Guard News - The National Guard

W.Va. Guardsman uses unique training to save neighbor's home
November 24, 2020 — WINCHESTER, Va. – Sitting in their home on a blustery evening Nov. 19, West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) 1st Sgt. John Russell and his wife were enjoying a relaxing night of television."As we were... MORE

A wildland fire 1st Sgt. John Russell of the West Virginia National Guard's 249th Band was confronted with near his home in Winchester, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2020. Russell used basic wildland firefighting training he received with the West Virginia Division of Forestry (WVDOF) in October 2019 to help contain the fire and save a neighbor's home from potential damage.

‘Charlie Med’ keeps Soldiers, civilians in the fight
November 24, 2020 — MACON, Ga. – One company of only 100 Soldiers ensures the health of a force of over 4,000 within the Georgia Army National Guard. Affectionately known as "Charlie Med," the Charlie Company, 148th... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Murphy Alexander, a combat medic assigned to Charlie Company, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, administers a flu vaccination to a Soldier during drill weekend, Nov. 14, 2020, at the unit’s armory in Macon, Georgia. Preventative medical care ensures the brigade is medically fit and ready to respond to any mission.

10th Civil Support Team trains at SeaTac Airport
November 24, 2020 — SEATAC, Wash. – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the nation's busiest airports and one of the busiest ports of entry into the United States for foreign travelers. Those are solid reasons... MORE

Survey team members from the 10th Civil Support Team conduct a hazardous material detection exercise with the Port of Seattle Fire Department with Washington State Department of Health observers at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport on Nov. 18, 2020. The 10th Civil Support Teams trains for a number of different scenarios alongside civilian first responders.

Air National Guard F-35 LO shop established in Vermont
November 20, 2020 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – As the first Air National Guard unit to base the F-35A Lightning II, the 158th Fighter Wing is familiar with making history and breaking records. Now, the wing claims another... MORE

Members assigned to the 158th Maintenance Group low observable shop in their new building at the Vermont Air National Guard base, South Burlington, Vt., Sept. 23, 2020. As the first Air National Guard unit to base the F-35A Lightning II, the 158th Fighter Wing is now also home of the first F-35 low observable (LO) shop in the Air National Guard.

Army Guard unit wins Omaha Trophy for strategic deterrence
November 20, 2020 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – In 2020 style, a small formation of socially distanced and masked Soldiers gathered to celebrate the halcyon days of 2019 as the 100th Missile Defense Brigade was presented... MORE

Navy Rear Adm. William W. "Trey" Wheeler III, U.S. Strategic Command chief of staff, right, and Vice Adm. (Ret.) Walter "Ted" Carter, the president of the University of Nebraska, present the Omaha Trophy to Col. Michael Hatfield, commander of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, during a ceremony at U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command headquarters at Peterson Air Force Base, Colo., Nov. 19, 2020. This is the first time an Army unit and the first time an Army National Guard unit has been selected for this prestigious honor, which recognizes outstanding support to the USSTRATCOM mission of strategic deterrence.

Virginia ANG maintainers take home prestigious awards
November 20, 2020 — JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, Va. – Two Virginia Air National Guard Airmen have won what’s known as the most prominent award in the Air Force maintenance field.Capt. Andrew Gibler and Master Sgt. William... MORE

Capt. Andrew Gibler poses for a photo on the flightline on March 8, 2020, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. He has applied his experience and passion for mechanics to his job as a maintenance officer in the 192nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron.

Cargo aircraft turned rescue platform for astronaut recovery
November 20, 2020 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – It’s Nov. 13, two days before a historic rocket launch, and a helicopter pilot approaches a cargo jet on a clear morning at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam. He... MORE

Hawaii Air National Guard pilots from the 154th Operations Group and 204th Airlift Squadron review mission plans on a C-17 Globemaster III Nov. 13, 2020, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The Hawaii Air National Guard aircrew was supported by active-duty Airmen from the 15th Wing, who provided logistical and planning support for a contingency rescue operation for NASA’s Commercial Crew Program.

109th AW on standby in New Zealand for Antarctica missions
November 19, 2020 — SCOTIA, N.Y. – The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing will not be flying to Antarctica this year to provide logistics support to the National Science Foundation's U.S. Antarctic Program... MORE

A member of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing performs maintenance on an LC-130, ski-equipped aircraft at McMurdo Station, Antarctica, on Dec. 17, 2018. The 109th normally provides logistics support to U.S. Antarctic research operations by flying people, equipment and supplies around the continent. Because of COVID-19, the wing will deploy aircraft to New Zealand this year where they will be on standby.

Georgia Medical Detachment shifts to serve public need
November 19, 2020 — MARIETTA, Ga. – Each year, thousands of Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers receive medical care from the Marietta-based Georgia Medical Detachment, 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kirsti Horton, a combat medic with the Marietta-based Georgia Medical Detachment, 78th Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, labels a patient's test vials on May 14, 2020, at Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center South in East Point, Georgia. The Georgia Army National Guard deployed Soldiers and Airmen to local hospitals to increase medical staffing.

Hawaii Guard helps ease Safe Travels Hawaii program backlog
November 18, 2020 — HONOLULU – The Hawaii National Guard is helping the state's Office of Enterprise Technology Services (ETS) and Department of Health verify COVID-19 test results of visitors in the Safe Travels Hawaii... MORE

Sergeant Ryan Pang, Task Force Oahu, Hawaii National Guard, helps manually verify and update visitors' test results registered in the Safe Travels Hawaii program, Nov. 16, 2020, 298th Multi-Functional Training Regiment in Waimanalo.

