Guard News - The National Guard

West Virginia Guard aircrew helps fight California fires
October 1, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Four members of the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion, are flying aerial wildland firefighting missions to help combat massive northern California... MORE

Maj. Evan Dale, Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Kearns, Staff Sgt. Ed Dillon, and Spc. Jack DeAngelo of the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion, deployed to California in September 2020 to perform aerial woodland firefighting missions and will remain through at least Oct. 15, 2020.

103rd Defenders named ANG Security Forces Unit of the Year
September 30, 2020 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – The 103rd Security Forces Squadron at Bradley Air National Guard Base received the award for 2019 Air National Guard Outstanding Security Forces Unit of the Year during a ceremony... MORE

Senior Airman Alexis Maher, left of lectern, receives the 103rd Airlift Wing First Sergeant Council’s 2019 Diamond Award. Airmen through the rank of Technical Sergeant are eligible for nomination, and candidates appear before a board for evaluation.

Connecticut National Guard helps distribute masks to schools
September 30, 2020 — WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard is helping both the Connecticut State Department of Education and Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security distribute masks to... MORE

Soldiers and Airmen from the Connecticut National Guard load boxes of face masks into a vehicle at West Hartford Public Works, West Hartford, Connecticut, Sept. 30, 2020. The Connecticut National Guard is helping distribute 600,000 masks to school districts throughout the state.

Kansas Guard officer candidates learn teamwork, communication
September 30, 2020 — SALINA, Kan. – Instead of spending a beautiful Sunday morning in the classroom, candidates of class 65 Officer Candidate School, 1st Battalion, 235th Regiment, sharpened their communication and... MORE

Officer Candidate School candidates link arm to arm for stability as they navigate a balance beam obstacle in Salina, Kansas, Sept. 13, 2020.

New York National Guard CST helps keep U.S. Open safe
September 29, 2020 — MAMARONECK, New York. – When top golfers from the United States and Europe faced off for the 2020 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club Sept. 14-20, the New York National Guard's 24th... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Rodriguez, assigned to the 24th Civil Support Team, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, with handheld radiation detection equipment used during the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY., Sept. 19, 2020. The 24th CST, based out of Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, responds to chemical, biological and weapons of mass destruction threats.

Guard responds after wildfires hinder food bank operations
September 29, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – When wildfires threatened thousands of homes in the Sumner-Bonney Lake area, related power outages threatened an important lifeline.“The Guard saved this food bank, they came in... MORE

Members of the Washington National Guard pack and distribute food at a food bank in Touchet, Wash., May 13, 2020. Washington Air and Army National Guards service members are supporting food banks around the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Colorado National Guard studies nuclear weapons history
September 28, 2020 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) hosted a mobile training team from the Defense Nuclear Weapons School to teach Soldiers the basics of... MORE

The 100th Missile Defense Brigade (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) hosted a mobile training team from the Defense Nuclear Weapons School to teach Soldiers the basics of nuclear weapons to Soldiers from the 100th Missile Defense Brigade and Colorado Army National Guard at brigade headquarters in Colorado Springs Sept. 14-17, 2020.

Vermont Guard tops 50,000 COVID-19 test kits assembled
September 28, 2020 — BURLINGTON, Vt. – The Vermont Air National Guard undertook a new mission early this year, assembling COVID-19 test kits for the Vermont Department of Health and distributing them to VDH district... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard reached a milestone Sept. 18, 2020, assembling the 50,000th COVID-19 test kit for distribution throughout Vermont.

177th Medical Group trains for tactical combat casualty care
September 28, 2020 — ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. – The 177th Medical Group trained in combat casualty care Sept. 14-15.The training was provided by the nonprofit Southern New Jersey EMS Collaborative,... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman Carol T. Martinez, 177th Medical Group public health technician, participates in Tactical Combat Casualty Care training Sept. 15, 2020, at the 177th Fighter Wing, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. TCCC training teaches life-saving techniques and strategies for providing the best trauma care on the battlefield.

Ohio Air Guard members provide lifesaving aid
September 28, 2020 — MANSFIELD, Ohio – Staff Sgts. Michael Mauldin and Joshua Prater, both assigned to fire protection at the 179th Airlift Wing, provided lifesaving aid to a victim of a motor vehicle accident Sept... MORE

Staff Sgts. Joshua Prater and Michael Mauldin, in fire protection with the 179th Airlift Wing, stopped on their way to work Sept. 16, 2020, to provide lifesaving first aid to the victim of a motor vehicle accident. They were coined by Brig. Gen. James R. Camp Sept. 27 at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio.

