Guard News - The National Guard

Florida Guard’s 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade battalions activate
March 10, 2020 — FORT BRAGG, N.C. – The 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) was recognized and activated by the U.S. Army during an official ceremony at Fort Bragg’s Noncommissioned Officer Academy March... MORE

The 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade (SFAB) was recognized and activated by the U.S. Army during an official ceremony at Fort Bragg, N.C., Mar. 5, 2020.

Rules restrict political activity by DOD personnel
March 10, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – With the 2020 election season in full swing, Department of Defense officials are reminding military members and civilian employees of limits to what kinds of political activity they... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Soldier saves woman from fire
March 10, 2020 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Sgt. Darren Watkins, with the 2120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, exhibited Army values when he selflessly saved an older woman and her four... MORE

Sgt. Darren Watkins, a Soldier with the 2120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, rescued an elderly woman and her four dogs from a house fire while on duty as a sheriff's deputy Feb. 29, 2020.

NY Air Guard's 109th Airlift Wing completes Antarctic mission
March 9, 2020 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing wrapped up its 32nd season of support for American research in Antarctica as Airmen and aircraft began... MORE

An LC-130 "Skibird" assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing on the skiway at Willliams Field, Antarctica, Feb. 6, 2020. The 109th Airlift Wing flies the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world and supports Antarctic research.

Airmen get hands-on casualty care training
March 9, 2020 — GOWEN FIELD, Idaho – The 124th Medical Group offered Tactical Combat Casualty Care training March 6-8 in preparation for the 124th Fighter Wing’s upcoming deployment. TCCC replaced the training... MORE

Master Sgt. Robert Hall, with the 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron assigned to the petroleum, oil and lubricant section, practices packing a wound during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training, March 8, 2020, at Gowen Field, Idaho. The hands-on training gives Airmen the skills and experience to deal with blast injuries, gunshot wounds and other types of trauma.

F-16 student pilots take on Cactus
March 9, 2020 — LUKE AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. – Student pilots assigned to the Air National Guard's 149th Fighter Wing in San Antonio, Texas, arrived in Phoenix Feb. 25 to begin Coronet Cactus, the culminating event in... MORE

First Lt. Jared Wesemann and 1st Lt. Ian Bonner, two F-16 student pilots assigned to the 149th Fighter Wing, Air National Guard, during Coronet Cactus, Feb. 24, 2020, at Luke Air Force Base, Ariz. The annual training event deploys members of the 149th Fighter Wing, headquartered at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Texas, to another environment to accomplish mission objectives in an unfamiliar location.

Combat casualty care prepares Airmen to respond
March 6, 2020 — GULFPORT, Miss. – Sixty Airmen from multiple Air National Guard units trained in Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) as part of the PATRIOT South 2020 exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center... MORE

PATRIOT South 2020 participants complete two-day Tactical Combat Casualty Care training during PATRIOT South 20 at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Miss., Mar. 1, 2020. PATRIOT South 20 provides a simulated natural disaster environment for units to test their response and capabilities to conduct domestic operations.

Guard chief stresses strategic use of force, parity with active force
March 5, 2020 — WASHINGTON – The U.S. military cannot do its job without the capabilities inherent in the National Guard, Air Force Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel told the Senate appropriations defense subcommittee... MORE

Pilots assigned to the 134th Fighter Squadron, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, return to base in their F-35A Lightning IIs during routine flying operations from the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vt., Feb. 8, 2020.

188th Airman saves time, money with GIS
March 5, 2020 — FORT SMITH, Ark. – When an EF-1 tornado hit Fort Smith in May 2019, Ebbing Air National Guard Base was right along its path. With winds hitting an estimated peak of 105mph, it was enough to uproot... MORE

Master Sgt. Brandon Louderback, a 188th CES engineer assistant, Arkansas National Guard, demonstrates Geographic Information System (GIS) surveying capabilities during a training exercise, March 4, 2020, at Ebbing Air National Guard base, Fort Smith, Ark.

New Hampshire’s 12th CST trains in frigid Alaskan weather
March 5, 2020 — BETHEL, Alaska – U.S. Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sara McPherson, the decontamination NCO and acting noncommissioned officer in charge with the 12th Civil Support Team (CST), New Hampshire National... MORE

A Small Unit Support Vehicle Drives through the Yukon Training Area on Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, Feb. 27, 2020, as part of exercise Arctic Eagle 2020.

Sky Devils provide critical link to Soldiers
March 4, 2020 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers train daily to operate the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle for surveillance, targeting and communications... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Benjamin Yuen, left, and Pfc. Antonio Arriola, with the New Jersey National Guard, inside a ground control station for a RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aerial system on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 10, 2020. The “Sky Devils” provide surveillance and communication relays for ground forces during combat.

