Guard News - The National Guard

Army Guard sees unexpectedly high retention rate
November 2, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Defense Department announced recruiting and retention numbers for the 2011 fiscal year recently, stating that the Army National Guard intentionally achieved only 95 percent of its... MORE

Burch, SMA, Army Reserve CSM visit sends "one Army" message
November 2, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - During what has been viewed as a significant and historic trip, Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, recently spent time... MORE

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard J. Burch, command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, visits with Soldiers of the 230th Signal Company, Tennessee Army National Guard, at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, to discuss the future of the Army National Guard and answer Soldiers' questions Oct. 20, 2011.

Study: No relationship found between service members' health and burn pits
November 2, 2011 — WASHINGTON - No evidence was found between exposure to burn pits in Iraq and Afghanistan, and long-term health problems, according to a study released here Monday by the Institute of Medicine.A... MORE

Army secretary: Balance needed as wars draw down
November 2, 2011 — WASHINGTON - With the drawdown of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan, talented Soldiers will need to be retained while Army infrastructure draws down, and the American people and warfighters need to... MORE

Roy: Guard members should tell their story
October 31, 2011 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - The Air National Guard is in the fight and it is up to each and every Guard member to tell their story to their families, employers and fellow service members, the chief master... MORE

Guard mobilizes after severe October snowstorm
October 31, 2011 — MILFORD, Mass. - Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick mobilized the Massachusetts National Guard late Saturday evening in the largest single-state response to a rare October snowstorm that dumped nearly... MORE

Army National Guard Spc. Seth Tuper, a combat engineer, 379th Engineer Company, 101st Engineer Battalion, Massachusetts Army National Guard, directs traffic around a tree that had fallen on Springfield Street in Wilbraham, Mass., blocking half the road and creating a potential traffic hazard on Oct. 30, 2011. As Tuper, a resident of Florida, Mass., directed traffic, other Soldiers from his unit used chain saws to quickly cut down the tree.

Muncy: Guard members should use three key steps to deal with change
October 31, 2011 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Resiliency, flexibility and preparation are three key steps for Guard members preparing for potential changes coming to the Defense Department, the Air National Guard's command... MORE

Chief Master Sergeant Christopher Muncy, command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard, addresses 1,000 Guard Airmen at the Enlisted Leadership Symposium in Nashville, Tenn.

Air Force BDU officially history today
October 31, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - There are two things you should not see Nov. 1 - Halloween costumes and the Air Force Battle Dress Uniform.In 2006, the Airman Battle Uniform became authorized for wear and a date was... MORE

Nevada National Guard photo illustration

Earnhardt remains in ninth with only four races left
October 26, 2011 — Dale Earnhardt Jr.'s strategy in Sunday's race was to power to the front with drafting partner and teammate Jimmie Johnson in the closing laps, but a green-white-checkered finish left them without... MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard racecar, signs autographs for fans before race day at the Talladega Superspeedway in Talladega, Ala. Oct. 15, 2011.

Royal Air Force aviation pioneer flies with Air Guard F-16s
October 25, 2011 — TUCSON, Ariz. - Wearing a bright red flight suit, Royal Air Force Flight Lt. Kirsty Stewart, a member of the United Kingdom's aerial demonstration team, the Red Arrows, visited the 162nd Fighter Wing... MORE

Air Force Staff Sgt. Luis Aguilar fits RAF Flight Lt. Kirsty Stewart with a helmet and oxygen mask in preparation for her F-16 orientation flight at the 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport, Oct. 21, 2011. Stewart, a member of the United Kingdom's Red Arrows aerial demonstration team, was able to fly in the backseat of a Fighting Falcon with the international F-16 training wing.

McKinley gives praise, admiration to Guard members in Kosovo
October 25, 2011 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited Soldiers and Airmen stationed in Kosovo who are part of Multinational Battle Group East, Kosovo... MORE

Air Force Gen. Craig R. McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visits Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, to speak to Soldiers deployed there in support of Kosovo Forces 14, Oct. 24, 2011. McKinley gave his personal gratitude and admiration for the Soldiers and Airmen stationed throughout the country and their bravery during the recent unrest.

