Guard News - The National Guard

Minnesota National Guard builds on environmental commitment
December 3, 2013 — ARDEN HILLS, Minn. - The Minnesota National Guard strives to be a steward of the environment in many ways. One way is with the planning of new buildings built to green standards.Once such building is... MORE

Col. Larry Herke, deputy facilities officer, shows the 40kW solar photovoltaic systems contol center at the new Field Maintenance Shop.

Community Working Together Leads to Recovery of Guard Soldier's Dog
November 29, 2013 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - When Spc. Jacob Montgomery moved to Washington, Ill., from Champaign six months ago to accept a promotion in his civilian job, he got a pit bull puppy as a companion. But the pup,... MORE

Dexter, a six-month-old pit bull, and his owner, Spc. Jacob Montgomery of the Illinois Army National Guard were re-united 9 days after their apartment was destroyed by the Washington, Ill. tornado.

Eagle Vision 6 site is rededicated at Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal
November 27, 2013 — HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Air Force Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, director of the Air National Guard, recently visited the Alabama Air National Guard's 226th Combat Communications Group as part of a rededication... MORE

Air Force Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, left, joins with officials from the Alabama National Guard in cutting the ribbon on the new Next Generation Data Acquisition Segment at the Alabama Air National Guard’s Eagle Vision 6 site at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The new equipment allows for faster acquisition of unclassified satellite imagery to aid in the response to natural and manmade disasters as well as to provide worldwide support to contingency operations.

Two Army National Guard members test Soldier skills against peers
November 27, 2013 — FORT LEE, Va. - Two members of the Army National Guard were among those competing to be named the Army's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during the Department of the Army's Best... MORE

Army Sgt. Anthony Calvi, an infantryman with the Florida Army National Guard's Company A, 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, makes notes prior to calling in an unexploded ordnance report during the Department of the Army's Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va., Nov. 20, 2013.

Alaska Guard Airmen aid in Philippines relief operation
November 26, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Nine Alaska Air National Guard members from the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron are currently deployed in support of Operation Damayan, the relief effort in the Philippines... MORE

Active-duty Airmen from the 517th Airlift Squadron and Alaska Air Guard members from the 249th Squadron are currently serving in Operation Damayan, storm relief work in the Philippines. Photo shows some of the refugees transported to safety.

New York National Guard on duty to assist travelers in NYC
November 26, 2013 — NEW YORK - Thanksgiving week is no holiday for the New York National Guard's Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which will have all hands on deck during the busiest travel days of the year.The task force... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Wayne Stevens, at right, and Senior Airman Steven Jones walk the concourse of Grand Central Terminal here on Thanksgiving Day 2012 as a presence patrol in support of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police. The troops are serving with the New York National Guard's standing security force in the city, Joint Task Force Empire Shield. Members of the National Guad's Joint Task Force Empire Shield regularly augment and support law enforcement agencies across New York City at transportation hubs. (U.S. Army photo by Ubon Mendie)

Committee strives to strengthen employer support of Guard, reserve
November 26, 2013 — WASHINGTON - After repeatedly releasing their workers who also serve in the reserve and National Guard for more than 900,000 deployments since 9/11, one might expect employers to be growing weary of... MORE

Retired Marine praises Illinois Guard members for their post-tornado actions
November 25, 2013 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A retired Marine said two Illinois National Guard members are heroes because of their immediate actions to help victims of a tornado that ripped through Washington, Ill., Nov... MORE

Staff Sgt. Joshua Slocum of Roscoe, Ill., with the 1/178th Infantry Battalion, took immediate action to help victims of a tornado that ripped through Washington, Ill., Nov. 17.

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.

Guard, Reserve and Navy Test Helicopter Countermeasures Over Water

Georgia Guard Trains to Bolster Domestic Response Capabilities

Nordhaus, Raines: National Guard Delivers Outsized Impact at Home, Abroad

Specialized Oregon Guard Unit Conducts Training at Camp Rilea

Caine: When you Mobilize the Guard, you Mobilize the Nation