Guard News - The National Guard

173rd Fighter Wing Joins Sentry Luau Exercise in Hawaii
March 15, 2024 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - About 90 Airmen from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, took to the skies at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam for exercise Sentry... MORE

A U.S. Air Force crew chief from the 173rd Fighter Wing at Kingsley Field, Ore., directs an F-15 Eagle back to the ramp parking during Sentry Luau at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Feb. 26, 2024. Approximately 20 Airmen from Kingsley Field received familiarization flights while at JBPHH.

Oregon Air Guard Pilot Conducts 142nd Wing’s First EX Flight
March 15, 2024 — EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Five F-15C instructor pilots from the Oregon Air National Guard’s 123rd Fighter Squadron are training in the F-15EX with instructors from the 85th Test and Evaluation... MORE

Lt. Col. Joel Thesing, 123rd Fighter Squadron pilot, climbs into an F-15 EX at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., March 7, 2024. Thesing is the first Portland, Ore.-based pilot to fly and train in the EX.

Oklahoma Guard Explores Future of Drone Defense at Symposium
March 15, 2024 — OKLAHOMA CITY - A quote from the “Oppenheimer” movie, “This isn’t a new weapon, it’s a new world,” set the tone for the inaugural Oklahoma National Guard Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Symposium at... MORE

Lt. Col. Brent Hill, deputy director of military support for the Oklahoma National Guard, introduces Jamey Jacob, Ph.d., P.E., during the inaugural Oklahoma National Guard Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems Symposium in Oklahoma City, March 12, 2024. Jacob is the executive director of Oklahoma State University's Oklahoma Aerospace Institute for Research and Education.

109th Airlift Wing Wraps up Antarctic Science Support Mission
March 13, 2024 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing concluded its annual Operation Deep Freeze mission, marking the end of another productive season... MORE

An LC-130 Hercules assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing sits on the ice runway in Antarctica, McMurdo Station, Nov. 11, 2023. From October 2023 to March 2024, 366 Airmen assigned to the wing transported 2.2 million pounds of cargo, 1,500 passengers and 68,000 gallons of fuel in support of National Science Foundation Antarctic research.

Alaska, Maine Guard Conduct Disaster Preparation Exercise
March 13, 2024 — ANCHORAGE, Alaska - The National Guard’s “Always Ready, Always There” motto symbolizes its vigilant presence across the nation. In Alaska, where natural disasters like earthquakes pose significant... MORE

Alaska and Maine National Guardsmen offload from a 176th Wing C-17 Globemaster III while supporting Exercise Vigilant Guard 2024-2 (Alaska) at Merle K. “Mudhole” Smith Airport, Cordova, Alaska, March 5, 2024.

Guard Bureau Chief Sees Innovation, Tech Converge in Texas
March 12, 2024 — AUSTIN – Innovation and emerging technology underscored the National Guard’s senior-most officer’s visit to Texas on March 9-10.Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, met with Texas... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, joins the South by Southwest Conference, Austin, Texas, March 9-10, 2024. Hokanson engaged with entrepreneurs, small business owners and innovators about new concepts that could benefit the Guard and the Joint Force.

New Jersey National Guard Activates Air Refueling Squadron
March 12, 2024 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - The New Jersey Air National Guard’s 108th Wing unveiled its newest unit March 6 with the inauguration of the 170th Air Refueling Squadron.Guided by the Fiscal... MORE

Lt. Col Matthew Secko, 170th Air Refueling Squadron commander, right, receives the unit guidon from Col. William Liess, 108th Operations Group commander, left, during the 170th assumption of command ceremony March 7, 2024, at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey. Secko is the first commander of the newly activated 170th Air Refueling Squadron.

Oklahoma National Guard Tests Drone Technologies
March 12, 2024 — OKLAHOMA CITY - The Oklahoma National Guard collaborated with industry partners across the state to test the cutting-edge capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems at Camp Gruber Training Center Feb... MORE

The Oklahoma National Guard worked with industry partners from across the state Feb. 22 to test the capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems at Camp Gruber Training Center in Oklahoma City. This initiative aims to equip and train the OKNG alongside civilian aerospace industry experts and local partners to enhance mission readiness in aviation and aerospace technologies.

New York National Guard Names Soldiers Killed in Texas Helicopter Crash
March 11, 2024 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Two New York Army National Guard aviators were killed March 8 when the UH-72 Lakota light utility helicopter they were flying crashed near Rio Grande City, Texas, at 2:50 p.m. local... MORE

New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Casey Frankoski, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Grassia were killed when a UH-72 Lakota helicopter they were flying crashed near Rio Grande City, Texas, March 8, 2024. The two were assigned to Detachment 2, Company A, of the 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, operating as part of Joint Task Force North, supporting Customs and Border Protection operations on the southwest border.

New York Army Guard Soldiers Help Track Down Arsonist
March 8, 2024 — NEW YORK – Three New York Army National Guard Soldiers displayed quick thinking and teamwork to help track down a suspected arsonist who tried to set fire to a building a few feet from a Long Island... MORE

Three New York Army National Guard Soldiers who were on duty at a hotel being used as a migrant shelter in Long Island City, New York, helped apprehend a suspected arsonist and put out the fire he started Jan. 29, 2024. Pictured are, from left, Staff Sgt. Richard Miller, Sgt. Animesh Das, Spc. Jaslin Guzman.

81st SBCT Completes Command Post Exercise
March 8, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team tested its command processes and identified redundancies during a command post exercise at Camp Murray from Feb. 29 to March 3.“This was the... MORE

The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and subordinate battalion during a command post exercise at the Pierce County Readiness Center, Camp Murray, Wash., Feb. 29, 2024.

