Guard News - The National Guard

Operation Jump Start a success, officials say
December 11, 2006 — EL PASO, Texas - The National Guard’s support to the Border Patrol is reaping results for both institutions and for the nation, officials said during a late November tour of the country’s 1,300-mile... MORE

Lt. Gen. H Steven Blum, chief, National Guard Bureau, talks with Border Patrol agents during a visit to the U.S. border with Mexico near Columbus, N.M., on Nov. 29, 2006. Up to 6,000 National Guard troops are helping the Border Patrol secure the nation's southern border in Operation Jump Start.

National Guard Birthday Message from the Chief, National Guard Bureau
December 11, 2006 — On December 13, 2006, the National Guard will celebrate its 370th birthday.When the settlers of the Massachusetts Bay Colony gathered on December 13, 1636, in the early days of our great nation, the... MORE

Air Guard launches new era with Predator mission
December 8, 2006 — MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. - After years of preparation and months of training, the California Air National Guard’s 163rd Reconnaissance Wing in late November became the first Guard unit to... MORE

South Carolina NCO is Equal Opportunity Advisor of the Year
December 8, 2006 — ARLINGTON, Va. - South Carolina Army Guard Sgt. Maj. Swinton Hudson Jr. was cited as the Army National Guard Equal Opportunity Advisor of the Year (EOA) for his contributions in human relations and... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard generates warm hearts during the aftermath of 'historic' snow, ice storm
December 8, 2006 — A snow and ice storm of “historic proportions” hit the Midwest hard Thursday. So hard, in fact, that Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich declared 49 of 102 counties disaster areas.More than 250 Soldiers... MORE

From rush hour traffic into rushing water: Soldier saves man from drowning
December 5, 2006 — When Sgt. Kristi J. Artigue joined the Connecticut Army National Guard the summer before her senior year of high school, it was a chance to broaden her experiences. “I’ve always been a risk taker,”... MORE

Outdated images frustrate Joint Task Force-Guantanamo troopers
December 4, 2006 — U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - A 28-year-old block guard here whose mission is the safe care and custody of enemy combatants says he has a dream: That the world would have an accurate... MORE

A Soldier stands guard on a cell block inside Camp Five at the Joint Task Force Guantanamo detention center at Naval Base Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, Nov. 14, 2006. Camp Five is one of six camps that comprise the dentention center, and has been built with many features that can be found in many maximum security prisons in the United States. Camp Five is where the most non-compliant and hostile detainees are held. ( Photo by

Concept Perfected in Iraq, Afghanistan Used Along U.S. Border
December 4, 2006 — DEMING, N.M. - The National Guard Bureau chief got a look this week at how the forward operating base concept used for U.S. military operations in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere around the world can... MORE

Forward Operating Base Border Wolf in Deming, N.M., offers a support base for National Guard troops supporting Operation Jump Start without overtaxing the local community.

National Guard Responds to Midwest Winter Storms
December 4, 2006 — WASHINGTON - Hundreds of National Guardsmen responded over the weekend and today to devastating winter storms in Illinois, Missouri and Kansas, National Guard officials reported.Missouri has 262... MORE

Blum: Requirements, Not Budget, Should Drive Air Guard Strength
December 1, 2006 — DEMING, N.M. - Although the active Air Force and Air Force Reserve are downsizing their ranks to free up funds for new aircraft and equipment, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said he wants any... MORE

Florida Guard Delivers Donations to Kabul Orphanage
December 1, 2006 — KABUL, Afghanistan - Blankets, school supplies and soccer balls made their way to hundreds of orphaned children here today thanks to a deployed Florida U.S. Army Guard unit and donations from... MORE

Guard Chief: Relief on Way for Guard's Equipment Shortages
December 1, 2006 — DEMING, N.M. - The National Guard Bureau chief assured members of the Army and Air National Guard during a visit here earlier this week that relief is on the way for the Guard's chronic equipment... MORE

National Guard Chief Praises Rumsfeld's Leadership, Vision
November 30, 2006 — EL PASO, Texas - As Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld prepares to leave the office he's held for almost six years, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said the Defense Department and nation are... MORE

Top Guard Shooters Battle It Out In the Natural State
November 29, 2006 — Guardsmen from all over the country compete in marksmanship championshipsNORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - The National Guard Marksmanship Training Unit (NGMTU) hosted over 300 competitors at the 36th Annual... MORE

Arkansas' 77th Aviation Brigade provided the aviation assets to kick off the Combined Arms Team match during the 2006 Winston P. Wilson marksmanship competition. Competing teams were given patrol orders and navigated to the designated pickup zone. Upon dismounted the helicopter, the competitors had to make their way through several obstacles before ever engaging targets on the range, testing their Marksmanship and physical skills under simulated combat conditions. (Photo by )

New Orleans Police Ask Governor to Extend Guardsmen
November 29, 2006 — WASHINGTON, - New Orleans police officials have requested that Louisiana National Guardsmen remain on state active duty for another six months, a Guard spokesman said.Air Guard Lt. Col. Peter... MORE

36th Brigade Soldiers reach out to hungry families
November 28, 2006 — >WACO, Texas - More than 100 Soldiers of the Texas Army National Guard did their part in stamping out hunger by helping kick off the 17th annual Food for Families drive in several counties throughout... MORE

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Rushing accepts a full box of donated food from a volunteer during the Food for Families food drive in Waco Nov. 17.

Ohio engineers return from Iraq
November 27, 2006 — WESTERVILLE, Ohio - Shortly after a Veteran's Day parade wound through downtown Columbus Nov. 9, Ohio residents welcomed home their latest group of battle-forged veterans at the Vineyard Church in... MORE

Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 16th Engineer Brigade, are overjoyed to see their friends and families Nov. 9 during a welcome home ceremony at the Vineyard Community Church in Westerville following a yearlong deployment to Iraq.

36th Combat Aviation Brigade Soldiers excel in marathon
November 27, 2006 — BAGHDAD, Iraq - Chris Allen ran his first traditional marathon in a combat zone. To make it even more memorable, he won first place in his age group of 24 years and younger by finishing in a time of 3... MORE

Soldiers from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade take a photo near the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad, Iraq, before running the 2006 Veterans Day International Zone Marathon Nov. 11.

'Our fishing sergeant'
November 22, 2006 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Waves rock her boat and the light gleams off the water. She hums a tune to herself. This is her idea of a perfect day. She casts her line and reels it back with a sense of... MORE

Sgt. Melinda Hooper, a flight operations specialist with the 114th Aviation Regiment of the Arkansas National Guard, practices casting her fishing line into the desert. With no lakes or rivers to fish, Hooper relies on the open desert terrain as her means of practice.

Hearts, minds key to National Guard success, chief says
November 21, 2006 — U.S. NAVAL STATION GUANTANAMO BAY, Cuba - LTG H Steven Blum pressed his fingertips to his forehead while meeting with National Guard troops here in mid-November.“We care about what’s in here,” the... MORE

LTG H Steven Blum (right) chief of the National Guard Bureau, talks with Maryland Army National Guard Pfc. Brandon Ross atop a Humvee while visiting Guard members deployed with Joint Task Force-Guantanamo at U.S. Naval Station Guantanamo Bay in mid-November. JTF-GTMO conducts safe and humane care and custody of detained enemy combatants.

California Air Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Upgrading Aircraft

Tennessee Aquatic Rescue Team Upgrades Helicopters

Pennsylvania Guard Civil Support Team Polishes Skills

Air National Guard Conducts Arctic Training in Minnesota

Texas National Guard Operation Lone Star Helps Secure Border