Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard Mobilizes Again to Provide Hurricane Relief
October 9, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Thousands of Florida National Guard members, backed by Guardsmen and resources from multiple states, positioned ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival to rescue people, clear roads and... MORE

Two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters with eight Louisiana Guardsmen departed Louisiana Oct. 8, 2024, for staging sites near Tallahassee, Florida. These assets will be prepositioned for rapid aerial search and rescue operations as soon as conditions allow following the arrival of Hurricane Milton.

Tennessee Guardsmen Support Hurricane Recovery
October 9, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nearly 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen, with more than 150 vehicles and construction equipment, continue to support state, county and local first responders in East Tennessee areas... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ryan Schulze, 118th Wing pavements and construction equipment craftsman, cuts a fallen tree with a chainsaw during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Oct. 5, 2024. Airmen continue to commute to the town and surrounding areas daily to help clear debris and help local residents in need due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.

Oklahoma Guard Supports Hurricane Relief in South Carolina
October 9, 2024 — OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma National Guard is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in South Carolina at the direction of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and with approval from... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook is readied by Oklahoma National Guard members at the OKARNG Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, Oct. 6, 2024, before deploying to South Carolina in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

Ohio Guard Aircrews Assist with Hurricane Response Ops
October 9, 2024 — SALISBURY, N.C. – The CH-47 Chinook helicopter passed low over a small field, the low thumping sound of its rotor blades echoing throughout the surrounding hillsides as it did a slow arcing turn to... MORE

Soldiers with B Company, 2nd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard, offload food, water and other supplies in a field in western North Carolina as part of response efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene Oct. 4, 2024. National Guard units from multiple states have responded to areas impacted by the storm and have been taking part in food and water distribution, search and rescue, debris clearance and other tasks.

California Airmen Receive Purple Heart Following Jordan Attack
October 8, 2024 — MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. - Three Airmen injured during the January Tower 22 attack in Jordan were presented the Purple Heart at the 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Herland Antezana, assigned to the 129th Maintenance Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, is awarded the Purple Heart medal at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif., Oct. 5, 2024. He was one of three California Air National Guard Airmen to receive the Purple Heart for their actions following the January attack on Tower 22 in Jordan.

Tennessee Guard Provides Drinking Water to Helene Victims
October 7, 2024 — MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. – Guardsmen with the Tennessee Army National Guard’s A Company, 169th Divisional Sustainment Support Battalion, deployed a tactical water purification system Oct. 6 to provide... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Diamond Espinoza, a water treatment specialist assigned to Alpha Company,169th Divisional Sustainment Support Battalion, pumps water for a resident in Mountain City, Tennessee, Oct. 6, 2024. The Tennessee National Guard continues to support the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the state, county and local first responders in the areas impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane Helene.

Tennessee Guardsmen Continue Supporting Helene Recovery Efforts
October 6, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 450 Soldiers and Airmen with the Tennessee National Guard continue to support state, county, and local first responders in East Tennessee areas impacted by severe flooding... MORE

Tennessee Air National Guardsmen loading a truck with debris in Hampton, Tennessee, on Oct. 2, 2024.

Ohio Guard Airmen Deploy to NC to Support Helene Recovery Efforts
October 4, 2024 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – The 121st Air Refueling Wing Fatality Search and Recovery Team deployed to North Carolina from Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base Oct. 1, after being activated to support response... MORE

Airmen with the 121st Air Refueling Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team, part of the Ohio Homeland Response Force, prepare to deploy to North Carolina in support of Hurricane Helene recovery efforts, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, Oct. 1, 2024.

Virginia National Guard Continues Support After Hurricane Helene
October 4, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. – The Virginia National Guard continues to support response efforts after Hurricane Helene with troops staged Oct. 4 in Abingdon, Virginia. Approximately 20 Soldiers with tactical... MORE

Tennessee Guard Engineers Continue to Support Helene Recovery Efforts
October 3, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 100 Tennessee Army and Air National Guard engineers continue to support recovery operations in East Tennessee counties impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Jackson, a senior leader from the 134th Mission Support Squadron helps clear debris with Airmen from the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, in Elizabethton, Tenn., Oct. 2, 2024.

National Guard Rescues Hundreds of People in Wake of Hurricane
October 3, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 6,300 National Guard members from a dozen states rescued hundreds of people and cleared roads across the Southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene.As of Sunday, Guardsmen in... MORE

Soldiers with the Florida Army National Guard’s 1-111th General Support Aviation Regiment worked alongside members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team to conduct emergency response operations after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida.

Georgia Guard Supports Partner Agencies Responding to Helene
October 3, 2024 — MARIETTA, Ga. – Since Hurricane Helene landed on Sept. 27, the Georgia Army National Guard has provided response and recovery support to residents affected by the storm, working alongside civilian... MORE

U.S. Army Cpt. Charles Smith, a logistics officer assigned to the Macon-based Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, coordinates response efforts with civilian agencies from Georgia and New Jersey, Oct. 1, 2024, at the Macon State Farmer’s Market in Macon, Georgia.

