Guard News - The National Guard

Kentucky National Guard helps secure a cold and rainy Derby
May 6, 2013 — LOUISVILLE - The Kentucky Derby has been run 139 times, most recently on Saturday, when cold, rainy conditions failed to dampen enthusiasm among the Guard members helping keep the event safe.According... MORE

Soldiers of the 198th Military Police Battalion search spectators at Churchill Downs on May 4, 2013. Guardsmen were issued metal-detecting wands as an upgrade to security at the Kentucky Derby.

Pennsylvania Guard members outpace field in Lincoln National Guard Marathon
May 6, 2013 — LINCOLN, Neb. - Gray skies, light winds and unseasonably cold temperatures greeted nearly 10,000 marathoners Sunday as they descended upon Lincoln for the 36th annual Lincoln National Guard... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Michael White of the Washington Air National Guard triumphantly crosses the finish line of the 36th Annual Lincoln National Guard Marathon on May 5, 2013. White was one of more than 200 National Guard runners from 44 states and two territories who joined nearly 10,000 runners for the annual race.

Wyoming's 84th Civil Support Team among nation's best
May 3, 2013 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. - The Wyoming National Guard's 84th Civil Support Team, which responds to calls of potential weapons of mass destruction, was identified as being in the top one percent of the nation's... MORE

A member of the Wyoming National Guard's 84th Civil Support Team tries to gain access to a lower floor within a collapsed structure while training.

North Dakota unit receives long-awaited Meritorious Award
May 3, 2013 — GRAND FORKS, N.D. - More than six years after its return from a mission to Afghanistan, Company A of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment finally received tangible proof of one of... MORE

1st Sgt. Joshua D. Entzel, center, of Bismarck, N.D., places a streamer on the guidon for the North Dakota Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment during an April 28 ceremony at the Alerus Center in Grand Forks, N.D.

National Guard members continue to train, respond to natural and other disasters
May 2, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Members of the National Guard continue to stand ready and prepare for response to possible natural disasters and other events as the summer months, and the potential for hurricanes... MORE

Air crews with the California Army National Guard draw water from a local lake during training on wildfire response operations with local and state fire officials. Members of the National Guard continue to train with local, state and federal authorities in order to stay prepared for response to potential hurricanes, tornados, wildfires and other disaster and emergency situations. In 2012 Guard members responded to more than 100 such situations, including wildfires in western states and Hurricane Sandy along the East Coast.

North Dakota Guard unit dominates Army engineer awards
May 2, 2013 — BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard's 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), of Wahpeton and Oakes, recently dominated the annual Army Engineer Regiment and Society of American Military... MORE

North Dakota National Guard Engineers pose with 2012 engineer awards presented at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. on April 19, 2013.

Kentucky Air Guard's Contingency Response Group earns top honor
May 1, 2013 — LOUISVILLE - The Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Group has been named the Air National Guard Contingency Response Unit of the Year for 2012.The group was chosen for the honor... MORE

Staff Sgt. Brian Leach, an aerial port ramp supervisor from the Kentucky Air National Guard's123rd Contingency Response Group, pushes a pallet of cargo from a C-17 during Exercise Eagle Flag at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., on March 28, 2012.

Army secretary favors 'third-party approach' to engage Congress
May 1, 2013 — WASHINGTON - Army leaders may not make the best advocates when it comes to convincing Congress and the American people which systems soldiers really need, Army Secretary John M. McHugh said here... MORE

Secretary of the Army John McHugh, in a 2011 wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery.

Whirlwind career transports Kentucky National Guard member to Nepal
April 30, 2013 — FRANKFORT, Ky. - When Capt. Andrea Hahn enlisted into the Kentucky National Guard, serving outside the Commonwealth was a small thought in her mind.A chemistry major at Eastern Kentucky University,... MORE

Capt. Andi Hahn stands with a captain from the Paraguay army during the peacekeeping exercise Shanti Prayas-2 in Kathmandu, Nepal, March 24, 2013.

Alaska National Guardsmen rescue plane crash victims in Patton Bay
April 30, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th, 211th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued a pilot and his passenger involved in a plane crash overnight in Patton Bay at... MORE

An HH-60 Pave Hawk takes off from Kulis Air National Guard Base to conduct a cold-weather training mission in 2011. A similar craft was used to rescue occupants of a downed plane.

