Guard News - The National Guard

Vigilant Guard: California National Guard Homeland Response Force prepares for worst
November 7, 2011 — PHOENIX - They're the last in line in any catastrophe, but the first to be relied upon to bring closure.During the 2011 Arizona Statewide Vigilant Guard Exercise in Phoenix, National Guard Airmen from... MORE

Airmen from the California and Arizona National Guard combine to form a Fatality Search and Recovery Team on Nov. 4, 2011, during the 2011 Arizona Statewide Vigilant Guard Exercise in Phoenix. During a recovery training assignment, they prepare to load a simulated nuclear blast victim onto a gurney. Shown: Senior Airman Jonathan Massey, Staff Sgt. Margarita Chavez, Tech. Sgt. Jacob Sulwer and Staff Sgt. Aaron Bisher.

Air Guard, Reserve benefit from off-the-shelf equipment solutions
November 4, 2011 — WASHINGTON - By using ideas from recently deployed Airmen and off-the-shelf technology, the reserve components have developed new equipment that saved lives and led to highly successful combat... MORE

Air Force Col. Eric Mann, the Air National Guard director of requirements, addresses congressional staffers on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., Oct. 28, 2011. The National Guard and Reserve Equipment Appropriations, the reserve components' primary way of modernizing their forces, was discussed. Officials said this special funding results in a streamlined process that saves lives, increases combat capability and speeds high-tech acquisitions.

Army Guard Soldier makes different kind of sacrifice for battle buddy
November 4, 2011 — FARGO, N.D.- Army Spc. John Chase wasn't feeling his best when he came home on a two-week leave from his second Afghanistan deployment in May 2010. Soon after a family vacation and just before he was... MORE

Army Spc. John Chase undergoes kidney dialysis treatment Sept. 23, 2011 at a dialysis center Grand Forks, N.D., as Army Sgt. Francisco Raatz looks on. Both Soldiers are members of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, of the North Dakota Army National Guard. Raatz would soon be donating a kidney to his battle buddy as a result of Chase's kidneys failing him about 17 months earlier.

Indiana Guard members save lives, credit military training with fast response
November 4, 2011 — INDIANAPOLIS,- Two Indiana National Guard Soldiers helped save the lives of more than 20 people on a September evening when the apartment across from where they live went up in flames.Army Spc... MORE

An apartment building burns during a fire in which two Indiana members helped save the lives of more than 20 people in September 2011. Army Spc. Michael Conley and Spc. Caleb Goldsberry of the 384th Military Police Company acted quickly and attribute their quick responses to their National Guard training.

Guard, Reserve members can nominate best employers for Freedom award
November 2, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - A Defense Department agency has opened its annual selection process for the nation's employers that are the most supportive of employees who serve in the National Guard and... MORE

Air Force, National Guard C-17 crews transport injured Libyan fighters to U.S.
November 2, 2011 — BOSTON, Mass.- About two dozen wounded Libyan fighters were evacuated in an Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III from Libya to here Saturday.At the request of State Department officials, Secretary... MORE

Air Force aeromedical evacuation crews, along with local emergency medical personnel, assist Libyan fighters off a C-17 Globemaster III military transport aircraft Oct. 29, 2011, at Boston Logan Airport, Mass. At the request of the Department of State and directed by the Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta, Air Force and Air National Guard crews transported 22 wounded Libyans to Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Salem, Mass.

Army Guard sees unexpectedly high retention rate
November 2, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Department announced recruiting and retention numbers for the 2011 fiscal year recently, stating that the Army National Guard intentionally achieved only 95 percent of its... MORE

Burch, SMA, Army Reserve CSM visit sends "one Army" message
November 2, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - During what has been viewed as a significant and historic trip, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, recently spent time... MORE

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard J. Burch, command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, visits with Soldiers of the 230th Signal Company, Tennessee Army National Guard, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to discuss the future of the Army National Guard and answer Soldiers' questions Oct. 20, 2011.

National Guard Chinook crews' contributions vital during drawdown
November 2, 2011 — CAMP TAJI, Iraq - CH-47 Chinook helicopter crews with the Minnesota Army National Guard flew more than 1,100 hours in September, moving personnel and cargo.The Chinooks are also providing a vital... MORE

Army Sgt. Joe Loscheider, a flight engineer with B Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, Minnesota National Guard, prepares to move his M240B machine gun into position prior to heading out on a mission from Camp Taji, Iraq, on Oct. 7, 2011.

