Guard News - The National Guard

Established Procedures Followed After Black Hawk Crash
January 26, 2007 — WASHINGTON - Coalition forces followed established "aircraft down" procedures when reacting to the crash of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter Jan. 20 in Diyala province in which 12 U.S. servicemembers... MORE

More Texas National Guard Called Up to Protect U.S.-Mexico Border
January 24, 2007 — WASHINGTON - More than 600 Texas National Guardsmen were activated by the state's governor Jan. 22 to support a surge operation targeting crime and international drug and human trafficking along the... MORE

Guard mourns 10 Soldiers killed in helicopter crash in Iraq
January 24, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Ten Army National Guard Soldiers, including a grandmother who was a senior noncommissioned officer and two men who were nicknamed "the Senator" and "Big Daddy,"... MORE

Fighting corruption in Afghanistan; Police Training Improves Professionalism
January 21, 2007 — MAZAR-E SHARIF, Afghanistan - Reforming the Afghan police force is a difficult challenge that Combined Joint Task Force Phoenix V is tackling head on in Northern Afghanistan. Six U.S. military... MORE

Two senior Afghan policemen demonstrate the proper use of a baton to subdue suspects. New recruits as well as policemen in the Transitional Integration Course receive instruction on the proper use of force and human rights during their training at the regional training center.

Duty Day with God
January 19, 2007 — UR, Iraq - The Ziggurat, a 50-foot pyramid temple, towers over the vast Iraqi desert. Less than a mile away sits the royal palace, which was the capital of Sumeria more than 6,000 years ago. This is... MORE

Dhief Muhsen, curator for the historical sites at Ur, shows Soldiers from the 449th Aviation Support Battalion, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, how the city used to look several thousand years ago. (U.S. Army photo by

California Air National Guard F-16 crashes in remote area
January 19, 2007 — FRESNO, Calif. - A California Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon crashed at approximately 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in Owens Valley, Calif. while on a routine training mission.The pilot ejected safely... MORE

An F-16 Fighting Falcon like these from the California Air National Guard's 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno, Calif., crashed at approximately 10:30 a.m. Jan. 19 in Owens Valley, Calif. The pilot ejected safely.

Guard rolls out for yet another Midwest storm
January 17, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 600 Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen in Missouri, Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas have been called out in response to the latest in a series of severe winter storms to blanket the... MORE

Wyoming Air National Guard loadmasters aboard a C-130 Hercules aircraft watch as a 1-ton hay bale lands near a herd of cows during an emergency feeding mission in southeast Colorado Jan. 3, 2007. The hay is being dropped near La Junta, Colo., to help feed livestock that have been stranded from a snow storm that has impacted the area.

Governors, adjutants general support new 12-month mobilization policy
January 17, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The nation's governors and adjutants general have expressed their universal support and appreciation for the recently announced change to Department of Defense policy that will limit... MORE

Now driving for the Guard: Casey Mears takes wheel of No. 25
January 17, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Casey Mears says the honor is all his. "It's just a big honor" Mears said shortly after he was introduced as the National Guard's new Guard Car driver at the Army National Guard... MORE

Casey Mears, the National Guard's new Guard Car Driver, poses with Lt. Gen. Clyde A. Vaughn, the director of the Army National Guard, and Lance McGrew, crew chief, at the Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall, on Jan. 12, 2007. Mears will drive the new #25 National Guard GMAC Chevy Monte Carlo SS with Hendrick Motorsports in this year's NASCAR Nextel Cup series.

