Guard News - The National Guard

Air National Guard Conducts Arctic Training in Minnesota
February 11, 2025 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - Seventy Air National Guard Airmen trained and conducted mission-essential tasks in extreme cold during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley... MORE

Air National Guard Airmen conduct a 6-mile ruck as part of the Air National Guard's Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., Feb. 4, 2025. Seventy participants representing 37 wings from 27 states completed the six-day, five-night field training exercise.

Texas National Guard Operation Lone Star Helps Secure Border
February 11, 2025 — ROMA, Texas - National Guard members continue to play a key role in sealing and securing the southern U.S. border as additional troops join them. Nearly 1,500 Army National Guard Soldiers from more... MORE

A Texas Army National Guard Soldier looks across the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas, while taking part in border operations with the Texas Tactical Border Force, Feb. 5, 2025. The TTBF, comprising Texas National Guard members in a state active duty status, works with state and federal law enforcement officials, including U.S. Border Patrol, to deter, detect and stop illegal border crossings and to interdict transnational criminals.

NY Wing to Participate in Canadian Arctic Training Exercise
February 11, 2025 — SCOTIA, N.Y. – Fifty-nine Airmen and two LC-130 Hercules aircraft from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing will participate in a joint military exercise in the Northwest Territories... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Matthew Gadway, a member of the 109th Airlift Wing’s Polar Camp Skiway Team, grooms a ski landing area with a snow machine at Templeton Bay, Nunavut, Canada, March 13, 2023. The 109th’s LC-130's landed on the ski landing area to transport personnel and cargo to the austere Arctic environment during exercise Guerrier Nordique 2023.

Pennsylvania Guardsmen Graduate New Hospital Partnership Program
February 11, 2025 — HERSHEY, Pa. – Three Airmen with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 193rd Special Operations Wing are the inaugural graduates of a new program and partnership between Penn State Health Milton S... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Steven Thompson, left, and Tech. Sgt. Carlos Patino, assigned to Detachment 1, Medical Group, 193rd Special Operations Wing, Pennsylvania National Guard, perform lifesaving techniques on simulated patients during a mass casualty exercise at Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pennsylvania, Feb. 7, 2025. These Airmen completed an inaugural two-week training program, which is a new partnership between the National Guard and MSHMC, where participants learn how to respond effectively in emergencies and combat situations.

Oregon National Guard Opens Its First Off-Road Tank Trail
February 10, 2025 — UMATILLA, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard has unveiled a new six-mile tank driver training course at Raymond F. Rees Training Center, marking a significant upgrade in armor units’ training... MORE

Tank commander Sgt. 1st Class Eric Gilliland, of 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, communicates with driver Sgt. Maxwell Rounds from Castle Rock, Wash., as they maneuver their M1A2 SEP v2 Abrams tank onto the new six-mile tank trail at Raymond F. Rees Training Center in Umatilla, Oregon, Feb. 1, 2025. The new trail enables local National Guard tank crews to conduct essential driver training without traveling to out-of-state facilities.

Arkansas Guard’s 189th Airlift Wing Takes 1st C-130J Flight
February 10, 2025 — LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. – The 189th Airlift Wing conducted its first training flight in a J-model C-130 Feb. 7, a key step in the C-130J conversion process. The EC-130J aircraft is one of two... MORE

The aircrew for an EC-130J assigned to the 189th Airlift Wing poses for a group photo Feb. 7, 2025. The crew conducted the first training flight in a J-model C-130 for the Arkansas Air National Guard, an important step toward fleet modernization for the Air National Guard.

Louisiana National Guard Upgrades Advanced Radar Systems
February 10, 2025 — NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard’s 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion recently completed critical upgrades to its two AN/TPQ-53 radar systems at the Unit Training Equipment Site at Camp... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard’s 1-141st Field Artillery Battalion had its two AN/TPQ-53 radar systems, mounted on 5-ton tactical trucks, modified and its software upgraded at the Unit Training Equipment Site at Camp Villere in Slidell, Louisiana, Jan. 14, 2025.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues 8 People in 4 Missions
February 10, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescued eight people during four rescue missions in Alaska and Yukon Territory Jan. 26-31.A 210th Rescue Squadron... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook assigned to 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, operates Feb. 2, 2025, at the Whitehorse airport, Yukon Territory, Canada. The Chinook crew supported the repair of a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk that had rescued two victims of a Jan. 26 ultralight plane crash near Faro, Yukon Territory.

Air Guard Conducts Sentry South-Southern Strike Exercise
February 7, 2025 — GULFPORT, Miss. – Approximately 500 service members from the Active, Guard and Reserve components of the U.S. military participated in exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike 2025 at the Gulfport Combat... MORE

A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing marshals a C-130H Hercules at the Combat Readiness and Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, Feb. 5, 2025. Exercise Sentry South-Southern Strike is a joint military training focusing on contingency response operations, agile combat employment, aeromedical evacuation, maritime training, specialized fueling operations and strategic airlift and airdrops.

Oregon Guard Combat Medics Test Drone Delivery of Supplies
February 6, 2025 — WARRENTON, Ore. - Combat medics with the Oregon National Guard are adapting their battlefield medicine skills for large-scale combat operations through innovative training, including drone-delivered... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Kenneth Day retrieves simulated blood supplies delivered by a blueflite drone while Sgt. Benjamin Keikkala provides security during a field training exercise at Camp Rilea, Oregon, Jan. 30, 2025. The innovative drone delivery system demonstrated rapid resupply capabilities for combat medics in tactical environments.

