Guard News - The National Guard

Vaughn: Army Guard needs delayed entry program
March 6, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Despite having 366,000 Soldiers on it's books, the Army National Guard has a readiness issue - some of these Soldiers aren't fully trained, a senior Guard official recently told... MORE

CSTs provide situational awareness for DTRA
March 6, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - National Guard civil support teams have an ally in the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, a senior agency member told participants of the National Guard Domestic Operations conference... MORE

Army Col. Ernesto Audino, the director of nuclear support for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency, speaks to the audience at the National Guard Domestic Operations Conference March 5, 2009.

Wyatt names new ANG deputy director
March 6, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - A new deputy director of the Air National Guard was announced by Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard today.Maj. Gen. Patrick J. Moisio, an Arizona Guardsman,... MORE

National Guard essential at home and abroad, says Chief
March 6, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - The National Guard is playing an essential role domestically and overseas, Gen. Craig McKinley said here Friday, challenging leaders to do more with the same amount of money.The chief... MORE

The National Guard is playing an essential role at home and overseas, Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, told about 700 National Guard leaders attending the National Guard's 2009 Domestic Operations Workshop in Baltimore, Md., on March 6, 2009.

Guard Soldiers and Families - Are you ready for retirement?
March 5, 2009 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - As an Army National Guard Soldier, you are often quick to respond to that question: "Yes, I'm ready."We're fighting the Global War on Terror with boots on the ground in more than... MORE

167th Airlift Wing delivers test spacecraft for NASA mission
March 5, 2009 — MARTINSBURG, W.V. - The 167th Airlift Wing was recently asked to help in the National Aeronautic and Space Administration's mission to return astronauts to the moon.A 15-member C-5 crew from the West... MORE

An Ares 1-X test crew module and launch abort system was recently delivered to the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Fla., by the 167th airlift Wing based in Martinsburg, W.V.

Vermont Guardsman sweeps CNGB biathlon championships; Minnesota wins team title
March 5, 2009 — ETHAN ALLEN FIRING RANGE, Jericho, Vt. - After falling only a couple seconds short of sweeping both of last year's individual races here at the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon... MORE

Vermont Army Guard Sgt. Jesse Downs cruises to a five-minute victory in the 20-km individual biathlon race March 4 at the 28th Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships held at Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vt. Downs won the race in a time of 54 minutes, 28 seconds, missing only two targets. About 60 competitors took part in the race. Downs also won the sprint race.

Army, Air Guard at full strength, directors tell Congress
March 4, 2009 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Army National Guard is over strength and the Air National Guard has met its end strength for the first time since 2002, the directors told Congress on Tuesday."This is a new era... MORE

Lt. Gen. Bud Wyatt, the director of the Air National Guard, right, testifies before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., on March 3, 2009. Its people are the Air National Guard's highest priority, Wyatt said.

Oregon counterdrug program targets middle school students
March 4, 2009 — PORTLAND, Ore. - President Ronald Regan's approach to drug education in the 1980s was "Just say no."But according to an Oregon City middle school teacher, that philosophy just doesn't work today."It's... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Bobby Vickery (left), leads 20 students through the "paradigm shift" activity during the Guard Adventure Program at Gardiner Middle School in Oregon City, Ore., on Mar. 3, 2009. The program, administered by the Oregon National Guard's Counterdrug Support Program, aims to instill positive interpersonal skills and teach anti-drug awareness to Oregon's school-aged children.

Guard team tests its ability to save lives after disaster in Florida
March 4, 2009 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. - Nearly 200 members of the Florida National Guard recently participated in a unique exercise and evaluation in North Florida to test their ability to support... MORE

Members of the CERF-P triage team treat a roleplayer for simulated wounds during the training scenario and evaluation at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Feb. 28. 2009.

Four states train for Kosovo mission
March 4, 2009 — HOHENFELS, Germany - Just three months after returning to the United States from a 15-month tour in Iraq with the 29th Infantry Division, Spc. Sean Evans of the California Army National Guard's 1st... MORE

Slovenian Soldiers prepare to board a U.S. UH-60 Blackhawk during a multinational training exercise at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center’s Camp Albertshof in Hohenfels, Germany. The Slovenians were part of the mission readiness exercise for U.S. reserve component Soldiers preparing for the 11th iteration of the Kosovo Force in support of Operation Joint Guardian.

