Guard News - The National Guard

Minnesota National Guard to support health care facilities
November 23, 2021 — ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz has activated the Minnesota National Guard to serve as skilled-nursing “rapid response teams” to support health care facilities experiencing severe staffing... MORE

Members of the Minnesota National Guard, activated by Gov. Tim Walz Nov. 18, 2021, to support health care facilities experiencing severe staffing shortages, train as certified nursing assistants and temporary nursing aides.

West Virginia Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy hits milestone
November 22, 2021 — KINGWOOD, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy program graduated its 5,000th cadet Nov. 19, as 106 members of Class 2-2021 completed the program at Camp... MORE

Class 2-2021 of the West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy completed the program Nov. 19 at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. The 106 cadets are now among more than 5,000 who have graduated from the program since it began in 1993.

Air Force graduates all-domain operational planners for air components
November 22, 2021 — The 505th Command and Control Wing graduated the fifth class of Multi-Domain Warfare Officers, also known by their Air Force Specialty Code-designator “Thirteen Oscar,” during a livestreamed ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 19... MORE

photo of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army graduates

Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Guard work together during pandemic
November 19, 2021 — NEZ PERCE RESERVATION, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard and Nez Perce dental personnel teamed up Nov. 10–13 as part of a broader effort to recover from the summer’s surge of COVID-19 cases plaguing... MORE

Idaho National Guard medical and dental Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen teamed with Nez Perce health care personnel as part of a broader effort to recover from the summer’s surge of COVID-19 cases plaguing northern Idaho.

116th Infantry Regiment holds 53rd annual muster
November 19, 2021 — STAUNTON, Va. – Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to remember the unit’s history and enjoy... MORE

Retired Brig. Gen. Charles B. Faulconer Jr., honorary colonel of the 116th Infantry Regiment, announces the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as the recipient of the 116th Regiment Superior Unit Award during the 116th's 53rd annual regimental muster Nov. 13, 2021, in Staunton, Virginia. Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr., the 116th IBCT command team, presented the award to Capt. Daniel K. Fida and 1st Sgt. Thomas E. Barrett, the Alpha Company command team.

UH-60V Black Hawk a major upgrade over previous variants
November 19, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – On the outside, the new UH-60V Black Hawk helicopters look nearly identical to previous variants of the UH-60.It’s what’s on the inside that sets them apart.The UH-60V –... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Frank Madeira, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Justin Meyer, both instructor pilots at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, pose in front of a UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter on Muir Army Airfield at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Nov. 10, 2021.

After mission ends, Guardsmen find work at food bank
November 19, 2021 — SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – Members of the Washington National Guard are now permanent employees at a food bank after offering a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic."Seeing the fear that some of them... MORE

Spc. Hunter Clatterbuck, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, drives the Helping Hands food bank delivery truck Nov. 9, 2021, in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The food bank hired some Washington National Guard members after their mission there came to an end.

Tennessee National Guard unit prepares to deploy
November 18, 2021 — SMYRNA, Tenn. – Members of the 208th Area Support Medical Company have responded to natural disasters, played a major role in the state’s COVID-19 response, and are now preparing for a year-long... MORE

Members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 208th Area Support Medical Company move through a hand grenade qualification course Nov. 3, 2021, at Smyrna’s volunteer training site. The unit is deploying to five countries in December.

Vermont National Guard helping vaccinate young people
November 18, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Vermont National Guard now supports the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccinations for youth in the 5 to 11 age group and booster clinics for the general adult... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Nardo, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, injects James Bordeaux with a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Johnson, Vermont, March 18, 2021.

190th Medical Group gets hands-on medical facility training
November 17, 2021 — SAN DIEGO – More than 30 members of the 190th Medical Group traveled to the Naval Medical Center San Diego for their annual medical facility training."Our experience was exceptional in the way of... MORE

190th ARW member trains with Sailor during annual tour in San Diego, California.

28th ECAB one of TRANSCOM's best in 2020
November 16, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – US Transportation Command recently awarded the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade a Deployment Excellence Award for their performance in the fiscal year 2020 during... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade and 40th Combat Aviation Brigade receive trucks and other equipment belonging to the 40th CAB as they arrive in the Middle East.

