Guard News - The National Guard - Category News Features

Challenge Fuels Transition for Newest Infantry Soldiers
August 11, 2023 — FORT BARFOOT, Va. – A few times each year, the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, conducts an 11B Infantry Transition Course. Some of the Soldiers... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from across the nation receive their blue infantry shoulder cords July 26, 2023, in recognition of their completion of the 11B Infantry Transition Course, taught by cadre assigned to the 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, at Fort Barfoot, Virginia.

New York Air National Guardsman Wins Air Force-wide Honor
August 9, 2023 — NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - An Airman assigned to the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Attack Wing has been named one of the top 12 Airmen in the 500,000-member total Air Force.Staff... MORE

New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Dhruva Poluru, a member of the 107th Attack Wing's 222nd Command and Control Squadron, seen here at his home office in Chantilly, Va., on June 12, 2023, is one of 12 Airmen of the Year for the 500,000-member total Air Force. Poluru serves as a full-time Guardsman assigned to the National Reconnaissance Office.

Florida Pilot’s Homecoming a Fitting end to Storied Career
August 8, 2023 — JACKSONVILLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Fla. – Florida Air National Guard Lt. Col. Daniel Schiller’s last tour of duty couldn’t be a more satisfying final act in his two-decade military career. Just... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Daniel Schiller, chief of safety and F-15C Eagle pilot at the 125th Fighter Wing, with a photo of his biological mother and brother, both from Colombia, at the Jacksonville Air National Guard Base, Fla., July 31, 2023. Schiller was adopted by a U.S. couple at a young age and eventually commissioned into the Air Force in 2003.

Oregon Air National Guard Pilot to fly with Thunderbirds
August 4, 2023 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Maj. Tyler Clark, a 173rd Fighter Wing instructor pilot and chief of scheduling, is the first Air National Guard fighter pilot chosen to be a Thunderbird demonstration pilot.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Lauren Schlichting, #4 Thunderbird for the U.S. Air Force Air Demonstration Team, presents Maj. Tyler Clark, 173rd Fighter Wing F-15C instructor pilot, with a signed photo after his flight evaluation July 6, 2023, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Clark was selected as one of the newest demonstration pilots for the U.S. Air Force Demonstration Squadron in the 2024-2025 season.

Alaska Guardsman Competes in Arctic Triathlon
August 3, 2023 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - In subarctic winter conditions, running or bicycling outside over mountainous terrain with snow and ice canvassing the countryside can be challenging.Combine... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Senior Airman Kenyon DePriest, 176th Air Defense Squadron surveillance technician, monitors Alaska airspace March 14, 2023, in the Regional Air Operations Center at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. DePriest competed in the run/bike/ski World Winter Triathlon Championships in Skeikampen, Norway, in March 2023.

Oregon National Guard Soldier Recognized for Heroic Actions
August 2, 2023 — BOISE, Idaho - Maj. Gen. Michael E. Stencel, the adjutant general for the Oregon National Guard, visited the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, during annual training at the Orchards Combat... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. Colton A. Church, an infantryman assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, pauses for a photograph following his presentation ceremony for the Army Soldier’s Medal at the Orchards Combat Training Center near Boise, Idaho, July 21, 2023. Church was award the Soldier’s Medal for saving the life of a passenger stranded in a burning vehicle Sept. 23, 2020.

Iowa Citizen-Soldier Serves as Combat Medic and Firefighter
July 27, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Spc. John Shields, a combat medic in Iowa Army National Guard’s 334th Brigade Support Battalion, embraced his long-held dream of service by joining the National Guard while using... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. John Shields, a combat medical specialist with the 334th Brigade Support Battalion, Iowa National Guard, representing Region IV, poses for a photograph during the Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 12, 2023.

Joint Task Force Supports Scout Jamboree in Mountain State
July 24, 2023 — GLEN JEAN, W.Va. – For the 10th year, the West Virginia National Guard is leading military and interagency support for the Boy Scouts of America’s National Jamboree July 19-28 at the Summit Bechtel... MORE

Col. Jamie Bowen, far right, Joint Task Force-National Scout Jamboree 2023 chief of staff, briefs task force members July 18, 2023, a day before welcoming more than 15,000 Scouts, Venturers, Explorers, staff and volunteers attending the National Jamboree in Mount Hope, West Virginia. Based at the West Virginia National Guard Armory in Glen Jean, West Virginia, more than 500 service members from the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve, Army National Guard, Air National Guard, U.S. Navy, U.S Air Force and U.S. Coast Guard are supporting the Jamboree.

Oklahoma National Guard Soldier Harnesses Fighting Spirit
July 20, 2023 — TULSA, Okla. – An Oklahoma Army National Guard member, Spc. Justin Budd harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way. Battling with anger issues throughout his youth, Budd found purpose in... MORE

Spc. Justin Budd, a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way.

Hawaii Airman's Alertness Prevents Potential Crisis
July 13, 2023 — WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – One of the most junior Airmen in the 298th Air Defense Group was commended by Pacific Air Forces leadership in May for her immediate response to action in a real-world... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Faith Calaro, 169th Air Defense Squadron surveillance technician, monitors her workstation on June 3, 2023 at Wheeler Army Airfield, Hawaii.