McKinley visits Guardmembers during CENTCOM trip
March 4, 2009 — BALAD AIR BASE, Iraq - The National Guard's first four-star general visited with citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen serving in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kuwait this week in dozens of formal briefings, town hall... MORE

Gen. Craig McKinley, chief of the National Guard Bureau, Maj. Gen. Emmett Titshaw Jr., assistant to Chief of Staff of the U.S. Air Force, and the Guard Bureau's Command Sgt. Maj. David Hudson talk with Army and Air National Guardmembers at Baghdad International Airport, Iraq, March 1 during a town hall meeting. McKinley is traveling across the theatre of operations this week to hear first hand the thoughts and concerns of citizen-Soldiers and Airmen serving in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom.

Renuart: Guard, NORTHCOM relationship so good it's boring
March 4, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - The commander of U.S. Northern Command said he got one question repeatedly during recent rounds at the U.S. Capitol."Almost at every stop that I made, members of Congress asked me,... MORE

Gen. Gene Renuart, commander of North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, tells attendees at the National Guard's 2009 Domestic Operations Workshop in Baltimore, Md., on March 4, 2009, that NORTHCOM and the National Guard are working together to protect and assist Americans. Maj. Gen. Bill Etter, director of domestic operations for the National Guard Bureau, is at left.

Alabama Guard deployments increase this year
March 3, 2009 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - After a slow 2008, the Alabama Army National Guard will see a dramatic increase in the number of activated units during 2009.In 2008, two companies, three teams and a detachment... MORE

Maj. Gen. Abner C. Blalock, the adjutant general of the Alabama National Guard, hands Maj. Lee Thompson, commander of the 166th Engineer Company, a state flag to fly proudly while deployed in Afghanistan. The 166th left for Camp Atterbury, Ind., on March 2 for a quick training period before deploying to Afghanistan. The 166th Engineer Company's mission is to help construct base camp facilities, help maintain existing facilities, and help the Afghan people improve their infrastructure.

Physical fitness earns 59-year-old sergeant silver in athletic competition
March 3, 2009 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER - Some sergeants who promote physical fitness may just "talk the talk."Others - like Staff Sgt. Peter Golden - walk, run, swim, jump, throw and sprint their way to... MORE

Staff Sgt. Peter Golden of the Florida Army National Guard's 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment. He earned a Silver in the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge competion at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., Feb. 20-22, 2009.

New York's aviators gear up for Afghanistan deployment
March 3, 2009 — ANDREWS AIR FORCE BASE, MD - Four New York Army National Guard aviators got a taste of high-altitude flying in Afghanistan on Feb. 25 without leaving the United States.The Afghan-bound members of... MORE

Active duty Senior Airman Rachel Cole makes a last minute breathing apparatus check on New York and Virginia National Guardsmen before sealing the oxygen chamber during high-altitude training at Andrews Air Force Base, Md. On Feb. 25.

Massachusetts firefighters lead by example
March 3, 2009 — MILFORD, Mass. - Leading Soldiers during training exercises is demanding, but motivating them to follow you into a burning building is an extra challenge faced by firefighters in the Massachusetts... MORE

Army Sgt. Heather F. Inkley, a fire team chief with the 179th Engineer Detachment (Firefighting) of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, describes her units fire fighting capabilities at the Massachusetts Military Reservation Fire Department on Camp Edwards, Mass. Inkley graduated the Louis F. Garland Department of Defense Fire Training Academy at Goodfellow Air Force Base, Texas in December.

Guard Ends New Orleans Mission, Focuses on Wildfires, Snow
March 3, 2009 — WASHINGTON, March 2, 2009 - As the Louisiana National Guard wrapped up its "precedent-setting" law enforcement mission in New Orleans yesterday, the Texas National Guard dispatched helicopters to... MORE

Full spectrum of capabilities needed for Guard missions
March 3, 2009 — BALTIMORE, Md. - Living up to the National Guard's motto of "Always Ready, Always There" requires a full spectrum of capabilities, a senior National Guard official told an audience here at the... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Peter M. Aylward, the director of the National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, speaks to conferees at the NGB Domestic Operations Conference March 3, 2009 in Baltimore, Md.

Army Guard to cut recruiting, retention bonuses
February 27, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Since 2005, the number of Army National Guard enlistees has grown due in large part to enlistment bonuses ranging from $2,000 to $15,000.But that will change March 1 as the Army Guard... MORE

Pennsylvania Guard Aviation Partners with Coast Guard

Arizona National Guard’s Task Force SAFE Strengthens Border Security

Idaho Guard Airmen Push Limits in Joint Field Training

Pennsylvania Guard Competes in Governor’s Twenty Marksmanship Competition

N.Y. National Guard Aircrews Train with Forest Rangers to Prep for Wildfires