Guard News - The National Guard

103rd Airlift Wing develops tactical airlift operations
August 4, 2021 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – Airmen from the 103rd Airlift Wing helped develop future C-130H Hercules tactical airlift operations during exercise Sentry Storm 2021. The West Virginia Air National Guard hosted... MORE

A 103rd Airlift Wing C-130H Hercules aircraft performs a Low Cost Low Altitude airdrop during Exercise Sentry Storm 2021 at Camp Branch, West Virginia, July 20, 2021. Sentry Storm is a joint training environment enabling participants to exercise their skills to prevail over near-peer competitors while applying agile combat employment concepts.

Army Guard director visits 100th Missile Defense Brigade
August 4, 2021 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – On the final leg of a trip preceded by stops at Fort Polk, Louisiana, and Fort Irwin, California, to visit units on combat training rotations, the director of the Army... MORE

Army Lt. Gen. Jon A. Jensen, the director of the Army National Guard, speaks with Soldiers in the Missile Defense Element at Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, July 26, 2021. Jensen visited the 100th Missile Defense Brigade of the Colorado Army National Guard in Colorado Springs to learn more about the unit and its mission to defend the United States and designated areas from long-range ballistic missile attacks.

California Guard rescues three hikers from Mount Whitney
August 3, 2021 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Three hikers who spent the night stranded on Mount Whitney with limited supplies in cold weather were taken to safety by a California Army National Guard aircrew July 29.U.S. Army... MORE

A U.S. Army CH-47F Chinook helicopter from the California Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Stockton, California, flies near Mount Whitney in Inyo County July 27, 2021, during a search and rescue mission for three hikers who were stranded above 12,600 feet overnight with few supplies.

Virginia National Guard ends COVID response mission
August 3, 2021 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard ended its COVID-19 response July 31 after more than 460 days of assisting with vaccinations, testing and administrative, logistics and planning support... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a mobile vaccination mission on board international ships in July 2021 in Norfolk, Virginia. The Virginia National Guard's support to Virginia's COVID-19 response ended July 31, 2021.

Alaska National Guard medevacs injured plane crash victims
August 3, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing medically evacuated two injured occupants of an overturned Cessna 206 aircraft July 31 from King Salmon to... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Capt. Matthew Soukup, a pilot with the 176th Wing’s 211th Rescue Squadron, searches for isolated flood survivors aboard an HC-130J Combat King II aircraft while assisting with hurricane relief operations in North Carolina, Sept. 17, 2018.

Oklahoma Army Guard Soldiers test their resiliency at NTC
August 2, 2021 — FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers tested their skills as they fought the heat and mock enemies during a month-long annual training in the desert at the National Training... MORE

Soldiers with the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, move through the desert during a live-fire exercise at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, July 24, 2021.

National Guard well-equipped to handle West Coast wildfires
August 2, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When wildfires happen in the West, the National Guard is there to fight those fires. And for now, they've got a good handle on the effort, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said... MORE

An Air National Guard C-130 drops retardant on the Beckwourth Complex Fire July 9, 2021, near Frenchman Lake in Northern California.

1-174th takes part in Forager 21 exercise
August 2, 2021 — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – Soldiers assigned to 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, participated in exercise Forager 21 on Guam and Tinian in July, using their Avenger air... MORE

Ohio National Guard's Spc. Kiya Marshall and Staff Sgt. Tyler Hamilton, assigned to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, operate a man-portable air-defense system to engage an enemy aircraft during exercise Forager 21 July 30, 2021, at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The Avenger is a self-propelled surface-to-air missile system that provides mobile, short-range air defense protection for ground units.

116th IBCT trains on new squad designated marksman rifle
August 2, 2021 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team trained on and fielded new M110A1 squad designated marksman rifles July 12-15... MORE

Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Staunton-based 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a live-fire range with the M110A1 squad designated marksman rifle during a new equipment training and fielding July 14, 2021, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. The Soldiers zeroed the new rifles before firing at targets up to 800 yards away.

Idaho National Guard participates in smart weapon training
August 2, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment spent two weeks at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, in July for its first M1156 Precision Guidance Kit new... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment returned from its annual training July 24, after spending more than two weeks at Camp Guernsey, Wyoming, where it participated in its first M1156 Precision Guidance Kit new equipment training.

