Guard News - The National Guard

Renuart: Guard, NORTHCOM relationship so good it's boring
March 4, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - The commander of U.S. Northern Command said he got one question repeatedly during recent rounds at the U.S. Capitol."Almost at every stop that I made, members of Congress asked me,... MORE

Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, tells attendees at the National Guard's 2009 Domestic Operations Workshop in Baltimore, Md., on March 4, 2009, that NORTHCOM and the National Guard are working together to protect and assist Americans. Maj. Gen. Bill Etter, director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau, is at left.

Alabama Guard deployments increase this year
March 3, 2009 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After a slow 2008, the Alabama Army National Guard will see a dramatic increase in the number of activated units during 2009.In 2008, two companies, three teams and a detachment... MORE

Maj. Gen. Abner C. Blalock, the adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, hands Maj. Lee Thompson, commander of the 166th Engineer Company, a state flag to fly proudly while deployed in Afghanistan. The 166th left for Camp Atterbury, Ind., on March 2 for a quick training period before deploying to Afghanistan. The 166th Engineer Company's mission is to help construct base camp facilities, help maintain existing facilities, and help the Afghan people improve their infrastructure.

Physical fitness earns 59-year-old sergeant silver in athletic competition
March 3, 2009 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER - Some sergeants who promote physical fitness may just "talk the talk."Others - like Staff Sgt. Peter Golden - walk, run, swim, jump, throw and sprint their way to... MORE

Staff Sgt. Peter Golden of the Florida Army National Guard's 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment. He earned a Silver in the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competion at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., Feb. 20-22, 2009.

New York's aviators gear up for Afghanistan deployment
March 3, 2009 — ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD - Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States.The Afghan-bound members of... MORE

Active duty Senior Airman Rachel Cole makes a last minute breathing apparatus check on New York and Virginia National Guardsmen before sealing the oxygen chamber during high-altitude training at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. On Feb. 25.

Massachusetts firefighters lead by example
March 3, 2009 — MILFORD, Mass. - Leading Soldiers during training exercises is demanding, but motivating them to follow you into a burning building is an extra challenge faced by firefighters in the Massachusetts... MORE

Army Sgt. Heather F. Inkley, a fire team chief with the 179th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting) of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, describes her units fire fighting capabilities at the Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department on Camp Edwards, Mass. Inkley graduated the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Training Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas in December.

Guard Ends New Orleans Mission, Focuses on Wildfires, Snow
March 3, 2009 — WASHINGTON, March 2, 2009 - As the Louisiana National Guard wrapped up its "precedent-setting" law enforcement mission in New Orleans yesterday, the Texas National Guard dispatched helicopters to... MORE

Full spectrum of capabilities needed for Guard missions
March 3, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - Living up to the National Guard's motto of "Always Ready, Always There" requires a full spectrum of capabilities, a senior National Guard official told an audience here at the... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward, the director of the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, speaks to conferees at the NGB Domestic Operations Conference March 3, 2009 in Baltimore, Md.

Army Guard to cut recruiting, retention bonuses
February 27, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Since 2005, the number of Army National Guard enlistees has grown due in large part to enlistment bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.But that will change March 1 as the Army Guard... MORE

DoD to allow casket photographs with family's permission
February 27, 2009 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Defense Department will allow the news media to photograph the flag-draped caskets of fallen U.S. troops returning home if their families agree, Defense Secretary Robert M... MORE

Minnesota Guardsmen ski Birkebeiner on Balad flightline
February 27, 2009 — JOINT BASE BALAD, Iraq - While cross-country skiing is traditionally done on the snow, two 834th Aviation Support Battalion Soldiers recently decided to roller ski the 51-kilometer (31.7 miles)... MORE

Army Capt. Kenath Harris, the 834th Aviation Support Battalion chaplain (pictured), recently participated in the Wisconsin-based Birkebeiner cross-country ski race on the Joint Base Balad, Iraq flight line.

Stars alight Guard's 4th annual Youth ChalleNGe night
February 26, 2009 — WASHINGTON - The teen wore a military-style, grey uniform similar to the garb of dozens of other teens around him.They crowded the lower lobby of the J.W. Marriott Hotel last night, obviously... MORE

The National Guard's sponsored NASCAR Sprint Cup auto racing drivers Dale Earnhardt Jr., left, and Jeff Gordon help bring in donations for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program Feb. 24 in Washington during the Fourth Annual ChalleNGe Champions Gala. The drivers also joined with IndyCar Series driver Dan Wheldon to autograph a painting on stage by the artist William Patterson, in the background.

