Guard News - The National Guard

Maryland Guard provides security for Obama's whistle stop in Baltimore
January 18, 2009 — REISTERSTOWN, MD - The Maryland National Guard today announced that more than 100 Maryland National Guardsmen provided support, along side the U.S. Secret Service, during President-elect Obama's... MORE

Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard and the Baltimore City Police Department provided force protection during President Elect Obama's visit to Baltimore Saturday, January 17, 2009. Crowds swarmed by the 1,000s to see Obama meet and great the city during the "Whistlestop Tour," echoes the 1861 journey of Abraham Lincoln.

Wyoming Guard Commander Preps for War on Home Front
January 17, 2009 — WASHINGTON - As the sun went down over the bluffs in Douglas, Wyo., Jan. 9, Army Col. Richard K. Knowlton was practicing his roping skills in the gymnasium of the local Army National Guard... MORE

Army Col. Richard K. Knowlton, commander of the Wyoming Army National Guard's 115th Fires Brigade, talks to families at a community meeting at the armory in Douglas, Wyo., Jan. 9, 2009. Knowlton led a statewide information campaign to prepare families and business and community leaders for the largest single deployment in the state's history.

Minutemen ready, once again, for inaugural history
January 15, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The 372-year-old National Guard has provided inaugural support for every American president since George Washington. This year won't be any different.Much like the militiamen who... MORE

National Guard details support to inauguration
January 15, 2009 — WASHINGTON – More than 9,000 National Guardsmen and women will support the 56th Presidential Inauguration, the Guard's largest contribution to an inauguration in its 372-year history."The National... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Jerry Andes offers directions to one of the many people who passed through a U.S. Secret Service checkpoint to watch the Inaugural Parade in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 20, 2005.

Louisiana Air National Guard intercepts plane flown by Marcus Schrenker
January 15, 2009 — BELLE CHASSE, La. - Two Louisiana Air National Guard pilots intercepted the airplane used by Marcus Schrenker in what is now being called an attempt to fake his death. Maj. Matt Rippen and Capt. Josh... MORE

An F-15 from the 159th Fighter Wing of the Louisiana Air National Guard prepares to launch. Two pilots flying F-15s from the 159th intercepted the airplane used by Marcus Schrenker in what is now being called an attempt to fake his death.

'Do It Yourself' network show bases episode on Florida National Guard
January 15, 2009 — CAMP BLANDING - A popular prime time television series on the DIY Network visited members of the Florida National Guard this week to produce an episode highlighting the unique tools and equipment used... MORE

Sgt. Robert McNeil (center) of the 1st Battalion, 111th Aviation Regiment, talks with television host Chris Grundy (right) during filming for an upcoming episode of the DIY Network's show Cool Tools, at the Cecil Commerce Center in Jacksonville, Fla., Monday, Jan. 5, 2008.

Memorial dedicated in memory of 1988 C-130 crew
January 14, 2009 — JACKSONVILLE, Ark. - A lone C-130 propeller blade stands erect, chipped, worn and scratched, telling a silent story of an end to six lives on June 8, 1988.The blade – obtained from the wreckage of... MORE

LRS 'Port Dogs' form wing's first Aerial Port Flight
January 14, 2009 — MOFFETT FEDERAL AIRFIELD, Calif. - The 129th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Aerial Port Flight stood up here Nov. 1, 2008, effectively transforming the way the wing deploys Airmen at home and... MORE

129th Aerial Port Flight personnel perform safety training at Moffett Federal Airfield, Jan. 4. Senior Airman Razvan Sonea operates a forklift while Staff Sgt. Felipe Mancera demonstrates safety procedures. The 129th Logistics Readiness Squadron's Aerial Port Flight stood up Nov. 1, 2008. 129th Aerial Port personnel, also known as "Port Dogs," are specialized Airmen trained to manage in-transit passenger and cargo movements for state directed missions and AEF deployments, redeployments, and exercises.

Virtual system trains to enhance Homeland Defense
January 13, 2009 — TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. - Enter a world of the unexpected, the unimaginable, and one occasionally punctuated by terrorism-induced chaos. Welcome to the world of Distributed Mission Operations... MORE

National Guard officers can obtain blood banker identifier
January 9, 2009 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Army's Office of the Surgeon General announced today a change to the 8T, Blood Banker, additional skill identifier (ASI) qualification standard. This change enables... MORE

Butter sculpture honors Pennsylvania Guard
January 9, 2009 — HARRISBURG, Pa. - A 900-pound butter sculpture was unveiled Thursday by the dairy farmers of Pennsylvania as a tribute to the state's National Guard here at the 93rd Pennsylvania Farm Show."Dairy... MORE

A 900-pound butter sculpture of a National Guardsman and his family was unveiled Jan. 8 by the dairy farmers of Pennsylvania as a tribute to the state's National Guard at the 93rd Pennsylvania Farm Show in Harrisburg, Pa.

