Guard News - The National Guard

Missouri Guard Biathlon Team fields two new recruits at national championships
March 21, 2012 — CAMP ETHAN ALLEN TRAINING SITE, Vt. - A three-man Missouri National Guard biathlon team recently competed at the 2012 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships beginning in late... MORE

Together, Missouri National Guard's Staff Sgt. Tim Glavin, Sgt. Wayne Still, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mitch Simpson, and 2nd Lt. Danielle Bean, of the Vermont National Guard, make up the patrol team race at the 2012 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site, Vt. Feb. 29, 2012.

New York Guard members continue tradition of leading N.Y. St. Patrick's Day parade
March 21, 2012 — NEW YORK - Step by step, and block by block, Soldiers of the New York National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, led the St. Patrick's Day Parade up Fifth Avenue, a tradition they have performed... MORE

Soldiers and the colors of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, march down Lexington Avenue in the shadow of the Chrysler Building as they return to their state armory march 17, 2012. The battalion, famous as the "Fighting 69th" of the Civil War, World War I and World War II service, has led the New York City St. Patrick's Day parade for more than 160 years.

Pennsylvania National Guard awards new state medal for outstanding public service
March 21, 2012 — HARRISBURG, Pa. - The Pennsylvania National Guard awarded the first two recipients of its new Major Octavius V. Catto Medal Feb. 25 during a ceremony at The Union League of Philadelphia.The first... MORE

The Pennsylvania National Guard awarded the first two recipients of its new Major Octavius V. Catto Medal Feb. 25 during a ceremony at The Union League of Philadelphia. The medal recognizes outstanding public service.

South Dakota National Guard reflects back on its Iraq War involvement
March 21, 2012 — PIERRE, S.D. - On March 19, 2003, President George W. Bush addressed the nation with words that would ultimately impact the lives of many Soldiers and Airmen within the South Dakota National Guard."My... MORE

Soldiers form the 740th Transportation Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, wait at a checkpoint in 2003 before heading north through Iraq with more than 60 trucks loaded with supplies to be delivered to camps and forward operating bases throughout Iraq.

West Virginia Airman gives veteran final honor by sounding "Taps"
March 21, 2012 — MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - The rendering of "Taps" at a military funeral is a final way for family members and service members to pay tribute to fallen veterans, but what happens when the bugle or trumpet... MORE

Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Todd Kirkwood, the 167th Airlift Wing avionics supervisor, was augmenting a funeral color guard for a veteran of three wars, when the electronic device inserted into the Ceremonial Bugle malfunctioned March 14, 2012.

Georgia Guard member, Wounded Warrior receives independence, new home
March 20, 2012 — STATESBORO, Ga. - An escort fit for a hero, conducted by a motorcade of police vehicles with blaring sirens and flashing lights and flag-bearing motorcycles, escorted Georgia National Guard member... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. Scott Millican, who was severely injured in Afghanistan in 2010, cuts the ceremonial ribbon and receives the keys to his new specially adapted home during a ceremony in Statesboro, Ga., March 10, 2012. A crowd of Soldiers and well wishers, including guest speaker Rep. John Barrow of Georgia, celebrated as Millican unlocked his new home. Homes for Our Troops, which fabricated the home, provide specially adapted homes to severely injured veterans at no cost to the veteran.

Illinois, Texas Guards certify Afghan National Army soldiers in engineer training
March 20, 2012 — LOGAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan - National Guard Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard's 661st Engineer Company and the Texas Army National Guard's 236th Engineer Company presented certificates of... MORE

Afghan National Army Sgt. Hasibullah Khudabkhsh (right) and U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Arnold (left), from the 661st Engineer Company, 7th Engineer Battalion, take time for a photo during an awards ceremony, Feb. 6, 2012. The ANA soldiers who received the certificates recently completed the basic horizontal and vertical engineer training with the 7th Engineer Battalion, Task Force Red Devils, from Fort Drum, N.Y.

Minnesota National Guard takes home top honors at combatives tournament
March 20, 2012 — FORT BENNING, Ga. - The Georgia Army National Guard Warrior Training Center hosted the 5th annual National Guard Combatives tournament with over 145 Guard members traveling from 20 different states... MORE

Army Spc. Miles McDonald, Missouri Army National Guard, won the 2012 National Guard Combatives Tournament 115-pound featherweight class with a rear chokehold submission against Army Sgt. Terry Hams, Alaska Army National Guard March 19, 2012. Team Missouri placed second overall with 281 points.

Missouri National Guard served as starting point for Afghanistan agribusiness teams
March 20, 2012 — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - In an effort to help Afghanistan recover from economic devastation brought on by decades of war, the Missouri National Guard became the first to deploy an Agribusiness... MORE

Capt. Gary Chura, an agribusiness specialist with the Missouri National Guard ADT V, serves as a mentor-trainer, coaching Afghan farmers in project management skills Jan. 23, 2012. Chura said he seeks to improve the business practices of farmers within his area of operation by providing mentorship during the execution of targeted projects aimed at building workforce capacity.

