Guard News - The National Guard

Texas Guardsmen Focus on Rescue Missions in Ike's Wake
September 15, 2008 — WASHINGTON - Search and rescue missions began immediately yesterday in areas of Texas left in Hurricane Ike's trail and continue to be the main focus of relief efforts today, a Texas National Guard... MORE

Isolated island kicks off Vigilant Guard Guam homeland security exercise
September 15, 2008 — GUAM - Members of the Guam National Guard kicked off a multistate, National Guard Bureau homeland security exercise here Sept. 12 as those on the U.S. mainland memorialized the worst terrorist attacks... MORE

Maj. Gen. Donald Goldhorn, the adjutant general of Guam, speaks with combined working group representatives from local, federal, military and civilian agencies at the Guam National Guard Barrigada Complex Sept. 12 in the opening tabletop exercise of Vigilant Guard Guam. Vigilant Guard Guam is a multi-day National Guard homeland defense series of exercises designed to enhance the Guard's capabilities and abilities to support to civil authorities in an emergency.

129th rescuers continue the search for Hurricane Ike victims
September 15, 2008 — MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. - California Air National Guardsmen from the 129th Rescue Wing here deployed to Kelly Field in San Antonio for Hurricane Ike search and rescue support operations... MORE

Joint Task Force 129 pararescuemen rescue a hurricane victim in Galveston, Texas, Sept. 13. The JTF 129 crews rescued a total of 10 civilians and pets stranded in the Galveston area.

Kentucky Air Guard special ops troops deploy for hurricane relief
September 15, 2008 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - About 25 pararescuemen, combat controllers and support troops from the Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron began deploying to coastal Texas today to conduct rescue... MORE

Members of the Kentucky Air Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron prepare radio, navigagtion and rescue gear for deployment to coastal Texas on Sept. 13. About 25 of the unit's pararescuemen, combat controllers and support troops will conduct rescue and relief operations around Houston and Galveston in the wake of Hurricane Ike.

Rescues continue in small town of Hackberry, LA
September 15, 2008 — HACKBERRY, La. - While more than 7,000 Soldiers and Airmen of the Louisiana National Guard are assisting in hurricane recovery operations, one small town in southwest La., is seeing more than its fair... MORE

Sgt. Angela Fry, member of 528th Engineer Battalion headquartered in Monroe, La., rejoices with her Aunt, Beverly Goodwich of Hackberry, La. Members of Fry's family were rescued on Sept. 13 by the joint efforts of the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Calcasieu Sheriff's Department, 225th Engineer Brigade and 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team after Hurricane Ike flooded the isolated southwestern Louisiana community.

Louisiana Guardsmen answer the call as Ike slams the coast
September 15, 2008 — LAKE CHARLES, La. - As Hurricane Ike slammed ashore today, the National Guard was already at work evacuating stranded citizens from their homes and other locations across Southwest Louisiana. By noon... MORE

Louisiana National Guardsman, 1st Sgt. Gary Burchfield of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 156th Infantry Regiment helps residents of Lake Charles, La., move a tree out of the road. Hurricane Ike's winds caused trees to uproot and flooding all around the Lake Charles area.

National Guard rescues three households in Hackberry
September 15, 2008 — HACKBERRY, La. - Members of three different Hackberry, La., households stayed in their homes through the fierce winds and flooding of Hurricane Ike, believing they wouldn't suffer any worse than they... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Ricky Griffin of the Louisiana National Guard leads a group of stranded citizens to National Guard helicopters who then transport them from Hackberry, La., to the Million Air hangar at Chennault Airport in Lake Charles. From there Wildlife and Fisheries agents assisted them in making contact with friends and relatives who could pick them up.

National Guard patrols Grand Isle waters
September 15, 2008 — Protecting property a priority mission in hurricane aftermathGRAND ISLE, La. - In an effort to prevent looting of area residents' property and local businesses, Louisiana National Guardsmen began... MORE

1st Sgt. Kevin Giroir and Spc. Christopher Cuzzort with the Louisiana National Guard's 2225th Multi-Role Bridge Company, 205th Engineer Battalion cruise the north shore of Grand Isle in an MK-2 Bridge Erection Boat during presence patrol missions. The company was put on mission after reports of theft on the island after Hurricane Gustav.

National Guard begins recovery phase after Hurricane Ike
September 15, 2008 — ARLINGTON, Va. - After two days of intense search and rescue missions, National Guard personnel in Texas and Louisiana are moving on to recovery operations today.More than 14,000 National Guard... MORE

Homeland Defense Secretary Chertoff discusses military coordination with Texas Air Guard and Texas Coast Guard commanders. Hurricane IKE slammed Texas with more than 110 mph winds creating a path of destruction from Galveston, Texas, through Houston and points farther north.