The Harlem Hellfighters: A Legacy of Lasting Impact
March 7, 2024 — NEW YORK - In the past few years, the name Harlem Hellfighters evoked confusion for some, intrigue for others and great pride for those who know the stories of valor and triumph. Lesser known are the... MORE

The granddaughters of legendary Harlem Hellfighter James Reese Europe — Patricia Europe Pearson, Lynn Europe Cotter, and Theresa Europe — pose with senior officers of the 369th Sustainment Brigade for a photo in front of a mural during a visit to the Harlem Regiment Armory in New York Feb. 24, 2024. They were given a tour of the armory by New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Leyland Jones, Col. Patrick Clare, and Lt. Cols. David Myones and Peter Fish.

Air National Guard Director Visits Wisconsin Air Guard
March 6, 2024 — MILWAUKEE - Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director of the Air National Guard, and his spouse, Dianne, visited the 128th Air Refueling Wing March 3 for flight simulator training and a tour of Wisconsin’s... MORE

Senior Airman Margaret A. Miller receives a coin from Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director, Air National Guard, at the 128th Air Refueling Wing, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, March 3, 2024. Miller is a part of the 128th ARW medical group and was recognized for exceptional personnel processing that ensured maximum Airmen readiness across the wing.

Wisconsin Air Guard Helps Refine Air Combat Targeting
March 5, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Control Squadron participated in a five-day exercise at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada that could result in a combat competitive... MORE

U.S. Air Force air battle managers and tactical air control-party Airmen experiment with Air Combat Command’s Tactical Operations Center-enabled Control Reporting Center during the Shadow Operations Center – Nellis’ Capstone event at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Dec. 8, 2023.

Michigan National Guard to Help Improve State Parks
March 4, 2024 — MARQUETTE, Mich. - The 107th Engineer Battalion of the Michigan Army National Guard is joining forces with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to improve state parks.This initiative, which... MORE

Approximately 100 Soldiers from the 1430th Engineer Company, 107th Engineer Battalion, Michigan National Guard, conducted multiple engineering projects at Otsego Lake State Park and Young State Park in June 2022. The Michigan National Guard and Michigan Department of Natural Resources will work together again to improve state park facilities beginning in spring 2024.

North Dakota National Guard Fights Missouri River Ice Jams
March 4, 2024 — BISMARCK, N.D. - The North Dakota National Guard launched an aerial operation to respond to an ice jam on the Missouri River in Bismarck Feb. 29. Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters deployed, repeatedly... MORE

A North Dakota National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter fills up a bucket with 660 gallons of water to drop on an ice jam on the Missouri River in Bismarck, North Dakota, Feb. 29, 2024, to break up the ice and prevent flooding. Two Black Hawks dropped over 70,000 gallons of water in four hours.

National Guard Conducts Arctic Training with Canada
March 4, 2024 — RESOLUTE BAY, Nunavut, Canada - Members of the Vermont, New Hampshire, Virginia and Alaska National Guard and active-duty members of the Army, Navy and Marine Corps are participating in an Arctic... MORE

U.S. Army and Canadian Soldiers observe and secure the insertion area after disembarking from an LC-130 Hercules skiplane of the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, on frozen oceanic Arctic ice near Cornwallis Island, Nunavut, Canada, March 15, 2023. U.S. and Canadian Soldiers and U.S. Airmen are participating in Guerrier Nordique 24 to get experience operating tactically in the high Arctic.

Nebraska Guard Infantry Trains on Survival Tactics
March 1, 2024 — YUTAN, Neb. - Soldiers with the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Company B, 2-134th Infantry (Airborne), conducted survival, evasion, resistance and escape training Feb. 3-4 at the Mead Training Site... MORE

Soldiers with the Nebraska Army National Guard’s Company B, 2-134th Infantry (Airborne), conduct survival, evasion, resistance and escape training Feb. 3-4, 2024, at the Mead Training Site near Yutan, Nebraska. The 59 Soldiers were trained by six U.S. Air Force instructors from the 55th Operations Support Squadron from Offutt Air Force Base.

Air National Guard Crisis Team Recognized for Innovation
March 1, 2024 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The Air National Guard Crisis Action Team was nominated for the 2024 General Larry O. Spencer Innovation Award for innovation that improved efficiency and operational... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Katelyn S. Murphy, superintendent, Crisis Action Team, Air National Guard Readiness Center, National Guard Bureau, simulates gathering pertinent information on crises and events used to inform National Guard senior leaders, at the ANGRC, Joint Base Andrews, Maryland, Feb. 29, 2024. During event and crisis support, the CAT acts as the central Air Guard point of contact, providing enhanced operational continuity between commanders in the field and senior leaders at NGB.

Washington Guard Team Takes Honors at Biathlon Championship
February 29, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - A Washington National Guard biathlon team scored its first Cascade Cup victory and posted individual accomplishments by Majors Josh Jorgenson and Brendan Thompson during the... MORE

The Washington National Guard men's Patrol Team climbs an incline during the 50th anniversary Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships at Soldier Hollow Nordic Center Feb. 21, 2024. The Utah National Guard hosted the national biathlon competition consisting of cross-country skiing and competitive shooting events that tested the warriors’ endurance and marksmanship.

Virginia Guard to Test New Mobile Brigade Combat Team

New York Guard Soldiers Marching in Army's 250th Birthday Parade

Arizona Guard Airmen Train at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson Hospital

Idaho Air Guard Security Forces Train in Combat Scenarios

Washington Guard’s CounterDrug Program Supports Tribes