Guard News - The National Guard - Category Guard News

National Guard, Civilian Partners Synchronize Disaster Response in Workshop
August 20, 2026 — INDIANAPOLIS — When disaster strikes, states often depend on National Guard forces from beyond their borders to move quickly with aircraft, personnel and equipment. That response begins long before an... MORE

An EMAC coordinator and an Indiana National Guard representative work together during an exercise at the EMAC Coordinator and National Guard Workshop in Indianapolis Aug. 12-13.

Indiana Guard’s 76th Mobile Brigade Builds Lethal Readiness in Exercise
August 20, 2026 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — The Indiana Army National Guard’s 76th Mobile Brigade tested new capabilities, strengthened combat readiness and trained for large-scale combat operations alongside more than... MORE

An Indiana National Guardsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, and Slovak Armed Forces soldiers run toward an objective during an assault at a Combat Readiness Exercise at Muscatatuck Training Center near Butlerville, Ind., July 26.

Virginia Guard Tests Cyberattack Scenarios at Cyber Fortress 26
August 20, 2026 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade hosted Cyber Fortress 26, a joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational exercise, July 25 - Aug. 8 at the State... MORE

Cyber Fortress 26 tests military, civilian experts on domestic cyber-attack scenarios

Air Guard Builds Combat Readiness at Patriot Forge II
August 20, 2026 — FORT DEVENS, Mass. – Nearly 200 Air National Guard civil engineers moved through dense terrain carrying weapons and combat equipment, navigated without relying on Global Positioning System, operated... MORE

Airmen establish a defensive perimeter in the forest.

Georgia Army Guard Streamlines Medical Readiness
August 20, 2026 — MARIETTA, Ga. – The Georgia Army National Guard achieved the second-highest medical and dental readiness rating among the 54 states and territories after more than 6,600 Soldiers completed Soldier... MORE

Image of the Georgia Army National Guard conducting Soldier Readiness Processing training.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass
August 20, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, flies over Southcentral Alaska.

Montana National Guard Soldier Awarded Soldier’s Medal for Heroic Rescue
August 18, 2026 — BELGRADE, Mont. — U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee received the Soldier’s Medal during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory Aug. 16 for heroic actions that saved the lives of two critically injured hikers in... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, presents the Soldier’s Medal to U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory in Belgrade, Mont., Aug. 16.

Alabama Air Guard Tests Combat Readiness During Tuskegee Thunder
August 17, 2026 — DANNELLY FIELD, Ala. — Airmen assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing trained to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat airpower under pressure during Operation Tuskegee Thunder, Aug. 12-14.The... MORE

An Alabama Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducts nighttime medical evacuation training during Operation Tuskegee Thunder at Dannelly Field, Alabama, Aug. 13, 2026.

Oregon Guard Assists With Hagen Fire Response
August 14, 2026 — PENDLETON, Ore. – Inside the cabin of an HH-60M Black Hawk, Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders leans out over the open door, eyes locked on a water bucket swinging 100 feet below the aircraft. The pilots up... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders, a crew chief with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, watches as water releases from an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter's bucket onto the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County, Oregon, Aug. 10, 2026.

Michigan Guard Proves Command and Control Capability at Northern Strike
August 14, 2026 — ALPENA, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard’s 110th Wing conducted an air component forward experiment during exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Aug 3-14,... MORE

U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron collaborate in support of Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 4, 2026.

National Guard Planning Course Prepares Military for Future Threats
August 14, 2026 — CAMP FOGARTY, R.I. – A five-day planning course helps Soldiers, Airmen and interagency partners learn to build relationships and develop integrated plans that enable military and civilian... MORE

National Guard service members participate in the National Guard Joint Planners Course on Aug. 6, 2026, at Camp Fogarty, R.I. For five days, military and civilian planners learn how to integrate military, state, federal and civilian capabilities to develop whole-of-state solutions for domestic emergencies and homeland defense.

New York Guard Airmen Strengthen Capabilities in Unfamiliar Terrain
August 14, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Security forces Airmen from the New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing conducted land navigation and active shooter training July 13-19 in Alaska,... MORE

New York Air National Guardsmen assigned to 107th Security Forces squadron begin to set coordinates for their next checkpoint during a land navigation exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richarson, Alaska, July 16, 2026.

Oregon Guard Supports Klamath County Wildfire Evacuations
August 14, 2026 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – Seventy-three Airmen from the Oregon National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing have been activated to support the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office with evacuation and wildfire... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Alexander Giden, 173rd Maintenance Group Aircraft Metals Technology Specialist, and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt Richard Chaffin, 173rd Maintenance Support Group, Aerospace Ground Equipment Helper, help an evacuee as the evacuee gathers belongings at Klamath Falls, Oregon, Aug. 11, 2026.

Colorado Guard Assists With Aspen Acres Fire
August 13, 2026 — PUEBLO, Colo. – Destructive wildfires threatened Colorado communities during the summer of 2026, resulting in the activation of the Colorado Army National Guard to provide critical, targeted support... MORE

Members of the Colorado Army National Guard’s 220th Military Police Company support the Pueblo County Sheriff’s office, managing traffic control points for road closures and evacuated areas near the Aspen Acres Fire, Pueblo, Colorado, July 9, 2026.

Utah Guard Supports Wildfire Response From Air
August 12, 2026 — DRAPER, Utah – Utah National Guard Soldiers are supporting wildfire response efforts across Utah, putting specialized aviation capabilities to work alongside local and government firefighting agencies... MORE

A Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk collects water in a bucket from East Canyon Reservoir while aerial firefighting operations in support of the Rocky Canyon Fire in Morgan County, Utah, Aug. 9, 2026.

Alaska Guard Rescues Pilot in Plane Crash
August 12, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing rescued the pilot of a Cessna 185 crash Aug. 9 near Trapper Joe Lake, about 25 miles south of Anchorage.A... MORE

An Alaska National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II carrying 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen returns to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson after an Aug. 9, 2026, mission rescuing a pilot of a Cessna 185 that crashed near Trapper Joe Lake about 25 miles south of Anchorage.

Air Guard Communications Units Train at Northern Strike
August 12, 2026 — ALPENA, Mich. – Air National Guard combat communications squadrons from multiple states and territories gathered in northern Michigan Aug. 1-15 to support Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Seth Henning and Senior Airman Shylie Polodna, Missouri National Guard's 239th Combat Communications Squadron, build a radio frequency kit during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 3, 2026.

Washington Guard Provides Aerial Support on Sinlahekin Fire
August 11, 2026 — WENATCHEE, Wash. – A Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota took to the skies above the Sinlahekin Fire Aug. 9, giving firefighters a perspective they had never had before during a National Guard... MORE

Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighters "quarterback" from a Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter about the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, Washington, Aug. 9, 2026.

Guard Medical Leaders Boost Readiness
August 11, 2026 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pilot course brought medical professionals and senior enlisted leaders from across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia together at the Personnel and... MORE

Army National Guard medical leaders participate in the pilot State Surgeon and Deputy State Surgeon Orientation Course hosted by the Personnel and Organizational Readiness Battalion at the National Guard Professional Education Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Aug. 4, 2026.

West Virginia Guard Builds Readiness at Northern Strike
August 10, 2026 — GRAYLING, Mich. – The West Virginia Army National Guard built readiness and enhanced interoperability during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2, using Camp Grayling’s expansive training areas and complex... MORE

M109A6 Paladins operated by U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard, prepare to conduct a nighttime live-fire mission during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 6, 2026.