Guard News - The National Guard

Washington, Oregon National Guard Soldiers Test New Weapons
January 24, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS MCHORD, Wash. - Washington and Oregon National Guard Soldiers with the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 96th Troop Command started the new year with a bang by conducting new... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Davis, a section sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, fires the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System during a new weapons fielding training event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 17, 2024. The live-fire exercise gives Soldiers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with new weapon systems being introduced to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 96th Troop Command.

Michigan Mortarmen Provide Indirect Fire at Northern Strike
January 24, 2024 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - Indirect fire infantrymen, commonly referred to as mortarmen, provide offensive, defensive and retrograde ground combat tactical operational support.During Northern Strike 24-1,... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Shane Vanderhoek, center, a mortarman gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan National Guard, sights in an 81 mm mortar during mortar crew validation as part of exercise Northern Strike 24-1 at the All-Domain Warfighting Center, Camp Grayling, Michigan, Jan. 21, 2024. Northern Strike 24-1 is the winter portion of the annual exercise that develops capabilities required to operate in Arctic regions.

Georgia Air National Guard Receives its 1st C-130J-30 Aircraft
January 22, 2024 — MARIETTA, Ga. - The 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, received the first of its eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlift aircraft during a Jan. 22 ceremony commemorating a new era... MORE

The 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard's first C-130J Super Hercules, tail number 5975, is staged in front of a Lockheed Martin hangar in Marietta, Ga., Jan. 22, 2024, for a delivery ceremony display. The 165 AW received the first of its eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlift aircraft during a ceremony commemorating a new era in Hercules operations for the wing.

Michigan Army Guard Civil Support Team Trains with Law Enforcement
January 22, 2024 — DETROIT - Highly specialized teams from the Michigan Army National Guard trained with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies during a countering weapons of mass destruction response... MORE

Lt. Col. Sara So, commander of the 51st Civil Support Team, and 1st. Sgt. Adam Stock discuss exercise details during training to enhance interagency effectiveness between the Michigan National Guard and its emergency response partners. The training took place at Ford Field in Detroit Jan. 11, 2024.

New York National Guard Responds to Winter Storm in Western New York
January 22, 2024 — BUFFALO, N.Y. – The New York National Guard activated 132 Soldiers and Airmen to help local officials deal with a winter storm that hit Buffalo the weekend of Jan. 13-15.The storm dumped 17 inches of... MORE

Staff Sgt. Nathan Wojtkowiak, Tech. Sgt. Kevin Pawlukovich and Staff Sgt. Jacob Qualiana, assigned to the 107th Attack Wing, pause from keeping entrances clear at Erie Community South Campus warming station in Orchard Park, New York, Jan. 15, 2024. Seasonally activated warming stations established around Western New York provide stranded and homeless civilians refuge from extreme winter conditions.

Texas Air Guard Tests Agile Combat Employment with MQ-9 Reaper
January 18, 2024 — GALVESTON, Texas - The 147th Attack Wing used an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system for satellite launch and recovery operations Jan. 10, conducting Agile Combat Employment operations at Scholes... MORE

A Texas Air National Guard member of the 147th Attack Wing Aircraft Maintenance Squadron watches as an MQ-9 Reaper prepares to taxi at Scholes International Airport in Galveston, Texas, Jan. 10, 2024. The wing tested satellite launch and recovery operations as part of its approach to the Agile Combat Employment concept.

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner
January 18, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guard Airmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured snowmachine rider Jan. 15 about 20 miles northeast of Valdez.The snowmachiner activated... MORE

An Alaska National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk refuels with a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II during a training exercise. A 210th Pave Hawk required air-to-air refueling during a Jan. 15, 2024, rescue of a snowmachiner near Valdez.

West Virginia’s 130th Airlift Wing Certified for C-130J-30
January 17, 2024 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing has met the requirements to be declared a C-130J-30 unit with Initial Operational Capability as of Jan. 1.The 130th has been... MORE

The 130th Airlift Wing has met the requirements to be declared a C-130J-30 unit with Initial Operational Capability as of Jan. 1, 2024, the West Virginia National Guard announced. The 130th has been in the process of transitioning airframes from the C-130 H3 Hercules model to the advanced C-130J-30 Super Hercules model since 2021.

Massachusetts Guard Airmen Conduct Casualty Care Exercise
January 10, 2024 — OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. - The 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron hosted a Tactical Combat Casualty Care exercise Jan. 7 to prepare Airmen for deployment and ensure unit readiness on Otis Air... MORE

Airmen of the 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron hosted and participated in a Tactical Combat Casualty Care exercise to prepare Airmen for deployment and ensure unit readiness on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, Jan. 7, 2023.

Junior Washington Guard Members Take Lead in Training
January 8, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, Bravo Company, conducted Battle Drill One Alpha at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Jan. 6.The... MORE

Washington National Guard Soldiers with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, react to contact during squad training on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Jan. 7, 2024. By practicing excellence in the basics, Infantrymen are ready for any mission, local or abroad.

