Guard News - The National Guard

Missouri Guard provides support to Guyana Defense Force
September 16, 2011 — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Subject matter experts from the Missouri Army National Guard’s 35th Engineer Brigade traveled to Guyana this summer where they conducted an assessment of the current state of... MORE

Mr. Mbakhana, a Guyana Defense Force sailor, along with Missouri National Guard Soldier’s Capt. Aaron Larimore, and Staff Sgt. Michael Blomberg review river routes and communication short falls with the Guyana Defense Force’s current equipment.

Mullen: Happy Birthday Air Force!
September 16, 2011 — WASHINGTON - Chairman of the Joint Chief of Staff Navy Adm. Mike Mullen issued the following message to the Airmen of the United States Air Force:Our Air Force was literally born "in the air."... MORE

U.S. Air Force celebrates its 64th Birthday, Sept. 18, 2011.

National Guard State Partnership Program garners prestigious award
September 15, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard’s 65-nation State Partnership Program won a major award here Tuesday.The 20-year-old program launched in the final days of the Cold War received the 2011... MORE

Center for Hemispheric Defense Studies seal

Recruit sets example for females at National Guard program
September 15, 2011 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - When Army Pfc. Kirsty Penn arrived at the National Guard GED Plus program, she was intent on doing her best but never thought she would set a benchmark for other females... MORE

Army Pfc. Kirsty Penn receives a Class Peer Leader Certificate from Army Drill Sgt. Eric Jaeger, Sept. 9, 2011, at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Ark. Penn was the first female recruit to receive the honor as Class Peer Leader in the program's history. Since 2006, the National Guard GED Plus program has conferred more than 13,000 GED diplomas to Soldiers nationwide.

Jacoby: Guard most important partner to NORAD, NORTHCOM missions
September 14, 2011 — MILWAUKEE - Teaming with the National Guard is at the core of his new duty position, said Army Gen. Charles Jacoby, Jr. here last month.The newest commander of the North American Aerospace Defense... MORE

Members of the 53rd Civil Support Team, Indiana National Guard, join efforts with the Indiana Department of Homeland Security tactical rescue team to pull a mock victim from the rubble during National Level Exercise 2011 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Complex, Ind., May 16, 2011. NLE 2011 was a full-scale exercise meant to represent the destruction following a 7.7 magnitude earthquake along the New Madrid fault line and examined the government's ability to implement local, state, and federal catastrophic earthquake response plans. The National Guarded coordinated response efforts with U.S. Northern Command and federal, state and local agencies throughout the exercise.

National Guard, reserve members learn sling-loading operations together
September 14, 2011 — SPARTA, Ill. - The breeze was gone and replaced by gusts of air as an Illinois Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter was lowered down from the sky. Marines took hold of cables connecting a... MORE

Two Soldiers with the Army Reserve’s 739th Engineer Company, Indiana National Guard, hook a sling to the bottom of an Illinois Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter Sept. 11, 2011, during a joint-service, sling-load training mission at the Sparta Training Area, Ind. The training brought Guard and reserve component Soldiers, Sailors, Marines and Airmen for one day of classroom and field training.

N.C. Guard, Botswana military share legal expertise
September 13, 2011 — GABORONE, Botswana - Legal experts from the North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force held their first joint mock courts-martial as part of a trial advocacy workshop here August 15... MORE

Schwartz to Guard: Let’s work together, achieve together
September 13, 2011 — MILWAUKEE - The Air Force will continue to depend heavily on the nation’s reserve components, said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz, at the 133rd general conference of the National... MORE

Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Norton Schwartz speaks at the Reserve Officers Association National Security Symposium Jan. 30, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Maryland Guard tackles Lee storm floods
September 12, 2011 — WASHINGTON - The Maryland National Guard has activated 25 soldiers to assist in the response to heavy flooding in parts of the state caused by Tropical Storm Lee's heavy rains, according to Guard... MORE

Maryland National Guard Soldiers from units across the state worked around the clock to provide critical support to civilian law enforcement and firefighting agencies. (Courtesy photo) (Released)

Earnhardt will start post-season Chase for the Cup in 10th position
September 12, 2011 — Dale Earnhardt Jr. clinched a spot in the 2011 Chase for the NASCAR Sprint Cup on Saturday night with his 16th-place finish at Richmond International Raceway in Richmond, Va. The 400-lap event was... MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard racecar, works his way around the track after being nudged by another competitor into an early turn-four accident at Richmond International Speedway, Sept. 10, 2011, in Richmond, Va. Earnhardt is locked into the 10th seed as the seasons best head into the post-season Chase for the Cup.

