Guard News - The National Guard

Northern Strike exercise shifts to real-world response
July 24, 2020 — ALPENA, Mich. – On the afternoon of July 21, a historic icon of Alpena, Michigan, went up in flames.The John A. Lau Saloon and Restaurant, a local institution since the late 1800s, was once a favorite... MORE

Firefighters from the Michigan Air National Guard’s Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing respond to a request for mutual-aid support at a massive structure fire in downtown Alpena, Michigan, July 21, 2020.

Michigan Guard Band supports communities during COVID-19
July 23, 2020 — BELMONT, Mich. – The 126th Army Band of the Michigan National Guard, commonly called the "Governor's Own," has been entertaining the residents, service members, and veterans of Michigan for decades... MORE

Michigan Soldiers from the 126th Army Band, Michigan Army National Guard assist Feeding American West Michigan Food Bank by distributing food for families in need during a recent mobile food distribution event as part of the Michigan National Guard's coronavirus 19 disease (COVID-19) response.

NY National Guard combat engineers practice explosive skills
July 23, 2020 — FORT DRUM, New York – Fresh from duty assisting New York in tackling COVID-19, New York Army National Guard combat engineers hit the ranges to practice clearing the battlefield of any other obstacles... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 152 Brigade Engineer Battalion conduct demolition training at Fort Drum, NY, Jul. 15.

164th Security Forces Squadron trains at Northern Strike 20
July 22, 2020 — ROGERS CITY, Mich. – Northern Strike’s purpose is to help prepare warfighters from across all service branches by perfecting joint fire proficiency in a premier all-domain training environment. To... MORE

Airman 1st Class Franklin Simon, a 164th Security Forces Squadron defender, Memphis Tennessee Air National Guard, drives an all-terrain vehicle while acting as the opposition forces in a joint exercise with the Army infantry, Air Force tactical air control party, and joint terminal air controllers during Northern Strike 20 at Rogers City, Mich., July 21, 2020.

189th Airlift Wing installs first UV light system
July 22, 2020 — LITTLE ROCK AFB, Ark - Over the last several months, the world changed dramatically due to the COVID-19 pandemic. American families were crushed with the responsibility of the new "normal" wearing... MORE

PJ Piper, FAR UV Technologies prepares for an ultraviolet installment in one of many facilities across the 189th Airlift Wing, July 16, 2020, at Little Rock Air Force Base, Ark. The wing is the first in the Department of Defense to utilize this technology in the work environment.

Oregon National Guard members train to battle wildland fires
July 22, 2020 — SALEM, Ore. - Even during a pandemic and protests, the potential for wildfires does not diminish. Always at the ready, approximately 400 Oregon National Guard (ORNG) Citizen-Soldiers and-Airmen... MORE

Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen from the Oregon National Guard stamp out flames during a wildland firefighter training at the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training in Salem, Ore. July 13-17.

Washington National Guard members support Team Med Surge
July 22, 2020 — LACY, Wash. – With the number of positive COVID-19 cases still rising, hospitals – especially those in smaller, rural areas – run the risk of running out of bed space, reducing a community’s ability... MORE

View of the Team Med Surge Isolation facility that can be set up in rural and smaller towns if medical facilities are overrun with cases.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues four distressed hikers
July 22, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska Air National Guard rescued four distressed hikers from Crow Pass Trail, which runs between Girdwood and the Eagle River Nature Center, July 20. The... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60 Pave Hawk, from the 210th Rescue Squadron, performs a simulated search and rescue pattern in Alaska. The 210th Rescue Squadron is part of a network of search-and-rescue organizations that save hundreds of lives in and around Alaska every year.

Texas Guard launches innovation unit
July 21, 2020 — AUSTIN, Texas – After over a year of preparation, the Texas Guard is officially launching the Texas Military Department Joint Innovation Unit: TMDx.The original plan called for a live event at the... MORE

Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, along with Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, the adjutant general of Texas, visit Texas National Guard service members serving at the Tarrant Area Food Bank in Fort Worth, Texas, April 29, 2020.

NY aircrews take WVNG troops to new heights for jump training
July 20, 2020 — CAMP DAWSON, West Virginia – Two New York Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook helicopters crewed by nine Soldiers took 15 West Virginia Army National Guard Special Forces members to new heights to... MORE

Paratroopers from Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, conduct military free-fall exercise out of a New York National Guard Chinook helicopter. Pilots from Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Regiment, supported this operation from Camp Dawson, West Virginia, July 11, 2020.

