Guard News - The National Guard

Maintainers keep Guard aerovacs flying to Balad and back
March 23, 2007 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - Thousands of coalition forces who have been injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom have been flown to modern medical facilities thanks to people who can turn a... MORE

Maintenance airmen from the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard work on the flightline at Ramstein Air Base, Germany on March 4.

Air Guard retirement process goes online
March 20, 2007 — DENVER (AFNEWS) - Eligible members of the Air National Guard can now submit retirement applications electronically via the virtual Personnel Center -- Guard and Reserve.This is the second... MORE

Mississippi Guard 'globe-masters' perform medical airlift from Iraq
March 20, 2007 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany - The Mississippi Air National Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing makes it look easy: how they fly aeromedical evacuation missions (aerovac) to the other side of the world, land in... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Robert Lundy from the 172nd Airlift Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard monitors a loadmaster station on March 4 aboard a C-17 Globemaster III bound for Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Deployed Minnesota officer recognized for embodying ideals of leadership
March 19, 2007 — CAMP ADDER, Iraq - In two months, Capt. Scott J. Rohweder is going to receive an award that he doesn't think he deserves.On March 1, he was notified by the Department of the Army that he was one of... MORE

Capt. Scott J. Rohweder, commander of Echo Company, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment addresses his Soldiers during a formation in November 2006. Rohweder was recently named as one of 28 company-grade officers who will receive the General Douglas MacArthur Leadership Award during a ceremony May 16 in Washington, D.C.

Pentagon Channel Documentary Focuses on Guard, Reserve Members
March 19, 2007 — WASHINGTON - They were once known as "weekend warriors," ordinary citizens who gave up just a little bit of their time for minimal military training and a paycheck."What we advertised was one weekend... MORE

Oregon Guardsmen serve unique mission in Operation Jump Start
March 15, 2007 — PHOENIX, Ariz. - Donning protective gear and carrying a weapon while standing watch over the desert landscape. Performing maintenance on UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters. Climbing 100-foot communication... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard soldier, Sgt. Ross Willey of Portland, Ore., from Echo Company (Civil Engineer Unit), 3rd Battalion, 116th Calvary, based in Prineville, Ore., welds a railroad tie into place to create a vehicle barrier south of Sasabe, Ariz., on Jan. 19. Willey is working in Arizona as part of Operation Jump Start, supporting U.S. Customs and Border Patrol. The barriers will be used to prevent vehicles from illegally crossing the Arizona-Mexico border.

Sheriff network is first call for help for Minnesota Soldiers in Iraq
March 14, 2007 — CAMP ADDER, Iraq - Convoy escort missions are often routine for Red Bull Soldiers, who travel up to 530 miles of Iraq highway. However, some circumstances on the road are anything but routine and... MORE

Minnesota National Guard Soldiers of the Camp Taji sheriff station. Front row, Spc. Joseph Wilson, Spc. Joseph Derrane. Second row, Spc. Christopher Smith, Master Sgt. Paul Hoppe, Staff Sgt. Karl Stocker. Third row, Capt. Edward Vela.

1/34th BCT surpasses $15 million in reenlistment bonuses
March 14, 2007 — CAMP ADDER, Iraq - A Minnesota Army National Guard unit surpassed $15 million in reenlistment bonuses awarded to Soldiers in the unit who have extended their military obligations since deploying here... MORE

(From left) Staff Sgt. Melissa Meger, Sgt. Michael Sayre and Sgts. 1st Class David Drazek and Joseph Schwinghammer, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, recite the oath of reenlistment at the steps of the Ziggurat of Ur.

National Guard Soldiers display 'exemplary' actions during convoy attack
March 14, 2007 — AL ASAD AIRBASE, Iraq - In two National Guard Soldiers' written accounts of an August 2006 attack on their convoy, they used the same words to describe the back of a Humvee that was struck by a 155 mm... MORE

Members of the Mankato, Minn.-based 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment survey the scene of a medical evacuation for three of their Soldiers after a Humvee in their convoy struck a pressure-plate improvised explosive device in the road Aug. 26, 2006. The IED was a 155 mm artillery shell.

Army Guard Leader Visits Deployed Citizen Soldiers in Afghanistan
March 14, 2007 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn received a warm welcome March 4 from fellow Guardsmen at the Kandahar Airfield main dining facility. More than 40... MORE

Army National Guard Director Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn speaks to deployed Guardsmen at the Kandahar Airfield main dining facility Mar. 4.

Ohio Army National Guard attains its 1,000th G-RAP enlistment
March 13, 2007 — COLUMBUS - Two Soldiers from the 237th Personnel Services Battalion helped mark a significant milestone March 3 in the Ohio Army National Guard's yearlong participation in the Guard Recruiting... MORE

Spc. Robbie McBride (fourth from left), a member of the 237th Personnel Services Battalion, receives a ceremonial check for $6,000 for six successful enlistment referrals into the Ohio Army National Guard from Command Sgt. Maj. Bill Gilliam (far left), Ohio command sergeant major; Brig. Gen. Matthew L. Kambic (center), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army; and Lt. Col. Steve Stivers (right), 237th PSB commander. Also pictured is McBride's wife, Carissa (second from left).