Illinois Guard provides safety net for PRT mission
February 26, 2009 — FORWARD OPERATING BASE GARDEZ, Afghanistan - Army 1st Lt. Nicholas Camardo is a self-described pain in the backside.An infantry officer with the Illinois Army National Guard, Camardo is in charge of... MORE

A security forces member of the provincial reconstruction team in Afghanistan's Paktia province scans the area after the convoy stopped during a mission to drop humanitarian aid, Feb. 24, 2009, in the province's Sayed Karem district.

Canadian troops exercise with National Guard at Fort Pickett
February 26, 2009 — FORT PICKETT, Va. — Soldiers from the Canadian Army Reserve conducted their ninth major field training exercise at the Virginia Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center at Fort Pickett Feb... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers conduct fast rope insertion and extraction training during Exercise Southbound Trooper IX at Fort Pickett, Va. Feb. 16, 2009.

Illinois medics treat injured Afghan civilian
February 26, 2009 — KABUL, Afghanistan - When an Afghan civilian is injured in a remote area of Afghanistan, there is little chance of receiving proper medical treatment.But not when it happens right outside the gate of... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Whitney Meyers writes down vital information on the dressing applied to a 16-year-old truck driver of Herat city, during treatment for an injury he sustained to his foot. The Afghan National Police of the area brought Berza to the base where he was stabilized then medically evacuated to the Provincial Reconstruction Team in Farah where he was treated by U.S. surgeons.

New Mexico quartet plays private concert for Vietnam vet
February 26, 2009 — ALBUQUERQUE, NM - On a cold and wintry afternoon in January, members of the 44th Army Band warmed up a Vietnam veteran's heart and home.The "Darn Saxy" quartet of the New Mexico Army National Guard's... MORE

The "Darn Saxy" quartet of the New Mexico Army National Guard's 44th Army Band recently held a priviate concert for retired Col. Frank Hines, an 81-year-old Vietnam veteran, who served in both the Navy and the Air Force during his long military career.

Kansas Guard trains with Saudi military in Friendship One
February 26, 2009 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait - Friendship One 2009, one of the first missions involving the movement of troops into Saudi Arabia in more than 15 years, officially began Feb. 19, when Kansas National Guard... MORE

Maj. Brian Peterson, operations observer controller/trainer, 2nd battalion, 1st Squadron, 299th Cavalry Regiment, looks at a Jaguar radio with a Royal Saudi Land Force Soldier in a training session during Friendship One 2009, Feb. 21.

New York Guard hosts largest "reintegration" effort yet
February 25, 2009 — ROCHESTER, N.Y. - More than 700 Soldiers and family members filled the Riverside Convention Center here Feb. 21, as the New York Army National Guard launched its most intensive reintegration effort,... MORE

Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Shannon Pingitore, a member of Joint Forces Headquarters-New York Human Resources Directorate, provides Army National Guard Spec. Michael Anderson Jr. with information about full time employment opportunities in the National Guard during the New York Army National Guard Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program meeting at the Rochester Riverside Convention Center, Feb. 21.

Candidates "Start Your Engines"
February 25, 2009 — TALLADEGA, Ala. - A patriotic cry of motivation and enthusiasm echoed through the empty grand stands of Talladega Superspeedway last week as 190 officer candidates rounded the two-mile track to finish... MORE

About 190 officer candidates from the Alabama National Guard Training Site at Fort McClellan, Ala., recently participated in a seven-mile march, including two miles around the Talladega Superspeedway.

March is Brain Injury Awareness Month
February 25, 2009 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - A roadside explosion throws a Soldier against the side of his vehicle, with force that shakes his brain inside his skull. Another Soldier is in a traffic accident on the way to... MORE

Muncy announced as Air Guard Command Chief
February 25, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Muncy from the Ohio Air National Guard was announced as the Air Guard's next command chief here today.As ANG command chief, Muncy will serve as the... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Muncy (Official photo)

Arkansas Guard Strengthens Readiness During Sentry South

Georgia Air National Guard Wing Executes Swift Fire Mission

Washington Air Guard Hosts Cyber Protection Team Conference

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner

Maine Guard Mobilizes to Support Rhode Island Blizzard Response