Guard News - The National Guard

West Virginia Airman saves woman from knife-wielding son in store
October 29, 2014 — LAUGHLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Texas - It was just another trip to Wal-Mart for 2nd Lt. Joshua Nelson when he popped in to grab some fish hooks for a family trip to the lake this past spring. Little did he... MORE

2nd Lt. Joshua Nelson, a West Virginia Airman and state delegate, was credited for stopping a potential murder, then stopping a potential suicide, during a trip to Wal-Mart.

North Carolina National Guard activates third Special Operations Forces unit
October 29, 2014 — The North Carolina Army National Guard welcomed its newest unit of quiet professionals during an activation ceremony at the Claude T. Bowers Military Center drill hall Oct. 18, 2014... MORE

The Special Operations Detachment-X conducted a unit activation ceremony at the Claude T. Bowers Military Center, Raleigh, N.C., Oct. 18, 2014. SOD-X is the newest unit of the North Carolina Army National Guard.

Kiowa helicopters find new life in Florida after National Guard retirement
October 28, 2014 — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - One of the Army's oldest and most reliable helicopters is leaving the Florida National Guard.For more than four decades the OH-58 Kiowa reconnaissance helicopters buzzed through... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer Sean Hogan of the Florida Army National Guard, right, points out the military features of an OH-58 Kiowa helicopter to Chief Pilot Richard Bray of the Alachua County Sheriff’s Office on Oct. 16, 2014, at Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla. Three of the remaining Florida National Guard Kiowas based in Jacksonville are being transferred to different Florida sheriffs’ offices to augment their aviation programs.

California National Guard earns sexual assault prevention award
October 28, 2014 — SACRAMENTO - The California National Guard (CNG) was honored Monday with the Defense Department's inaugural Sexual Assault Prevention Innovation Award, recognizing California as the state whose... MORE

Air Force Brig. Gen. Dawne Deskins, New York National Guard, spearheads the Air Force National Guard's Sexual Assault Prevention and Response program for the 100,000 members of the Air National Guard.

New York's 106th Rescue Wing base honor guard sets a high bar
October 22, 2014 — WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - With 619 funerals conducted in the 2013-14 fiscal year, the 106th Rescue Wing’s Base Honor Guard is the busiest honor guard team in the Air National Guard.The team is also... MORE

Members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing Base Honor Guard rehearse a flag folding and presentation ceremony at Gabreski Air National Guard Base Oct. 16, 2014. The Honor Guard Airmen performed more than 619 ceremonies in 2013. This was more than any other Air National Guard Honor Guard in the U.S.

North Carolina chaplain fighting breast cancer on her own terms
October 22, 2014 — RALEIGH, N.C. – Two weeks ago in Franklinton, North Carolina, National Guard Chaplain Maj. Melissa Culbreth sat laughing and joking in a chair on the front porch of the farm where she works, while her... MORE

North Carolina National Guard Maj. Melissa Culbreth before and after she shaved her head during a party at Serenity Grace Farm on Oct. 12, 2014. Culbreth, who is the chaplain for the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, recently started chemotherapy after being diagnosed with breast cancer for a third time and said she wanted to take her hair on her own terms before she lost it as a side effect of the chemo.

For its 27th season, New York's 109th Air Wing flies to Antarctica
October 17, 2014 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - The first LC-130 Hercules aircraft took off for Antarctica today, marking the 27th season the 109th Airlift Wing has supported the National Science Foundation... MORE

Airmen prep the first LC-130 Hercules headed to Antarctica. The aircraft and aircrew with the 109th Airlift Wing took off from Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, New York, on Oct. 17, 2014. The aircraft is headed to Antarctica for the Wing's 27th year participating in Operation Deep Freeze in support of the National Science Foundation. The 109th AW boasts the U.S. military's only ski-equipped aircraft, which has been supporting the NSF's South Pole research since 1988.

Civil Support Teams - new tactics for new threats
October 17, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - After 9/11, the Department of Defense mandated that the National Guard increase its emphasis on the kinds of threats the United States was likely to see from terrorist organizations... MORE

Team members of the 102nd Civil Support Team, Oregon National Guard, conduct a decontamination training and evaluation exercise at the old Silverton High School in Silverton, Oregon, in 2011. Sgt. 1st Class Rowena Simshaw and Staff Sgt. April Henrickx of the Decon Team, 102nd Civil Support Team, aid in decontaminating other team members.

Obama activates National Guard, Reserves for Operation United Assistance
October 17, 2014 — WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama has authorized the Defense Department to call up a small number of National Guard or reserve troops that possess special skills needed to aid efforts in stopping... MORE

Airmen with the 123rd Contingency Response Group prepare for their deployment to West Africa from the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 2, 2014. The Guardsmen are working to set up a logistics hub in support of Operation United Assistance.

At Air Guard town hall meeting, Grass praises worldwide enduring relationships
October 17, 2014 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - Fighting our nation's wars, defending the homeland and building partnerships were among many topics addressed by Army General Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard... MORE

Gen. Frank J. Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau and member of the Joint Chiefs, addresses Air National Guard Airmen and civilians Oct 15, 2014, at the ANG Readiness Center, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The purpose of the meeting was to review the strategic direction of the National Guard, budgetary issues and recognize the performance of ANG directorates.

Texas Guard member saves roommate's life after gunshot accident
October 15, 2014 — GRAPEVINE, Texas – A Texas Army National Guard soldier saved his roommate’s life after the accidental discharge of a weapon in July. Pfc. Wil Ledford, 19, of Grapevine, used skills and techniques that he had just been taught two months prior while attending the Combat Medic School... MORE

Pfc. Wil Ledford is credited with saving the life of his rooommate after an accident in their apartment. Ledford, of Grapevine, Texas, is a newly trained Combat Medic in the 36th Infantry Division of the Texas Army National Guard.