Air Guard crew flies express mission to save Soldier's life
March 13, 2007 — BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq - They flew at night and into the next day from Iraq nonstop to the United States. Fifteen hours and 10 time zones later, they handed over their precious cargo in Maryland: a... MORE

Air Force aeromedical evacuation team members load a patient onto a Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III at Balad Air Base, Iraq, on March 3 during a scheduled flight to Ramstein Air Base, Germany. (Photo by Tech. Sgt. Mike R. Smith, National Guard Bureau)

875th Engineer Battalion Hits Milestone with 500th Find in Iraq
March 12, 2007 — Arkansas Guard Unit finds Success in Search for Improvised Explosive DevicesCAMP STRIKER, Iraq - Less than six months into a yearlong deployment to Iraq, the Arkansas Army National Guard's 875th... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard Trains with Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Firefighters
March 12, 2007 — Sixty soldiers of the Oregon Army National Guard learned fundamental firefighting and rescue techniques from the experts at the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Training Center. Under the keen watch of... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Thomas Pettit of Goldendale, Wash. extinguishes a surface fire at the Tualatin Valley Fire and Rescue Training Center in Sherwood Mar. 10. Sixty soldiers of Oregon's 141st Brigade Support Battalion received hands-on training in live fire, vehicle extrication, and urban search and rescue exercises. In addition, the TVF&R trainers taught courses on CPR/First Aid and incident command systems. Training such as this between the Oregon National Guard and first responders enhances the Guard's ability to support local communities when disasters strike.

Michigan Air Guard returns from Iraq deployment
March 7, 2007 — SELFRIDGE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mich. - Approximately 250 members of the Michigan Air National Guard returned home in March after supporting Operation Iraqi Freedom at Balad Air Base, Iraq. About... MORE

Almost 200 family members and friends welcome home the 127th Wing Airmen returning to Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., March 5 from deployment to Balad Air Base, Iraq. The Airmen were deployed for approximately 45 days for Air Expeiditionary Force 5and 6 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and supported F-16 Fighting Falcon operations there.

Air Guard contemplates 'Heritage to Horizons'
March 7, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Charles Darwin once observed that "It is not the strongest of the species that survives, or the most intelligent, but the one most responsive to change." The father of the Theory of... MORE

During the "Minuteman Heritage to Horizons" (MH2H) workshop held at the Air National Guard Readiness Center, Andrews AFB on February 23, 2007, LTG H Steven Blum, the Chief of the National Guard Bureau, discusses the Air National Guard's overall future with Lt Gen Craig McKinley, Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau and Director of the Air National Guard. Other important past Air Force and Air Guard Leadership were also present during this workshop, such as General (Ret. USAF) Ronald R. Fogleman, General (Ret. USAF) Charles F. "Chuck" Wald and Lt Gen (Ret.) Russell Davis on shown in this image.

Stroud first 34th BCT Soldier to earn two Purple Hearts
March 6, 2007 — CAMP FALLUJAH, Iraq - Sgt. Scott Stroud has relatives that fought for both sides in the Civil War, another relative who "hit the beach" in the Battle of Normandy during World War II, and an uncle who... MORE

Spc. Stephen Perry of Plymouth, Minn., (left) and Sgt. Scott Stroud of Dalton, Minn., both of Company B, 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 136th Infantry Regiment, pause as they watch the sun rise Feb. 9 as they stand guard in one of the towers at a combat outpost near Camp Fallujah. Stroud is the only 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, soldier to earn Purple Hearts during Operation Iraqi Freedom 06-08.

Alabama Guard responds to aftermath of devastating Enterprise tornado
March 5, 2007 — ENTERPRISE, AL - March 1, 2007 will long be remembered as more than just the first day of the third month of the year in this Southeast Alabama town with a population of more than 23,000 residents... MORE

Sgt. Caleb Pope, Det. 1, Charlie Co., 1st Battalion of the 131st Armor, provides escort to parents to a vehicle that was damaged by the twister in the school parking lot.

Vermont skiers dominate Guard biathlon championships
March 2, 2007 — JERICHO, Vt. - Vermont skiers dominated the 2007 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships Feb. 18-24 at the Ethan Allen Firing Range, winning all but one of the races.Vermont Army... MORE

Senior Airman Grant Webber of the Vermont National Guard recovers after finishing the relay race at the 2007 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships held Feb 18-24 at the Ethan Allen Firing Range in Jericho, Vt., while coach Travis Voyer looks on. Eighteen states sent teams to the championships with a total of about 60 skiers participating.

Modern-Day Highlanders
March 2, 2007 — GREEN COVE SPRINGS, Fla. - The Florida Army National Guard is not known for its strong Scottish traditions, but a team of Soldiers from the Daytona-based 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery... MORE

Staff Sgt. Rich Chamberlain of the 1st Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, prepares to toss a 56-pound. weight for distance during the North East Florida Scottish Games and Festival in Green Cove Springs, Fla., Feb. 24. Chamberlain, shown in a custom-made camouflage kilt, was part of a Florida Army National Guard team competing in the traditional Scottish games. Although this was Chamberlain's first competition, he finished first in his class for the 56-pound weight throw.

Forging Partnerships: The National Guard in the Indo-Pacific

Kentucky Guard MEDEVAC Prepares for Deployment to Europe

Minnesota Guard Joins Wildfire Experts for Training

Kansas National Guard Airmen Recognized for Excellence

Wyoming Guard Aviators Sharpen Wildfire Response Skills in Training