Guard News - The National Guard

176th Cyber Protection Team completes mobilization
December 10, 2021 — FORT MEADE, Md. – Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers from Detachment 1, 176th Cyber Protection Team, have ended a yearlong mobilization to Fort Meade for cyberspace operations.The mobilization was... MORE

Soldiers from the 176th Cyber Protection team pose with Wisconsin Army National Guard senior leaders following a Nov. 22, 2021, ceremony that marked the end of their mobilization at Fort Meade, Maryland. The 20-person unit mobilized to federal service in October 2020 and supported U.S. Cyber Command and Cyber National Mission Force requirements.

137th SOW hosts Canadian aircrew for MC-12W training
December 9, 2021 — OKLAHOMA CITY – The Canadian Special Operations Forces Command participated in the first Manned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (MISR) Fundamentals Course held by the 137th Special... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Joseph Phillips, a pilot from the 185th Special Operations Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, proctors a Canadian Special Operations Forces Command pilot participating in the first MC-12W Manned Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Fundamentals Course conducted by the 137th Special Operations Group, Oklahoma Air National Guard, at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oct. 19, 2021. The joint aircrews completed a comprehensive and complex training scenario during the mission.

Oklahoma Air Guard pilot receives Distinguished Flying Cross
December 9, 2021 — TULSA, Okla. - The Oklahoma Air National Guard held a ceremony Dec. 5 to celebrate the heroic airborne acts of Lt. Col. Michael Coloney during a Taliban attack on U.S. and Afghan special forces in... MORE

Retired Lt. Gen. Harry Wyatt III, former director of the Air National Guard, presents Lt. Col. Mike Coloney, 125th Fighter Squadron director of operations, the Distinguished Flying Cross Dec. 5, 2021, for his actions in Afghanistan on April 30, 2018.

NY National Guard sends 120 troops to bolster long-term care
December 8, 2021 — ROCHESTER, N.Y. - The New York National Guard has deployed 120 Army medics and Air Force medical technicians to 12 nursing homes and long-term care facilities across the state to ease staffing... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. William Liu, a member of the 24th Civil Support Team, works at the New York State COVID-19 Vaccination Site at the Aqueduct Race Track in Queens Aug. 24, 2021. The New York National Guard has conducted a number of missions during New York's response to the COVID-19 pandemic and is now sending medical personnel into nursing homes to help alleviate staffing shortages.

Shooters take aim at annual sniper championships in Arkansas
December 8, 2021 — BARLING, Ark. – Top snipers from the National Guard and international community are competing in the National Guard’s 51st Winston P. Wilson Championship and 31st Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting... MORE

Shooters take the line to zero their rifles at the Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center, Barling, Arkansas, Dec. 4, 2021. These shooters are part of the 33 sniper teams gathered at the 51st Winston P. Wilson and 31st Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Rifle Matches hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Fort Chaffee Dec. 4-9.

Louisiana National Guard honors COVID response team
December 7, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – Almost two years into the mission, the Louisiana National Guard held ceremonies across the state to honor more than 800 of its service members for continuing assistance to Louisiana... MORE

Awards waiting to be handed out to Louisiana National Guard Task Force COVID members during a ceremony at the State Aviation Command in Hammond, Louisiana, Dec. 2, 2021. The ceremony was one of a series across the state to honor more than 850 LANG members who have helped Louisianans during COVID-19 recovery operations.

Kentucky Soldiers awarded for their work during pandemic
December 7, 2021 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – Representatives of Sayre Christian Village senior living community presented six service members from the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade the Leading Age Kentucky Distinguished Service... MORE

Sayre Christian Village resident Paul Frederick and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Rezac, 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, smile as Maj. Gen. Hal Lamberton, Kentucky National Guard adjutant general, presents Frederick and Soldiers with a military coin following a ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility hangar at Boone National Guard Center Dec. 2.

Oregon Wing's structural innovation helps keep aircraft aloft
December 6, 2021 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – For years, structural maintainers have emerged as artisans of sorts, creating parts by hand, meticulously shaping them from custom wood forms and delicate hand-tool work.Gently... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Paul Allen, a structural maintainer with the 173rd Fighter Wing, places a part in the "smash-box," a reinforced steel container lined with thick, durable rubber that shapes the flat aluminum part when put under extreme pressure on Nov.5, 2021.

NY National Guard general honors former president Van Buren
December 6, 2021 — KINDERHOOK, N.Y. – The New York Army National Guard paid tribute to former President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook, where he was born in 1782 and lived the latter part of his life before dying in... MORE

New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Isabel Rivera Smith, left, and Sgt. Major Jeff Colling, salute after presenting a wreath from President Joseph Biden at the gravesite of the nation’s eighth president, Martin Van Buren, in Kinderhook, New York, on his 239th birthday, Sunday, Dec. 5, 2021.

105th Airlift Wing recognized with Meritorious Unit Award
December 3, 2021 — STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, NEWBURGH, N.Y. – Over 1,300 men and women of the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing were awarded the Air Force’s Meritorious Unit Award for their... MORE

U.S. Airmen with the 105th Airlift Wing, New York National Guard, load an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System, belonging to the 2nd Battalion, 130th Field Artillery Regiment, Kansas Army National Guard, into a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft, at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, in St. Joseph, Missouri, June 4, 2021.