Airmen, soldiers aid people affected by Hurricane Ike
September 15, 2008 — GALVESTON, Texas - Airmen from the Texas Air National Guard and Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard banded together with civilian emergency responders to help people affected by Hurricane Ike... MORE

Joint responders assist people from five-ton vehicles at a local high school in Galveston, Texas, before being be bused to San Antonio.

Vigilant Guard tabletop exercises join response experts in Guam
September 15, 2008 — GUAM - Army Lt. Col. David Francisco, director of logistics for the Guam Army National Guard, says Guam citizens know a thing or two about natural disasters."We have become experts with respect to... MORE

Working group representatives from local, federal, military and civilian agencies join in Vigilant Guard's initial, regional tabletop exercise at the Guam National Guard Barrigada Complex Sept. 12. Vigilant Guard Guam is a multiday, National Guard homeland defense series of exercises designed to enhance the Guam Guard and other agencies' capabilities and abilities to join in an emergency.

Mississippi Guard responds to coast flooding
September 12, 2008 — JACKSON, MISS - Gov. Haley Barbour has authorized Maj. Gen. William L. Freeman, Jr., the adjutant general of Mississippi, to activate Soldiers of the Mississippi Army National Guard for flood support... MORE

States in Ike's path ready, willing, able
September 12, 2008 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Although Hurricane Ike was expected to lose power after hitting Texas sometime Saturday, National Guard personnel in four other states are preparing for the worst when it becomes a... MORE

Texas Guard leader vows all out effort for Ike
September 12, 2008 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Texas National Guard personnel began rescuing residents stranded by rising waters Friday afternoon, and the Lone Star State's National Guard commander vowed to resume relief missions... MORE

Maj. Gen. Charles Rodriguez, second from left, the adjutant general of Texas, said Friday that the Texas National Guard would resume relief missions as soon as possible in the wake Hurricane Ike.

ANG exceeds end strength for the first time in five years
September 11, 2008 — ARLINGTON, Va. - For the first time in five years, the Air National Guard has met its end strength goal of 106,700 for this fiscal year, Guard officials announced today.The ANG recruited 1,194 in... MORE

Military Firefighters, Police in Iraq Reflect on 9/11
September 11, 2008 — CAMP VICTORY, Iraq - At 8:45 a.m., Sept. 11, 2001, tragedy struck the hearts and minds of millions around the world when a hijacked plane flew into One World Trade Center in New York City.Eighteen... MORE

USS Kearsarge delivers international aid in Haiti
September 11, 2008 — ABOARD USS KEARSARGE AT SEA - Aerial delivery of relief supplies to Haiti began from USS Kearsarge Sept. 8, as three helicopters launched from the flight deck to transport food and water to areas... MORE

School district partners with community to support Guard, Reserve
September 11, 2008 — WASHINGTON - A small school district in South Dakota is being honored for its partnership with its military employees and the local community.Winner School District, in Winner, S.D., is one of 15... MORE

'Healing Field' takes shape for Pentagon Memorial dedication
September 11, 2008 — WASHINGTON - As darkness fell over the nation's capital tonight, about 200 volunteers busily posted nearly 3,000 full-sized American flags near the site of the Pentagon Memorial to be officially... MORE

Army Pfc. Mohamed Mustafa, Virginia Army National Guard soldier and George Mason University ROTC cadet, participates in an American flag dedication at the Pentagon Sept. 10, 2008. The dedication was headed by the Healing Field Foundation, and about 200 volunteers were on hand to place and set up nearly 3,000 American flags in the Pentagon parking lot in honor of the victims and families of the 9/11 attacks.

ARNG soldier avoids Pentagon attack by chance visit to son at day care center
September 11, 2008 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Seven years ago, Col. William Stoppel dropped his 9-month-old son Will at day care and went to work like any other day."It was my son's first day at Pentagon daycare," Stoppel said... MORE

National Guard Col. William Stoppel and his son Will.

Guard, Reserve and Navy Test Helicopter Countermeasures Over Water

Georgia Guard Trains to Bolster Domestic Response Capabilities

Nordhaus, Raines: National Guard Delivers Outsized Impact at Home, Abroad

Specialized Oregon Guard Unit Conducts Training at Camp Rilea

Caine: When you Mobilize the Guard, you Mobilize the Nation