Flood duty remains steady for North Dakota Guard members
April 29, 2013 — FARGO, N.D. - As the North Dakota National Guard begins its second week supporting flood efforts, the number of Soldiers and Airmen on duty increased briefly today as missions shifted from traffic... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Tobias Mathern, of the 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal), North Dakota Army National Guard, performs routine maintenance on a light medium tactical vehicle (LMTV) at a light quick reaction force (LQRF) team location at the Cass County Highway Department facility, West Fargo, N.D., April 29, 2013.

Family service members group life insurance benefit changes
April 29, 2013 — WASHINGTON - Service members married to other service members are no longer automatically enrolled in the Family Servicemembers Group Life Insurance program, Pentagon officials said.The change,... MORE

Compatible Use Buffer program proves powerful tool for Army installations
April 26, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Fighting raged in Afghanistan in December 2002, and potential operations in Iraq loomed on the horizon, making it doubtful environmental worries about rare butterflies and sumac... MORE

Wildlife graze at Camp Rilea, Ore., where Soldiers from the 351st Civil Affairs Command came together for the annual Best Warrior Competition, April 9 to 13, 2012.

Custom skatepark mural celebrates Kentucky National Guard
April 26, 2013 — LOUISVILLE Ky. - A skate park may be the last place you would expect to see uniformed members of the military, but the Kentucky National Guard has other ideas.As skateboards rolled by on the slope and... MORE

Kentucky's adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini, and State Command Chief Master Sgt. James Smith discuss the plans of a new National Guard mural with artist Nick Accuroso at the Louisville Extreme Park, April 20, 2013.

Air Force Secretary Michael Donley says he will step down
April 26, 2013 — WASHINGTON - Secretary of the Air Force Michael Donley announced his plan today to step down June 21 as the Air Force's top civilian after serving for nearly five years."It's been an honor and a... MORE

Michael B. Donley, the secretary of the Air Force, speaks to about 2,000 members of the Air National Guard's senior leadership at the 2010 Air National Guard Senior Leadership Conference in Washington D.C., Nov. 16, 2010.

National Guard Soldiers recall heroic actions at Boston Marathon
April 26, 2013 — FRAMINGHAM, Mass. - If you saw news video from the Boston Marathon bombing, you likely witnessed how Massachusetts Army National Guard Soldiers reacted to the attack by running directly toward the... MORE

Three Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers helped save lives in the aftermath of the Boston Marathon bombing, April 15, 2013. From left are: 1st Lt. Steve Fiola, 1st Sgt. Bernard Madore and Staff Sgt. Mark Welch.

Alabama National Guard readies for hurricane season
April 24, 2013 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - The Alabama National Guard has responded to many hurricanes in its history. In order to respond quickly and effectively, the Alabama Guard still rehearses hurricane response... MORE

Alabama National Guard Soldiers brief hurricane plans on a 45x80 ft. map at Alabama National Guard headquarters, Montgomery, Ala., April 21, 2013, as part of a drill to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season.

National Guard chaplains provide spiritual support to Boston Marathon terror responders
April 24, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Members of the Massachusetts National Guard played a variety of roles in support of local authorities during the running of the Boston Marathon and in the wake of the explosions at... MORE

Chaplains and chaplain’s assistants with the Massachusetts National Guard talk with Soldiers from the Massachusetts Army National Guard in the wake of the explosions at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Chaplains with the Massachusetts Guard provided spiritual support to those who have responded to the events in Boston.

Downed aircraft radio communication training translates to life or death
April 24, 2013 — NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas - What do you do when your helicopter crashes, and armed civilians are rapidly approaching and firing small arms in your direction?Your ability to make speedy decisions, as well... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class John Steffey provides Team Leader 1st Lt. Servando Maldonado of the California National Guard with tactical feedback as they move through the personnel recovery lanes at North Fort Hood, Texas, April 17, 2013.

National Guard troops battling rising waters in Missouri and North Dakota
April 23, 2013 — CLARKSVILLE, Mo. - About 100 Missouri National Guardsmen from units in St. Louis, Hannibal and Cape Girardeau joined community volunteers to work in support of flood relief operations in affected... MORE

Spc. Bryan Sholts, of Fargo, left, and Spc. Alex Preszler, of Valley City, of the 191st Military Police Company, North Dakota Army National Guard, control traffic in Fargo, April 22, 2013.

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