Virginia, NC Guard Soldiers Learn Funeral Honor Fundamentals
January 5, 2024 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Army National Guard Soldiers from Virginia and North Carolina learned the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans during Level 1 funeral honors training Dec. 11-15... MORE

Spc. Gabriel Joines, left, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the 1033rd Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, and Sgt. Brooke Hulings, right, a North Carolina National Guard Soldier assigned to the 882nd Engineer Company, 105th Engineer Battalion, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, train on conducting funeral honors for military veterans Dec. 13, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The five-day course introduced Soldiers to the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans and prepared them to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition.

California Army Guard Brigade Works 24/7 to Defend Nation
January 5, 2024 — VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. - Seven California Army National Guard members of Detachment 1, 100th Missile Defense Brigade, epitomize the National Guard’s motto, “Always ready, always... MORE

Soldiers of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade pose for a photo at the entrance to an ICBM launch tube on Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Louisiana Army Guard Aviation Unit Holds Deployment Ceremony
January 4, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, bid farewell to family and friends during a... MORE

Soldiers of the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion sing the Army Song during a deployment ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 in Hammond, Louisiana, Dec. 2, 2023. Over 70 Soldiers will deploy to Kosovo to support a NATO-led peacekeeping mission.

At-risk Teens Begin New Path as ChalleNGe Academy Graduates
January 4, 2024 — WASHINGTON - Hundreds of young people across the nation ended 2023 by graduating from Youth ChalleNGe Academy programs that provide discipline and education to set at-risk teenagers on a path to... MORE

Maj. Gen. Michael Garshak, the adjutant general of Idaho and commander of the Idaho National Guard, congratulates one of 120 high school students who graduated from the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy Dec. 16, 2023, in Boise, Idaho. The Department of Defense program provides second chances to at-risk teens.

Hokanson Visits Guardsmen Safeguarding Las Vegas New Year’s Eve Celebration
January 2, 2024 — LAS VEGAS – Amid throngs of people ringing in the New Year, the National Guard’s senior officer met with Nevada National Guardsmen on duty to safeguard “America’s Party” — one of the largest New... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, meets with Nevada National Guardsmen supporting local and federal agencies to ensure the safety and security of the New Year’s Eve celebration in Las Vegas Dec. 31, 2023. The cooperative New Year’s mission is led by Clark County Emergency Management and supported by the Nevada National Guard with local and federal law enforcement agencies.

Nevada National Guard Safeguards ‘America's Party’
January 2, 2024 — LAS VEGAS – The Nevada National Guard completed its 24th year supporting first responders during Las Vegas’ annual New Year’s Eve celebration, ”America's Party,” which attracted over 300,000... MORE

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Maj. Gen. Ondra Berry, the adjutant general of the Nevada National Guard, visit local law enforcement and the 92nd Civil Support Team in Las Vegas Dec. 30, 2023. (Tonal adjustments were used to enhance subjects)

Oklahoma National Guard Aviation Unit Deploying to Kosovo
January 2, 2024 — TULSA, Okla. – Loved ones gathered alongside nearly 50 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen during a deployment ceremony Dec. 30 at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa.Members of Charlie... MORE

Loved ones gathered alongside nearly 50 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen during a deployment ceremony Dec. 30, 2023, at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Members of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion (Assault Helicopter Battalion), 244th Aviation Regiment, 90th Troop Command, will deploy to Kosovo to support oOperation Joint Guardian (KFOR).

Guard Caps 2023 Supporting Defense Strategy, Domestic Missions
December 28, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – As December draws to a close, the National Guard wraps up a dynamic year, leaving an indelible mark supporting the warfighter and protecting communities. From fortifying a... MORE

A Hawaii Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook drops water on wildfires in Ka’anapali, Maui, Aug. 26, 2023.

Oregon Air Guard, Germany Participate in Officer Exchange
December 26, 2023 — PORTLAND, Ore. - The Military Reserve Exchange Program has been strengthening international relationships as a program for NATO servicemembers to build cultural understanding and regional expertise... MORE

Capt. Philipp Lukas, right, of the German Reserve Air Force, and Capt. Dewayne Pittman of the 142nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Oregon Air National Guard, pose in front of a 142nd Wing F-15C Eagle at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Portland, Ore. The two officers participated in an exchange program sending Lukas to Oregon and Pittman to Germany.

New York National Guard Conducts Over 9,000 Military Funerals
December 26, 2023 — LATHAM, New York - New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen expect to provide military funeral honors for the families of over 9,000 veterans by the end of 2023.Federal law requires the military to... MORE

New York National Guard honor guard Soldiers receive the remains of 1st Lt. John Thomas, a World War II Army Air Forces pilot killed in 1943, at the Rose Cemetery in North Rose, New York, May 20, 2023. This was one of 7,100 military funerals the New York Army National Guard's honor guard teams expected to conduct by the end of 2023.

Texas Guard Members Bolster Border Patrol Efforts along Rio Grande

Washington Army Guard Soldiers Participate in Norwegian Foot March

Florida National Guard Conducts Operation Mustang

In Maine, Raines Highlights National Guard Readiness, Family Support and Global Reach

Georgia's 165th Airlift Wing Hosts Response Exercise TOXIC PEACH 2025