Idaho Guardsman Returns to Her High School as a Military Instructor
July 12, 2023 — BOISE, Idaho – When Staff Sgt. Sarah Pak walked the halls of Canyon Ridge High School as a student in 2013; she never imagined her future career would lead her back ten years later as an educator of... MORE

Idaho Army National Guardsman Staff Sgt. Sarah Pak instructs students from her alma mater at Canyon Ridge High School in Twin Falls, Idaho, as part of the Idaho Army National Guard’s Military Leadership Program.

Wisconsin Guardsman Honored for Aiding Derailment Victims
July 11, 2023 — MADISON, Wis. - A Wisconsin Army National Guard officer who helped victims of a train derailment in Joplin, Montana, in 2021 received the Soldier’s Medal in a July 9 ceremony at Spooner, Wisconsin.The... MORE

First Lt. Apiwit B. Chulawan, an officer with the Wisconsin Army Naitonal Guard’s 829th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, salutes Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, after being awarded the Soldier’s Medal during a July 9, 2023, ceremony in Spooner, Wis. Chulawan was a passenger on a train that derailed in 2021 and helped aid injured passengers.

NY Airman Recognized as Outstanding Enlisted Aircrew Member
July 5, 2023 — F.S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - Tech. Sgt. Ryan Rutz, with the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach, has been named the top career enlisted aircrew member... MORE

Tech Sgt. Ryan Rutz, left, a loadmaster assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard, with Col. Shawn Fitzgerald 106 RQW Wing commander, at F.S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, May 6, 2023. Rutz received the Air National Guard 2022 Henry "Red" Erwin Outstanding NCO Aircrew Member of the Year Award, which recognizes excellence in the enlisted aircrew career field.

Kid’s Artwork Selected for Nose Art on Oregon Air Guard F-15
June 29, 2023 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - On June 23, 11-year-old Kaelynn Hartman stepped into the hangar at Kingsley Field to see her artwork adorned on the nose of a 173rd Fighter Wing F-15C Eagle.“It’s unbelievable... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgts. Michael and Ashyln Hartman, 173rd Maintenance Group, pose for a photo with their daughters June 23, 2023. Eleven-year-old Kaeylnn, left, designed the artwork on the nose of an F-15C at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls Falls, Oregon, in a Month of the Military Child contest.

New York Guardsman is Air National Guard Airman of the Year
June 28, 2023 — NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - A young Airman assigned to the 107th Attack Wing based at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station has been named Airman of the Year by the 100,000-member Air... MORE

New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Dhruva Poluru, assigned to the 107th Attack Wing's 222nd Command and Control Squadron, is the Airman of the Year for the entire Air National Guard. Poluru, is a full-time Guardsman working with the National Reconnaissance office in Herndon, Virginia, where he tracks satellites, among other duties.

Fort Johnson Renaming Ceremony Hits Home for Jersey Guard
June 15, 2023 — FORT JOHNSON, La. – More than a century ago, as many as 150,000 New Jerseyans raised their right hands and served in the Great War. Just one stood watch with Sgt. William Henry Johnson, namesake of... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Henry Johnson, circa 1919. Johnson was part of the 369th Infantry Regiment Hellfighters from Harlem who fought under French command in WWI as an all-black combat unit. Johnson received the French Croix de Guerre for his actions defending his outpost and fellow Soldier Pvt. Needham Roberts May 15, 1918.

New York Guard Band to Play at Embassy Reception in Israel
June 15, 2023 — CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. - Nine members of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division Band will play pop standards at an Independence Day reception in Jerusalem hosted by U.S... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 42nd Infantry Division Band’s rock and roll music performance team play at one of their many concerts. Nine Soldiers in the team will be heading to Israel June 30, 2023, to perform at the U.S. Embassy’s annual July Fourth reception.

Pennsylvania Guard Soldier Credited with Lifesaving Actions
June 14, 2023 — LANCASTER, Pa. – Maj. Mark Martella was driving on Route 30 on his way to work June 1 when he saw two vehicles stopped on the side of the road.While driving past, he noticed two people outside and a... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Mark Martella, commander of the 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division, at Muir Army Airfield, Sept. 18, 2022.

Illinois Guard's ChalleNGe Academy Graduates 16,000th Cadet
June 12, 2023 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The Illinois National Guard Lincoln’s ChalleNGe Class 59-23 had many accomplishments when its more than 90 cadets graduated June 10.The class recovered 277 and a half credit hours,... MORE

Lincoln's ChalleNGe Academy graduate Nickolas McCauley delivers the class summary during graduation ceremonies June 10, 2023, in Springfield, Ill. The Illinois National Guard program July 1993 on the former Chanute Air Force Base in Rantoul, has helped 16,000 struggling young men and women find a path to success.

Virginia National Guard NCO Earns Expert Infantrymen Badge
June 12, 2023 — RICHMOND, Va. – Staff Sgt. Alex Miller, assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, earned the coveted Expert Infantryman... MORE

Nordhaus Underscores National Guard’s Indispensable Role

Nevada Guard Unit Transitions to Mobile Infantry Battalion

Tennessee Guardsmen Provide Aid, Secure Evidence in Shooting

Wisconsin Guard Conducts Drone Training

Tennessee Guard Airmen Broaden Communication Skills