First Air National Guard F-16 unit deploys in support of OEF
October 24, 2011 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - More than 175 members of the District of Columbia National Guard deployed to Afghanistan earlier this month, initiating the first Air National Guard F-16 deployment in... MORE

Air Force Brig. Gen. Jeff Johnson, 113th Wing commander, D.C. Air National Guard, wishes a safe journey to Air Force Capt. Danny Hull, 121st Fighter Squadron pilot, before Hull's departed as part of the first Air National Guard F-16 to deploy to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. More than 175 members of the 113th Wing deployed this month to support the mission.

National Guard runners well represented at Army Ten-Miler
October 24, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 1,700 National Guard members took to the streets here and throughout our nation's capital Oct. 9 for the 27th Annual Army Ten-miler.Hailing from 51 states, territories and... MORE

A Pennsylvania National Guard runner crosses the finish line of the 27th Army Ten-Miler in Arlington, Va., Oct. 9, 2011. More than 1,700 Guard runners participated in the event this year.

Ambassador: National Guard uniquely suited to peacekeeping operations
October 23, 2011 — THE SINAI PENINSULA, Egypt - The National Guard is playing a critical role supporting desert peacekeepers at a critical moment in the Middle East, the director general of the Multinational Force and... MORE

Ambassador David Satterfield, director general of the Multinational Force and Observers; Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau and Army Maj. Gen. James Adkins, the adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard, at a town hall meeting with troops at MFO South Camp near Sharm El Sheik, Egypt, on Oct. 21, 2011. Maryland National Guard members are currently deployed to the Sinai in support of the international peacekeeping force.

Army Guard CSM visits, discusses new standards with Soldiers
October 21, 2011 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the Army National Guard command sergeant major, made a special stop here Oct. 20 to visit with Soldiers and discuss the higher... MORE

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, traveled to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan Oct. 20, 2011, to speak to deployed National Guard Soldiers about upcoming changes in structure and funding, as well as the personal responsibilities inherent in both. The relaxed nature of his visit prompted a very open question-and-answer session that was both rewarding to him and the Soldiers he visited.

Chairman's Corner: The Military Retirement System
October 19, 2011 — WASHINGTON - In my first blog entry, I discussed the four themes that are important to me as I start my tenure as the 18th Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Among them I mention keeping faith... MORE

Army Gen. Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff

D.C. National Guard supports dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial
October 19, 2011 — WASHINGTON - About 100 members of the D.C. National Guard assisted local and federal agencies with security and traffic control at the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial on the National... MORE

A D.C. Army National Guard member provides support at the National Mall during the dedication of the Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial dedication Oct. 16, 2011.

New Reserve Forces Board chairman looks ahead
October 19, 2011 — WASHINGTON - The Reserve Forces Policy Board is returning to its 60-year-old roots under statutory changes giving it broader membership and a direct line to the defense secretary, the board's new... MORE

Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Reserve Affairs

Dan Wheldon: More Than a Driver
October 18, 2011 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army National Guard lost a true friend and champion on October 16, 2011 when Dan Wheldon, 33, driver of the Guard's No. 4 IndyCar during the 2009 and 2010 seasons, died from... MORE

Earnhardt lags in ninth place in post-season
October 18, 2011 — Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard NASCAR racecar, was contending for a top-15 finish but an unscheduled pit stop in the closing stages of the race resulted in a 19th-place... MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr., driver of the No. 88 National Guard racecar, races around the track to regain position during race day at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Oct. 15, 2011, Charlotte, N.C.

Maryland Air Guard Conducts Combat Search and Rescue Training in Wisconsin

Missouri Airmen Go Analog in Cyber Attack Simulation

Idaho Army National Guard, Boise Fire Department Conduct Water Rescue

Pennsylvania Guard Aviation Partners with Coast Guard

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security