Guard News - The National Guard

1109th TASMG brings new life to battle-damaged helicopters
July 7, 2021 — GROTON, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard’s 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group (TASMG) has a unique mission as one of only four Army units designated for large-scale rotary-wing... MORE

A Ch-47 Chinook helicopter hovers for the first time in two years at the Connecticut National Guard's 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group in Groton, Conn., June 2, 2021. The helicopter was damaged after a hard landing while serving in Iraq and had been sitting in Kuwait since 2018 awaiting repairs.

Virginia Guard aviation crews train on rooftop rescue hoists
July 6, 2021 — CHESTERFIELD, Va. – Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members trained on rescue hoist operations June 8-10. The VNG... MORE

Virginia National Guard aviation crews and Chesterfield County Fire and Emergency Medical Services Scuba Rescue Team members train on confined-space rescue hoist operations June 10, 2021, in Chesterfield County, Virginia. During quarterly training, the team practiced rescue hoists from rooftops, balconies and vehicles.

Alaska Air Guard rescues 7 people in separate incidents
July 6, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued seven people in two incidents, aiding plane crash victims and hikers. On July Fourth, a single-engine... MORE

Pararescue personnel with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 210th Rescue Squadron used an HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter like this one in the search for 12 mountaineers stranded in poor weather on Klutlan Glacier southeast of Mt. Bona in Wrangell-St Elias National Park. The mountaineers were rescued June 1 after the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, dispatched an Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook with a paramedic from the 2nd Battalion, 211 Aviation Regiment.

Guam National Guard participates in Exercise Orient Shield
July 2, 2021 — DEDEDO, Guam - One Sergeant, three Specialists, and a Senior Airman in a room with a few laptops might not look like much. But in the realms of Electronic and Cyber Warfare, small teams like this can... MORE

From left, Sgt. Randy Ngirmekur, Spc. Ken Clark, Spc. Avery Tyquienco, Senior Amn. Ryan Martinez, and Spc. Jeremy Munoz participates remotely in the Electronic Warfare and Cyber Defense portions of Exercise Orient Shield 21-2 in Dededo, Guam, on June 30.

Pennsylvania National Guard vaccination mission ends
July 1, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – After over three months and more than 80,000 COVID-19 vaccine doses administered, the Pennsylvania National Guard's public vaccination mission has come to an end.Operation... MORE

Spc. Christopher Valencia, combat medical specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 112 Infantry Regiment administers a COVID-19 vaccine to Romero Sergio at the Esperanza Community Vaccination Center in Philadelphia on May 17, 2021.

Cyber Shield enhances partnerships as cyber threats continue
July 1, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard plays a critical role in defending computer networks and mitigating cyber-attacks that occur almost daily, said Guard senior leaders during a roundtable discussion... MORE

Army 2nd Lt. Curtis Rookard, a cyber-operations officer with the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 175th Cyber Protection Team, participates in Cyber Shield 2020 in Smyrna, Tennessee, Sept. 22, 2020. For Cyber Shield 2021, more than 750 National Guard members will participate in the yearly exercise that tests their knowledge of network defenses, forensic analysis, reporting and mitigation, and incident response

211th Combat Engineer Company conducts explosives training
June 30, 2021 — GUERNSEY, Wyo. – The 211th Combat Engineer Company conducted training with demolition explosives and grenades during the Golden Coyote training exercise June 19.Soldiers from the 211th honed their... MORE

Soldiers with the 211th Engineer Company train on the grenade range during the Golden Coyote exercise in Guernsey, Wyo, June 19, 2021.

Washington National Guard prepares for wildfire season
June 30, 2021 — RAINIER, Wash. – With the summer months in full swing, the Washington National Guard is preparing for what could be a busy fire season.“We successfully trained 180 Guardsmen during the four academies... MORE

Washington National Guard Pfc. Xavier Cha, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, practices with a flare during wildfire training with the Washington Department of Natural Resources June 24, 2021, in Rainier, Wash. About 250 Washington National Guard members received firefighter training this spring in preparation for wildfire season.

Michigan Guard sets up communications during annual training
June 30, 2021 — AUGUSTA, Mich. – Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers with the 156th Expeditionary Signal Battalion honed their skills June 21 at Fort Custer Training Center, setting up satellite communications... MORE

U.S. Army Pvt. Nathan Kipp, left, and U.S. Army Cpl. Morgan Long, 156th Expeditionary Signal Battalion, Michigan Army National Guard, set up signal communications during annual training, Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, Michigan, June 21, 2021. The Soldiers were conducting a battalion command post exercise and providing network support for simulated brigade and battalion size elements.

Nevada National Guard continues vaccinations all summer
June 29, 2021 — LAS VEGAS – Nevada National Guard Soldiers and Airmen plan to vaccinate people through September at College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne and Charleston campuses.Sixty Guard members have set up... MORE

Nevada National Guard Spc. Austin Czarnecki of Joint Task Force 17 administers the Janssen vaccine to a patient at the College of Southern Nevada Cheyenne campus June 23, 2021 in Las Vegas. Soldiers and Airmen will vaccinate people at the Cheyenne and Charleston campuses through Sept. 30.

