Guard News - The National Guard

Minnesota expands family care initiative
July 29, 2010 — SAINT PAUL, Minn., - With hundreds of Minnesota National Guard troops preparing to deploy to the Middle East next year, First Lady Mary Pawlenty announced today that the Military Family Care... MORE

Army Guard helicopters, Air Force parachutists take jamboree to the skies
July 29, 2010 — FORT A.P. Hill, Va., - The vast, wooded forests and rolling, green hills here have provided a rich, natural environment for each Boy Scouts of America’s National Jamboree since 1981. Thousands of... MORE

Active shooter exercise helps service members protect scouts
July 29, 2010 — FORT A.P. HILL, Va., - More than 35 first responders tested their ability to react under pressure to a simulated armed gunman during an active shooter exercise during preparations for the Boy Scouts... MORE

Army Private First Class William Stein, Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree, kneels while participating in an exercise in preparation for the 2010 Boy Scouts of America jamboree July 22, 2010. More than 35 first responders tested their ability to react under pressure during the exercise. The JTF’s goal is to provide professional military support and a safe and secure environment for scouts and visitors during the event. The Department of Defense’s presence and effort at the NSJ emphasizes commitment to the nation’s youth.

Army, Air Guard maintains end strength
July 29, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - Both the Army and Air National Guard missed their recruiting goals for June, but their end-strength numbers are still within congressionally mandated limits, Guard officials said... MORE

Panel suggests re-evaluation of military's use of Guard
July 29, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - A congressionally mandated panel has recommended broad changes to long-term Defense Department strategies and priorities, including funding a major recapitalization of equipment,... MORE

Utah Guard, Cambodian Soldiers construct school
July 28, 2010 — KAMPONG SPEU, Cambodia - Utah National Guard Soldiers from the 197th Special Troops Company (Airborne) worked alongside Royal Cambodian Armed Forces Soldiers to complete construction of a local... MORE

Soldiers from Utah National Guard's 197th Special Troops Company (Airborne)and the Royal Cambodian Armed Forces work together to complete the restrooms at the school as part of the humanitarian civic assistance project for Angkor Sentinel 2010.

Soldiers train lifesavers at Patriot exercise
July 28, 2010 — FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz., - Two active duty Soldiers from Fort Huachuca were recently requested to assist the Air National Guard with annual combat lifesaver training.In May, Chief Master Sgt. Julie... MORE

Sgt. Russell Moss (right), a medic for Company A, 309th Military Intelligence Battalion of the U.S. Army, instructs a student in combat lifesaver training at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis.

Guard supports national Boy Scout Jamboree
July 28, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - More than 600 Army National Guard members from 15 states will support this year's national Boy Scout Jamboree, which will celebrate 100 years of scouting in the United States, at... MORE

Fort A.P. Hill is expected to welcome several thousand this week for the 17th National Scout Jamboree, which coincides with the 100th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America.

Time running out for troops, veterans to claim 'stop loss' pay
July 28, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - Eligible servicemembers and veterans have less than three months to apply for Retroactive "Stop Loss" Special Pay. The special pay was approved by Congress as part of the 2009 War... MORE

Who is watching a Guard member's mental health?
July 28, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - DCoE’s Center for Deployment Psychology is concerned with the question: “Who is treating our guard and reserve servicemembers and their families after they leave active service and... MORE

Virginia Guard chaplain support teams headed to Louisiana
July 27, 2010 — RICHMOND, Va., - Two Virginia National Guard chaplain support teams are headed to Louisiana to provide chaplain services to military personnel from all over the country assisting with recovery... MORE

Tough break for Earnhardt in Indianapolis
July 27, 2010 — INDIANAPOLIS - Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 National Guard Chevrolet were closing in on the top 10 as the race was winding down during the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series event this past Sunday.The... MORE

Dale Earnhardt Jr. and the No. 88 AMP Energy/National Guard sponsored Chevrolet race down the track at the famed Indianapolis Motor Speedway during the Brickyard 400 in Indianapolis Sunday, July 25, 2010.

Spouse jobs program to relaunch in October
July 26, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - The Military Spouse Career Advancement Accounts program will resume Oct. 25, but with some significant changes to the popular spouse employment program, a defense official announced... MORE

Guard, Reserve children need help in school
July 26, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - Over the past year, I've spoken with many military families about the challenges they face, and a common issue is education for children from Guard and reserve families. These children... MORE

Alaska trains with Kyrgyzstan search and rescue team
July 23, 2010 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The Alaska National Guard teamed up with a Kyrgyzstan Search and Rescue Team to train on procedures and techniques in mountain rescue this May on Mt. McKinley.The opportunity to... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Johnny Davis, 212th Rescue Squadron, Alaska Air National Guard (right) trains members of Kyrgyzstan search and rescue team in glacier travel techniques. Davis also provided rope work, risk assessment, ice climbing and crevasse rescue training.

Mississippi Guard complete air quality tests along coastline
July 23, 2010 — BILOXI, Miss., - The Mississippi National Guard on Friday found no abnormal readings after it completed monitoring the air quality this week at 20 different locations along the coastline in... MORE

Army, Air Guard adjust recruiting goals
July 22, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Both the Army and Air National Guard missed their recruiting goals for June, however, recruiting activities were adjusted and those goals were intentionally missed as a way to keep... MORE

Louisiana engineers reinforce land bridge at Thunder Bayou
July 21, 2010 — GRAND ISLE, La., - The Louisiana National Guard’s 527th Engineer Battalion, 225th Engineer Brigade, completes reinforcement work on a land bridge on Elmer’s Island, La., in support of the Deepwater... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jimmy Lynch of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s, 844th Horizontal Engineer Company, 527th Engineer Battalion, operates a John Deere 650J Bulldozer to level sand on a land bridge behind a rock wall on Elmer's Island, La., July 14, 2010. Soldiers use the smaller dozer, rather than their larger, heavier dozers, because of the increased mobility.

Guardmembers help wounded warriors through turbulent water
July 20, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - With some trepidation, Douglass Rink rolls his kayak over and disappears under the water. He frees himself, emerges a short time later and assures his instructor, “I was a scuba... MORE

Ashley Crandall was serving in Iraq last year as a Blackhawk helicopter mechanic with the Utah National Guard’s 2-211th Aviation Regiment, when she was wounded and medically evacuated. While recuperating at Walter Reed Army Medical Center, she got involved with the non-profit Team River Runner and used kayaking to rehabilitate. Now she is helping other wounded warriors find therapy on the water.

Guard Soldiers, spouses discuss reintegration programs
July 19, 2010 — TUCSON, Ariz. - Guard and Reserve members, much like their active duty counterparts, deploy routinely in service to their country. When they do, spouses remain to take care of the household. For... MORE

Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Richard Burch gives an overview of “The Senior Enlisted and Spouses Reintegration Professional Development Workshop” to fellow Soldiers and Army Guard spouses at the Westin La Paloma resort in Tucson, Ariz., July 13. The week-long conference highlighted several family support and professional development programs available to Guardsmen and families.

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