Purple Heart Criteria Exclude PTSD, Defense Officials Say
January 8, 2009 — WASHINGTON - After months of evaluating the criteria, Defense Department officials have decided against the notion of awarding the Purple Heart to military members who suffer from post-traumatic... MORE

Alaska Guardsmen save lives around the world in 2008
January 8, 2009 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The men and women of the Alaska National Guard saved 167 lives here in Alaska and around the world in 2008.The 11th Rescue Coordination Center, the sole Alaska representative... MORE

A pararescuemen from the Alaska Air National Guard's 212th Rescue Squadron conducts fast rope insertion training while deployed to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Members of the Alaska Air National Guard deployed to Afghanistan in 2008 and were credited with saving 72 lives.

Army Guard Soldiers bolster U.S. bobsled team
January 8, 2009 — ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Several Army National Guard soldiers have bolstered the U.S. Bobsled Team for the 2009 World Championships, scheduled for Feb. 20 through March 1 in Lake Placid, N.Y.Vermont Army... MORE

Cory Butner (left) and Vermont National Guard Pfc. John Napier (right) hoist their trophy after winning the Two-man U.S. National Bobsled Championship Jan. 4 at the Olympic Sports Complex in Lake Placid, N.Y. With the victory, the duo earned a spot in the 2009 World Bobsled Championships, scheduled for Feb. 20-March 1 in Lake Placid.

Three Guardsmen immortalized by NFL, Topps
January 7, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va. - In his 35-year National Guard career, Army dentist Col. Marc Hendler has been a detachment commander, deployed twice to Iraq and served as a volunteer surgeon for the New York City... MORE

Army National Guard dentist Col. Marc Hendler was chosen by the New York Giants to represent the team on a Topps National Football League (NFL) card. Two other National Guard members were also chosen for this honor.

Vermont Guardsman wins national bobsled event
January 7, 2009 — ALEXANDRIA, Va. - Despite rolling his truck on a snowy road while driving to the 2009 U.S. National Bobsled Championships, Vermont National Guard Pfc. John Napier won the two-man crown Jan. 3-4 at the... MORE

Louisiana begins reconstruction of National Guard landmark
January 7, 2009 — NEW ORLEANS - A massive reconstruction of the historic Louisiana National Guard headquarters is underway and inching closer to its projected completion date of January 2010.Jackson Barracks, built in... MORE

Reconstruction has begun on a building that will house the Louisiana National Guard adjutant General's office at Jackson Barracks in New Orleans. Jackson Barracks is the Louisiana National Guard headquarters that was heavily damaged in 2005 as a result of Hurricane Katrina.

Washington Guard mobilized for snow removal
January 7, 2009 — ARLINGTON, Va., - More than 400 members of the Washington National Guard are currently on state active duty performing recovery operations throughout the state as a result of recent heavy snow and... MORE

Graders from the 141st Air Refueling Wing of the Washington Air National Guard have been used as snow removal vehicles to clear roads in the Spokane community since Dec. 30.

New York Guard shares Olympic thrills with NASCAR's fastest
January 6, 2009 — Lake Placid, N.Y. - NASCAR and National Hot Rod Association drivers are not used to traveling with passengers, but for the past three years, some of the fastest drivers on four wheels have teamed up... MORE

An infantry Soldier from the New York Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, keeps his head down while participating as a brakeman during the 2009 Geoff Bodine Bobsled Challenge. The fourth annual race, held Jan. 3 in Lake Placid, N.Y., raises funds for the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team through the participation of NASCAR and NHRA competition drivers. Veteran Soldiers of the 108th Infantry from New York's North Country, participated as racing partners to the NASCAR drivers. This year's race winner was Todd Bodine and his brakeman, Spc. Patrick Furman, a vehicle driver from the Schenectady based Company E, 427th Brigade Support Battalion.

Hawaii's Air Guard feeds underpriviledged
January 5, 2009 — HONOLULU (AFNS) - Amidst the thunder, lightning and an island wide power outage, the Hawaii Air National Guard and the 15th Airlift Wing prepared a meal for Honolulu's less fortunate here Dec. 27.On... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Greg Ramos serves some holiday turkey to one of the guests at Gateway Park in Chinatown on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, Dec. 27. Team Hickam members, the 154th Services Flight and the 15th Services Squadron prepared 40 turkeys and 140 hams during the course of two days for this community event. Sergeant Ramos is the 154th Services Flight assistant readiness chief.

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