Guard News - The National Guard

N.Y. Guard to help Sandy victims over Thanksgiving holiday
November 21, 2012 — NEW YORK - As Americans prepare for the Thanksgiving holiday, more than 1,100 members of the New York National Guard continue their support of Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts or augment New York City... MORE

Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 369th Sustainment Brigade, the legendary "Harlem Hellfighters," prepare holiday meals at Manhattan's Jacob Javits Center for shipment and delivery to city distribution sites.

Alaska Air National Guard duo saves life of critically ill woman
November 20, 2012 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Jumping from the tail of an HC-130 into the frigid night, two elite pararescuemen of the Alaska Air National Guard felt their parachutes deploy before... MORE

Members of the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron perform a free-fall jump over the Malemute Drop Zone, on the Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson installation. Two pararescuemen used a similar jump to save a woman.

Colorado aviators support Canadian brethren in major training exercise
November 20, 2012 — WAINWRIGHT, Alberta - Soldiers with Task Force Eagle endured frigid Canadian temperatures as they participated in high-readiness evaluation exercise, Maple Resolve, by providing heavy lift and medevac... MORE

Colorado Army National Guard members replace a bad transmission in a CH-47 Chinook helicopter in below-freezing temperatures during operation Maple Resolve at the Canadian Manoeuver Training Center in Wainwright, Alberta Oct. 24, 2012.

National Guard essential in storm response
November 16, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members have played a key role in the large-scale, coordinated, whole-of-government response to the domestic emergencies triggered by Superstorm Sandy and Winter Storm... MORE

Spc. Jesse de la Cruz, center on truck, assists in evacuating a toddler at a rescue mission at Hoboken, N.J., Oct. 31. New Jersey National Guard soldiers from Foxtrot Company, 250th Brigade Support Battalion, were the first company from the NJNG to arrive in Hoboken. They successfully completed more than 25 missions, which included rescues and delivering food and water to local shelters. In addition, de la Cruz rescued a pregnant woman going into labor, who was held up in her home for two days without food, water, and electricity. The unit immediately transported her to the shelter hospital for medical treatment.

Air National Guard Strategic Planning Systems conference helping bridge to the future
November 16, 2012 — LEESBURG, Va. - The question of where the Air National Guard will be in 2025 was the topic of conversation for 300 senior ANG leaders from across the nation at the Strategic Planning Systems... MORE

Maj. Gen. L. Scott Rice, the chief of staff of the Massachusetts Air National Guard, right, speaks with Brig. Gen. Steve Cray, the ANG Strategic Planning System vice chairman, during the ANG SPS at the National Convention Center, Leesburg, Va., Nov. 13, 2012.

National Guard chaplains train in spiritual and survival skills
November 16, 2012 — CAMP SHELBY, Miss. - Instead of weapons, chaplains carry their faith when they deploy. But even a chaplain needs to know how to defend him or herself against a personal attack.While deployed, unit... MORE

Members on the unit ministry team, 55th Brigade Combat Team, a Pennsylvania National Guard unit, practice flanking movements during their pre deployment training held at Camp Shelby Joint Force Training Center, Miss.

Guard's Air Mobility experts join Mars Rover team on airdrop problems
November 15, 2012 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The phase lead and development manager for the Entry Descent and Landing on the Mars Science Laboratory Project met with Air Mobility experts from across the Air Force here... MORE

From left, Col. Edward Black, Dr. Don Erbschloe and Dr. Adam Steltzner of NASA share ideas Nov. 6, 2012, at the AATTC in St. Joseph, Mo. Steltzner joined with Air Mobility experts from across the Air Force to consider problems in airdrops.

Fort Hood training proves helpful for experienced aviators
November 15, 2012 — FORT HOOD, Texas - The California Army National Guard's Company B, 1st Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, one of the oldest Chinook helicopter units in the Army, is no stranger to Afghanistan. The... MORE

Soldiers aboard a Chinook helicopter prior to taking off on an operation at Fort Hood in September, 2012.

By the numbers: Hurricane Sandy relief required massive logistics
November 13, 2012 — NEW YORK - Almost 4,000 troops, operating more than 1,300 trucks and Humvees, have delivered 2.5 million emergency meals and 150,000 blankets to storm victims, and fueled more than 13,000 city... MORE

New York Army National Guard logistics experts speak Nov. 5, 2012, with New York City Office of Emergency Management officials at the Logistical Support Area established here.

Coney Island rescue crews knocked on doors to aid stranded residents
November 13, 2012 — FORT HAMILTON, N.Y. - Teamwork between Soldiers, Airmen, first responders and other government agencies helped aid Coney Island residents on Nov. 9.The effort offered residents supplies and medical... MORE

Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Luke Simon, of Buffalo, leads a team of soldiers from B. Troop, along with first responders through an apartment complex in New York City Nov. 9, 2012.