Connecticut Airmen learn mental health first aid, resilience
March 4, 2020 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – "If you can remember, if it's not too painful to think about, your darkest, most difficult days … how did you pull through?"Chief Master Sgt. of the Air Force Kaleth O. Wright... MORE

Carissa Peckrul, a Health360, Inc. Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) instructor, teaches an MHFA certification course to members of the Connecticut Air National Guard, Jan. 15, 2020, at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. MHFA is a public education program that introduces participants to the warning signs of mental health problems and teaches them how to respond to a mental health crisis.

Fort Benning to host Sullivan Cup tank crew competition
March 4, 2020 — FORT BENNING, Ga. – The rumble of Abrams tanks and the orange flash of their cannons as they blast targets downrange will be center-stage at Fort Benning when top Abrams crews from the Army, Marine... MORE

In an October 2016 photo, an M1A2 Abrams tank moves with agility through rugged, wooded terrain during a combat training exercise at Fort Benning, Ga. Fort Benning will host the arduous Sullivan Cup Tank Crew Competition May 4-8.

Tennessee National Guard begins tornado response
March 4, 2020 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Soldiers and Airmen from the Tennessee National Guard were activated to help victims and first responders in the aftermath of the tornado that struck Davidson, Wilson, and Putnam... MORE

An Airman from the 118th Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Group, Tennessee Air National Guard, examines images of tornado damage across Tennessee March 4, 2020, at Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tennessee. Several Airmen from the 118th ISRG analyzed imagery from commercial satellites and open source websites to determine extent and location of damage caused by the Middle Tennessee tornados.

North Carolina National Guard cyber team on election duty
March 3, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – The militia at the founding of the republic was ready in a minute to defend their homeland, but for this modern, hand-picked team of North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) cyber experts,... MORE

North Carolina National Guard cyber professionals, from left, Spc. Azaria Christian, Sgt. Michael Gibbs, Spc. Richard Glenn, Spc. Jose Zuniga, Spc. Mei Gerrans, 1st Lt. Joseph Muraguri and Chief Master Sgt. Randy Conner, test equipment to protect the North Carolina electoral system from cyberattack before and during the "Super Tuesday" election March 3, 2020. They are part of the Guard's Cyber Security Response Force.

Alaska Guard trains in arctic survival, M17 pistol
March 3, 2020 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, trained in arctic survival, helicopter-hoisting, movement-to-contact and weapon familiarization as part of... MORE

Staff Sgt. Sean E. Davis, a member of 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, based in Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, tests the new SIG Sauer M17 Army service pistol March 1, 2020, in the Yukon Training Area on Eielson Air Force Base as part of exercise Arctic Eagle 2020.

Kentucky’s cyber protection team wraps up first deployment
March 2, 2020 — FORT MEADE, Md. – A unique Kentucky National Guard unit has returned from the Washington, D.C., area after spending the last year conducting cyberspace operations in support of U.S. Cyber Command.The... MORE

Members of the 175th Cyber Protection Team wrap up a year-long deployment to Fort Meade, Md., as part of Task Force Echo supporting cyberspace operations for U.S. Cyber Command.

PATRIOT exercise tests National Guard emergency response
March 2, 2020 — GULFPORT, Miss. – National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from more than 30 states are joining government agencies and first responders for PATRIOT South 20, a domestic operations training exercise... MORE

U.S. Air Force medical personnel assigned to multiple Air National Guard units prepare equipment onboard a C-17 Globemaster departing for a joint medical evacuation exercise with Tampa, Florida, partners during Patriot South 2020 at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., Feb. 27, 2020. PATRIOT is a domestic operations disaster-response training exercise conducted by National Guard units working with federal, state and local emergency management agencies and first responders.

Alaska Army Guard medic participates in Arctic Eagle 2020
March 2, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Conner, a member of the 297th Infantry Battalion medical platoon, participated in Arctic Eagle 2020 at the... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Conner, a member of the 297th Infantry Battalion medical platoon, participated in Arctic Eagle 2020 at Fort Wainwright, Alaska, Feb. 25. Conner has been an Army Guard medic since 2010, and has worked as a firefighter for about 30 years.

Indiana’s 19th CERFP unit trains in Alaska for Arctic Eagle 2020
February 28, 2020 — INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana National Guard's 19th CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package practiced search-and-extraction measures in Alaska as part of Arctic Eagle 2020, which brought together Guard... MORE

Service members conduct decontamination during the joint force exercise Arctic Eagle 2020 in Alaska. The Indiana National Guard is participating, alongside numerous civilian and federal agencies with approximately 900 other Air and Army National Guard members from 15 states Feb. 20 to March. 7.

Maine Army Guard Engineers Build Communities, Readiness

Iowa Army Guard Soldiers Train at Tigerland

Idaho Guard Engineers Aid Redwood Park Restoration

Oregon Army Guard Helps Design Future Medevac Technology

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Five Distressed Boaters