Guard News - The National Guard

‘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.

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.

Guard Soldiers Train with Civilian Experts in Cyber Discovery Exercise

Alaska Guard Works to Contain Fires

Air Guard Engineers Build Roads, Skills in Assateague Island Project

Maine Army Guard Engineers Build Communities, Readiness

Iowa Army Guard Soldiers Train at Tigerland