Army Guard Soldier takes home second place in Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition
October 14, 2014 — FORT LEE, Va. - Twenty eight enlisted Soldiers and noncommissioned officers, or NCOs, from across the Army's 14 commands competed in a mentally and physically challenging competition here to see who... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. Devin Jameson Sr., a combat medic with the Utah Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 640th Regiment (Regional Training Institute), evaluates a casualty during the warrior task and battle drill event at the 2014 Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition, Oct. 7, 2014 at Fort Lee, Va. Jameson represented the Army National Guard as its top noncommissioned officer of the year.

Wisconsin Citizen-Airmen helped keep planes flying during Chicago center closure
October 14, 2014 — VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. - When a fire struck the Chicago Air Traffic Control Center on Sept. 26, Air National Guard air traffic control Airmen from Volk Field Air National Guard Base in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, were called into action... MORE

Master Sgt. Andrew Jackson, Combat Readiness Training Center RADAR approach control chief controller, and Jeff McCluskey, Federal Aviation Administration air traffic control specialist, work together to control airspace at the ATC center at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, Oct. 6, 2014. The FAA sent civilian ATC specialists to Volk Field following a fire at the Chicago ATC Center. Two of the FAA ATC specialists were also Volk Field guardsmen.

Army Guard’s first cyber protection team activated; receives new shoulder sleeve insignia
October 10, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard's first cyber protection team received its new shoulder sleeve insignia Oct. 7 during a ceremony conducted by Army Cyber Command, or ARCYBER, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Judd H. Lyons, right, acting director of the Army National Guard, joins Army Col. Jayson Spade, left, commander of the 1st Information Operations Command (Land) and Army Lt. Gen. Edward Cardon, commander of Army Cyber Command and Second Army, in placing the Cyber Command shoulder sleeve insignia on the uniform of Army Maj. Hung Diep, commander of the 1636th Cyber Protection Team in a patch ceremony at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Tuesday Oct. 7, 2014. The 1636th CPT is the first Army National Guard cyber protection team to be activated and is one of 10 cyber protection teams planned throughout the Army Guard.

Active wildland fire season proved challenging for Guard responders
October 9, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members from five western states have wrapped up a busy wildland firefighting season, closing out a year that saw more than 4 million gallons of water and retardant... MORE

A 146th Airlift Wing C-130J during MAFFS (Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System) annual training and re-certification held at the146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station. Media and visitors were present nearby to watch this drop near Point Mugu, Calif., April 9, 2014.

Commentary: Making the final journey with a friend, mentor and Soldier
October 8, 2014 — MIAMI - The flight attendant's voice cracked somewhat, which added to the impact of the words, "... we have the honor of carrying a fallen Soldier on today's flight-Col. Tomas DeLeon... "It had been a... MORE

Police cars were among emergency vehicles that greeted the flight carrying the body of Col. Tomas DeLeon at Miami International Airport.

Georgia National Guard helps sheriffs eradicate more than $30 million of marijuana plants
October 7, 2014 — MARIETTA, Ga. - The Georgia National Guard concluded six months of support to communities throughout the state as part of the Governor's Task Force/Drug Suppression (GTF).This year, the GTF eradicated... MORE

A Georgia National Guard member flies a LUH-72 while searching for marijuana near Polk County as the Governor’s Task Force/Drug Suppression (GTF) concludes six months of direct support to local communities throughout the state. This year the GTF eradicated over 15,000 plants, worth over $30 million, keeping these drugs and the illicit activity that goes with it off of Georgia’s streets. The GTF’s last mission support was to Polk County where they found eight plants within 10 miles of their launch site.

New York National Guard honors birthdate of Chester Arthur, a former president and Guard member
October 6, 2014 — The New York National Guard honored Chester A. Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, with a formal wreath laying Sunday on his grave at Albany Rural Cemetery, the 185th anniversary of his birth... MORE

New York Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Anthony German and New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Wicks honored President Chester Arthur in October 2012 in a ceremony similiar to this year's event.

At the Warrior Games, six Guard members display warrior spirit
October 6, 2014 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. - Competing in the 2014 Warrior Games here was a personally encouraging experience for the six National Guardsmen, three Soldiers and three Airmen, as they represented their... MORE

Army athlete Erin Stewart competes in the pistol shooting competition during the 2014 Warrior Games in Colorado Springs, Colo. Oct. 3, 2014. The Warrior Games consists of 200 wounded, ill and injured service members athletes from throughout the Department Of Defense, who compete in paralympic style events for their respective military branch.

Alaska National Guard missile defenders celebrate 10 years of operations
October 3, 2014 — FORT GREELY, Alaska - Lt. Gov. Mead Treadwell, Brig. Gen. Mike Bridges, acting adjutant general of the Alaska National Guard, and Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion, Alaska Army National... MORE

Alaska National Guard members of Bravo Crew, 49th Missile Defense Battalion operate the ground-based midcourse defense portion of the Ballistic Missile Defense System May 5, 2007, at Fort Greely, Alaska. The system has been manned 24/7 since achieving limited defensive capability in 2004. (Photo by Army Sgt. Jack W. Carlson III, Alaska Army National Guard)

Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Emerge as Region II’s Best Warriors

National Guard Spouse Highlights Strength of Family Support During Maine Visit

Virginia National Guard Team Trains for Disaster Response

D.C. Air Guard Makes Improvements at Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy

Maine Guard Airmen Exercise Rapid-Response Communications Skills