Guard News - The National Guard

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.

"They're long days, they're hard days, but it's really rewarding"
November 7, 2012 — NEW YORK - When the National Guard members of Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry came to Rockaway, N.Y., their mission was to distribute food and water to New Yorkers recovering from Hurricane... MORE

New York Army National Guardsmen distribute food, water and other supplies to civilians in need in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo has mobilized more than 2,800 service members of New York's volunteer military forces to help civilian authorities in recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy.

Florida's C-23 Sherpa Soldiers assist with Sandy relief
November 6, 2012 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Florida Army National Guard aviators are assisting with the Hurricane Sandy relief efforts in the Northeast, joining the more than 9,100 Guard members who are supporting the... MORE

Sgt. Clint Walker, flight engineer with A Company, 641st Aviation Regiment, rotates the propeller of a C-23 Sherpa and checks it for damage and problems as part of his preflight checks and inspections.

More National Guard members helping in N.Y. under emergency-management request
November 6, 2012 — BROOKLYN, N.Y. - More than 700 additional Army National Guard Soldiers from throughout the East Coast and Midwest are arriving in New York City to assist with relief efforts for those affected by... MORE

Spc. Christopher Mitzak, a mechanic with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard's Company A, 228th Brigade Support Battalion, works with other unit members to assemble the support structure of a maintenance tent at Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, N.Y., Nov. 5, 2012.

Connecticut Guard troops mop up Sandy's damage
November 6, 2012 — RENTSCHLER FIELD, East Hartford, Conn. - About 850 members of the Connecticut Army and Air National Guard have been helping in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy. They were called up for state active... MORE

A Connecticut Army National Guard soldier moves pallets of water into position for loading and delivery near Rentschler Field, East Hartford, Conn., Oct. 30, 2012. The National Guard set up a commodity distribution point at the site in order to facilitate delivery of Federal Emergency Management Administration-supplied food and water to Connecticut towns hit hard by Sandy.

First night missions of Vigilant Guard take place
November 6, 2012 — COLUMBIA, Mo. - The Vigilant Guard training exercise, which simulates an earthquake on the New Madrid Seismic Zone, is well underway.Over the weekend, Guard members and first responders trained around... MORE

The 735th Search and Extraction Recon Team teams up with Missouri Task Force 1 to shore a building, making it structurally sound to enter and rescue victims. The task was done in response to the Vigilant Guard exercises that took place November 3-7, 2012 in Columbia Mo.

New York Guard Soldiers working to ensure voting in storm-battered areas
November 5, 2012 — BRENTWOOD, N.Y. - New Yorkers who are still without power in the Hudson Valley and on Long Island in the wake of Hurricane Sandy will get some help in casting their votes on Election Day from the New... MORE

New York Army National Guard Spc. Christopher Miltner and Spc. David De La Mater prep a generator to be used at polling sites in areas affected by Hurricane Sandy.

From fuel to food: the New York National Guard provides a helping hand to neighbors in need
November 4, 2012 — STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. - Members of the New York National Guard worked to distribute critically needed fuel throughout the New York City area as residents and local authorities continue with clean up and... MORE

Soldiers and Airmen with the New York National Guard distribute fuel at the Staten Island Armory, Staten Island, N.Y., Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, to those in the local area affected by Hurricane Sandy. The fuel was provided by the Federal Emergency Management Agency and distributed at various armories throughout the New York and northern New Jersey areas.

W.Va. National Guard members rescue a Rosie the Riveter after Sandy
November 3, 2012 — SUMMERSVILLE, W.Va. - Despite more than a foot of blinding snow outside, Maggie Selman and her dog Ginger were plunged into darkness in her home as Hurricane Sandy swept into West Virginia with a... MORE

Maggie Selman of Craigsville, W.Va., stands with W.Va. Air Guard Lt. Col Yancy Short in the Summersville Baptist Church New Life Center, which operated as a shelter for the community during Hurricane Sandy. Selman was rescued by National Guard servicemembers after her power went out and snow blocked the road to her house. Short and other guard members helped return Selman to her home after hearing her storyabout being a Rosie the Riveter at the shelter.

Iowa Air Guard’s 132nd Security Forces Squadron Conducts Annual Training in Hawaii

Wisconsin Air Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Partners With UW Health for Medical Airmen Training

Connecticut Army Guard Partners With Coast Guard to Dislodge Beached Buoy

Minnesota Guard Among First to Field Army’s Newest M250 Automatic Rifle

Soldier’s Medal Awarded to Georgia Guardsman Who Pulled Driver From Burning SUV