Obama calls on nation to honor military families, caregivers
November 2, 2011 — WASHINGTON, - Calling on the nation to celebrate military families' service and sacrifice Tuesday, President Barack Obama signed proclamations designating November as Military Family Month and... MORE

First Lady Michelle Obama greets a crowd of National Guard and local families during a Joining Forces community event in the Veterans Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio, April 14, 2011. The national initiative she launched with Dr. Jill Biden, wife of Vice President Joe Biden, calls on all sectors of society to honor and support military families.

Study: No relationship found between service members' health and burn pits
November 2, 2011 — WASHINGTON - No evidence was found between exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and long-term health problems, according to a study released here Monday by the Institute of Medicine.A... MORE

Army secretary: Balance needed as wars draw down
November 2, 2011 — WASHINGTON - With the drawdown of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, talented Soldiers will need to be retained while Army infrastructure draws down, and the American people and warfighters need to... MORE

Kentucky National Guard twins together in Iraq
November 1, 2011 — JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq, - The Saunders brothers have plenty in common - they're twins, and they're both Kentucky National Guard soldiers serving together in Iraq.Army National Guard Sgt. Jonas... MORE

Army National Guard Sgt. Jonas Saunders stands beside his twin brother, Army National Guard Cpl. Jason Saunders, at Joint Base Balad, Iraq, Oct. 21, 2011. The brothers, 25-year-old natives of Barbourville, Ky., are serving on their second deployment to Iraq together.

Herculean effort: Michigan Air Guard deploys to Afghanistan on accelerated schedule
November 1, 2011 — SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. - More than 300 Michigan Airmen and about a dozen aircraft are now on duty in Afghanistan, the largest deployment for the Michigan Air National Guard to... MORE

An A-10 Thunderbolt II moves into position to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker somewhere over the northeastern United States, Sept. 26, 2011. The A-10 is flown by a pilot from the 107th Fighter Squadron, which was traveling to a deployment in Afghanistan. The KC-135 was flown by a crew from the 171st Air Refueling Squadron. Both squadrons are part of the Michigan Air National Guard and are assigned to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich.

Roy: Guard members should tell their story
October 31, 2011 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Air National Guard is in the fight and it is up to each and every Guard member to tell their story to their families, employers and fellow service members, the chief master... MORE

Guard mobilizes after severe October snowstorm
October 31, 2011 — MILFORD, Mass. - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick mobilized the Massachusetts National Guard late Saturday evening in the largest single-state response to a rare October snowstorm that dumped nearly... MORE

Army National Guard Spc. Seth Tuper, a combat engineer, 379th Engineer Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard, directs traffic around a tree that had fallen on Springfield Street in Wilbraham, Mass., blocking half the road and creating a potential traffic hazard on Oct. 30, 2011. As Tuper, a resident of Florida, Mass., directed traffic, other Soldiers from his unit used chain saws to quickly cut down the tree.

Muncy: Guard members should use three key steps to deal with change
October 31, 2011 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Resiliency, flexibility and preparation are three key steps for Guard members preparing for potential changes coming to the Defense Department, the Air National Guard's command... MORE

Chief Master Sergeant Christopher Muncy, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard, addresses 1,000 Guard Airmen at the Enlisted Leadership Symposium in Nashville, Tenn.

Air Force BDU officially history today
October 31, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - There are two things you should not see Nov. 1 - Halloween costumes and the Air Force Battle Dress Uniform.In 2006, the Airman Battle Uniform became authorized for wear and a date was... MORE

Nevada National Guard photo illustration

Family Matters Blog: Keeping military marriages strong
October 28, 2011 — WASHINGTON - I spoke to a spouse last year about dealing with deployments and keeping military marriages strong. Her husband had just returned from a yearlong deployment in Iraq.She cited an example... MORE

Alaska National Guard SPP with Mongolia uniquely positive
October 28, 2011 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The Alaska National Guard hosted the U.S. Ambassador to Mongolia here Oct. 18-21, helping to strengthen an already positive relationship between the United States and... MORE

Left to right: Army Maj. Wayne Don, Alaska National Guard State Partnership Program director; Ambassador Jonathan Addleton; Alaska Gov. Sean Parnell; Army Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Katkus, adjutant general, Alaska National Guard. Ambassador Addleton made his first visit to Alaska to meet National Guard, community, and state leaders Oct. 21, 2011.

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts