Guard News - The National Guard

Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment
April 24, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted intensive live-fire squad exercises April 19 at the Orchard Combat Training Center, honing crucial... MORE

A fire team from the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team fires at targets while conducting a squad live-fire exercise at Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho April 19, 2024. The intensive range tested Soldiers' abilities to maneuver under simulated combat conditions with pop-up targets and live ammunition.

Alaska Army Guard, Marine Corps Enhance Aviation Tactics
April 24, 2024 — MARINE CORPS AIR STATION YUMA, Ariz. - Aviators from the Alaska Army National Guard graduated from the Marine Corps Weapons and Tactics Instructor course April 22, marking a significant moment in the... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Sara Becker, a UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew chief assigned to 207th Aviation Troop Command, scans the area while waiting for passengers during the Weapons and Tactics Instructor Course 2-24 at a forward arming and refueling point near Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz., April 8, 2024. The training iteration marked the first time that conventional U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk aircrews participated in the highly competitive and rigorous joint training course that integrates all Marine aviation assets, ground forces, command and control systems, logistics and air defense.

Guard Chief Visits Pennsylvania Guard, Aviation Training Site
April 23, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, met with Pennsylvania National Guard leaders and members of the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, met with Pennsylvania National Guard leaders and members of the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site during a visit to Fort Indiantown Gap April 22, 2024.

Kentucky, Tennessee Win Regional Best Warrior Competition
April 23, 2024 — GREENVILLE, Ky. – Soldiers from Kentucky and Tennessee earned top honors in the 2024 Army National Guard Region III Best Warrior Competition April 14-19.Hosted by the Kentucky National Guard, the... MORE

Tennessee National Guard Spc. Noah Green, left, and U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Buck with the Kentucky National Guard won the 2024 Region III Best Warrior Competition at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, April 19, 2024. Nineteen competitors from 10 states and territories competed for the titles of Soldier and NCO of the Year for Region III.

Idaho Guard, Firefighters Practice Water Hoist Rescues
April 23, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group and the Boise Fire Department’s Swiftwater Dive Team practiced hoist rescues from the water during exercises April 18-19 at a Boise... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard’s State Aviation Group and the Boise Fire Department’s Swiftwater Dive Team practiced hoist rescues from the water using UH-60 Black Hawk and the UH-72A Lakota helicopters, April 18-19, 2024.

New York National Guard Sharpens Disaster Readiness Skills
April 23, 2024 — CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. - Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division honed their command and control capabilities as the Region II Homeland Response Force April 15-19 at... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 827th Engineer Company, 104th Military Police Battalion, lower a simulated casualty from rubble during a training exercise April 17, 2024. Led by personnel from the 42nd Infantry Division making up the Region II Homeland Response Force, the week-long exercise brought together elements from across the New York National Guard.

California Air Guard 146th Maintenance Group Learns New Skill
April 22, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - On a chilly, overcast morning that promised rain in the very northern state of Wisconsin, 28 U.S. Airmen assigned to the 146th Maintenance Group of the Air National Guard in... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 146th Maintenance Group, 146th Airlift Wing, based on Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, practice executing the fundamentals of Crash Damaged and Disabled Aircraft Recovery on Volk Field in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin, April 16-18, 2024. The CDDAR certified members and augmentees used airbags, forklifts and cranes to raise, pull and stabilize aircraft that simulated different scenarios of downed airplanes.

Virginia Guard CST, State Police Team Up for Training Exercise
April 22, 2024 — BLACKSTONE, Va. - Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 34th Civil Support Team trained with Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians March 19-21... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 34th Civil Support Team and Virginia State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation bomb technicians conduct a training exercise March 19, 2024, at the Blackstone Readiness Center in Blackstone, Virginia. CST and VSP elements worked to identify possible explosives hazards while maintaining crime scene integrity.

Louisiana National Guard Engineers Prepare for Deployment
April 20, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS - More than 40 Louisiana Army National Guard 1021st Engineer Vertical Construction Company Soldiers are conducting pre-mobilization training at the Louisiana National Guard Training Center... MORE

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers of the 1021st Engineer Vertical Construction Company, 205th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, conduct pre-mobilization training at the Louisiana National Guard Training Center in Pineville. Soldiers are preparing for deployment to the Central Command area of responsibility to support Operations Inherent Resolve, Freedom Sentinel and Spartan Shield.

168th Wing Enables Fighter Support over Pacific for Agile Reaper
April 19, 2024 — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam - Airmen from the 168th Wing supported the Agile Reaper exercise, providing combat refueling to 3rd Air Expeditionary Wing F-22 Raptors and airlift for cargo and... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Master Sgt. Anthony Accardi, 168th Logistics Readiness Squadron, loads equipment on an Alaska Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker with the help of Tech. Sgt. Melina Arciniega, a boom operator, 168th Operations Group, while preparing to deploy from Eielson Air Force Base to Exercise Agile Reaper 24-1 at Andersen AFB, Guam.

Army Guard Elevates Disaster Response with UAS Training
April 18, 2024 — REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – In preparation for the direst of days on the homeland front, a dozen Citizen-Soldiers recently enhanced their technical acumen on unmanned aviation systems after completing a... MORE

A dozen Citizen-Soldiers from Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield Explosive response teams recently completed a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers qualification course at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama, on operating unmanned aviation systems, enabling the Army National Guard members to fly the R80D Skyraider, pictured here. The systems provide live digital video and employ onboard sensors to relay environmental conditions while mitigating the need to put Soldiers in harm’s way.

Michigan Guard Military Police Soldiers end Guantanamo Mission
April 15, 2024 — LANSING, Mich. – The water spray arch of two Detroit Metro Airport firetrucks marked the homecoming of 62 Michigan National Guard Citizen-Soldiers with the 177th Military Police Brigade following... MORE

Members of Higher Headquarters Company 117th Military Police Brigade, Michigan National Guard, deplane at the unit’s welcome home ceremony from a deployment to support Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay in the Southern Command Area of Responsibility, Detroit, Mich, April 9, 2024.

New Georgia Army Guard Soldiers say ‘Send Me’ Overseas
April 15, 2024 — FORT STEWART, Ga. - On April 13, 194 new Soldiers joined the Georgia Army National Guard during a battle handoff ceremony that followed basic and military occupational specialty training. Most will... MORE

Pfc. Cassandra Vazquez receives an Army Achievement Medal from the Georgia Army National Guard command team of Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson and Command Sgt. Maj. John Ballenger during a battle handoff ceremony April 13, 2024, in Fort Stewart, Ga.

Alaska Air National Guard Helps 3 Alaskans During 2 Missions
April 15, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen evacuated a mother and premature baby and rescued an injured snowmachiner in two missions at remote locations across Alaska... MORE

A 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II refuels a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk during training over Alaska Jan. 11, 2021. A 210th RQS Pave Hawk carried out two medical evacuation missions April 4-5, 2024, one of them with a 211th RQS HC-130 and both with 212th Rescue Squadron Guardian Angels.

Pennsylvania Guard WMD Civil Support Team Completes Exercise
April 12, 2024 — BLOOMSBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team conducted a training exercise April 11 to validate its proficiency. In the exercise scenario,... MORE

Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 3rd Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team conducted a training proficiency exercise April 11, 2024, at Bloomsburg University in Bloomsburg, Pennsylvania. The team was evaluated by a U.S. Army North team.

Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders
April 12, 2024 — HAMPTON, Va. - Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, met with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8 at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.Maj. Gen. James W. Ring, the adjutant... MORE

Finnish Maj. Gen. Juha-Pekka Keränen, commander of the Finnish Air Force, meets with Virginia National Guard leaders April 8, 2024, at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. The VNG enjoys an enduring relationship with Finland that includes military training exchanges between Finnish Defence Forces and VNG Soldiers and Airmen.

South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment
April 12, 2024 — MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. - Airmen assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing returned to South Carolina April 10, ending a six-month deployment to U.S. Central Command’s area of responsibility... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 169th Fighter Wing, South Carolina Air National Guard, are greeted by family and wing personnel as they return from a six-month deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility April 10, 2024. Approximately 150 Swamp Fox Airmen deployed in support of 9th Air Force (Air Forces Central) to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, the unit’s first deployment as an expeditionary air base team under the new Air Force Force Generation model.

Army, Air Force Team up to Load Helicopters at Shaw AFB
April 11, 2024 — SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. - U.S. Army and Air Force units worked together to load two U.S. Army AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopters onto a C-5M Super Galaxy aircraft at Shaw Air Force Base March... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 20th Logistics Readiness Squadron at Shaw Air Force Base, S.C., and the 337th Airlift Squadron from Westover Air Reserve Base, Mass., and U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 1-151st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, South Carolina Army National Guard, load an AH-64E Apache Guardian helicopter onto a C-5M Super Galaxy at Shaw AFB, March 22, 2024. The two-day process marked the first time U.S. Army AH-64Es were loaded into a C-5M at Shaw AFB.

New York Air Guard Members Recognized for Lifesaving Actions
April 11, 2024 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Staff Sgts. Colin Kistner and Miguel Rodriguez Peraza were honored for reviving a heart attack victim.Kistner was awarded the Air and Space Commendation... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Colin Kistner is presented with the 174th Attack Wing Diamond Sharp Award by Master Sgt. Robert Hood, first sergeant of the 174th Operations Support Squadron, March 8, 2024, at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, New York.

Texas Air Guard Deploys MQ-9 to Help Fight Wildfires
April 9, 2024 — HOUSTON - The Texas Air National Guard deployed an uncrewed aerial system in March to help the Texas Department of Emergency Management and local fire departments combat fires that engulfed the... MORE

An MQ-9 crew prepares to launch the aircraft at Ellington Field Joint Reserve Base in Houston March 9, 2024. The 147th deployed an MQ-9 to help fight the Smokehouse Creek Fire in northern Texas, providing real-time video to civilian agencies and local firefighters.

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts