Guard News - The National Guard

Okla. Air National Guard crew helps fighter jet's pilot
September 24, 2012 — TRANSIT CENTER AT MANAS, KYRGYZSTAN - When crew members of the 137th Air Refueling Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, stepped into their KC-135R Stratotanker for a recent mission and departed the... MORE

Lt. Col. Aaron Wardlaw gazes out a KC-135 Stratotanker at the Transit Center of Manas, Kyrgyzstan.

Air National Guard command chief Muncy retires
September 24, 2012 — WASHINGTON - The command chief to the director of the Air National Guard retired during a Sept. 20 ceremony at Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling.Chief Master Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy said his final... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Christopher E. Muncy, the command chief master sergeant to the director of ANG, on Sept. 20, 2012. Muncy retires after 35 years of military service.

Air National Guard director discusses the way forward
September 21, 2012 — NATIONAL HARBOR - Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, spoke about mission readiness and other challenges facing the ANG in future years to attendees of the Air Force... MORE

Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, the director of the Air National Guard, addresses mission readiness and other challenges facing the ANG in future years during the Air Force Association Air and Space Conference and Technical Exposition at National Harbor, Md., Sept. 18, 2012.

Illinois Guard Soldier helps rescue unconscious equestrian
September 21, 2012 — PEORIA, Ill. - Immediate actions taken by an Illinois Soldier ensured the safety of an unconscious woman who had fallen from a horse in a state park.Sgt. 1st Class James Rade, of the Illinois... MORE

Sgt. First Class James Rade of the Illinois Recruiting and Retention Battalion used his military training to help a woman who tumbled from her horse.

Civilians can help prevent military suicides, official says
September 21, 2012 — WASHINGTON - Defense Department civilians need to understand and recognize the warning signs for suicide just as their military counterparts are being trained to do, the acting director of the Defense... MORE

Civilians can help their loved ones who are going through a crisis period, an expert said at a Pentagon conference.

New York Guard Soldiers, Airmen train for a really rainy day in hurricane drill
September 20, 2012 — TROY, N.Y. - Outside it was a sunny, beautiful day, but inside the Glenmore Road Armory, New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen wrestled with the challenges resulting from a hurricane hitting the... MORE

New York Naval Militia Patrol Boat 230 gets underway with a New York Guard (state defense force) Search and Rescue Team on the Hudson River at Troy, N.Y., Sept. 14, 2012.

Free DoD Safe Helpline mobile app is now available
September 18, 2012 — WASHINGTON - With a new iPhone and Android app announced by the Department of Defense, service members transitioning to civilian life will have access to critical resources for managing the short and... MORE

The new app is free from the iPhone and Android stores.

Welsh: "The only way to move forward is together"
September 17, 2012 — RENO, Nev. - The active-duty Air Force, its Reserve and the Air National Guard must work together to move forward, the chief of staff of the Air Force said here last week."I have trouble seeing lines... MORE

Air Force Gen. Mark A. Welsh III, the chief of staff of the Air Force, addresses the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 11, 2012.

Vermont ANG duo are first Americans to graduate Spanish mountain-warfare school
September 17, 2012 — JACA, Spain - Two Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers recently became the first Americans to attend and graduate the Spanish Mountain Warfare School in Jaca, Spain.The Spanish military invited the... MORE

Sgt. Zechariah Burke of the Vermont Army National Guard during training in the Spanish mountain warfare course.

Employers honored this week for supporting Guard and reserve troops
September 17, 2012 — WASHINGTON - Employers of Guard members and reservists were cited for their support of Soldiers in a presidential proclamation issued Friday.Employers are "hiring and retaining members of the Guard... MORE

Employers visiting Camp Atterbury, Ind., in 2009 are instructed in the operation of an M4 carbine.

Maryland Guard member helping commemorate Battle of Antietam
September 14, 2012 — WASHINGTON - Army Staff Sgt. Mark Pheabus puts on his uniform every month to train with the Maryland National Guard's 29th Military Police Company in Westminster, Md.This weekend, however, he'll be... MORE

Maryland Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Mark Pheabus, pictured portraying a Confederate gun crew ammunition carrier at a Civil War reenactment in Westminster, Md., will participate in the 150th anniversary of the Battle of Antietam this weekend.

N.Y. Engineer company reaches new heights refurbishing historic fire tower
September 12, 2012 — BEACON, N.Y. - Trekking up the 1600 feet of rugged, unforgiving terrain of Mount Beacon, Citizen-Soldiers of the New York Army National Guard's 1156th Engineer Company spent two weeks sharpening their... MORE

Staff Sgt. Marco Padilla and Spc. Osse Jean-Pierre repair and replace railings on the Mount Beacon fire tower Sept. 7, 2012.

Suicide prevention: Reaching out a sign of strength
September 12, 2012 — RENO, Nev. - Service members facing behavioral health challenges should feel comfortable asking for help, Defense Department leaders said here this week.Speaking during Suicide Prevention Month,... MORE

Army Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, the chief of staff of the Army, addresses the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 10, 2012.

Grass: National Guard provides solution to problems in fiscally constrained times
September 12, 2012 — RENO, Nev. - The National Guard is part of the solution to the challenges of a fiscally constrained environment, Army Gen. Frank Grass said here Tuesday."The key to reducing the overall size of the... MORE

Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, addresses the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 11, 2012.

President Obama declares Patriot Day a Day of Remembrance
September 11, 2012 — WASHINGTON - President Barack Obama proclaimed today's 11th anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks on the United States as Patriot Day and National Day of Remembrance.Here is the... MORE

Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, President Barack Obama and Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, at the remembrance service Sept. 11, 2012, at the Pentagon.

Ham: National Guard essential to Africa Command
September 11, 2012 — RENO, Nev. - The National Guard is essential to Africa Command, the combatant commander said here Monday."We in Africa Command rely on members of the Army and Air National Guard every day to... MORE

Army Gen. Carter Ham, combatant commander, U.S. Africa Command, addresses the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 10, 2012.

Odierno: National Guard contributions since 9/11 'critical'
September 11, 2012 — RENO, Nev. - On the eve of today's 11th anniversary of the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, the chief of staff of the Army paid tribute to the role of the National Guard in the immediate aftermath and in... MORE

Army Gen. Raymond T. "Ray" Odierno, the chief of staff of the Army, addresses the 134th National Guard Association of the United States General Conference in Reno, Nev., on Sept. 10, 2012.

La. Guard Airmen find challenge and reward helping Hurricane Isaac victims
September 10, 2012 — PORT SULPHUR, La. - Every mission matters to Louisiana National Guard members and when assigned to help rebuild a small fishing community located in the mouth of the Mississippi River, the Airmen... MORE

A Louisiana Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter piloted by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Matt Krutzfeldt lowers a container holding 300 gallons of fuel to supply a generator for the local water treatment plant in Port Sulphur, La., Sept. 5, 2012.

DOD: Families, friends need to recognize signs of potential suicide
September 10, 2012 — WASHINGTON - September, National Suicide Prevention and Awareness Month, is a reminder to everyone in the military community to watch out for each other, a senior defense official said.Jacqueline... MORE

Army Gen. Frank Grass becomes 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau
September 8, 2012 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Gen. Frank Grass became the 27th chief of the National Guard Bureau in a Pentagon ceremony Friday."I'm very excited about the future; there's hard work to do," Grass said. "To... MORE

Army Gen. Frank Grass, new Chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks at his Pentagon ceremony Sept. 7, 2012.

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