Guard News - The National Guard - Category Guard News

Pennsylvania Guard Expands Drone Training
July 16, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – As the battlefield continually shifts toward unmanned aircraft systems, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap is expanding its unmanned aircraft systems, or... MORE

Several shipping containers altered to look like buildings were relocated recently to the grounds of the Pennsylvania National Guard's Fort Indiantown Gap's Unmanned Aircraft System Training and Innovation Facility.

Guardsmen Strengthen Defensive Capabilities in Cyber Shield 2026
July 16, 2026 — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – More than 1,000 participants from 44 states and territories and 23 international partners have gathered at Camp Robinson to develop and test their defensive capabilities in... MORE

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Erin Parkin, 137 Special Ops Communications, completes an exercise simulating a cybersecurity event during Cyber Shield 2026 at the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 13, 2026.

Wyoming Guard Supports Wildfire Response in Western US
July 16, 2026 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing was activated July 13 to support wildland firefighting operations in the western United States, wing officials announced.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nathaniel Sobieski, a crew chief assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, adjusts tow equipment on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming, July 14, 2026.

Army National Guard Names 2026 Best Warrior Competition Winners
July 16, 2026 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. – U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Brown, representing the Florida Army National Guard, earned the title of 2026 Army National Guard Soldier of the Year, and U.S. Army... MORE

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Kendrick, left, the Army National Guard command sergeant major, poses with U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Fouts, representing the Arizona Army National Guard, U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Brown, representing the Florida Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard, following the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., July 15, 2026.

California Air Guard Supports Wildfire Response
July 14, 2026 — BOISE, Idaho – Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, equipped aircraft assigned to the California National Guard have been activated to support federal and state wildfire suppression... MORE

California Air National Guard personnel assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing load a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, into a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, July 9, 2026.

West Virginia Guardsmen Provide Care Through Readiness Training
July 14, 2026 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia National Guard Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing’s Medical Group recently concluded the Green River Area Wellness mission, providing vital healthcare to underserved... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Adams, performs an eye exam during the Green River Area Wellness Innovative Readiness Training, or IRT, mission, June 17, 2026.

Innovation Partnership Strengthens Oregon Guard F-35 Pilot Readiness
July 13, 2026 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – An innovative partnership between the Oregon National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing and Klamath Community College is strengthening F-35 pilot readiness by producing realistic... MORE

Surrogate targets created by a collaboration between the Oregon National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing and Klamath Community College personnel are placed in the Kingsley Field range, May 29, 2026, in Oregon.

California Air Guardsmen Rescue Fisherman at Sea
July 13, 2026 — MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Guardsmen with the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing rescued a Mexican citizen at sea July 7 after the person sustained traumatic injuries aboard a fishing... MORE

Pararescuemen from the California National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing's 131st Rescue Squadron transfer a patient onto land at Socorro Island, July 7, 2026.

DC National Guard Boosts Homeland Defense With First Maritime Security Vessel
July 13, 2026 — WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia National Guard’s 260th Special Purpose Brigade, or SPB, has commissioned its first maritime security vessel, marking the first time an Army unit in the nation’s... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Luke Martinez Acuna, assigned to Joint Task Force- District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, conducts Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services on a boat to ensure its mission capability on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., July 8, 2026.

Washington Guard’s Dark Rifles Battalion Builds Readiness Through Modernization
July 10, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Soldiers from the Washington National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team completed an ambitious annual training June 13-27 that... MORE

Soldiers from Washington National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment train with the Bumblebee drone system, June 17, 2026, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Arizona Guard Military Police Return From Alaska Mission
July 10, 2026 — PHOENIX – More than 50 Soldiers assigned to the Arizona Army National Guard’s 855th Military Police Company returned home July 8 following a year-long mobilization to Fort Greely, Alaska, in support... MORE

Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 855th Military Police Company in formation during their homecoming ceremony at Papago Park Military Reservation, Arizona, July 8, 2026.

Alaska Guard Performs Four Rescues July 4 Weekend
July 9, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Soldiers and Airmen of the Alaska National Guard executed four missions to save four people during the July 4 holiday weekend.Maj. Kody Schmidt, Alaska Rescue... MORE

A G Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, HH-60M Black Hawk crew chief hoists a hiker stranded on Matanuska Peak, Alaska, July 2, 2026.

Washington Guard Tests Project Homeland During World Cup
July 8, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard’s Joint Operations Center was assessed during a June 26 World Cup game on how the state was using Project Homeland, a long-term modernization... MORE

Maj. Pierre Matte, Joint Operations Center Battle Manager, updates Ken Flowers, National Guard Bureau chief information officer/J6’s chief tech officer and division chief, J65 National Guard Bureau on the National Guard support to Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, June 26, 2026 at the Joint Operations Center, Camp Murray, Washington.

North Carolina Guard Aviation Units Build Mission-Essential Skills
July 7, 2026 — MORRISVILLE, N.C. – Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted annual training across North Carolina from April to June, strengthening aviation capabilities and improving... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 131st Aviation Regiment prepare a sling load for hookup during annual training at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, June 4, 2026.

N.C. Guard Strengthens Readiness in Operation Carolina Surge
July 7, 2026 — MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade tested their ability to command and synchronize aviation operations in a contested environment during Operation Carolina... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted a Large-Scale Combat Operations exercise, Operation Carolina Surge, during the unit’s annual training in Morrisville, NC, May 30th through June 14th, 2026.

Second Consecutive National Guard Member Assumes Senior Enlisted Role at Defense Security Cooperation Agency
July 7, 2026 — ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude assumed responsibility as command senior enlisted leader to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency during a ceremony at DSCA... MORE

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude, incoming command senior enlisted leader to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and member of the National Guard, left, stands with Mary Beth Morgan, acting director of DSCA, center, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mikael "Mack” Sundin, outgoing CSEL and member of the National Guard, right, following their change of responsibility ceremony at DSCA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, July 1, 2026.

Tennessee Guard Hosts First Drone Trainer Course
July 2, 2026 — SMYRNA, Tenn. – Twelve Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers became the first graduates of Tennessee’s new Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or SUAS, Master Trainer course led by the 1-117th Military... MORE

Staff Sgt. Alexander Spradling, an instructor with the 1-117th Military Police Battalion’s Multifunction Company prepares to launch an RQ-28A, a small, unmanned aircraft during the Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or SUAS, Master Trainer pilot course at Tullahoma’s Volunteer Training Site, June 23, 2026.

Montana Guard Completes Combat Readiness Inspection
July 2, 2026 — GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Airmen assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, concluded Operation War Hog Breakout, a four-day Combat Readiness Inspection that evaluated the wing's... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, participate in Operation War Hog Breakout during a Combat Readiness Inspection in Great Falls and Helena, Montana, 2026.

Army National Guard Wins National Aviation Safety Award
July 2, 2026 — BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Army National Guard’s Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site, or FWAATS, operated by the West Virginia Army National Guard, received the 2025 Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army... MORE

The West Virginia Army National Guard Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site receives the 2025 Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army Aviation Flight Safety Award during an award ceremony on June 29, 2026.

Guam Guard Partners with Navy Helicopter Squadron for Training
July 1, 2026 — DEDEDO, Guam – A Guam National Guard unit deployed under Task Force Talon, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, partnered with the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron, or HSC, 25 for joint medical... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alan San Nicolas of the Guam National Guard, assigned to Task Force Talon, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, pulls security for a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk during a joint medical evacuation and Air Assault tactical training event on Guam, May 26, 2026.