Nevada Army Guard revamps driver training program
November 18, 2020 — LAS VEGAS – The Nevada Army National Guard driver training program is in the midst of a much-needed overhaul to prepare vehicle operators for success on both Silver State roadways and future... MORE

A Soldier with the Nevada Army National Guard participates in the new G3 Driver-Training Program, Oct. 28, 2020, in Las Vegas. This course taught Soldiers proper cornering, braking and maneuvering techniques on the M1120A2 HEMITT Load Handling System.

N.C. Guard helps out at food banks, COVID-19 test sites
November 17, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – Many states are still responding to problems brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, including an increased need for testing and assistance from food banks.That is where the North... MORE

Pfc. Pedro Dominguez, assigned to the North Carolina Army National Guard’s 875th Engineer Company, enters a patient’s information at a drive-thru COVID-19 test site in High Point, North Carolina, on Nov. 13, 2020. More than 170 North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are activated across the state to support N.C. Emergency Management’s response to the pandemic.

Michigan National Guard fills vital need for food delivery
November 17, 2020 — PONTIAC, Mich. – Soldiers and Airmen from the Michigan National Guard have worked with food pantries and other charities to help distribute more than 3.5 million pounds of food to those in need during... MORE

Michigan National Guard Soldiers with Michigan’s Task Force Spartan work with Gleaners of Pontiac, Michigan, Community Food Bank on Nov. 4, 2020. Since March, Michigan National Guard teams have supported food banks across Michigan.

New York Guard's 2nd CST conducts disaster response training
November 16, 2020 — ROTTERDAM, N.Y. – More than 20 Airmen and Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 2nd Civil Support Team (CST) deployed to an abandoned office building to search for a simulated blister agent lab... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers assigned to the New York National Guard's 2nd Civil Support Team, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y., pair up in two-person survey teams to search for possible hazardous materials during a training exercise at Rotterdam Industrial Park, Rotterdam, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2020.

Massachusetts Airmen recognized for innovation
November 16, 2020 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – Two members of the 104th Fighter Wing Maintenance Group came up with a better way to repair F-15 Eagle panels, saving the Air National Guard lots of money and increasing combat... MORE

Master Sgt. Leo Burbee, 104th Maintenance Group structural maintenance supervisor, and Master Sgt. Bob Oleksak, 104MXG fabrication element supervisor, stand at attention after receiving the Air Force Achievement Medal during a ceremony Nov. 14, 2020, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts.

West Virginia National Guard helps ramp up COVID-19 testing
November 13, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – At the direction of Gov. Jim Justice nearly two weeks ago, the West Virginia National Guard helped increase COVID-19 testing throughout the state. Guard members, with the... MORE

A member of the West Virginia National Guard's COVID-19 response prepares for a COVID-19 testing lane Nov. 7, 2020. Since Oct. 30, West Virginia National Guard personnel, with the assistance of local health department workers, have been working around the clock the establish locations, advertise testing and conduct nearly 400 testing lanes throughout West Virginia.

Planning begins for Northern Strike 21 exercise
November 13, 2020 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Since its inception in 2012, Northern Strike has grown into the nation's largest joint, reserve-component exercise. The initial planning conference for next year's iteration,... MORE

A member of the Michigan National Guard speaks during the initial planning conference for Northern Strike 21-2 on Nov. 3-5, at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Camp Grayling. NS 21-2 is scheduled July 31 to Aug. 14, 2021, and planners are expecting more than 7,000 participants.

Colorado National Guard infantry trains for deployment
November 13, 2020 — CAMP GUERNSEY, Wyo. – Colorado Army National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, trained in Guernsey, Wyoming, Oct. 15-25, preparing for a deployment. While the... MORE

A Colorado Army National Guard Soldier from Company A, 1st Battalion, 157th Infantry Regiment, provides security over watch during a training scenario in Guernsey, Wyoming, in preparation for a deployment, Oct. 20, 2020. The U.S. Army’s 4th Security Force Assistance Brigade, Fort Carson, Colorado, provided assistance and helped the National Guard improve their combat tactics during the exercise.

Colorado ANG builds readiness with Canadian partners
November 13, 2020 — GOOSE BAY, Newfoundland Labrador – U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Wing, based at Buckley Air Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, participated in North... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Teneyck Latourrette, a pilot, and Senior Master Sgt. Michael Horner, both from the 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, Buckley Air Force Base, look over aircraft forms before takeoff during Operation Noble Defender, Sept. 21, 2020, 5 Wing Goose Bay, Newfoundland Labrador. North American Aerospace Defense Command conducted a dynamic force employment operation in the Arctic Sept. 20-23 to demonstrate NORAD’s air capability, readiness and will to defend the United States and Canada.

Vermont Guard's 158th Fighter Wing welcomes 1,000th member
November 10, 2020 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing welcomed its milestone 1,000th member during November drill.With the enlistment of Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri, who... MORE

Maj. Meghan Smith, chief of public affairs for the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, conducts the oath of enlistment for Tech. Sgt. Richard Mekkri, Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vt., Nov. 7, 2020. With the enlistment of Mekkri, transferring from the Air Force Reserves, the wing reached 1,000 members for the first time in several years since it began converting from the F-16 to the F-35A Lightning II.

Oregon Army Guard Helps Design Future Medevac Technology

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Five Distressed Boaters

W.Va. Guard Deploys Troops in Aftermath of Deadly Flooding

Colorado Army Guard’s Drone Warfare Cell Reshapes Warfighting

Alaska National Guard Leads Exercise ORCA 2025