Army Guard director tours Guard facilities in Hawaii
March 19, 2012 — HONOLULU - Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., the director of the Army National Guard, finished his first 100 days in his new post with a three-day tour of the National Guard Facilities in... MORE

Air Force Lt. Col. Mark Ladtkow, pilot with the 199th Fighter Squadron, briefs Army Lt. Gen. William E. Ingram Jr., Army National Guard director, on the capabilities of Hawaii's Air Guards F-22 Raptor during a tour of National Guard Facilities in Hawaii.

First Lady lauds Minnesota's military family support
March 19, 2012 — WASHINGTON - First Lady Michelle Obama met with military families and support group leaders in Minnesota last week to "shine a spotlight" on the state's efforts to aid troops and their... MORE

First Lady Michelle Obama walks across the tarmac with Megan Soukup, 9, and Joseph Hudella, 10, participants in the Defending the Blue Line program, as she prepares to greet military families at Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport in Minneapolis, Minn., March 16, 2012. The First Lady traveled to Minnesota to meet with National Guard families and local community leaders dedicated to supporting military families.

President proclaims March 19 'National Day of Honor'
March 19, 2012 — WASHINGTON - On the ninth anniversary of U.S. forces moving into Iraq, President Barack Obama has proclaimed today to be "A National Day of Honor."Here's is the text of the president's... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard deploys to Afghanistan alongside Mongolians
March 16, 2012 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Two Alaska Army National Guard members are preparing to deploy to Afghanistan later this month as U.S. liaisons in support of the Mongolian Expeditionary Task Forces in... MORE

Massachusetts biathlon team races to National Guard Bureau championships
March 16, 2012 — CAMP ETHAN ALLEN, Vt. - The Massachusetts National Guard Biathlon team, as well as more than 100 National Guard competitors from 22 states, recently spent a week challenging themselves to shoot at... MORE

Massachusetts Army National Guard 1st Lt. Stephen Fiola shows Massachusetts Army National Guard Capt. Robert Charbonnier his target matches during pre-race training on February 26, 2012 during the 2012 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships at the Camp Ethan Allen, Jericho, Vt.

New York National Guard members step off for NYC St. Patrick's Day parade
March 16, 2012 — NEW YORK - More than 800 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment will mark 150 years since the American Civil War as the troops lead the world's largest... MORE

South Korea: Utah National Guard, Republic of Korea Army conduct artillery exercise
March 16, 2012 — RODRIGUEZ LIVE-FIRE COMPLEX, South Korea - South Korean and U.S. Army units unleashed a precise barrage of 155-milimeter self-propelled artillery rounds during a live-fire exercise March 15 at a... MORE

Members of the Utah National Guard's 145th Artillery Battalion, and the Republic of Korea Army's 628th Artillery Battalion, show the level of mutual respect they have for one another during an artillery live-fire exercise at the Rodriguez Live-Fire Complex in South Korea, March 15, 2012.

TSA announces date for expedited screening, additional airports
March 16, 2012 — WASHINGTON - On March 20 the Transportation Security Administration will expand their trusted traveler program known as Pre Check to service members out of Ronald Reagan Washington National... MORE

U.S. Department of Homeland Security Seal.

Air Force senior leaders: Wingmen key to reducing sexual violence
March 15, 2012 — WASHINGTON - The Sexual Assault Prevention and Response Wing Commanders' Guide was sent out to wing commanders recently and contains statistics, facts and talking points to help leaders encourage... MORE

Florida National Guard officer receives prestigious leadership award
March 15, 2012 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Florida Army National Guard Capt. Benjamin Ruffner, was recently selected to receive the Gen. Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award, a prestigious award given to six National Guard... MORE

Florida Army National Guard Capt. Benjamin Ruffner accepts the guidon of the 690th Military Police Company from Army Lt. Col. Richard Elam, commander of the 254th Transportation Battalion, during a change of command ceremony in 2011.

FORSCOM commander conducts Northeast regional adjutants general conference
March 15, 2012 — HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. - Army Gen. David R. Rodriguez, Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command, conducted a Northeast Regional Adjutant General Conference here, March 8.FORSCOM is... MORE

Pictured from left to right: Air Force Maj. Gen. Thaddeus J. Martin, the
adjutant general, Connecticut National Guard, Air Force Maj. Gen.William N. Reddel, the adjutant general, New Hampshire National Guard, Army Maj. Gen. Patrick A. Murphy, the adjutant general, New York National Guard, Army Lt. Gen. Mick Bednarek, commanding general, First Army, Army Gen. David R. Rodriguez, commanding general, United States Army Forces Command, Army Maj.
Gen. Joseph C. Carter, the adjutant general, Massachusetts National Guard,Army Maj. Gen. Kevin R. McBride, the adjutant general, Rhode Island NationalGuard and Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael D. Dubie, the adjutant general, VermontNational Guard. All generals attended the Northeast Regional Adjutant GeneralConference at Hanscom Air Force Base, March 8, 2012.

Maryland Air Guard Conducts Combat Search and Rescue Training in Wisconsin

Missouri Airmen Go Analog in Cyber Attack Simulation

Idaho Army National Guard, Boise Fire Department Conduct Water Rescue

Pennsylvania Guard Aviation Partners with Coast Guard

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security