Puerto Rico Guard lends a hand to Missouri during earthquake exercise
November 9, 2012 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard has been conducting a national-level earthquake exercise, known as Vigilant Guard, under the scenario that a massive quake struck the New Madrid fault... MORE

Nearly 200 Puerto Rico National Guard members arrived at Rosecrans Air National Guard in St. Joseph to support the national-level Vigilant Guard earthquake exercise.

Sandy rescues: 'That is why I joined the National Guard," Soldier says
November 9, 2012 — NEW YORK - "When we saw it coming down, we couldn’t believe it," said Rose Miller, 85, recalling how Hurricane Sandy battered the Rockaway section of Queens.Rose and her husband Leonard Miller, 95,... MORE

Spc. Joseph Pollini assists Leonard Miller down the steps of his boyhood home to a waiting vehicle in the Rockaway section of Queens, Nov. 6, 2012.

After Winter Storm Athena, 'big and fast' National Guard Sandy response continues full bore
November 9, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - As the two states at the epicenter of Superstorm Sandy's damage absorbed a cruel second blow from a nor'easter, the National Guard continued round-the-clock missions to alleviate... MORE

Spc. Robert Sloppy dispenses fuel to a school bus while Spc. Lauren Fratelli mans the pump valves. The two specialists, members of Delaware's aviation community, volunteered to deploy with the Delaware National Guard's 1049th as refueling specialists.

Chaplains provide support to those taking part in Hurricane Sandy relief operations
November 9, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard members have come from throughout the country to assist with relief and recovery operations in the wake of Hurricane Sandy, with many Soldiers and Airmen taking part in... MORE

Army Chaplain (Maj.) Alex Knowles comforts a resident affected by Hurricane Sandy in the New York area. Chaplains have been in the areas affected by the storm providing support to both service members taking part in operations and those affected by the storm.

Vigilant Guard exercise ends as "successful mission"
November 9, 2012 — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - The Missouri National Guard's Vigilant Guard training exercise concluded Wednesday, after a five day period that was a response to a simulated earthquake that took place along... MORE

Soldiers from the 1438th Engineer Company of Macon, Mo., secure a piece of a bridge that has just unfolded in the river as part of a training exercise for Vigilant Guard.

These New Jersey Air National Guard electricians help the light shine
November 8, 2012 — BRICK, N.J. - New Jersey Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Carl Hilpl is standing with the rest of the electric crew in the parking lot of the Ocean County Medical Center in Brick, N.J. The temperature... MORE

Staff Sgt. Robert Jentsch, left, shines a flashlight onto the control panel of a generator for Staff Sgt. Carl Hilpl as Hilpl prepares to start the system so the shelter at Veterans Memorial Middle School in Brick, N.J., will have power Nov. 7, 2012.

Kansas Air Guard dentist leaves patients smiling
November 8, 2012 — WICHITA, Kan. - For the first time in five years, the 184th Intelligence Wing dental office has a traditional Guard dentist, Air Force Maj. Mark Sheils.The dentist said he knew when he joined the unit... MORE

Maj. Mark Sheils, dentist for the 184th Medical Group, is the first dentist the wing has had for a very long time. Sheils travels from Fargo, N.D., to attend monthly unit training assemblies.

Maine emergency operations team supporting disaster relief in New York City
November 8, 2012 — AUGUSTA, Maine - A volunteer multi-disciplinary team of emergency operations specialists left Maine last Friday headed to the Emergency Operations Center in Brooklyn to provide disaster relief... MORE

Guard members from Maine responded last Friday to help those affected by Hurricane Sandy's devastation. Here, civilian watercraft land in a pile alongside Army watercraft and equipment at Caven Point Marine Terminal of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Nov. 2, 2012.

Army National Guard gets new command chief warrant officer
November 7, 2012 — ARLINGTON, VA. - Chief Warrant Officer 5 Gary Ensminger began his new duties Oct. 29 as the Army National Guard's new command chief warrant officer.Before being selected as the new command Chief... MORE

Chief Command Warrant Officer Gary Ensminger began his new duties Oct. 29.

Be persistent and thorough to join military academies
November 7, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - A bit of knowledge and some persistence from Guard members can go a long way toward securing what many might consider an incredible career opportunity. The knowledge is that the... MORE

U.S. Air Force cadets march to lunch at the Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs, Colo., April 30, 2012.

Nordhaus, Raines: National Guard Delivers Outsized Impact at Home, Abroad

Specialized Oregon Guard Unit Conducts Training at Camp Rilea

Caine: When you Mobilize the Guard, you Mobilize the Nation

Wildfire Response During Training Proves Oklahoma Guard Ready to Fight Fires

D.C. National Guard Supports Law Enforcement at Nationals Park