Guard News - The National Guard

Air Guard opens new combat training runway
July 13, 2007 — HATTIESBURG, Miss. - It's a 3,500-foot-long stretch of cement with a few hundred feet added on, just in case. That's not much space to safely land a heavily loaded, half-million pound cargo plane on,... MORE

A Mississippi Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster lands July 9 at the Air National Guard's first assault runway training facility at Camp Shelby, Miss. Called "Shelby Aux Field," the 210-acre airfield is one of only two facilities in the world designed for C-17 short-field landing operations. It was constructed to meet the training demands of the Air Guard's 172nd Airlift Wing, which operates and maintains eight of the aircraft.

Guard Plans to Adjust Number of Troops Serving on U.S.-Mexican Border
July 12, 2007 — WASHINGTON - The National Guard plans to adjust the number of personnel performing security duty along the U.S.-Mexican border from about 6,000 to about 3,000 members, a National Guard Bureau... MORE

Ice and fire: Eskimos in Kuwait
July 11, 2007 — CAMP BUERHING, Kuwait - Hot like a giant hairdryer; like standing under a giant magnifying glass; or like turning an oven to 127 degrees, jumping in and closing the door.These are ways Eskimo members... MORE

The Alaska National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment has left its mark at Camp Buerhing, Kuwait, seen here July 3, 2007.

Illinois Unveils Mental Health Services for Returning Guardsmen, Veterans
July 9, 2007 — WASHINGTON - All Illinois National Guard troops returning from deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan now will be screened for traumatic brain injury and get access to post-traumatic stress disorder help... MORE

Happy Hooligans fly first UAS mission from Fargo
July 6, 2007 — Fargo, N.D. - Gov. John Hoeven and N.D. National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk announced July 2 that the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, has flown its first... MORE

Happy Hooligan Predator operators are seated at their positions in the Ground Control Station (GCS), Fargo, N.D.

Ohio town pulls together, honors airman killed In Iraq
July 5, 2007 — McCLURE, Ohio - In small town America, when people see a funeral procession approaching, they still pull their cars over to the shoulder and pay their respects. But when McClure, Ohio, recently lost... MORE

Lt. Col. Kevin "Sonny" Sonnenberg during his deployment to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar in 2005.

Some in recovery, others see major rainfall
July 5, 2007 — CAMP MABRY, Austin, Texas - The heavy thunderstorms that resulted in flooding all across Texas during the past 20 days is abating in some parts of Texas but may result in additional flooding through... MORE

Cooks Compete in Coveted Competition
July 3, 2007 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - It was more than the mid-day sun and the hot kitchen causing the food service specialists of the Coshocton based 1485th Transportation Company, 112th Transportation Battalion to... MORE

Akron, Ohio resident Pfc. Marshall Conyers, food service specialist, prepares French onion soup, June 16 as he and other Soldiers of the 1485th Transportation Company, 112th Transportation Battalion compete in highly prestigious Connelley competition.

Huey's last hurrah
July 2, 2007 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - As you go about your daily routine during annual training this year and the familiar "womp-womp-womp" sounds of helicopters fill the air, stop for a moment and turn your head... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer Brian Michael, a pilot with Company B, 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment prepares the UH-1H Iroquois for one of its last missions with the Ohio Army National Guard. Michael flew the Iroquois, more commonly known as the Huey during the Vietnam War.

Utah National Guard Soldier Crowned Miss Utah
July 2, 2007 — DRAPER, Utah - Sgt. Jill Stevens, a member of 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation, Utah National Guard, was crowned Miss Utah Saturday evening, June 30, at the annual pageant held at the Capitol Theatre in... MORE

Sgt. Jill Stevens, a member of 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation, Utah National Guard, was crowned Miss Utah Saturday evening, June 30, at the annual pageant held at the Capitol Theatre in Salt Lake City.

Turnover of Eagle Base symbolizes success in the Balkans
July 2, 2007 — TUZLA, Bosnia-Herzegovina - The Stars and Stripes flew over Eagle Base for the last time on the morning of June 30, the day the United States turned this sprawling military installation over to its... MORE

U.S. Ambassador Douglas L. McElhaney; LTG H Steven Blum, the chief of the National Guard Bureau; and Maj. Gen. Richard Wightman Jr., senior military representative at NATO Headquarters in Bosnia and Herzegovina honor arriving officials from Bosnia-Herzegovina during ceremonies marking the turnover of Eagle Base, near Tuzla, in Bosnia-Herzegovina, from the United States to the government of Bosnia-Herzegovina on June 30, 2007. More than 100,000 members of the active duty and Reserve components of the U.S. military have served at Eagle Base since it opened 12 years ago.