Wisconsin Guard surpasses 250,000 COVID-19 tests collected
July 20, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – Members of the Wisconsin National Guard have tested 256,000 people across the state for COVID-19 in ongoing operations to increase Wisconsin’s testing capacity.Mobile specimen... MORE

Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard collect specimens for COVID-19 testing July 13, 2020, at a community-based test site at the Eleva-Strum High School in Strum, Wis. The Wisconsin National Guard has collected more than 256,000 specimens statewide.

Task Force helps Virginia respond to COVID-19 pandemic
July 20, 2020 — PETERSBURG, Va. – After months of hard work and unprecedented challenges, one element of the Virginia National Guard’s support to Virginia’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic is ending. While COVID-19... MORE

The Virginia Department of Emergency Management’s Region 7 (Northern Virginia) staff recognizes Virginia National Guard Soldiers who helped process personal protective equipment requests at their Regional Logistics Warehouse.

WVNG helps meet increased demand for testing, PPE
July 20, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Almost 400 members of the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) are supporting the state’s COVID-19 response with testing and other missions. As COVID-19 cases increase in areas... MORE

A West Virginia National Guard Airman provides a COVID-19 test to a citizen on May 22, 2020, in Charleston, W.Va.

Colorado Guard tests for COVID-19 at corrections facilities
July 20, 2020 — CENTENNIAL, Colo. – Colorado National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are helping test inmates and staff at select correctional facilities in Colorado for COVID-19.At the request of the state, Joint Task... MORE

Colorado National Guard Spc. Michael Price, medic, 928th Medical Company (Area Support), instructs nurses at a nursing home in Grand Junction on COVID-19 test procedures June 3, 2020. The Colorado National Guard is increasing COVID-19 testing across Colorado as needed.

NY Guard hosts Israeli counterparts to discuss COVID response
July 17, 2020 — NEW YORK – An officer from Israel’s Home Front Command, the branch of Israel’s military that handles natural disasters and emergencies, got a firsthand look at how the New York National Guard... MORE

Lt. Col. Hai Rekah of the Israel Defense Forces Home Front Command, with members of the New York National Guard, observes intake procedures for motorists at the drive-thru test site at Glen Island Park in New Rochelle, N.Y., July 15, 2020. Rekah was in New York to meet with New York National Guard leaders to see parts of New York’s response to COVID-19, as Israel’s Homefront Command responds to the pandemic.

122nd Fighter Wing returns to drill amid COVID-19
July 17, 2020 — FORT WAYNE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – The 122nd Fighter Wing recently returned to regularly scheduled drill after a base-wide response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Blacksnakes priority was to... MORE

A U.S. Airman with the Indiana Air National Guard receives a temperature check while passing through a prescreening station June 14, 2020, at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Temperature checks were conducted as an additional safety measure to help identify members with potential COVID-19 symptoms.

Guard Soldiers achieve marksmanship overmatch in Utah
July 17, 2020 — LEHI, Utah – At 800 meters from the target, the Soldiers started running. The sun beat down on their shoulders as their boots pounded along the winding dirt road, kicking up dust. Each Soldier carried... MORE

Staff Sgt. Wayne “Guido” Gray, California National Guard, engages targets in the Reflexive Fire match July 10, 2020, during the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region Seven Championships at Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah. Thirty-four Guard members from California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah spent three intense days in the mountains of Utah competing. Colorado took home the team championship title.

Michigan National Guard gets 1st military judge
July 16, 2020 — LANSING, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard will appoint its first military judge, Lt. Col. Jason Evans, command judge advocate, 272nd Regional Support Group, Michigan Army National Guard.As a... MORE

Lt. Col. Jason Evans, command judge advocate, 272nd Regional Support Group, Michigan Army National Guard, will be appointed the first military judge in the Michigan National Guard.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues injured hiker at Hatcher Pass
July 16, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF RICHARDSON, Alaska – Responding to a rescue request from Alaska State Troopers for a hoist-capable helicopter, the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 23, 2015. The 210th Rescue Squadron provides emergency rescue services for the citizens of Alaska in addition to training for wartime combat search and rescue missions.

NY Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade begins summer training
July 16, 2020 — SYRACUSE, NEW YORK – Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard’s 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team began their annual training season this week at their home armories, Fort Devens in Massachusetts,... MORE

New York Army National Guard Spc. Guadalupe Lopez, B Company, 1st Battalion 69th Infantry, M249 SAW gunner, practices taking out enemy targets during training at the 106th Rescue Wing, F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Jan. 11, 2020. Soldiers of the 69th Infantry conducted ground combat-focused field exercises at the 106th RQW as part of their monthly training.

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