‘Black Hawk Down’ hero receives Silver Star, reflects on distinguished career
December 3, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – It is said that medics never stand taller than when they kneel to treat the wounded. As a combat medical specialist, Retired Sgt. 1st Class Richard “Doc” Strous embodied this... MORE

Retired Sgt. 1st Class Richard “Doc” Strous, who served 26 years and deployed three times with the National Guard, poses for a photo in Afghanistan’s Panjshir province during his deployment with the Vermont National Guard’s 86th Infantry Combat Team (Mountain) in 2010. Earlier this year, Strous was awarded the Silver Star, one of the military’s highest valor for his heroic actions as a medic with the 75th Ranger Battalion in Somalia during the Battle of Mogadishu in 1993.

NY Air Guard supports Danish forces in Greenland training
December 2, 2021 — KASSERLUSSEQUA, Greenland – Thirty-four New York National Guard Airmen from the 109th Airlift Wing and the 106th Rescue Wing teamed up with Denmark’s Joint Arctic Command during a search and rescue... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 109th airlift Wing pose for a photo on top of an LC-130 “ski bird” while preparing for an airdrop mission in support of the Danish military during Operation Arctic Light Nov. 4, in Kangerlussuaq, Greenland.

Nebraska CERFP conducts readiness exercise
December 2, 2021 — MEAD, Neb. — A wide-open field lay next to some abandoned and damaged buildings at the Nebraska National Guard’s Mead training site. Once the command was given for the exercise to begin, trucks and... MORE

Nebraska National Guard Soldiers and Airmen set up equipment, donning protective suits and erecting tents for the Nebraska National Guard Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) team.

Washington Guard helped defend US after Pearl Harbor attack
December 1, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As the sun rose Dec. 7, 1941, U.S. military personnel stationed at Pearl Harbor Naval Base were starting their Sunday routines. Unknown to them, more than 350 Imperial Japanese... MORE

A Guardsman stands watch in Hawthorne, California, in 1942. (Archive Photo)

Wisconsin ANG enhances program to help future leaders
December 1, 2021 — VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. - The Wisconsin Air National Guard’s State Enlisted Development Program has been helping develop future enlisted leaders across the state since its first class... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Maurice L. Williams, the command chief master sergeant of the Air National Guard, addresses Wisconsin Air National Guardsmen Nov. 4, 2021, during the State Enlisted Development Course at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin. The week-long course provides noncommissioned officers with knowledge and advice on how to be a successful Air Force leader.

NY National Guard volunteers support Trees for Troops
November 30, 2021 — BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – Fifteen New York National Guard volunteers joined veterans at Ellms Tree Farm Nov. 29 to load 110 Christmas trees as part of the Trees for Troops program.New York National Guard... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Wells, assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, passes a tree up to Sgt. Hunter Bates, another volunteer assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, as they load 110 donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2021, for delivery to military bases around the country to support troops and military families this holiday season. More than 15 volunteers from the New York Army and Air National Guard joined Capital District area veterans to help load trees.

Planning conferences for Northern Strike 22 completed
November 29, 2021 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Since 2012, Michigan’s Northern Strike (NS) exercise series has grown into one of the largest multi-domain, joint readiness producing exercises for the National Guard and other... MORE

Soldiers with the 294th Quartermaster Company, 338th Quartermaster Company, Texas Army National Guard, the 3rd Special Forces Group, soldiers with the Latvian Army’s Special Forces Group and British Army’s 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (4 PARA), jump out of a C-130 Hercules aircraft over Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 13, 2021. The service members conducted joint airborne training during Northern Strike 21.

Virginia Guard task force begins federal active duty for Africa mission
November 29, 2021 — BEDFORD, Va. - State and federal officials and senior military leaders joined families, friends and fellow Soldiers to mark the start of federal active duty for more than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky... MORE

State and federal elected officials and senior military leaders join families, friends and fellow Soldiers to mark the official start of federal active duty for Task Force Red Dragon Nov. 27, 2021, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. More than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers are mobilizing as Task Force Red Dragon to provide security in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

104th Fighter Wing supports COVID-19 testing task force
November 24, 2021 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Fourteen members of the 104th Fighter Wing were activated to support Task Force Maher and help test students and school staff for COVID-19.Task Force Maher is a... MORE

Airman 1st Class Tenzin Dakar, an aerospace medical technician with the 104th Medical Group, and Spc. Michael Major, a unit supply specialist with the 125th Quartermaster Company, examine a pool testing tube before conducting COVID-19 testing Nov. 17, 2021, in the Northampton, Massachusetts, school district. The Massachusetts National Guard was activated in mid-October to augment COVID-19 testing personnel in school districts across Massachusetts.

Oklahoma National Guard exercises mission sustainment teams
November 24, 2021 — WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. – The 137th Special Operations Wing (SOW) conducted Mission Sustainment Team (MST) training Nov. 5-7.Fifty-five Airmen from five squadrons in the 137th... MORE

Master Sgt. Joshua Freeman, electrical systems specialist with the 137th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, pulls a fuel hose out to simulate refueling an aircraft during Mission Sustainment Team (MST) training at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Nov. 7, 2021. The MST concept brings individuals with a variety of skill sets together to create a sustained livable environment to independently support short-term operations in austere locations.

Georgia's 165th Airlift Wing Hosts Response Exercise TOXIC PEACH 2025

Puerto Rico Air Guard Tests Flexible Communications in Evaluation

Pennsylvania Guard Medical Unit Gains Vital Experience During Field Exercise

California Air National Guard Hosts Reaper Smoke 2025

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