Guard News - The National Guard

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)

Six National Guard athletes competing in 2014 Warrior Games
October 3, 2014 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – The 2014 Warrior Games, bringing together more than 200 wounded or ill U.S. service members and veterans opened here Sept. 30, with a senior Defense Department official... MORE

U.S. Department of Defense athletes compete in archery during the 2014 Warrior Games at the U.S. Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, Colo., Sept. 30, 2014. The Warrior Games consists of athletes from throughout the Department Of Defense, who compete in Paralympic style events for their respective military branch. The goal of the games is to help highlight the limitless potential of warriors through competitive sports.

Ohio Sappers pass their 'METL' test
October 3, 2014 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — For an Army unit to be considered combat-ready, there is not only a myriad of training that must occur, but the unit’s readiness also has to be evaluated.The results of that... MORE

A Soldier with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 811th Engineer Company (Sapper) works to prepare a simulated shape charge during a training exercise, July 24, 2014, at Camp Atterbury, Ind. The 811th spent its two-week annual training period being assessed on its mission readiness by evaluators from First Army, the results of which help determine the 811th’s ability to be utilized by the Army if a mission need should arise.

National Guard kicks off Energy Action Month
October 2, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. — October marks the start of Energy Action Month and the National Guard kicked off the month-long focus on promoting additional energy and water conservation practices with a ceremony... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Judd H. Lyons, acting director of the Army National Guard, addresses those gathered at the Energy Action Month kick-off ceremony at the Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Va., Wednesday, Oct. 1, 2014. Energy Action Month is part of a larger federal initiative that focuses on lowering energy usage and costs while promoting renewable energy projects and initiatives. Units throughout the National Guard have made multiple strides in reducing energy usage and consumption including conversion to solar power and use of cleaner synthetic fuels in aircraft as well as other changes.

Kentucky Air Guard deploying forces to Africa in support of Ebola mission
October 2, 2014 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - More than 60 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard deployed Oct. 2 to Senegal to establish a cargo-processing hub in support of Operation United Assistance, the international... 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 will work to set up a logistics hub in support of Operation United Assistance.

Alaska Air Guard rescuers save pilot three days after crash
October 1, 2014 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a man Sunday after his Piper J-3 crashed, 40 miles east of Fort... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard 212th Rescue Squadron pararescueman performs a high-altitude jump from a Coast Guard C-130 Hercules during a training mission at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, June 23, 2011. Squad members were credited with saving a pilot after his plane crashed with no flight plan or emergency beacon.

North Carolina National Guard Apache pilots provide support for joint training at Ft. Bragg
September 30, 2014 — FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Two North Carolina National Guard Apache Helicopters fly toward artillery rounds exploding on target."Marked by artillery," squawks across the radio from one of the Joint Tactical... MORE

Staff Sgt. Dwight Williams, a member of the ground crew with the 1-130th Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, inspects the forward avionics bay on an Apache Helicopter during a training mission at Fort Bragg, N.C., on Sept. 23, 2014. The 1-130th ARB supported a joint training exercise intended to validate the 14th Air Support Operations Squadron and the 3rd Brigade Combat Team.

Guard readies as Gulf Coast braces for oil spill
September 30, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va., - At least three states along the Gulf of Mexico are preparing for a potential call for thousands of National Guard members as the nation ramps up its response to the Deepwater Horizon... MORE

Michigan's 1073rd Support Maintenance Company wins top Army honor
September 26, 2014 — LANSING, Mich. - A Michigan Army National Guard unit recently was awarded the Army Award for Maintenance Excellence and the Best of the Best in the Army Maintenance community.The award, presented... MORE

Michigan National Guard, Greenville-based 1073rd Support Maintenance Company Soldier, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joey North, poses with Chief of Staff of the Army, Gen. Raymond Odierno, Acting Deputy Chief of Staff, G4, Kathleen Miller, and Army Chief of Ordnance Brig. Gen. Jack Haley after receiving the 1073rd SMC’s Army Award for Maintenance Excellence and the "The Best of the Best" awards. The award was given in recognition of the 1073rd SMC’s exceptional accomplishments within the Medium Military Table of Organization and Equipment category.

