Guard News - The National Guard

Iowa Air Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Begins Guam Mission
February 1, 2024 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa - Members of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing departed for a temporary duty assignment at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. About 100 unit members headed to Guam... MORE

Members of the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing depart Sioux City, Iowa, for Andersen Air Force base on Jan. 24, 2024.

New Western Air Defense Sector Center Opens
February 1, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS MCCHORD, Wash. - The Western Air Defense Sector celebrated the opening of its new Agile Operations Center on Jan. 26 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, center left, the adjutant general for Washington, and Liz Larter, center right, deputy chief of staff and district director for Rep. Marilyn Strickland, cut the ribbon on the newly renovated Western Air Defense Sector Agile Operations Center at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, Jan. 26, 2024.

Virginia Guard Soldiers, Airmen Train on Emergency Response
January 31, 2024 — FORT BARFOOT, Va. – Virginia National Guard members of the 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package conducted a collective training... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Richmond-Based 34th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High-Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package conduct a collective training exercise Jan. 6, 2024, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. The exercise enabled new personnel to train on the basics of incident management and emergency response.

Command Sergeants Major Council Tackles Citizen-Soldier Issues
January 30, 2024 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Senior enlisted leaders from across the 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia converged this week for the Command Sergeants Major Advisory Council with Command... MORE

Senior enlisted leaders from across the 54 states and territories and the District of Columbia met for the Command Sergeants Major Advisory Council in St. Augustine, Fla., Jan. 17-18, 2024. The senior enlisted leaders addressed core issues affecting Soldiers, focused on streamlining systems, updated policies, and worked to institute necessary reforms for enlisted personnel.

Opposing Forces a Key Element During Northern Strike 24-1
January 29, 2024 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Snowflakes floated to the ground, bringing a hushed quiet to the darkened woods. Aside from the falling snow settling to the ground, the only sound was the muffled swishing of... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Todd Teuling, noncommissioned officer in charge of opposing forces during exercise Northern Strike 24-1, aims an M249 Squad Automatic Weapon skyward in response to a surveillance drone while defending an area against Soldiers with the 5th Special Forces Group during Northern Strike 24-1 at Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 21, 2024. Northern Strike 24-1 is the winter warfare component of the annual National Guard Bureau-sponsored Northern Strike exercise series.

Hokanson Explores National Guard Cooperation with Kingdom of Denmark
January 27, 2024 — COPENHAGEN – On the last leg of a four-country trip to strengthen security cooperation between the National Guard and European partners, the Guard’s senior-most officer talked with Danish Armed Forces... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, left, stands for a photo with Gen. Flemming Lentfer, the Danish Chief of Defense, at the Ministry of Defense, Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 23, 2024.

Wisconsin Guard Fights Elements in Urban Operations Training
January 26, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. — For 24 frigid hours Jan. 17-18, Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, used the High Risk... MORE

Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers with Company A, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, approach the High Risk Entry Facility Jan. 17 at Volk Field, Wis., during urban warfare training.

Northern Strike 24-1 Tests Winter Warfare Skills
January 26, 2024 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – A frigid winter wind fluttered past the snow-covered landscape as Sgt. Shane Vanderhoek, an indirect fire infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion,... MORE

Spc. Emilio Bailey, an indirect fire infantryman with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, signals to others in his unit while sighting in an 81 mm mortar during exercise Northern Strike 24-1 at Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center, Michigan, Jan. 21, 2024. Northern Strike 24-1 is the winter warfare component of the annual National Guard Bureau-sponsored Northern Strike exercise series.

Washington, Oregon National Guard Soldiers Test New Weapons
January 24, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS MCHORD, Wash. - Washington and Oregon National Guard Soldiers with the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 96th Troop Command started the new year with a bang by conducting new... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Davis, a section sergeant with Bravo Company, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, fires the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor Anti-Personnel Weapon System during a new weapons fielding training event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 17, 2024. The live-fire exercise gives Soldiers an opportunity to familiarize themselves with new weapon systems being introduced to the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team and 96th Troop Command.

Michigan Mortarmen Provide Indirect Fire at Northern Strike
January 24, 2024 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - Indirect fire infantrymen, commonly referred to as mortarmen, provide offensive, defensive and retrograde ground combat tactical operational support.During Northern Strike 24-1,... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Shane Vanderhoek, center, a mortarman gunner with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment, Michigan National Guard, sights in an 81 mm mortar during mortar crew validation as part of exercise Northern Strike 24-1 at the All-Domain Warfighting Center, Camp Grayling, Michigan, Jan. 21, 2024. Northern Strike 24-1 is the winter portion of the annual exercise that develops capabilities required to operate in Arctic regions.

Georgia Air National Guard Receives its 1st C-130J-30 Aircraft
January 22, 2024 — MARIETTA, Ga. - The 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, received the first of its eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlift aircraft during a Jan. 22 ceremony commemorating a new era... MORE

The 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard's first C-130J Super Hercules, tail number 5975, is staged in front of a Lockheed Martin hangar in Marietta, Ga., Jan. 22, 2024, for a delivery ceremony display. The 165 AW received the first of its eight C-130J-30 Super Hercules tactical airlift aircraft during a ceremony commemorating a new era in Hercules operations for the wing.

