Guard News - The National Guard

Guard members continue to fight wildfires in western states
August 8, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - In what has become a near-annual mission for the California National Guard (CNG), Army and Air Force aviators are dousing wildfires across Northern California, where they soon may be... MORE

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew from the California Army National Guard delivers a 660-gallon bucket full of water on a Northern California fire Aug. 4.

Paratroopers from around world forge bonds at Leapfest competition hosted in Rhode Island
August 8, 2014 — WEST KINGSTON, R.I. - The opening ceremony would take place at 8 o'clock but Leapfest officially began as the sun rose on Saturday, Aug. 2, 2014. A small group of paratroopers gathered a mile away... MORE

A group of German paratroopers jumps from a CH-47 Chinook helicopter during Leapfest Airborne Competition Aug. 4, 2014, West Kingston, R.I. Leapfest is an Airborne parachute competition sponsored by the Rhode Island National Guard to promote high level technical training within the International Airborne community.

Army Guard to seek redesign of sports marketing program within budget constraints
August 6, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - After undergoing an intensive internal review, the Army National Guard is set to make changes to its sports sponsorship approach to recruitment marketing. These substantial changes... MORE

Preparation was key, say Army National Guard's Best Warrior competitors
August 6, 2014 — CAMP ROBINSON, Ark. - The sounds of a helicopter circling in to land, a boot kicking in a door, a smoke grenade "popping," explosions shattering the air and bullets hitting their target could be heard... MORE

Competitors in 2014 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition cross the finish line of the ruck march portion of the competition at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, July 16, 2014. The competition tested competitors on a variety of tactical and technical skills in a physically and mentally demanding environment as they vie to earn the title of Best Warrior and become the Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year for the Army Guard. The winners of the competition will go on to represent the Army Guard in the Department of the Army level Best Warrior Competition later this year.

ANG's Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year: Master Sgt. David Coker
August 6, 2014 — This is the last in a series of features on 2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year winners who will be honored during the Air National Guard's Focus on the Force Week, Aug. 4-7JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. -... MORE

The Air National Guard's 2014 Outstanding Honor Guard Program Manager of the Year, Master Sgt. David Coker, a services craftsman with the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard. Coker was selected for his leadership excellence and dedication to ensuring our nation’s veterans are paid proper final respects.

Indiana National Guard partners with FEMA in water-rescue exercise
August 6, 2014 — BUTLERVILLE Ind. - Shortly after a 911 call is placed, a team of amphibious rescue firefighters arrive on the scene of a lake where a family member is frantically waiting for a loved one who has... MORE

Brian Harting, a rescue team member from Task Force 1, Ohio's Federal Emergency Management Team, prepares to deliver a simulated casualty to a litter team of Soldiers from the 381st Military Police Company, Indiana National Guard, Brush Creek Reservoir in Butlerville, Ind., near Muscatatuck Urban Training Center, Aug. 4, 2014. The Vibrant Response 14 exercise tests the abilities of multiple agencies to respond in the event of an actual chemical, biological, radioactive or nuclear incident or other emergencies.

Delaware National Guard opens $48 million headquarters building
August 5, 2014 — NEW CASTLE, Del. - The Delaware National Guard officially opened its new Armed Forces Reserve Center on Aug. 1 as 500 people gathered for remarks and the ceremonial ribbon-cutting for the $48 million... MORE

National Guard Bureau Chief, Gen. Frank Grass, was on hand to help officially open the Guard’s newest Armed Forces Reserve Center on Aug. 1, 2014 in New Castle, Del. He is greeted by Maj. Gen. Frank Vavala, Delaware's adjutant general.

North Carolina National Guard: Preparing Cyber Warriors for state and national duty
August 5, 2014 — RALEIGH, N.C. - What do major online and storefront retail giants, federal and state government agencies and national banks/financial institutions have in common? They all have suffered malicious... MORE

A North Carolina National Guard Soldier updates computers at the NCNG's Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, Aug. 4, 2014. The NCNG is "Always Ready" against any threat including cyber attacks. Our Soldiers, Airmen and staff stand poised, ready and capable to support the National Guard Bureau`s intent to stand up multiple Cyber Protection Teams (CPT) in support of U.S. Cyber Command.

Wyoming Air National Guard flying Western firefighting missions
August 4, 2014 — PETERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Colo. - Two Wyoming Air National Guard C-130 aircraft equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) are assisting with wildfire... MORE

A smaller U.S. Forest Service aircraft breaks away in this file photo as a Modular Airborne Firefighting System-equipped C-130 begins dropping retardant on a section of the Waldo Canyon fire near Colorado Springs, Colo., June 26, 2012. Two MAFFS units from the 153rd Airlift Wing are flying in support of the U.S. Forest Service as they fight wildland fires in the West.

Master Sgt. Linda Schwartzlow is Air National Guard's First Sergeant of the Year
August 4, 2014 — (This week, we'll post a feature each day on the 2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year winners who will be honored during the Air National Guard's Focus on the Force Week, Aug. 4-7)JOINT BASE ANDREWS,... MORE

The Air National Guard’s 2014 Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year, Master Sgt. Linda Schwartzlow, from the 128th Air Control Squadron, Wisconsin Air National Guard. Schwartzlow deployed as the first sergeant to the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron at Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, where she counseled, mentored and ensured high morale of 3,500 Airmen deployed there.

