Guard News - The National Guard

NC Guard Unit Tests NextGen Squad Weapons
June 11, 2024 — FORT LIBERTY, N.C. – Soldiers assigned to the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team conducted the qualification table of the Integrated Training Weapons Strategy using the newly fielded Next Generation... MORE

Sgt. Laharey Robinson, an infantryman assigned to Bravo Co., 1st Battalion, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, test fires the newly fielded Next Generation Squad Weapon Rifle XM7 during the qualification table of the Integrated Weapons Training Strategy at Fort Liberty, North Carolina June 6, 2024. The 30th ABCT is a major subordinate command that falls under the North Carolina National Guard and was selected to be the first National Guard unit to field test the XM7 and the XM250, which are replacing the M4/M4A1 carbine and the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.

Georgia 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Conducts Annual Training
June 11, 2024 — FORT STEWART, Ga. - For the Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the early June movement to Fort Stewart for annual training was a different experience. In... MORE

A Georgia Army National Guard Soldier assigned to Headquarters Company, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, fires an M4 carbine rifle for annual qualification on a training range in Fort Stewart, Ga., June 5, 2024.

Young Cancer Patient Made Honorary 1st Sergeant in Illinois Guard
June 11, 2024 — MARION, Ill. - Several months ago, 7-year-old Jamir Gibbs was suffering from bacterial meningitis related to his struggle with leukemia.It was hard and painful, and her son was tired and getting... MORE

Jamir Gibbs,7, of Marion, Illinois, shows off the football jersey he received with 1st Sgt. Beau Detrick of November Company, Recruit Sustainment Program, Illinois Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command. Jamir was promoted to "Honorary First Sergeant" June 8, 2024, at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marion Readiness Center in honor of his courageous fight against cancer.

Western Air Defense Sector Wraps Up Enduring Partners Exercise
June 11, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Airmen from the Royal Thai Air Force and the Washington Air National Guard’s 225th Air Defense Squadron participated in a subject matter expert exchange during the... MORE

Royal Thai Air Force Gp. Capt. Piriyathrone Suwanruji presents Col. Antony Braun, 225th Air Defense Group commander, and Master Sgt. Matthew Brosius, 225th Air Defense Squadron NCOIC Plans & Operations, with a memento to commemorate Enduring Partners 2024 at the Western Air Defense Sector, Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, May 3, 2024. EP24 is an engagement to improve readiness and combined and joint interoperability between the RTAF and WAANG.

Former Colorado TAG Retires as Air National Guard Director
June 11, 2024 — DENVER - U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director, Air National Guard, bid farewell to his distinguished career with a symbolic final flight, known as the ‘Fini Flight’, aboard an F-16... MORE

Dianne Loh, center, pins a retirement lapel on U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, right, director, Air National Guard, during Loh’s retirement ceremony at Wings Over the Rockies Air & Space Museum, Denver, Colorado, June 9, 2024. As the 13th director of the ANG, Loh was responsible for overseeing policies, plans and programs affecting more than 108,400 ANG Airmen and civilians across 90 wings through the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia.

Idaho National Guard Opens Child Care Center
June 10, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - Members of the Idaho National Guard held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Saturday to celebrate the grand opening of the first child care center at Gowen Field.The Child and Youth Center is... MORE

The Idaho National Guard holds a ribbon-cutting ceremony to celebrate the opening of its first child care center at Gowen Field June 8, 2024. Gowen Day Camp is part of a program offering Idaho National Guardsmen with children ages 6 months to 12 years free child care assistance during drill weekends.

After 80th D-Day Commemoration, Hokanson Looks to Future
June 8, 2024 — OMAHA BEACH, NORMANDY, France — After honoring the 80th anniversary of the Allies’ D-Day invasion and subsequent liberation of Europe, the National Guard’s top general looked forward Friday, focused... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson meets World War II veteran Joseph “Ben” Miller during the ceremony commemorating the 80th anniversary of Operation Overlord and D-Day at the Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, Normandy, France, June 6, 2024.

Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Strengthen Partnership
June 7, 2024 — SIAULIAI, Lithuania - State Partnership Program partners Pennsylvania and Lithuania shared best practices and capabilities over four days in Lithuania, strengthening their enduring relationship.From... MORE

Two members from the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, share best practices about hot pit refueling on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft with the Lithuanian Air Force during a State Partnership Program engagement May 2, 2024, in Siauliai, Lithuania. Pennsylvania and Lithuania have been partners for over 30 years.

106th Rescue Wing Conducts Comprehensive Rescue Training
June 7, 2024 — WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard members assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing participated in a combat search and rescue exercise May 4.The exercise at Francis S. Gabreski Air... MORE

103rd Rescue Squadron pararescuemen, assigned to the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing, pull a patient toward the evacuation location during an exercise at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, N.Y., May 4, 2024. During the exercise, 106th Security Forces Squadron secured the area for the 103rd Rescue Squadron pararescuemen to parachute in, recover the injured personnel and provide medical care and transport via an HH-130J Combat King II aircraft flown by the 102nd Rescue Squadron.

Oregon Air Guard Security Forces Squadron Trains in Hawai'i
June 7, 2024 — OAHU, Hawai'i - Is spending two weeks in Hawai'i shooting machine guns on a military range on anyone's bucket list? Twenty-eight 173rd Security Forces Squadron defenders did just that in early May for... MORE

Airmen from the 173rd Security Forces Squadron from Kingsley Field, Oregon, pose for a group photo during their annual training exercise May 4, 2024, at Marine Corps Air Station at Kaneohe Bay in Oahu, Hawai'i.

