Guard News - The National Guard

Silver Scimitar drill is more than playing post office for Soldiers
November 22, 2013 — FORT DEVENS, Mass. - Soldiers stand in line at a mock post office waiting to mail packages and letters home to their families, friends and loved ones. The slow steady hum of conversation fills the... MORE

Soldiers from the U.S. Army, Army Reserves and the National Guard work together to set up and run a mobile post office during a postal class exercise at Silver Scimitar at Fort Devens, Mass., Nov. 13, 2013. Silver Scimitar is the U.S. Army Forces Command's bi-annual, multi-echelon training exercise designed to train Human Resources units scheduled for deployment on core competencies for operations within a deployed area of responsibility.

Operation Santa Claus 2013 takes flight in Alaska
November 20, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The holidays are quickly approaching and Operation Santa Claus is gearing up to take flight in celebration.Hundreds of children living in Alaska villages will soon be celebrating... MORE

Operation Santa Claus visited Kake Nov. 14, 2013, in the 57th year of the event. Monte Doyle as Santa and Leslie Richards as Mrs. Claus meet with Kake High School students as Salvation Army volunteer Michael Evans stands by.

Government: Donating money is best to help people affected by Typhoon Haiyan
November 20, 2013 — WASHINGTON - The most effective way to support people affected by disasters, including Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the Philippines, is to provide monetary donations to relief and charitable... MORE

Philippines Navy Capt. Vincent Trinidad, right, and U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Travis T. Gaines speak Nov. 18, 2013, at Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, U.S. military members have been providing support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of Operation Damayan following Typhoon Haiyan.

Training pays off as New York Guard sergeant aids building collapse victims
November 19, 2013 — CAMP SMITH, N.Y. - A New York Army National Guard Soldier and police officer credits his military training for helping him save the victim of a building collapse in 2011."Being in the military, being... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Martin Gonzalez received the New York State Medal of Valor in a ceremony at Camp Smith, N.Y., on Nov. 17. The Medal of Valor is presented for acts of valor, heroism, courage or gallantry in either a civilian or a military capacity, and is the highest state award a member of the National Guard can receive.

Six Illinois babies wait for dads’ return from Afghanistan
November 19, 2013 — PEORIA, Ill. - Five little girls and one boy were recently born while their dads were away serving their country. In December, those six babies will finally get their dads back from Afghanistan."We... MORE

Gynger Hert with son Maverick, Tabatha Medina with daughters Delilah and Emmie, Sarah Willey with daughter Ariea and Stephanie Joy with daughter Ainsley during a National Guard family reunion event in Peoria, Ill., Nov. 16, 2013. These are four of six babies born while their dads were deployed to Afghanistan.

Army Chief of Staff Odierno visits Massachusetts to discuss defense initiatives
November 18, 2013 — NATICK, Mass. - Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, 38th chief of staff for the U.S. Army, visited Massachusetts to tour the U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center.During his Nov. 15 visit, Ordierno met with... MORE

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno speaks to reporters during a press conference at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center, here Nov. 15, 2013.

Illinois National Guard firefighters assist authorities after deadly tornado strikes
November 18, 2013 — PEORIA, Ill. - Ten firefighters and three vehicles assigned to the 182nd Airlift Wing responded to Washington, Ill., to help with search and recovery operations in the tornado damaged area.The... MORE

Transportation Security Administration expands expedited screening program
November 14, 2013 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of the ongoing effort to move away from a one size fits all security approach and provide more of the traveling public the ability to participate in expedited screening, the... MORE

Airman 1st Class Wade Helms calls the names of travelers to board a bus that will take them to an awaiting C-5 Galaxy bound for Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on April 17. The TSA is expanding expedited screening for military members.

Alaska Air National Guard members rescue four at lake
November 14, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued three adults and one child who had broken through ice and become hypothermic while... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 101st Rescue Squadron conducts a nighttime live fire exercise at Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Ocean County, N.J., Aug. 29, 2013. Alaska Airmen used night vision gear and a similar helicopter to rescue four hypothermic people from a lake.

NGB Chief Frank Grass talks of 'tough issues' on troop visit in Afghanistan
November 13, 2013 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2013, during an overseas trip to meet with deployed Guard members... MORE

Gen. Frank Grass answers a question asked by a Guard member during a town hall at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2013. Grass visited KAF to meet with deployed Guard members and Regional Command (South) leadership.

