Guard News - The National Guard

Pennsylvania Maintainers Conduct Two-Week Training Exercise
July 19, 2024 — JOHNSTOWN, Pa. - Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen with the 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron’s Deployable Instrument Landing System Team completed a two-week annual training exercise June 16.The... MORE

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Leonard, left, and Tech. Sgt. Shane Miller, with the 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron in Johnstown, Pennsylvania, work on a pick-off rescue while on a radar tower during a two-week training exercise that ended June 16, 2024. The 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron is a geologically separated unit of the 171st Air Refueling Wing.

Weapons of Mass Destruction Exercise Tests Interoperability
July 18, 2024 — LIHUE, Hawaii – Members of the 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team tested interoperability during a weapons of mass destruction exercise with the Kaua’i Emergency Management Agency,... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Daniel F. Billingsley, communications chief, 33rd Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team, tests radio transmissions during a training exercise in Lihue, Hawaii, June 7, 2024. The exercise included military and civilian response partners to better integrate capabilities when disaster strikes.

Air National Guard Helps Battle California Fires from the Air
July 17, 2024 — At the request of the National Interagency Fire Center, U.S. Northern Command deployed two C-130 aircraft equipped with Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems (MAFFS) from California and Colorado for wildland firefighting operations from Channel Islands Air National Guard Station in Port Hueneme, Calif., over multiple fires in California. Two additional aircraft will also be activated later this week from Nevada and Wyoming... MORE

Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System Aircrew and personnel with the Colorado Air Force Reserve Command's 302nd Airlift Wing, Peterson Space Force Base, Colorado, the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, the U.S. Forest Service, and the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) prepare two MAFFS-equipped C-130 aircraft to assist with firefighting efforts at the Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, July 15, 2024.

Iowa Air National Guard Security Forces Train in Michigan
July 16, 2024 — ALPENA, Mich. - Through heat, humidity and rain, Security Forces Airmen of the Iowa Air National Guard are training at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan.The Iowa ANG members are... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Kolby Gries, 185th Air Refueling Wing Security Forces, looks through the sights of a M240B machine gun at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center near Alpena, Michigan, July 11, 2024. Security Forces Airmen of the Iowa Air National Guard were training on air base ground defense, urban tactical operations, weapons and equipment, and security forces procedures.

Virginia’s Search and Extraction Team Proves Capabilities
July 16, 2024 — FORT BARFOOT, Va. - More than 200 Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted multiple mass casualty response drills during a collective training exercise. The Soldiers and Airmen are... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participate in a collective training exercise while conducting search and extraction procedures May 23, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The team's search and rescue element practiced skills to find and rescue survivors on a training site constructed by the VNG Soldiers and Airmen.

Idaho Army Guard Helps Rescue Injured Hikers in 2 Missions
July 16, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - For the second time in five days, the Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group helped Custer County Search and Rescue officials rescue and transport an injured hiker from... MORE

The same training that Idaho Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers complete to be ready to fight and win our nation’s wars also makes the Guardsmen a valuable asset in their local communities when called upon to support domestic operations in emergencies.

Wisconsin Guard Conducts Search and Rescue Training
July 15, 2024 — JACKSON COUNTY, Wis. – A Wisconsin Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew conducted a search and rescue training exercise with Jackson County Emergency Management, the Ho-Chunk Nation... MORE

Sgt. Zachary Hintze, a crew chief assigned to a Wisconsin Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk crew from West Bend, Wis., hoists Sgt. 1st Class Eric Furbee, a critical care flight paramedic, back into the aircraft after a successful patient recovery during a search and rescue training exercise June 1, 2024, in Jackson County. The Black Hawk crew collaborated with Trail Ambassadors and the emergency management offices of Jackson County and the Ho-Chunk Nation.

F-15EX Eagle II Unveiled at Portland Air National Guard Base
July 15, 2024 — PORTLAND, Ore. - The future of the Oregon Air National Guard’s 142nd Wing was on full display July 12 during the formal unveiling of the first two operational U.S. Air Force F-15EX Eagle II fighter... MORE

An F-15EX Eagle II, assigned to the 142nd Wing, takes off during the unveiling ceremony at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, July 12, 2024. The 142nd Wing will be replacing the F-15 C/D model Eagles with the new F-15EX Eagle II models.

Wisconsin Guard Medical Company Helps Set Up Clinic
July 12, 2024 — FORT JOHNSON, La. - Walking into an empty medical clinic and getting it up and running in under three hours is no easy task, but a group of Soldiers — primarily from the Wisconsin National Guard’s... MORE

1st Lt. Jennifer Vanden Busch, the Joint Readiness Training Center Aid Station Rear operations officer, prepares a syringe June 13, 2024, during a training rotation for the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd “Red Arrow” Infantry Brigade Combat Team. She was among the medics, nurses and physicians from the Wisconsin National Guard and surrounding states who responded to a call for volunteers to staff the JRTC clinic.

Vermont National Guard Rescues Beryl Flood Victims
July 11, 2024 — COLCHESTER, Vt. - Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers worked with urban search and rescue teams to evacuate 19 people from locations in Barre, Northfield and Moretown experiencing flooding due to... MORE

Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers supported Vermont Emergency Management Urban Search and Rescue Teams conducting health and welfare checks and evacuating people during flash flooding July 10-11, 2024, in Barre, Vermont. Before the storm, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott approved the activation of approximately 15 Soldiers and seven high-water vehicles to prepare for flash flooding.

Utah Air National Guard Conducts Weapons Training Exercise
July 11, 2024 — HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah - Airmen from the 124th Fighter Wing, Gowen Field, participated in a weapons system evaluation program exercise at Hill Air Force Base.The June 6-14 program was designed to... MORE

Aircraft armament systems technicians from the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Maintenance Group download 30 mm rounds during a weapons system evaluation program exercise at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, June 11, 2024. The A-10 is equipped with the GAU-8/A seven-barrel Gatling gun and can fire 3,900 rounds a minute.

New Jersey, Pennsylvania Air Guard Collaborate on Exercise
July 11, 2024 — ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. – Civil engineer Airmen from the 177th Fighter Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, and the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard,... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 171st Civil Engineer Squadron and the 177th Civil Engineer Squadron perform land navigation and simulated combat training exercises as part of the Piney Devil training exercise June 9, 2024, at Warren Grove Range, New Jersey.

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Mariner in Gulf of Alaska
July 10, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - When a mariner on a cargo vessel sailing in the Gulf of Alaska became critically ill June 15, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing came to the... MORE

The Alaska Air National Guard rescues a critically ill mariner from a ship in the Gulf of Alaska June 15, 2024.

Idaho Army National Guard Rescues Injured Hiker
July 9, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group helped Custer County Search and Rescue officials rescue an injured hiker July 6 on Thompson Peak of the Sawtooth Range outside... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group assisted the Custer County Search and Rescue with the rescue of an injured hiker July 6, 2024, on Thompson Peak of the Sawtooth Range outside Stanley, Idaho.

Hawaii Air Guard Trains on Urban Search and Rescue
July 8, 2024 — LIVERMORE, Calif. - Members of the 154th Medical Group Detachment 1 participated in the 2024 FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Medical Specialist Course at the Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Training Center... MORE

Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen from the 154th Medical Group Detachment 1 and urban search and rescue teams from across the United States are briefed June 5, 2024, at Livermore-Pleasanton Fire Training Center in Livermore, Calif. The briefing, conducted during the FEMA Urban Search and Rescue Medical Specialist Course, covered critical strategies for effective disaster response and coordination.

Virginia Guard Cyber Brigade Validated for Federal Mobilizations
July 5, 2024 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - As National Guard and Reserve Soldiers and Airmen joined civilian cyber professionals and international partners for Cyber Shield 24 from May 31 to June 15, the Virginia National... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, conduct re-certification of cyber protection teams on cyber operations June 6, 2024, as part of Cyber Shield Certification Exercise 2024 at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Cyber Shield CERTEX 2024 took place May 31 to June 15, with almost 250 personnel from the Army and Air National Guard from multiple states.

Oregon Guard Rescues Injured Hiker on Pacific Crest Trail
July 5, 2024 — SALEM, Ore. - An Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter and crew rescued a woman who was injured and stranded hiking on the Pacific Crest Trail in Southern Oregon June 23.Working with... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard HH-60M crew members, from left, Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders, crew chief and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kyle Hutton, pilot, stand next to a rescued hiker, with Sgt. 1st Class Michael Buchan, medic and chief warrant officer 4 Devin Wickenhagen, pilot in command in Medford, Oregon, June 23, 2024. The crew rescued the hiker on the Pacific Crest Trail.

Red Arrow Transformed by Joint Readiness Training Exercise
July 3, 2024 — FORT JOHNSON, La. - Over the past month, more than 5,000 Soldiers from across the United States and Canada, led by the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Wisconsin National Guard, have tested their... MORE

The first few days in “the box” have wrapped up for troops at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Johnson, Louisiana, during which they completed blank and live fire training exercises that put their skills to the test while bringing Soldiers from across the United States and Canada together to work as cohesive teams.

Iowa Air Guard Helps Small Town Recover from Flooding
July 2, 2024 — SIOUX RAPIDS, Iowa - Iowa Air National Guard members converged on the small town of Sioux Rapids over the weekend, cleaning up debris to alleviate the effects of historic flooding.Eric Boge, a high... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Aaron Jacobson, a 185th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineering Squadron pavements and construction equipment specialist, picks up debris using a skid steer loader in Sioux Rapids, Iowa, June 29, 2024. Airmen of the 185th ARW and 132nd Wing helped clean up debris in the wake of historic flooding in Northwest Iowa.

Idaho Guard Maintainers Supply Iron to the Fight
July 2, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The 124th Maintenance Group prepared more than a dozen A-10 Thunderbolt IIs assigned to the 124th Fighter Wing at Gowen Field from May 31 to June 5.The aircraft, pilots, maintainers and... MORE

Maintenance Airmen from the 124th Maintenance Group generate A-10 Thunderbolt IIs at Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho, June 4, 2024. The aircraft generation is in support of a weapons system evaluation program at Hill Air Force Base, Utah.

Oklahoma Guard Sharpens Drone Warfare Tactics During Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0

Alaska Air Guard Conducts Three Rescue Missions in 24 Hours

Georgia Guard Engineers Deploy in Support of USAFRICOM

Task Force Beautification Teams With Advisory Neighborhood Commission in the District’s Ward 8

Connecticut Guard Squadron Assists Mortuary Mission at Dover Air Force Base