Guard News - The National Guard

Esper praises outgoing NGB chief, welcomes incoming chief
August 3, 2020 — JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. – The past few years, some 450,000 National Guard members have responded to unprecedented crises both home and abroad, ranging from devastating hurricanes,... MORE

Defense Secretary Dr. Mark T. Esper presides as Army Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, director of the Army National Guard, is promoted to general and takes over as 29th National Guard Bureau chief during ceremonies at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Va., Aug. 3, 2020. Hokanson succeeds Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, who has served as NGB chief since August 2016.

NH National Guard hosts Cyber Yankee regional training
August 3, 2020 — PEMBROKE, N.H. – The New Hampshire National Guard hosted Cyber Yankee 2020, a regional exercise to provide cyber responders a virtual range to train and test their skills against cyberattacks, at the... MORE

New Hampshire National Guard Lt. Col. Woody Groton, exercise director of Cyber Yankee 2020, leads New Hampshire Gov. Chris Sununu on a tour of the event on July 31, 2020, at the Edward Cross Training Center in Pembroke, N.H. The two-week regional exercise enhanced the Guard's ability to respond to cyberattacks against state government and critical infrastructure.

Virginia National Guard mobilizes for Tropical Storm Isaias
August 3, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard (VNG) has mobilized in the Eastern Shore and at key locations along the I-95 corridor and in the Hampton Roads area to help local and state agencies respond... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 111th Field Artillery Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, prepare a convoy to travel to the Eastern Shore to respond to Tropical Storm Isaias Aug. 3, 2020, in Norfolk, Virginia. The Virginia National Guard is staging Soldiers and vehicles for state emergency support duty in the Eastern Shore area and in key locations along the I-95 corridor. The Soldiers are ready to assist local and state emergency agencies with Humvees and light/medium tactical trucks for high water transportation and chain saws for removing debris.

Pa. Guard helps return remains of Korean War Soldier
August 3, 2020 — PITTSBURGH – The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Military Funeral Honors detail participated in the repatriation of remains of a U.S. Army Soldier killed in the Korean War.The remains of Cpl. Jackey... MORE

The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Military Funeral Honors detail conducts a dignified transfer of remains for U.S. Army Cpl. Jackey Dale Blosser on July 30, 2020, at Pittsburgh International Airport. Blosser, of Randolph County, West Virginia, went missing in action Dec. 2, 1950, during the Korean War.

45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducts annual training
August 3, 2020 — NORMAN, Okla. – Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) began their annual training at armories and readiness centers across the state last week."As... MORE

Soldiers from Battery B, 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conduct a mock fire mission during crew drill training at their home armory in Holdenville, Oklahoma, July 29, 2020. The Soldiers, along with other units of the 45th IBCT, are taking part in home-station annual training with limited field training exercises while implementing COVID-19 countermeasures like social distancing or wearing masks.

Army National Guard to establish eight Divisions by aligning existing ARNG Division Headquarters with down-trace formations for training
July 31, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard is turning back the clock reminiscent of World War I and World War II when it trained to deploy as a division-aligned force for large-scale combat operations... MORE

Cyber Yankee exercise trains Conn. Guard in virtual threats
July 31, 2020 — WINDSOR LOCKS, Conn. – Airmen and Soldiers from the Connecticut National Guard joined other Guard members from throughout New England and state and federal partner agencies, for exercise Cyber Yankee,... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Bryan Dauphinais, 103rd Communications Flight cyber transport journeyman, analyzes simulated cyberattacks during exercise Cyber Yankee at the Windsor Locks Readiness Center, Windsor Locks, Connecticut, July 30, 2020.

Mechanics, QM Soldiers support Northern Strike
July 31, 2020 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – It began as a simple, straight-forward mission. Head out from the forward operating base, recover a Humvee that had mechanical issues and bring it back for repair. As the... MORE

Spc. Darrin Hilts, a wheeled vehicle mechanic with the Michigan Army National Guard's 1073rd Maintenance Company, works the hydraulics of an M984 HEMTT wrecker while preparing to tow a Humvee as part of a training mission during exercise Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Michigan, July 27, 2020.

Colorado National Guard reaches COVID-19 testing milestone
July 31, 2020 — CENTENNIAL, Colo. – By order of Gov. Jared Polis, Colorado National Guard members reached a testing milestone this week in support of the Colorado Department of Public Health & Environment amid... MORE

Colorado National Guard members prepare a COVID-19 testing site in Canon City, Colorado, July 29, 2020.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues hiker on Pioneer Peak
July 30, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Responding to a request for assistance last night from the Alaska State Troopers, the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker. Airmen... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter and aircrew assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, with pararescuemen aboard from the 212th Rescue Squadron saved a distressed hiker on July 26, 2020, at Mount Williwaw east of Anchorage. Photo from the previous rescue on Mount Williwaw.

NY Army Guard adapts Best Warrior Competition to COVID-19
July 30, 2020 — CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. – When they weren't running, they wore masks and temperatures were being taken constantly, and anything they touched was cleaned and disinfected.But nine New York Army... MORE

New York Army National Guard Cpl. Troy Perez, an infantryman assigned to Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, and the winner of the enlisted category in the state Best Warrior competition, performs the sprint, drag and carry portion of the Army Combat Fitness Test at Camp Smith Training Site, N.Y., July 25, 2020.

Texas Air National Guard feeding families in need
July 29, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Texas – In the heat of a Texas summer morning, Tech. Sgt. Brenna Jackson directs vehicles through the exit of the food distribution operations area, noting each driver's face as they pass... MORE

Texas Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Brenna Jackson directs exiting traffic during a food distribution event on July 8, 2020, in Arlington, Texas.

109th Airlift Wing team builds ski landing area in Arctic
July 29, 2020 — SCHENECTADY, N.Y. – "Creatio Ex Nihilo" or "Something from Nothing" is the motto of the 109th Airlift Wing's expeditionary ski-way team of Airmen from various units throughout the wing who are blazing... MORE

Airmen with the 109th Airlift Wing Skiway construction team employ barren land survival techniques as they erect the first shelter at Camp Rockwell during Air National Guard Exercise Arctic Eagle.

226th engineers use annual training as opportunity to build
July 29, 2020 — TOPEKA, Kan. – Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Detachment 1, 226th Engineer Company out of Pittsburg used their skills during annual training to complete several construction projects at Forbes Field Air... MORE

Soldiers with 2nd Platoon, Detachment 1, 226th Engineer Company out of Pittsburg, Kansas, used their skills during annual training to complete several construction projects at Forbes Field Air Force Base in Topeka for two weeks in July.

NY Guard logistics Soldiers hone airdrop resupply skills
July 29, 2020 — FORT DRUM, N.Y. — The 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team needs food, fuel and ammunition to fight, which generally flow into the 427th Brigade Support Battalion, the logistics backbone of the brigade... MORE

A C-130J Hercules transport aircraft piloted by Airmen from the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing airdrops pallets of supplies during a container delivery system training exercise, July 23, 2020.

Northern Strike exercise 'on target' for Michigan Army Guard artillery unit
July 28, 2020 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – The pewter-colored clouds hung low in the sky, hinting at the possibility of rain. A quick breeze fluttered past, dancing in the trees that surrounded the open field where... MORE

Soldiers with the Michigan Army National Guard's B Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment execute a direct fire mission during exercise Northern Strike at Camp Grayling, Michigan, July 26, 2020.

W.Va. Future Leaders Program prepares for new academic year
July 28, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Instructors and staff members of the West Virginia National Guard's Future Leaders Program (LFP) for high school students recently met in Winfield, West Virginia, to plan and... MORE

Instructors and staff members of the West Virginia National Guard’s Future Leaders Program for high school students pose for a photo following a training session held July 10, 2020 in Winfield, W.Va. The FLP staff recently met to plan and prepare for the upcoming academic school year.

Connecticut Guard assembles 107,000 test kits in five days
July 28, 2020 — HARTFORD, Conn. – Connecticut National Guard members have spearheaded efforts to expand the state’s COVID-19 testing stockpile, assembling 107,000 test kits in five days last week. Teams comprised... MORE

Soldiers from the 1-102nd Infantry Regiment assemble COVID-19 test kits at the Governor William A. O’Neill Hartford State Armory, Hartford, Connecticut, July 27, 2020.

Alaska Air Guard rescues distressed hiker at Mount Williwaw
July 28, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Air National Guard rescued a distressed hiker July 26 at Mount Williwaw east of Anchorage. Alaska National Guard Master Sgt. Andre Marron, Alaska... MORE

National Guard’s ultimate Joint Fires training opportunity
July 27, 2020 — GRAYLING, Mich. – Summer in Northern Michigan means boating, fishing – and increasingly, premier Joint Fires readiness training. Since 2012, Northern Strike, the National Guard Bureau’s largest joint,... MORE

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 119th Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, uses a collimator sight to ensure a M777 155mm howitzer is on target before firing the gun in a direct fire training exercise during Northern Strike 20, Camp Grayling, Michigan, July 25, 2020.

Cyber Tatanka Exercise Hones Cyber Warrior Skills

Idaho Guard Engineers Aid Redwood Park Restoration

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