States focus on deployment health to improve readiness and resilience
November 12, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - For 376 years, the National Guard has proudly served both our local communities and our nation at home and around the world. In 2012/2013 alone, states mobilized and responded to... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the New York Army National Guard's Detachment 20, Operation Support Airlift Agency stand in formation Oct. 25, 2013, during their deployment ceremony.

Veterans Day discounts abound across USA for those who served
November 8, 2013 — WASHINGTON - On Nov. 11, 2013, America will pay tribute to the men and women who served the nation. For Veterans Day, as a way to say thanks, many businesses across the nation will be giving discounts... MORE

For Veterans Day, as a way to say thanks, many restaurants will be giving discounts and running promotions for veterans.

New York Air National Guard opens MQ-9 hangar at Fort Drum
November 8, 2013 — FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing has a new base for its MQ-9 "Reaper" operations at Fort Drum's Wheeler Sack Army Airfield.The wing's $5.19 million Launch and... MORE

New York Air National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Verle Johnston speaks during the ribbon cutting officially opening the MQ-9 Launch and Recovery Element Hangar on Nov. 5, 2013.

Pennsylvania Soldiers and Airmen engineer joint training
November 8, 2013 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Cost-savings and joint training happened here during a two-week heavy equipment operator course hosted by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Regional Equipment Operators... MORE

Master Sgt. Russ Krause, noncommissioned officer in charge of REOTS, observes an Army National Guard student backing up a front-end loader during the heavy equipment operator's course.

Hazardous materials, mass casualties and winter storm all in a day’s work for Vigilant Guard participants
November 8, 2013 — BRUNSWICK, Maine - A major winter ice storm bringing nearly three feet of snow and frigid temperatures leaves hundreds of thousands without power. An ice arena collapses with an unknown number of... MORE

Soldiers of the Massachusetts Army National Guard and members of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Urban Search and Rescue Task Force 1 receive a briefing before heading to the site of a simulated collapsed building during Maine's Vigilant Guard Exercise on Nov. 6, 2013.

South Carolina Army National Guard pilots help save gravely wounded hunter
November 7, 2013 — WALHALLA, S.C. - The South Carolina Army National Guard's 2-151st Aviation and South Carolina Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team (SCHART) teamed up to rescue a hunter Tuesday in Walhalla, S.C.The hunter... MORE

The South Carolina Army National Guard's 2-151st Aviation and S. C. Helicopter Aquatic Team (SCHART) teamed up to rescue a hunter in Walhalla, S.C. Nov. 5, 2013. The hunter suffered a gunshot wound and needed to be airlifted out of the area.

National Guard helping America sustain enduring global partnerships
November 7, 2013 — PRISTINA, Kosovo - The National Guard State Partnership Program is an invaluable tool for the United States and for the nation's foreign partners, U.S. and foreign leaders said here Wednesday."The... MORE

By a show of hands, Guard members deployed to Kosovo indicate to Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mitch Brush, the chief's senior enlisted advisor, how many have completed state active duty missions for domestic responses before they deployed, Nov. 6, 2013.

Indiana National Guard hosts multiagency explosives training
November 7, 2013 — INDIANAPOLIS - Consider the theater shooting in Aurora, Colo.; the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting in Newtown, Conn.; the Boston Marathon bombing and Friday's shooting at the Los Angeles... MORE

Cpl. David Poynter of the Indiana State Police works with explosive-detecting dog Mela during a multiagency training exercise at Indiana National Guard headquarters in Indianapolis, Nov. 4, 2013.

Maine aviators do double duty, flying supplies and training for rescues
November 5, 2013 — MILLINOCKET, Maine - Soldiers of the Maine Army National Guard's Company C, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, who normally specialize in using helicopters for medical evacuation, traded their... MORE

Maine park rangers and Army National Guard Soldiers took the opportunity to train on medical evacuation techniques in Baxter State Park on Nov. 2, 2013, during Operation Timberhook.

National Guard, Reserve members encouraged to nominate supportive employers for top honor
November 5, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, is now accepting nominations for the 2014 Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award.The... MORE

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security

Idaho Guard Airmen Push Limits in Joint Field Training

Pennsylvania Guard Competes in Governor’s Twenty Marksmanship Competition

N.Y. National Guard Aircrews Train with Forest Rangers to Prep for Wildfires

Idaho Army National Guard Hosts Region VI Best Warrior Competition