Alaska Air Guard Rescue Triad Conducts Water Rescue Training
June 6, 2024 — WHITTIER, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing’s 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons conducted water rescue operations training in the Prince William Sound near Whittier May... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter aviators assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron hoist two 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen during underway hoist training in the Prince William Sound near Whittier, Alaska, May 16, 2024. The 212th, 210th and 211th RQSs make up the 176th Wing Rescue Triad and are among the busiest combat search and rescue units in the world.

Nevada National Guard Holds Workshop for New Partner Samoa
June 6, 2024 — CARSON CITY, Nev. - Michael Fusi Ligaliga understands familial village systems and how they work in the Independent State of Samoa.He’s an assistant professor and program lead of Pacific Island... MORE

Michael Fusi Ligaliga, assistant professor and program lead of Pacific Island Studies at Brigham Young University in Hawaii, speaks during a two-day workshop at the Nevada National Guard's Office of the Adjutant General in Carson City, Nevada. Ligaliga's presentation was part of a workshop to educate members of the Nevada National Guard about the culture of Samoa, their newest partner in the State Partnership Program.

Wisconsin National Guard Brigade Begins Major Training Exercise
June 6, 2024 — FORT JOHNSON, La. – More than 5,000 Soldiers from across the United States, along with support elements from Canada, have arrived at the Joint Readiness Training Center for a month-long training... MORE

More than 5,000 Soldiers have arrived at the Joint Readiness Training Center on Fort Johnson, Louisiana, to take part in a month-long training exercise led by the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team. As they arrive, the Soldiers in-process, gather gear, help offload vehicles from trains and semis, perform maintenance checks, and install MILES (multiple integrated laser engagement system) on everything from personal weapons to all varieties of vehicles, all while acclimating to the Louisiana heat and humidity.

Tennessee Guard Participates in Thracian Warrior Exercise
June 6, 2024 — HASKOVO, Bulgaria - Members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 181st Field Artillery Regiment, participated in exercise Thracian Warrior 24 at Novo Selo and Koren training areas May 28... MORE

Members of the Tennessee National Guard's 1-181st Field Artillery Regiment, headquartered in Chattanooga, plan for a fire mission June 3, 2024, while at Koren Training Ground in Bulgaria. The Tennessee National Guard is in Bulgaria participating at Thracian Warrior 24, a multinational, combat arms exercise showcasing capabilities of participating countries' armed forces.

Malaysia, Washington Guard Strengthen Partnership at Bersama Warrior 2024
June 6, 2024 — KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - The 10th annual Bersama Warrior exercise began June 1 with an opening ceremony led by Malaysian Armed Forces leaders and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Kenneth Borchers, director... MORE

Washington National Guard and Malaysian Armed Forces members participate in the Bersama Warrior 2024 opening ceremonies June 1, 2024, at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. The Washington Guard and Malaysia have been partners under the State Partnership Program since 2017.

80 Years Ago, National Guard Units Played Key Role in D-Day Landings
June 5, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Their waterlogged footsteps were historic. That thought, however, most likely wasn’t on the Soldiers minds as they stepped ashore from rocking landing craft onto the French coast... MORE

The build-up of Omaha Beach. Reinforcements of men and equipment moving inland. Photo courtesy of Center of Military History.

Alaska Guard Soldiers Honored Before Middle East Deployment
June 5, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guardsmen assigned to the 49th Personnel Detachment, known as the 49th Theater Gateway, were honored during a deployment ceremony at the... MORE

Alaska Army National Guardsmen with the 49th Personnel Detachment, known as the 49th Theater Gateway, gather for a deployment ceremony at Camp Carroll on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 1, 2024. The 49th TG will deploy to the Middle East to support Operation Spartan Shield.

Idaho National Guard, German JTACs Train Together
June 5, 2024 — JUNIPER BUTTE RANGE, Idaho - In 2015, an enlisted Idaho Air National Guardsman and a German Army lieutenant attended the same Joint Terminal Attack Controller Qualification Course and began a... MORE

Soldiers and airmen from Germany’s Joint Terminal Attack Controller Competence Center partnered with the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing to conduct close air support training at the Saylor Creek and Juniper Butte Ranges, Idaho, May 1-18. Idaho Army National Guard UH-60 pilots and crew also supported portions of the training.

Tennessee National Guard Rescues 2 Injured Hikers
June 4, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – Tennessee Army National Guard flight crews rescued two hikers suffering medical emergencies in separate air evacuation missions in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park area May... MORE

Tennessee Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew chief Sgt. Daniel Bandy hoists Sgt. 1st Class Giovanni DeZuani, flight paramedic, into the aircraft after rescuing a hiker in respiratory distress in the Great Smoky Mountain National Park at Mount LeConte Lodge May 31, 2024.

Kentucky Air Guard to Fly at D-Day Observance in France
June 4, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky Air National Guard crew departed for France last week, flying aboard an aircraft emblazoned with distinctive World War II “Invasion Stripes” to mark the 80th anniversary... MORE

A C-130J Super Hercules assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing takes off from the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., May 22, 2024, bearing the distinctive livery displayed on U.S. aircraft during World War II. The plane will fly over France June 6 as part of observances for the 80th anniversary of D-Day, when Allied forces invaded Normandy to turn the tide of the war in Europe.

NASA Apollo, Artemis Missions Cross Paths at Colorado Guard Site

South Carolina Air Guard Showcases ACE Concepts

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training