Florida and Wisconsin Guard Soldiers complete rigorous Pathfinder course
September 26, 2014 — STARKE, Fla. – National Guard Soldiers from Florida and Wisconsin completed a rigorous two-week specialized course in north-central Florida recently, earning the right to wear the coveted U.S. Army... MORE

Capt. Raymond Nagley, right, of the Florida Army National Guard's 254th Transportation Battalion, takes part in a recon mission as part of a field training exercise during the Pathfinder Course at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., Sept. 24, 2014.

New York Air National Guard's 107th Airlift Wing conducts final flight in C-130
September 26, 2014 — NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. -Aircrews from the 107th Airlift Wing flew their final C-130 flight and were greeted with a water salute here Thursday.The unit is in the process of converting... MORE

New York Air National Guard Col. John J. Higgins, commander of the 107th Airlift Wing, is doused by his comrades Sept. 25, 2014, as he steps off of the aircraft following his "fini flight," his final flight as a navigator. It was the 107th Airlift Wing's final flight in a C-130 before converting to the MQ-9 mission.

Army Guard observes Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month
September 25, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. – September is observed as Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month across the Department of Defense, with many of the services – including the National Guard – conducting events to... MORE

Doug Windley, the military installations program manager for the Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, TAPS, and other panelists talk about their personal struggles with suicide during a Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month panel discussion Sept. 16, 2014, at Arlington Hall in Arlington, Va. Windley and other panelists shared with the group what saved them from suicide and discussed at length the importance of asking for help with mental health issues.

New Mexico National Guard Soldiers assisting following floods
September 24, 2014 — EDDY COUNTY, N.M. – As of Wednesday, 62 Soldiers from the New Mexico National Guard remained on state active duty following flooding that resulted last week from Tropical Storm Odile.Gov. Susana... MORE

New Mexico National Guard Soldiers and civilian rescuers meet following the Guard's activation to assist following floods late last week.

Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck urges reduction of Guard suicides to zero
September 22, 2014 — WASHINGTON - Every suicide in the force is tragic, and the number of these deaths needs to be reduced to zero, a top National Guard leader said.Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, special assistant to the... MORE

Army Brig. Gen. Michael Bobeck, right, special assistant to the director of the Army National Guard, along with Navy Vice Adm. Matthew Nathan, left, surgeon general of the Navy, speaks during a panel discussion about the mental health challenges facing the Army Guard during a Psychological Health and Resiliance Summit, Sept. 18, 2014 in Falls Church,Va. The Defense Centers for Excellence for Psychological Health and Traumatic Brain Injury spearheaded the summit, which allowed leaders from across the Department Of Defense to discuss the way ahead for addressing psychological health issues and resilience across the force. (Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Darron Salzer, National Guard Bureau)(Released)

Alaska Air Guard rescuers save three after plane crash
September 17, 2014 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska-The Alaska Air National Guard rescued three people from a downed aircraft Sept. 13 west of Beluga Mountain, Alaska.The Alaska Rescue Coordination Center opened... MORE

An HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the Alaska Air National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron performs deck landing qualifications aboard the forward-deployed guided-missile cruiser USS Shiloh during preparations for Hong Kong Search and Rescue Exercise 2008. Rescuers used a similar craft to save three plane crash victims.

Air National Guard Director Clarke discusses three-part 'balanced strategy' at conference
September 17, 2014 — WASHINGTON - Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke, the director of the Air National Guard, provided an overview of the ANG at the 2014 Air Force Association's Air & Space and Conference and Technology Exposition... MORE

Lt. Gen. Stanley E. Clarke III, director of the Air National Guard, speaks at the Air Force Association’s Air and Space Conference and Technology Exposition September 15, 2014, in National Harbor, Maryland. Clarke highlighted the ANG’s involvement in domestic operations and recognized several ANG Airmen and units for exemplary service during recent combat operations.

National anthem's 200th anniversary and its Citizen-Soldier composer are honored
September 16, 2014 — BALTIMORE - At dawn's early light Sunday, exactly at 9 a.m., Soldiers from the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Regiment "Old Guard" raised a replica of the American flag to commemorate the fateful moment the... MORE

Iowa Air Guard’s 132nd Security Forces Squadron Conducts Annual Training in Hawaii

Wisconsin Air Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Partners With UW Health for Medical Airmen Training

Connecticut Army Guard Partners With Coast Guard to Dislodge Beached Buoy

Minnesota Guard Among First to Field Army’s Newest M250 Automatic Rifle

Soldier’s Medal Awarded to Georgia Guardsman Who Pulled Driver From Burning SUV