Ohio National Guard members distribute water and food as Toledo area copes with 'do not drink' advisory
August 4, 2014 — COLUMBUS, Ohio — In response to a state of emergency declared in Lucas County and the greater Toledo area, Ohio Gov. John Kasich has ordered a contingent of the Ohio National Guard to state active... MORE

Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, visits with emergency personnel Aug. 3, 2014, in Toledo, which is experiencing a clean-water emergency. Pictured in center is Sima Merick, assistant director of the Ohio Emergency Management Agency.

Japanese researchers comb records in New York State Military Museum for clues on missing U.S. Soldiers from World War II battle
August 1, 2014 — SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. - A team of Japanese researchers hopes records sitting in the New York State Military Museum here will provide a clue to finding the remains of American Soldiers 7,600 miles... MORE

Japanese researcher Yukari Akatsuka, the secretary general of Kuentai-USA, a non-governmental group which specializes in locating and retrieving the remains of World War II dead, fires up her computer as New York State Military Museum Librarian Jim Gandy prepares records for her to scan on July 29, 2014. The group, which focuses on finding the remains of Japanese soldiers killed during World War II, is planning to conduct a dig where they think missing American Soldiers, who fought with the New York National Guard's 105th Infantry Regiment during World War II, may be buried. Akatsuka and a colleague visited the museum to go through data in hopes of refining the search area.

Senior Airman Heather Ransom volunteers above and beyond the call for Honor Flight Project vets
July 31, 2014 — SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Ill. – She began volunteering for the Honor Flight Project in 2012 when she was at technical training and since then, has participated in 21 Honor Flights. Senior Airman Heather... MORE

Members from the Illinois Air National Guard's 126th Air Refueling Wing stand at Lambert International Airport, St. Louis, July 8, 2014, after greeting veterans during the Greater St. Louis Area Honor Flight.

Guard members from Arizona, Louisiana earn coveted Expert Infantry Badge
July 31, 2014 — CAMP NAVAJO, Ariz. – In the high altitude of northern Arizona, five Guard members from 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, and one from Louisiana earned the prestigious Expert Infantry Badge out... MORE

Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers joke with each other while waiting to be tested at the next Expert Infantry Badge station at Camp Navajo, Ariz., July 23, 2014.

North Carolina Guard members become leaders in motorcycle safety training
July 31, 2014 — RALEIGH, N.C. - Chief Warrant Officer 3 Thomas Anspach, North Carolina National Guard's assistant state training officer, is the first North Carolina Guard memberto graduate from the state Highway... MORE

Students, including Chief Warrant Officer 3 Thomas Anspach, North Carolina National Guard assistant state training officer, ride during the Highway Patrol's Bike Safe assessor's course on July 18, 2014, in Raleigh N.C. Ansbach is the first National Guardsman to graduate from this course.

Air National Guard's Outstanding Senior NCO of the Year: Master Sgt. Joseph Ashwood
July 31, 2014 — (This week, we'll be posting one feature each day on the 2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year winners who will be honored next week during the Air National Guard's Focus on the Force Week)JOINT BASE... MORE

Air National Guard Outstanding Senior Non-commissioned Officer of the Year, Master Sgt. Joseph G. Ashwood, a remotely piloted aircraft sensor operator assigned to the 111th Reconnaissance Squadron at Ellington Joint Reserve Base, Houston, Texas. Ashwood has been instrumental in developing Airman training for the 111th, enhancing thier combat effectiveness by 30 percent.

South Dakota Guard partners with Danish Home Guard to add international perspective to officer training
July 30, 2014 — FORT MEADE, S.D. – National Guard Soldiers enrolled in the Officer Candidate School at Fort Meade this summer were trained in areas such as leadership skills and small unit tactics, skill sets they... MORE

Danish Home Guard 1st Lt. Jannick B. Reumann instructs a U.S. Army National Guard officer candidate on land navigation, July 16, 2014, at Fort Meade, S.D. Reumann, along with 14 other Danish Home Guard instructors, completed U.S. Army Basic Instructor Course training, July 1-4, in Denmark through a DoD Officers Foreign Exchange Program, in cooperation with the South Dakota Army National Guard. Danish Home Guard instructors were then selected to come to South Dakota to serve as Officer Candidate School instructors, July 13-26.

Senior Airman Christian Goldsmith is Air National Guard's Airman of Year
July 30, 2014 — (This week, we'll be posting one feature each day on the 2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year winners who will be honored next week during the Air National Guard's Focus on the Force Week)JOINT BASE... MORE

The Air National Guard's Outstanding Airman of the Year, Senior Airman Christian Goldsmith, a geospatial intelligence analyst from the 150th Special Operations Wing, New Mexico Air National Guard. Goldsmith's work ethic and dedication to process improvement has dramatically reduced production time in his squadron, raising its production by 25 percent.

Alaska Air Guard rescuers transport woman in labor with twins
July 30, 2014 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons assisted Monday with the transportation of a pregnant woman in labor from... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter from the 210th Rescue Squadron flies over Cook Inlet April 30, 2013. Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons assisted July 28, 2014, with the transportation of a pregnant woman in labor from Nulato, Alaska.

Tech. Sgt. Douglas Matthews is Air Guard's Outstanding Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year
July 29, 2014 — (This week, we'll be posting one feature each day on the 2014 Outstanding Airman of the Year winners who will be honored next week during the Air National Guard's Focus on the Force Week)JOINT BASE... 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