56th SBCT holds annual training at Fort Indiantown Gap
September 25, 2020 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team Headquarters and Headquarters Company conducted annual training Sept. 12-26.The training varied from Stryker driver training to mission... MORE

The guidon for the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team Headquarters and Headquarters Company, based out of Horsham, Pa., posted outside its assigned headquarters building during annual training on Fort Indiantown Gap Sept. 12-26, 2020.

IANG, PRANG build partnership over new mission
September 25, 2020 — SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico – Members of the Iowa National Guard's 132d Wing helped the Puerto Rico Air National Guard (PRANG) transition from an airlift wing to a contingency response and combat... MORE

Members of the Iowa National Guard's 132d Wing in San Juan, Puerto Rico, at the end of their Aug. 14-28, 2020, mission to help the Puerto Rico Air National Guard transition from an airlift wing to a contingency response and combat communications wing.

163d Attack Wing navigates a DOMOPS perfect storm
September 25, 2020 — MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – The California Air National Guard's 163d Attack Wing has steeled itself to the toughest domestic operations (DOMOPS) in its history, launching up to three MQ-9 Reaper... MORE

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flown by 163d Attack Wing pilot Lt. Col. Paul Brockmeier, with sensor operator Master Sgt. Anthony Martinez, over the smoky San Gabriel Mountains of southern California on the way to a fire mission in northern California in late August 2020.

Michigan National Guard offers free COVID-19 testing
September 25, 2020 — STURGIS, Mich. – The Michigan Air National Guard helped conduct free COVID-19 of residents of Sturgis and nearby communities Sept. 22.To identify risk associated with the virus and help slow the... MORE

Members of the Michigan Air National Guard work during a drive-thru COVID-19 testing event in Sturgis, Mich., Sept. 22, 2020. The Michigan National Guard has partnered with state agencies to provide no-cost tests to Michigan residents.

Kansas Guard expands wildland firefighting capabilities
September 25, 2020 — SALINA, Kan. – For the third year, the state of Kansas has expanded its capability to respond to wildland fires, thanks to a partnership between the Kansas National Guard and the Kansas Forest... MORE

Chris Hanson, right, district fire management officer with the Kansas Forest Service, monitors a controlled burn with a Kansas National Guard student during the Wildland Firefighting Red Card Certification Course at the Great Plains Regional Training Center in Salina Sept. 17, 2020.

Cyber Shield 2020 tests Washington Guard cyber professionals
September 24, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As cyber threats become more sophisticated, there is an increased demand on cyber professionals in the National Guard to help protect critical infrastructure in cyberspace.The... MORE

Ten members of the Washington National Guard, shown at Camp Murray, Wash., Sept. 22, 2020, took part in the Cyber Shield 2020 virtual cybersecurity exercise involving more than 800 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from around the United States.

Turning brass into cash: Recycling program boosts revenue
September 24, 2020 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Service members who have spent time at the rifle range know the day isn't over until the brass is policed. But where does it go? Expended brass shell casings are one of the... MORE

Boxes of expended brass shell casings await recycling at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., in this 2017 file photo.

Red Arrow veteran killed in WWII finally receives headstone
September 24, 2020 — MILWAUKEE – A Red Arrow Soldier killed in action during World War II finally received a headstone during a Sept. 10 ceremony in Milwaukee 76 years after making the ultimate sacrifice for his country... MORE

Members of a Wisconsin National Guard color guard with Battery C, 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery, salute during a headstone dedication ceremony for Staff Sgt. Walter A. Schaller Sept. 10, 2020, at Holy Cross Cemetery in Milwaukee. Schaller joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 32nd Division on April 29, 1941, and was killed in New Guinea on Feb. 20, 1944. He was buried in an unmarked grave at the cemetery in 1949 until a local historian discovered it through research.

Cyber Shield 2020 features fully virtual training exercise
September 24, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cyber Shield 2020 is underway on networks across the nation, with more than 800 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from more than 40 states signed in for virtual training to sharpen... MORE

Ohio Army National Guard personnel with Detachment 2, U.S. Army Cyber Protection Team 172, work during the unit’s validation as part of Cyber Shield 20, Sept. 17, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. The annual Cyber Shield is underway on networks across the nation, with more than 800 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from more than 40 states signed in for the virtual training Sept. 12-27.

Ohio National Guard food bank support extends to December
September 24, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – About 350 members of the Ohio National Guard are helping process and distribute food at 14 food bank warehouses across the state.While there are Ohio National Guard units... MORE

Joint Task Force members load food into civilian vehicles in Springfield, Ohio, Aug. 5, 2020. Since March members of the Ohio National Guard have been assisting at food banks across Ohio.

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise