil War... MORE

A 'Harper's Weekly' illustration of the Battle of Fredericksburg.

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.

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