Hall: New Policies to Relieve Stress, Promote Unit Cohesion
January 17, 2007 — WASHINGTON - The new Defense Department policy limiting the duration of call-ups to 12 months is already in effect for National Guard and reserve members being ordered to active duty, the senior DoD... MORE

Kentucky Guard Unit Checks Air Quality at Derailment Site
January 16, 2007 — WASHINGTON - A special team of National Guardsmen is conducting an environmental survey at the site of a train derailment that occurred this morning in Brooks, Ky.The derailment occurred south of... MORE

Department Builds on Stryker Experience to Support Extended Guard Unit
January 12, 2007 — WASHINGTON - Tapping into lessons learned after an active-duty unit in Alaska had its deployment in Iraq extended, the Defense Department is rushing assets to Minnesota to help families of deployed... MORE

"Surge" extends Minnesota Guard unit's Iraq tour up to 125 days
January 11, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - At least 4,000 National Guard Citizen-Soldiers may spend an extra four months in Iraq as part of the president's troop increase announced Wednesday.The Minnesota Army National Guard's... MORE

More than 4,000 troops of the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division assemble in the shape of the "Red Bull" unit crest during a special formation at their farewell ceremony at Camp Shelby, Miss., March 16, 2006, before their deployment to Iraq. The unit has been extended for up to 125 days on Thursday as part of President George W. Bush's new strategy for Iraq.

Texas National Guard Team Puts Training to Good Use
January 10, 2007 — AUSTIN, Texas - In a scene reminiscent of emergency measures seen in cities across the country after the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, downtown Austin was temporarily blocked to people and... MORE

Members of the 6th Civil Support Team in full protective gear ride a Gator, a rugged motorized vehicle, in downtown Austin, Texas, on Jan. 8. The team responded to a report of 60 dead birds in the urban area.

Hudson represents all enlisted members of transformed Guard
January 9, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - He wears a U.S. Army uniform, but Command Sgt. Maj. David Ray Hudson once was in the U.S. Air Force. That makes him uniquely qualified to be the senior enlisted advisor to the chief... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. David Hudson, right, the senior enlisted advisor to LTG H Steven Blum, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, talks with a Coast Guard member during a visit to National Guard troops deployed to Joint Task Force-Guantanamo on Nov. 15, 2006.

Honors from ‘sea to shining sea’
January 5, 2007 — Guard members help lay former president to restARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard men and women across the nation paid their respects and supported the country’s tribute to Gerald R. Ford, the 38th... MORE

Soldiers of the Michigan Army National Guard's 126th Army Band march to their position during a practice session for former President Gerald Ford's funeral in Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec. 31, 2006. The funeral will be held Jan. 3, 2007.

National Guard rescues people, cattle after severe winter storms
January 5, 2007 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen in eight states rescued people and hauled hay to livestock following a severe end-of-year winter storm that stretched from America’s northern to southern... MORE

Squad runs gamut of convoy escort missions
January 4, 2007 — CAMP AL ASAD, Iraq - Staff Sgt. Michael Warmenhoven and his squad from Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry have run the gamut of convoy escort security missions for the 1st Brigade Combat Team,... MORE

Semi trucks and trailers escorted by Soldiers of Company B, 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division, stretch for several miles during a security halt on Nov. 27 on this road in western Iraq.

Platoon's mission changes for the better
January 4, 2007 — LSA ANACONDA, Iraq - During their first three months in Iraq, Staff Sgt. Brad Lahti and his platoon from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 136th Combined Arms Battalion manned an entry control point 24 hours... MORE

Sgt. Ed Raati of Chisholm, Minn., (left), Sgt. Danny Kraskey of Grand Rapids, Minn., Sgt. Brandon Combs of Horace, N.D., and Staff Sgt. Bradley Lahti of Robbinsdale, Minn., wait for cars to approach them to be searched Dec. 13 near Logistical Support Area Anaconda. All are Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion, 136th Combined Arms Battalion, 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division.

Retired Kentucky Guard Soldier helps expand Freedom Calls program for families
January 4, 2007 — Links families to Soldiers serving in five areas in Middle EastOn the third Saturday in December, the Cats and Cards squared off once again in the commonwealth’s most heated state rivalry, and many... MORE

Retired Master Sgt Tom Gavin and his family talk with son, Spc. Matthew Gavin, currently serving with Kentucky Army National Guard's 198th Military Police Bde., in Afghanistan, during the Freedom Calls event held Dec. 16 at Freedom Hall in Louisville.

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise