Guard News - The National Guard

La. Guard revamps course to better prepare future leaders
November 16, 2018 — PINEVILLE, La. - The Louisiana Army National Guard's Multi-component Cadre Basic Leader Course (BLC) at Camp Cook in Ball has implemented a new course curriculum. The BLC revamp is part of the Army's... MORE

Soldiers discuss experiences and take notes during class at the Louisiana National Guard's 199th Regiment (Regional Training Institute) Basic Leadership Course at Camp Cook in Ball, Louisiana. The LANG's BLC started a new curriculum during the August rotation that will be in effect at all schoolhouses Army wide by January 2020.

Juggling fires and families: Calif. aviators make it work
November 14, 2018 — MATHER, Calif. – U.S. Army Sgt. Greg Fernandez stepped Monday into the hall of the Sacramento Army Aviation Support Facility to check on fires burning 400 miles away. Fernandez, a UH-60M Black Hawk... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Greg Fernandez, a UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter crew chief, works outside of the helicopter after landing, Nov. 11, 2018, at Sacramento Mather Airport in Mather, California. The helicopter is one of the first M-model UH-60s assigned to the California Army National Guard. The aircraft and crew traveled from Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, in Southern California to support state agencies battling the deadly Camp Fire in Northern California.

Vermont again a finalist for Army Communities of Excellence
November 8, 2018 — COLCHESTER, Vt. - The Vermont Army National Guard was selected as an Army Communities of Excellence finalist from the 54 states and territories that submitted ACOE applications to the National Guard... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Andres Diaz, Detachment 1, Alpha Company, 572nd Brigade Engineer Battalion, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont National Guard, throws a training grenade at Fort Drum, N.Y., June 13, 2017. The Vermont Guard is a finalist in the Army Communities of Excellence.

Prairie Assurance quake drill preps Guard, first responders
November 8, 2018 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – Imagine that a subtle shaking awakens you from a sound sleep. You step out of bed to investigate and as you move through your house, the rumble intensifies to a shake, then a... MORE

A C-130 Hercules from the Illinois National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing based in Peoria, lands at the Marion Airport in Marion, Illinois, during Prairie Assurance, a full-scale, statewide multi-agency exercise Nov. 2, 2018. Soldiers and Airmen from the Illinois National Guard exercised at multiple locations in the state with state agencies, county emergency management agencies and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency to test interoperability during a large-scale catastrophic event.

State cyberspace protection units gear up for Election Day
November 5, 2018 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-McCHORD, Wash.—An elite cyberspace operations unit within the Washington Air National Guard is working in support of the state's Office of the Secretary of State through Election Day,... MORE

Staff Sgt. Wiggin Bernadotte, a cyber warfare operator in the Washington Air National Guard's 262nd Cyberspace Operations Squadron, works with Capt. Benjamin Kolar, a cyberspace operations officer in the 262nd, on an electrical substation simulator on Nov. 3, 2018. The 262nd is supporting Washington State Secretary of State Kim Wyman to help secure and protect voting systems for the 2018 election.

100th Missile Defense Brigade marks 15 years of service
November 2, 2018 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colorado - The Soldiers of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade are the ground-based midcourse missile defense experts and have provided the nation's protection from intercontinental... MORE

100th Missile Defense Brigade Soldiers operate in the Misssile Defense Element at Schriever Air Force Base, Colorado.

Alaska Air Guard members rescue downed pilot
November 2, 2018 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a pilot of a Piper PA-12 Thursday on a sandbar of the Susitna River... MORE

Col. Harlie Bodine, commander of the 611th Air and Space Operations Center, U.S. Air Force, spent the day with the 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard’s rescue squadrons during an immersion flight, Nov. 24,2015, in and around the JBER area. The day’s demonstrations included an air refueling mission in which an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter was refueled by an HC-130 King aircraft, as well as a hoist extraction demo from a Pave Hawk. A Pave Hawk crew rescued an injured snowmobiler on Saturday.

Fla. Soldiers ensured successful deployments for out-of-state Guard teams
October 30, 2018 — HOMESTEAD, Fla. - As Guard members from several states arrived in Florida to assist with Hurricane Michael relief operations, Soldiers from the 50th Regional Support Group (RSG) were tasked with... MORE

Soldiers with the 631st Support Maintenance Company out of Starke, the 256th Area Support Medical Company out of Camp Blanding Joint Training Center and the Headquarters Company of the 50th Regional Support Group out of Homestead, set up a Joint Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (JRSOI) site outside the Baptist College of Florida in Graceville prior to the arrival of the 2025th Transportation Company of the Alabama National Guard in support of Hurricane Michael relief operations.

Air Guard member instrumental in rescue of four boaters
October 29, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When a small boat capsized off Costa Rica's southern coast in mid-October, Senior Master Sgt. Angel L. Correa sprung to action from a U.S. Coast Guard HC-130J Super Hercules aircraft... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Angel Correa, an airborne sensor operator and linguist with the Host Nation Rider program, a component of the larger National Guard Counterdrug program, used his Spanish language skills and knowledge of maritime communications during the rescue of four boaters off Costa Rica's southern coast in mid-October. The rescue was a first for Correa, who was aboard a Coast Guard HC-130 Super Hercules aircraft in a joint counterdrug operation when he coordinated the rescue efforts.