Michigan Army Guard Civil Support Team Trains with Law Enforcement
January 22, 2024 — DETROIT - Highly specialized teams from the Michigan Army National Guard trained with local, state and federal law enforcement agencies during a countering weapons of mass destruction response... MORE

Lt. Col. Sara So, commander of the 51st Civil Support Team, and 1st. Sgt. Adam Stock discuss exercise details during training to enhance interagency effectiveness between the Michigan National Guard and its emergency response partners. The training took place at Ford Field in Detroit Jan. 11, 2024.

New York National Guard Responds to Winter Storm in Western New York
January 22, 2024 — BUFFALO, N.Y. – The New York National Guard activated 132 Soldiers and Airmen to help local officials deal with a winter storm that hit Buffalo the weekend of Jan. 13-15.The storm dumped 17 inches of... MORE

Staff Sgt. Nathan Wojtkowiak, Tech. Sgt. Kevin Pawlukovich and Staff Sgt. Jacob Qualiana, assigned to the 107th Attack Wing, pause from keeping entrances clear at Erie Community South Campus warming station in Orchard Park, New York, Jan. 15, 2024. Seasonally activated warming stations established around Western New York provide stranded and homeless civilians refuge from extreme winter conditions.

Texas Air Guard Tests Agile Combat Employment with MQ-9 Reaper
January 18, 2024 — GALVESTON, Texas - The 147th Attack Wing used an MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial system for satellite launch and recovery operations Jan. 10, conducting Agile Combat Employment operations at Scholes... MORE

A Texas Air National Guard member of the 147th Attack Wing Aircraft Maintenance Squadron watches as an MQ-9 Reaper prepares to taxi at Scholes International Airport in Galveston, Texas, Jan. 10, 2024. The wing tested satellite launch and recovery operations as part of its approach to the Agile Combat Employment concept.

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner
January 18, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guard Airmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured snowmachine rider Jan. 15 about 20 miles northeast of Valdez.The snowmachiner activated... MORE

An Alaska National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk refuels with a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II during a training exercise. A 210th Pave Hawk required air-to-air refueling during a Jan. 15, 2024, rescue of a snowmachiner near Valdez.

West Virginia’s 130th Airlift Wing Certified for C-130J-30
January 17, 2024 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. - The West Virginia National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing has met the requirements to be declared a C-130J-30 unit with Initial Operational Capability as of Jan. 1.The 130th has been... MORE

The 130th Airlift Wing has met the requirements to be declared a C-130J-30 unit with Initial Operational Capability as of Jan. 1, 2024, the West Virginia National Guard announced. The 130th has been in the process of transitioning airframes from the C-130 H3 Hercules model to the advanced C-130J-30 Super Hercules model since 2021.

Massachusetts Guard Airmen Conduct Casualty Care Exercise
January 10, 2024 — OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. - The 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron hosted a Tactical Combat Casualty Care exercise Jan. 7 to prepare Airmen for deployment and ensure unit readiness on Otis Air... MORE

Airmen of the 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron hosted and participated in a Tactical Combat Casualty Care exercise to prepare Airmen for deployment and ensure unit readiness on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, Jan. 7, 2023.

Junior Washington Guard Members Take Lead in Training
January 8, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - The 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, Bravo Company, conducted Battle Drill One Alpha at Joint Base Lewis-McChord Jan. 6.The... MORE

Washington National Guard Soldiers with Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, react to contact during squad training on Joint Base Lewis-McChord Jan. 7, 2024. By practicing excellence in the basics, Infantrymen are ready for any mission, local or abroad.

Virginia, NC Guard Soldiers Learn Funeral Honor Fundamentals
January 5, 2024 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Army National Guard Soldiers from Virginia and North Carolina learned the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans during Level 1 funeral honors training Dec. 11-15... MORE

Spc. Gabriel Joines, left, a Virginia National Guard Soldier assigned to the 1033rd Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, and Sgt. Brooke Hulings, right, a North Carolina National Guard Soldier assigned to the 882nd Engineer Company, 105th Engineer Battalion, 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, train on conducting funeral honors for military veterans Dec. 13, 2023, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The five-day course introduced Soldiers to the finer points of rendering honors to military veterans and prepared them to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition.

California Army Guard Brigade Works 24/7 to Defend Nation
January 5, 2024 — VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. - Seven California Army National Guard members of Detachment 1, 100th Missile Defense Brigade, epitomize the National Guard’s motto, “Always ready, always... MORE

Soldiers of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade pose for a photo at the entrance to an ICBM launch tube on Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

Utah Guard Opens Medical Simulation Training Center at Camp Williams

Louisiana Guard Supports State Police During Bayou Classic

New York Guard Volunteers Give Lift to Trees for Troops

New York Air Guard, Police Department Sharpen Rescue Skills in Exercise

Tennessee Guard Unit Returns from Southern Border Mission