Guard Airmen, Soldiers Train To Care for Fallen Comrades
October 2, 2024 — FORT GREGG-ADAMS, Va. – For two weeks in September, National Guard Airmen and Soldiers dedicated themselves to preparing for one of the most solemn duties in the military: handling and returning the... MORE

Fredrick Kennebrew, left, a mortuary affairs evaluator assigned to the Joint Test and Evaluation Program, observes fatality search and recovery team Airmen and mortuary affairs Soldiers as they practice temporary interment of simulated contaminated human remains during an exercise at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia, Sept. 11, 2024. The exercise was part of a quick reaction test to refine the techniques, tactics and procedures for managing and caring for the remains of fallen service members.

Idaho Army National Guard Fields Latest Artillery Platform
October 2, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment, Idaho Army National Guard, has upgraded its combat capability with 18 new Paladin M109A7 next-generation artillery systems. The regiment conducted... MORE

The 1-148th Field Artillery Regiment is the latest unit in the Idaho Army National Guard to upgrade its combat capability as modernization efforts across the U.S. Army and Army National Guard take shape. The unit received 18 new Paladin M109A7 next-generation artillery systems and conducted its first live-fire exercises using the long-range guns earlier this month at the Orchard Combat Training Center in Boise.

Oklahoma Guard Hosts Wildland Fire Drone Integration Exercise
October 2, 2024 — WEATHERFORD, Okla. - The Oklahoma National Guard partnered with Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Weatherford Fire Department to host a multi-agency wildland... MORE

Sgt. Donald Underwood, an unmanned aerial systems operator with Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, operates a UAS during a multi-agency wildland firefighting unmanned aerial systems integration exercise at Crowder Lake near Weatherford, Oklahoma, Sept. 25-26, 2024. The exercise brought the Oklahoma National Guard, state and local agencies and several private UAS companies together to develop a common operating picture.

North Carolina Guard Delivers Food, Water to Hurricane Victims
October 2, 2024 — ASHEVILLE, N.C. - As part of a coordinated relief effort with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the North Carolina Air National Guard has delivered over 100,000 pounds of food, water and other... MORE

Members of the North Carolina Air National Guard transport more than 100,000 pounds of essential goods to Western North Carolina in support of humanitarian efforts following Hurricane Helene. The cargo, delivered aboard a C-17 Globemaster III, included more than 48 pallets of water, Meals Ready to Eat and other vital supplies.

Louisiana Guard, State Police Conduct Aerial Firefighting Training
September 28, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS – Aviators from the Louisiana National Guard’s 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group partnered with the Louisiana State Police Sept. 25 to conduct aerial training on effectively using... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Dino Parmentier, state standardization officer, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 204th Theater Airfield Operations Group, inspects a water bucket with Louisiana State Police members during an aerial firefighting training exercise at the Joint Emergency Services Training Center in Zachary, La., Sept. 25, 2024.

Tennessee Guard Rescues Stranded Hospital Patients, Staff
September 28, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard is supporting the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and state, county and local first responders in the areas impacted by severe flooding following... MORE

Tennessee National Guard Soldiers from Nashville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport prepare to transport Tennessee State Forestry personnel into areas affected by Hurricane Helene to begin debris removal Sept. 30, 2024.

Kentucky National Guard Tests Skills in All-Hazards Exercise
September 27, 2024 — DISNEY TRAINING CENTER, Ky. - The Kentucky Army National Guard 751st Troop Command conducted an all-hazards exercise Sept. 14, using all aviation companies and detachments in scenarios aimed at their... MORE

Soldiers with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade pose for a photo with members of the Wolfe County search and rescue team and Red Star Wilderness emergency medical services at the Disney Training Center in Artemus, Kentucky, Sept. 14, 2024. The Soldiers and the two rescue teams worked together in an all-hazards exercise to improve inoperability.

Arkansas National Guard Air Wing Receives C-130J Aircraft
September 26, 2024 — LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. - The 189th Air Wing officially began its first aircraft conversion in almost 40 years with the arrival of two EC-130J Super Hercules aircraft Sept. 18.The conversion... MORE

From left, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Noah Polcar, loadmaster, 154th Training Squadron, Maj. Robert Stephenson, pilot, 154th TRS, Maj. Eric Zane, pilot, 154th TRS, Master Sgt. Levi Sortomme, loadmaster, 154th TRS, Staff Sgt. Dakoda Baker, crew chief, 189th Maintenance Group, and Master Sgt. Jacob Shaulis, crew chief, 189th MXG, in front of the second of the first two C-130J Super Hercules aircraft received by the 189th AW after initial arrival at Little Rock AFB, Arkansas, Sept. 18, 2024.