Alaska Air Guardsmen save man in highly technical operation
October 29, 2018 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a snowmachiner Oct. 27 approximately 15 miles northeast of... MORE

Oregon's 173rd FW highlights importance of cyber security
October 25, 2018 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - A concerning reality of society's dependence on technology is that information such as bank account passwords and credit card numbers are vulnerable to hacking—no matter the... MORE

Soldiers from the 146th Cyber Support Team of the Maine Army National Guard train to hack into other computers at Camp Keyes in Augusta, Maine, on Feb. 4, 2018. The 146th Cyber Support Team was created in October of 2017 to increase the safety of the Maine Guard’s technological assets.

Halloween Hustle treats Wyoming unit to varied tricks
October 24, 2018 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. - It was a fantastic day," said 84th Civil Support Team commander Lt. Col. Holly Shenefelt following her unit's response and mission execution at three separate notional crime scenes... MORE

Survey Team Chief staff sgt. Justin Pierce completes paperwork following a training exercise in Cheyenne. Soldiers and airmen assigned to the Wyoming National Guard's 84th Civil Support Team responded to three notional events in Laramie County Oct. 16, 2018, testing the team's ability to deploy small strike teams and to respond with back up when needed.

New York Guard personnel, helicopters assist after Michael
October 23, 2018 — TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Four New York Army National Guard helicopters and 25 Soldiers constituted the New York National Guard's contribution to the Hurricane Michael recovery efforts after the Category 4... MORE

A New York Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter transports search and rescue personnel and their all-terrain vehicles to St. Teresa, along the shoreline of the Florida panhandle, Oct. 12, 2018. The New York Army National Guard Soldiers deployed two Chinooks and two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters along with 25 crew members to Tallahassee, Florida, to assist with response and recovery efforts for the Florida National Guard following the impact of Hurricane Michael.

Texas National Guard helps first responders after flooding
October 23, 2018 — HUNTSVILLE, Texas – Texas National Guard members mobilized support personnel and vehicles Oct. 17 in response to flooding near Huntsville. The Dallas and Fort Worth-based 949th Brigade Support... MORE

Texas National Guardsmen support vehicles approach a flooded roadway near Huntsville, Texas, Oct. 18, 2018. Texas Guardsmen worked alongside emergency first responders to help Texans in need during severe flooding.

Florida infantry Soldiers provide security after hurricane
October 23, 2018 — PANAMA CITY, Fla. - From World War II to state activations, 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, headquartered in Orlando, Florida, has served the citizens of Florida for the past 76 years. While... MORE

Soldiers assigned to Company D., 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment direct vehicles at a check point in Mexico Beach, Fla following Hurricane Michael, Oct. 21, 2018.

136th AW kicks off inaugural Spark Tank competition
October 22, 2018 — NAVAL AIR STATION FORT WORTH JOINT RESERVE BASE, Texas – Status quo is not the way of the Air Force any longer.Secretary of the Air Force Heather Wilson kicked off the Air Force’s Spark Tank... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Jeremy McCray, 136th Medical Group Medical Service Corps officer, presents his idea for a secure, digital faxing system to a panel of 136th Airlift Wing Airmen during the wing’s Spark Tank competition Oct. 20, 2018.

Ga. Guard continues to support Hurricane Michael operations
October 22, 2018 — DONALSONVILLE, Ga. - The Georgia Department of Defense has returned responsibility for many of its relief missions back to civilian agencies in the days following Hurricane Michael, but relief... MORE

Captain Sha-Raya Bates, commander of the Washington, Ga.-based 214th Forward Support Company discusses operations at a point of distribution in Seminole County with County Commissioner Darius Culverson.

Washington Air Guard analyzes imagery after Hurricane Michael
October 22, 2018 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash.— Airmen from the Washington Air National Guard’s 194th Intelligence Squadron are growing their skillset and learning new ways of operating as they support Georgia in the aftermath... MORE

Senior Airman Jeffrey Andrews, a geospatial targeting analyst with the 194th Intelligence Squadron assigned to the Washington Air National Guard, looks at imagery of a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) distribution center Oct. 14, 2018 at Camp Murray, Wash.

Guard members and volunteers provide for the community
October 19, 2018 — PANAMA CITY, Fla. – The wind blasted with no signs of ceasing. Tornadoes touched down without mercy. The land was stripped of their foundation only to leave behind stilts of what once was a home. Over... MORE

Florida National Guard Soldiers from the 53rd Brigade Support Battalion in Pinellas Park, Florida, serve themselves food provided by the World Central Kitchen, Oct. 14, 2018, in Panama City, Florida. The WCK is providing meals in response to Hurricane Michael to Guardsmen, first responders and those who were affected by the natural disaster.

Ga. Guard Soldier helps douse fire during hurricane mission
October 19, 2018 — DONALSONVILLE, Ga. - A Georgia Army National Guard Soldier participating in relief operations following Hurricane Michael was credited with helping fire fighters extinguish a house fire Oct. 17 in... MORE

Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. Blake Mote of the Kennesaw, Ga.-based 190th Military Police Company emerges from a burning house after being relieved by Lieutenant Michael Smith of the Donalsonville Fire and Emergency Services Department. Mote, a firefighter and advanced emergency management technician with the Clayton County Fire and Emergency Management Services, was on patrol with his unit and first responders when they were alerted to respond to the fire.

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