Cal Guard pilots honored in London for Creek Fire rescue
November 15, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Two California Army National Guard flight crews were awarded the prestigious Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots in London Oct. 21... MORE

From left, Falicia Ramos, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Irvin Hernandez, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Hlebain, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Rosamond, Jill Goding, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kipp Goding, Warrant Officer 1 Ge Xiong and Pangia Xiong in front of Guildhall in London Oct. 21, 2021. The California National Guard members received the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots for their actions rescuing campers and hikers from the Creek Fire in California on Labor Day weekend in 2020.

106th Rescue Wing conducts joint winter storm exercise
November 15, 2021 — F.S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The New York National Guard conducted a joint winter storm exercise at the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach in November to maximize readiness in the... MORE

Members of the 106th Rescue Wing’s Communication Squadron set up a Mobile Emergency Response Center (MERC) at Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2021. The MERC allows disaster responders to establish reliable broadcast and reception in areas where communication infrastructure has been damaged.

Louisiana Guard’s Funeral Honors Team serves higher calling
November 12, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – Soldiers in the Louisiana Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors (MFH) Team answer an even higher call to serve their country by spending countless hours training to ensure they... MORE

A Louisiana National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team escorts a fallen Soldier during his internment ceremony, March 13, 2021. Over the last year alone, the team proudly rendered honors at more than 1,500 veterans’ funerals, honoring them for their service.

Veterans reflect on service during National Capital Region tour
November 11, 2021 — WASHINGTON – A veteran donning a baseball hat embroidered with the word "Army" stood at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial wall, neck craned, looking for a name. His reflection stared back at him from the... MORE

Peter Jones, a retired U.S. Army Soldier from Mount Pleasant, Iowa, and Michael Downey, a tour group volunteer, view the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington D.C., Nov. 4, 2021. Jones, who served in Vietnam from 1968-1969, was in the Army and Iowa Army National Guard and was part of a group of veterans from Illinois and Iowa who visited the nation’s capital.

Minnesota National Guard responds to latest COVID surge
November 10, 2021 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were activated this month to support the state's COVID-19 response once again.As coronavirus cases in Minnesota continue to overwhelm... MORE

Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen train on Camp Ripley as nursing aides to support the state’s COVID-19 response in November 2021. Their focus includes staffing temporary care facilities.

Vermont Guard reflects on Marine Corps' 246th birthday
November 10, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Each year on Nov. 10, the U.S. Marine Corps celebrates the day in 1775 when the Second Continental Congress passed a resolution establishing two battalions of Marines as a landing... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers of the Vermont National Guard who served with the 2nd Marine Division in Iraq's Al Anbar Province between 2005-2006 were authorized to display the 2nd Marine Division unit insignia on their uniforms. Nov. 10, 2021, marks the Marine Corps' 246th birthday.

National Guard, Israel reaffirm 15-year partnership
November 9, 2021 — TEL AVIV, Israel – The chief of the National Guard Bureau and the commanding general of Israel’s Home Front Command reaffirmed the National Guard Bureau’s 15-year bilateral relationship with Israel... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, Home Front Command commander, listen to a briefing during Hokanson's visit to Israel to reaffirm the National Guard Bureau's 15-year bilateral relationship with the HFC, Nov. 2, 2021.

Virginia Maneuver Training Center helps spread UXO awareness
November 9, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – Soldiers and civilians assigned to the Army National Guard Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett completed a two-day “train the trainer” course taught by the U.S. Army Corps of... MORE

Soldiers and civilians assigned to Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett complete a two-day “train the trainer” course designed to help spread awareness of the dangers posed by unexploded ordnance Sept. 28-29, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. Representatives from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers taught the course.

NY Army Guard uses NYC as an urban operations training lab
November 8, 2021 — NEW YORK - New York Army National Guard officers and senior sergeants used New York City as a laboratory to explore the challenges of military operations in big cities during a five-day class that... MORE

A New York Army National Guard UH-60 helicopter flies past lower Manhattan while carrying officers and noncommissioned officers taking part in the New York Army National Guard's Dense Urban Leaders Operations Course, to give participants a feel for the city's layout. The five-day course is geared to train and educate staff officers and senior noncommissioned officers in the planning and execution of operations in complex urban environments.

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