FEBEX 25 Prepares Air National Guard for Global Challenges
February 6, 2025 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. - Approximately 250 Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen participated in a rigorous three-day exercise to test their readiness for global contingencies... MORE

Airmen from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing don protective gear as part of a training inject during February Exercise 2025 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Florida, Jan. 31, 2025. FEBEX 25 is a comprehensive, multi-faceted annual training event planned and executed by the 202nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadron.

Oklahoma Guard, Air Force Conduct Joint MEDEVAC Training
February 5, 2025 — OKLAHOMA CITY - Airmen from the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, teamed up with Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers from Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 90th Troop... MORE

Crew chiefs assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, and Airmen assigned to the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, escort simulated casualty patients to a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a joint training exercise at the Glenwood Training Area in Oklahoma City, Jan. 28, 2025. During the exercise, combat medics from the 72nd Air Base Wing, Tinker Air Force Base, practiced patient stabilization, MEDEVAC calls and loading procedures while coordinating with the OKARNG pilots conducting helicopter insertions in austere environments.

Nevada Guard Airlift Wing Assists with Operation Deep Freeze
February 4, 2025 — CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand - The 152nd Airlift Wing “High Rollers” from the Nevada Air National Guard achieved a historic first by participating in Operation Deep Freeze.The High Rollers supported the... MORE

The Nevada Air National Guard's High Rollers arrive in Antarctica Dec. 18, 2024, to support the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica. They flew augmented max duty day missions, logging over 30 hours in three days.

Texas Combat Communications Squadron Enhances Readiness
February 4, 2025 — MINERAL WELLS, Texas - The 221st Combat Communications Squadron kicked off the nine-day 2025 FrostByte ACE Exercise at Fort Wolters Training Site Jan. 30, training to set up forward positions in... MORE

Members of the 221st Combat Communications Squadron depart a Texas Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook belonging to the 149th Aviation Battalion during Exercise FrostByte ACE at Fort Wolters Training Site, Mineral Wells, Texas, Jan. 30, 2025. The nine-day exercise enabled Airmen to train on setting up forward positions in austere locations.

National Guard Members Continue LA Wildfire Response
January 21, 2025 — LOS ANGELES – U.S. Army Sgt. Ricardo Hernandez watched from a cross street as sporadic traffic passed on the Pacific Coast Highway near Pacific Palisades. The late afternoon sun glinted off his... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Bryce Carter, an infantryman with C Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, California Army National Guard, sharpens the blade of a hoe to clear brush and other debris as part of remediation efforts along the Mulholland Trail near Tarzana, California, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Jan. 18, 2025. Carter and other members of his unit were assisting CALFIRE in mop-up efforts, which included clearing brush and backfilling firebreaks and other areas to prevent mudslides and reduce the impact of firefighting efforts.

National Guard Bureau Leaders Meet With Guardsmen Supporting 60th Presidential Inauguration
January 20, 2025 — WASHINGTON – About 7,800 National Guard troops are on duty here as part of a large interagency presence to ensure the peaceful transition of power during the 60th Presidential Inauguration Monday,... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, and Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director, Army National Guard, visit National Guardsmen on duty to support the 60th Presidential Inauguration as part of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia (JTF-DC), Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2025.

42nd Infantry Division Heads to Warfighter Exercise
January 17, 2025 — TROY, N.Y. - More than 1,300 New York Army National Guard Soldiers head for Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Jan. 24 to take part in the Warfighter command post exercise.The Soldiers are part of the... MORE

Swedish military staff officers meet with leaders of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, during a command post exercise Nov. 21, 2024. The exercise was one of three command post exercises held to prepare for a division Warfighter exercise that begins Jan. 24, 2025.

National Guard Soldiers Prepare for Funeral Honors Duty
January 17, 2025 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers and two North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers trained on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the... MORE

Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers train on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program Dec. 12, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Military Funeral Honors Level 1 training is a five-day course that prepares Soldiers to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition.

New Jersey Guard Hosts U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff Training
January 16, 2025 — LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The New Jersey National Guard hosted a U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management... MORE

New Jersey National Guard members participate in a simulated training event during a Joint Staff training course conducted by North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at the NJNG Joint Operations Center in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jan. 12, 2025. The Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management in New Jersey and beyond.

National Guard to Support Presidential Inauguration
January 15, 2025 — WASHINGTON - Thousands of National Guard members from approximately 40 states, territories and the District of Columbia will support the 60th Presidential Inauguration at the request of the Secret... MORE

Senior Airmen Emma Oehler, 185th Air Refueling Wing medical technician, waits to depart the Sioux City, Iowa, airport with Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group Jan. 15, 2025. Iowa Air Guard medical technicians are flying to Washington to provide medical support for National Guard members in the capital region as part of the 60th Presidential Inauguration.

Missouri Airmen Provide Airlift in Central American Exercise

Washington Guard Improves Park Through Innovative Readiness Training

State Partnership Program Enables Global, Shared ‘Peace through Strength’

California Army Guard Members Reflect on LA Federal Protective Mission

Missouri Guard Airmen Play Critical Role in Iran Nuclear Strike Mission