Citizen-Soldiers Honor Fallen Firefighters
July 2, 2007 — KABUL, Afghanistan - Warriors from 218th Enhanced Separate Brigade from the South Carolina National Guard assigned to Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix in Afghanistan paid tribute over the weekend to... MORE

Texas Guard Aviators responded to flooded areas
June 29, 2007 — BURNET, Texas - Thursday's rescue by two Black Hawk helicopters unfolded with their preparations at the Austin Army Aviation Support Facility (AAASF).The crew loaded rescue hoists and conducted... MORE

A girl and her mother prepare to be evacuated aboard a Texas Army National Guard UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter from flooded areas in Burnet County, Texas, June 28, 2007. Some 13,000-14,000 square miles of Texas were flooded by torrential rains, leading Texas Governor Rick Perry to mobilize the Texas National Guard in support of civil rescue and recovery efforts.

2007 Joint Thunder Exercise wraps up 23rd year of training
June 27, 2007 — RAPID CITY, S.D. - 'TRAINED and READY.' After two long weeks of tough military training, the 4,300 service members who trained in the 2007 Joint Thunder Exercise, packed their duffle bags and... MORE

Members of Company B, 109th Area Medical Support Battalion, Rapid City, SD, load a victim of simulated chemical bombing onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Black Hills State University, Spearfish, SD, during Operation Yellow Jacket, as part of the Joint Thunder 2007 annual training exercise.

Air Guard ready to help during space shuttle missions
June 26, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - As NASA's Space Shuttle Atlantis landed June 22 at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., Air National Guard members looked back to its launch two weeks earlier knowing they were ready to... MORE

Space Shuttle Atlantis lands at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., on June 22 to complete a 14-day mission to the International Space Station. The Air National Guard was ready to help in case of an emergency during the June 8 launch.

Guardsmen Respond to New York Floods, Alaska Fires
June 22, 2007 — WASHINGTON - National Guard troops are helping to search for people still missing after flash floods deluged the southern Catskill Mountains, New York Gov. Eliot Spitzer said in a statement today, and... MORE

Delaware Air Guard celebrates safety achievements
June 20, 2007 — NEW CASTLE, Del. - Airmen from the Delaware Air National Guard's 166th Airlift Wing celebrated 44 years without a flight mishap here on Flag Day, June 14 with a ceremonial training flight that honored... MORE

A Delaware Air National Guard C-130 Hercules prepares to taxi at the New Castle County Airport, Del., June 14 for a training flight commemorating the 166th Airlift Wing's 160,000th accident-free flight hour.

Air Guard retires last F-16A in service
June 20, 2007 — TUCSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ariz. - The last operational F-16A Fighting Falcon flew its final mission here June 15, taking off from the Air National Guard base for indefinite storage at the... MORE

Staff Sgt. Michael Brizuela marshals the last operational F-16A model Fighting Falcon in the Air Force into a parking spot at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. The aircraft is being retired by the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing which now flies the more modern F-16C and F-16D models. This aircraft and two F-16Bs being retired will be stored at the Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group at Davis-Monthan.

National anti-drug and research programs honor Summit Racing
June 19, 2007 — Company helps National Guard, NCPRS target youth to Stay on TrackTALLMADGE, Ohio (6/19/2007) â€“ The National Guard Counterdrug Program and the National Center for Prevention and Research Solutions... MORE

Ray Tatko (third from left) receives a plaque from Ron Steger, Air Guard Master Sgt. William Raby and Air Guard Capt. John Glasgow during the Super Summit XV event June 16, 2007. Tatko is the president of Summit Racing Equipment that supports anti-drug and other youth efforts in the community.

Guard wing transitions to Langley
June 19, 2007 — LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. (AFPN) - The Virginia Air National Guard's 192nd Fighter Wing records its last F-16 Fighting Falcon training mission June 20. The wing, which has flown the F-16 since 1991... MORE

Remains of World War II Airman Returned Home

Tennessee Guard Airmen Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross

New York Airmen Bring Holiday Cheer to Hurricane Victims While Training

New York Air National Guard Honors President Martin Van Buren

Robot Boosts Louisiana Guard Civil Support Team Readiness