Guard aircraft join Texas, Northwest firefighting efforts
September 12, 2011 — PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Air National Guard C-130 Hercules equipped with U.S. Forest Service modular airborne firefighting systems have been tasked by U.S. Northern Command in support of... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Mike Konegni, Air Force Airman Travis Maderand and Air Force Airman 1st Class Colton Shirley, with the Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, place orange tape on a C-130 Hercules cargo plane identified for an aerial firefighting mission in the western portion of the United States, Sept. 8, 2011. The tape helps other aircraft identify the plane as part of the coordinated firefighting efforts. The C-130 uses the Modular Airborne Firefighting System II, to battle the wildfires. Two C-130s and 30 Airmen, from the Wyoming Air National Guard, will be based in Boise, Idaho, to fight fires in Nevada, Utah and Idaho. The 153rd Airlift Wing is one of four Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve units assigned MAFFS missions.

Winnefeld: National Guard right for America
September 12, 2011 — MILWAUKEE - When he was commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and United States Northern Command, Navy Adm. James Winnefeld embraced the National Guard.Still maintaining a close... MORE

Navy Adm. James Winnefeld, ninth vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, addresses an audience at the 133rd general conference of the National Guard Association of the United States in Milwaukee, Aug. 28, 2011.

In their own words: Guard members tell personal accounts of 9/11
September 10, 2011 — JOINT BASE-ANDREWS, Md. - As the 10-year anniversary of the terror attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, approaches, those who were there - or who knew only someone that was directly affected - are once again... MORE

Air Force Brig. Gen. Carol A. Timmons, director of the Delaware National Guard joint staff, talks to local media at a National Guard 9/11 media day event Aug. 30, 2011, at Joint-Base Andrews in Maryland. Timmons, who is also a commercial airline pilot, was aboard a fifth plane that some believe was to be hijacked on Sept. 11, 2001, before air traffic controllers grounded all aircraft at Kennedy International Airport.

In their own words: Guard members tell personal accounts of 9/11
September 9, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. — Where were you that day?This question has become synonymous with the attacks of 9/11, and as the 10-year anniversary approaches, those who remember will reflect back upon that day,... MORE

Air Force Lt. Col. Rolando Aguilar, Fairchild RC-26 Metroliner program manager for the 147th Reconnaissance Wing, Texas National Guard, participates in an interview during a 9/11 media-day event at Pentagon crash site Aug. 23, 2011, in Arlington, Va. Aguilar was one of several Guard members who gave interviews about their involvement with the 9/11 attacks.

Illinois soldiers and Airman remember where they were 9/11
September 9, 2011 — SPRINGFIELD - Before the planes hit and before the towers crumbled, it was a routine Tuesday morning for four Illinois National Guardsmen. One Soldier was teaching in his classroom while a future... MORE

National Guard values Muslim tradition, builds relationships year-round with SPP
September 8, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Ramadan, the Muslim religion's holy month, ended Aug. 30; however, the National Guard will continue to foster relationships with Muslim and Muslim-majority nations through the State... MORE

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley (center-front), chief of the National Guard Bureau, stands with leaders and distinguished guests of the Muslim and National Guard communities for a photo before hosting the second-annual National Guard Iftar Dinner Aug. 8, 2011, in Washington, D.C.

Imagination and the Future of our Nation
September 8, 2011 — Editor's Note: The opinions expressed in this piece are the author's and not necessarily those of the National Guard Bureau or the Department of Defense.A decade. Ten years. 3,650 days. 520 weeks... MORE

Earnhardt poised to clinch spot in postseason
September 8, 2011 — Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard Military Intelligence NASCAR racecar, finished 19th in Tuesday’s rain-delayed NASCAR Sprint Cup Series race at Atlanta Motor Speedway in... MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard NASCAR racecar, ran with a National Guard Military Intelligence paint scheme during race events at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Hampton, Ga., Sept. 4, 2011. Earnhardt is poised to clinch a spot in the Sprint Cup championship standings with only one race left in regular season.

Nevada National Guard members killed, injured in shooting
September 7, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Three Nevada National Guard members have died and two are currently injured as a result of a random shooting at a local eatery Sept. 5 in Carson City, Nev.Army Maj. Heath Kelly,... MORE

Virginia Guard Soldiers prepare for post-Irene duty in Vermont
September 7, 2011 — BLACKSTONE, Va. - Virginia National Guard Soldiers completed administrative paperwork and conducted vehicle maintenance checks at Fort Pickett, Sept. 5, to prepare for duty in Vermont.The Virginia... MORE

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