Wisconsin National Guard branches out for annual training
August 2, 2021 — MADISON, Wis. – Following an unprecedented year of supporting statewide COVID-19 efforts, election support missions, and civil disturbance operations, Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers returned... MORE

The 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s Company A, 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry, conducted a best squad competition June 30, 2021, during annual training at Fort McCoy, Wis. Soldiers pass timber beams from one to another in assembly line fashion.

Tennessee Guardsman wins Soldier of Year competition
July 30, 2021 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sgt. William Lukens, a tactical generator mechanic in the Tennessee Army National Guard’s 208th Area Support Medical Company in Smyrna, won the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior... MORE

Sgt. Cole Lukens, with 208th MCAS, Tennessee Army National Guard, takes aim at his target during the Three Weapons Challenge at the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Florence Training Site, Arizona, July 20, 2021. Lukens won the competition and will represent the Army Guard in the Army Best Warrior Competition in the fall.

Singapore Peace Vanguard trains at Idaho Army Guard facility
July 30, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – The Republic of Singapore Air Force’s Peace Vanguard detachment completed AH-64 Apache aerial gunnery throughout July at the Idaho Army National Guard’s Orchard Combat Training... MORE

The Idaho Army National Guard's Orchard Combat Training Center hosted elements of the Republic of Singapore Air Force in July. Based in Arizona, the Singapore contingent operates eight AH-64 Apache helicopters as part of the Peace Vanguard Task Force.

104th SFS increases capabilities with new trailers
July 30, 2021 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – The 104th Fighter Wing has received two domestic operations trailers to help fulfill its mission to serve the community, commonwealth and nation anywhere it is... MORE

The 104th Security Forces Squadron received two domestic operations trailers in June to help fulfill its mission of responding anywhere it is needed. The multipurpose trailers can equip a 13-person security forces squad with command and control capability.

ANG units train in advanced vehicle maintenance and repair
July 29, 2021 — FARGO, N.D. –Thirteen students from six Air National Guard units in five states attended an advanced truck air brake system course hosted by the 119th Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron and taught... MORE

Air brake systems instructor Jim Bainer, red shirt, directs Airman 1st Class Mason Heimkes, of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, as he provides instruction for Air National Guard students in the ‘lab’ training at Minnesota State Community College (M State), Moorhead, Minn., July 22, 2021.

Minnesota Guard modernizes training communications
July 29, 2021 — LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Airmen from all over the country were at Camp Ripley earlier this summer conducting site surveys of the down-range training areas. This year-long project aims to install an... MORE

Airmen from five different Engineering Installation Squadrons, including the 205th EIS from Oklahoma, 272nd EIS from Houston, 130th from Utah, and the 223rd EIS from New York, work together to install fiber optics cables across Minnesota's Camp Ripley Training Center's training areas on July 15, 2021.

EAATS receives new Black Hawk variant
July 28, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard's Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) received the first fielding of UH-60V Black Hawks from the Utility Helicopter... MORE

A UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter is secured after being flown to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., on July 27, 2021.

Alaska Army Guard sharpens skills at annual training
July 28, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Approximately 280 Alaska Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, conducted their two-week annual training July 10-25 at Donnelly... MORE

Indirect fire infantrymen with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment conducted live-fire training on various weapon systems at Donnelly Training Center, near Fort Greely, Alaska, July 19, during their annual training event.

Challenge accepted: from Youth ChalleNGe to Soldier
July 28, 2021 — PIERCE, Idaho – The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy’s newest class of candidates is currently going through a two-week acclimation phase. During this phase, candidates are challenged to adapt to the... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Pfc. Riley Ward directs candidates at the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Pierce, Idaho, July 21, 2021.

Army Guard finds its best warriors in the Grand Canyon State
July 27, 2021 — By late morning of the second day of the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, Spc. Addison Smith, assigned to the Texas Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regiment,... MORE

Army Staff Sgt Stephen Southerlin II, an infantryman with the Texas Army National Guard’s C Troop, 1st Battalion, 124th Regiment, fires an M4 Carbine rifle during the rifle challenge portion of the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Navajo, Arizona, July 20, 2021.
The competition spans three physically and mentally demanding days where competitors are tested on a variety of tactical and technical skills as they vie to be named the Army Guard’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The winners then represent the Army Guard in the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition later this year.

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