Oregon Guardsmen complete training for wildland fire season
June 28, 2021 — WARRENTON, Ore. – Wildfires killed 11 people and burned more than 1 million acres of land in Oregon during the 2020 wildfire season – all during a surge in the coronavirus pandemic. More than 110... MORE

Oregon National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen use hand tools during initial “Red Card” certification training at Camp Rilea, Warrenton, Ore., June 24, 2021. The state’s wildfire suppression efforts include training more than 110 Oregon National Guardsmen as wildland firefighters June 21-25.

Military intelligence pros train at Panther Strike 21
June 25, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – After a year's hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intelligence professionals of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion and Delta Company 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion... MORE

Panther Strike participants stand at parade rest for a group photo at Camp Williams, Utah, June 7, 2021. Panther Strike is an elite military intelligence exercise organized by the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade to provide all-source training to counter hybrid threats in a technological and challenging environment.

Nebraska Army Guard helps contain wildfire
June 25, 2021 — LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Army National Guard helicopter crews helped battle wildfires near Brush Creek June 24-25.At the direction of Gov. Pete Ricketts, the Nebraska Army National Guard activated two... MORE

Soldiers flying a Nebraska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook helicopter above the Spring Creek division of the Brush Creek fire drop water from a 2,000-gallon bucket June 25, 2021, in Holt County, Nebraska.

167th Airlift Wing reinforces readiness in extended drill
June 25, 2021 — MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – The 167th Airlift Wing focused on readiness and training during an extended annual drill weekend June 9-13.The four-day assembly, instead of the standard two-day weekend, is known... MORE

Left to right, Air Force Staff Sgts. Seth Hott, Steven Spitzer and Dallas Nichols, vehicle maintainers with the 167th Logistics Readiness Squadron, West Virginia Air National Guard, place a wheel and tire on a firetruck at the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, West Virginia, June 10, 2021.

National Guard chief details contributions of force
June 25, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – National Guardsmen more than demonstrated their value to America the past year, and the need for their service has never been greater, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, the chief of the... MORE

More than 80 New Jersey Air National Guardsmen deploy to U.S. Central Command to provide expeditionary support for Operation Freedom’s Sentinel, Operation Inherent Resolve and Operation Spartan Shield .

Nevada Air Guard activated to help fight fires in West
June 25, 2021 — RENO, Nev. – The National Interagency Fire Center has requested one C-130 aircraft and aircrew from the 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, to aid firefighting efforts in the West.The... MORE

Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing C-130 sits on the ramp at CAL FIRE’s McClellan Reload Base, Calif., during Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System training in June 2020. The aircrew practiced water drops in remote areas of the Tahoe National Forest and Shasta-Trinity National Forest.

123rd CRG completes TRANSCOM training mission with Army
June 24, 2021 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. – More than 100 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group and 50 Army Soldiers with the 690th Rapid Port Opening Element participated in Operation... MORE

Senior Airman Emily Goss, an aerial porter from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group, moves cargo during a Joint Task Force-Port Opening exercise known as Operation Lone Oak at Volk Field, Wis., June 11, 2021. The cargo movement was part of everyday operations during the JFT-PO exercise, which combined the efforts of the CRG with the U.S. Army’s 690th Rapid Port Opening Element from Fort Eustis, Va.

New England Soldiers, Airmen join cybersecurity exercise
June 24, 2021 — HARTFORD, Conn. – Cyber Soldiers and Airmen from around New England gathered June 14-18 at Joint Base Cape Cod to participate in the seventh annual Cyber Yankee cybersecurity exercise.The exercise... MORE

Lt. Col. Cameron Sprague, deputy exercise director for Cyber Yankee, addresses the exercise controllers and distinguished visitors at the exercise on Joint Base Cape Cod, Mass., June 14-18, 2021. Cyber Yankee is a regional cybersecurity exercise designed to promote interoperability of National Guard cyber operators among the New England states and build readiness to respond to network attacks.

MXG removes tail from Utah Air Guard KC-135R
June 24, 2021 — SALT LAKE CITY – On June 2, Members from the Utah Air National Guard's 151st Maintenance Group and the Kansas Air National Guard's 190th Maintenance Group took on the monumental task of removing the... MORE

U.S. Airmen from the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, and 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, remove the tail from a KC135R at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Utah, June 2, 2021. The KC-135 Stratotanker provides the core aerial refueling capability for the Air Force.

Nebraska Air National Guard SFS takes on Patriot 21
June 24, 2021 — VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. — Airmen of the 155th Security Forces Squadron and other National Guard units and partners worked through a mock natural disaster exercise at Patriot 21 in... MORE

2nd Lt. Dan Dibbern, squad leader with the 155th Security Forces Squadron, completes a radio call in his zone during a simulated riot as a part of the Patriot 21 exercise at Fort McCoy, Wis., June 16, 2021. Patriot 21 is a training exercise for civilian emergency management and responders to work with military entities during natural disasters.

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

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season