Guard News - The National Guard

NY Air Guard Leaders Salute World War II Vet on his 100th
November 29, 2022 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York Air National Guard leaders gathered at the Shaker Place Nursing Home to honor a World War II veteran on his 100th birthday Nov. 28.William H. Meyer served in the Army Air... MORE

New York Air National Guard Command Chief Master Sgt. Denny Richardson presents a challenge coin to World War II veteran William H. Meyer during his 100th birthday celebration at Shaker Place Nursing Home in Latham, New York, Nov. 28, 2022.

Iowa National Guard Soldier Gives Back to Homeless
November 29, 2022 — JOHNSTON, Iowa – Shortly after the first snow of the season, Iowa National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sullivan pulled out his “Lil Red Wagon” for the third year in a row to collect donations for the... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Sullivan, assistant operations noncommissioned officer with the 734th Regional Support Group, Iowa Army National Guard, kneels next to “Sully’s Lil Red Wagon” at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa, Nov. 17, 2022. He uses the wagon to collect donations for the homeless in the Des Moines area.

Alaska Guardsmen Bring Holiday Cheer to Scammon Bay
November 29, 2022 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter filled with volunteers and holiday gifts for children in the northwest community of Scammon Bay touched down on the south bank... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Ryan Montgomery, a pilot with 2nd Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), visits with children during Operation Santa Claus in Scammon Bay Nov. 16, 2022.

MTC Range Ops Staff Keeps Fort Pickett Humming
November 16, 2022 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – If you were to ask any of the more than 60 personnel assigned to Range Operations at Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, Virginia, what their No. 1 priority is, you would... MORE

Maj. Sean Hoefke, range officer assigned to Range Operations, Maneuver Training Center Fort Pickett, conducts a range safety inspection on a live-fire range at MTC Nov. 5, 2022, at Fort Pickett, Virginia. These inspections are one of the ways Range Operations personnel ensure a safe training environment at MTC.

Vietnam Veterans Receive Overdue Welcome Home
November 10, 2022 — SAN DIEGO – The first weekend of any given month for a National Guard Soldier usually means reporting to your armory and spending the next 48 hours on duty. For U.S. Army Sgt. Sean Arroyo, with the... MORE

Arroyo and Martinez create a rubbing of a service member's name while visiting the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Nov. 5, in Washington.

NH Airman Honored for Deployment Duties, Aiding Crash Victim
November 9, 2022 — PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. – Just days before deploying, an Airman flew into action after witnessing a three-car collision on his way home from work.Staff Sgt. Reese Bassett, an air... MORE

Staff Sgt. Reese Bassett, an air transportation member with the 157th Logistics Readiness Squadron, earned the 2021 Chief Master Sgt. Tommy Downs Award for his mentorship efforts and commitment to the 2T2 career field. Bassett broke the 2T2 movement record while deployed to Afghanistan and responded to a three-car vehicle crash while driving home from work in New Hampshire.

Medal of Honor Recipient Touts Learning, Adaptability
November 9, 2022 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Medal of Honor recipient, returned to his home state to share his story with fellow Oklahomans.“Oklahoma is where I’m from; it’s where I grew up,” Plumlee... MORE

Master Sgt. Earl Plumlee, a Medal of Honor recipient, takes part in pregame activities at the Oklahoma State University homecoming football game in Stillwater, Oklahoma, Oct. 22, 2022. Plumlee, a native Oklahoman, is a former Oklahoma National Guard Soldier.

Family Serves Missouri National Guard Since the ’50s
November 8, 2022 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Bigham family has served with the 139th Airlift Wing since 1953, when Jim Bigham joined the unit with his twin brother, Mort. Jim’s son would eventually join the unit and attain... MORE

From left: Tech. Sgt. Kacie McCullough, Staff Sgt. Braden Bigham, Chief Master Sgt. John Bigham, Capt. Justin Bigham, and Capt. Riley Coats at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri, Oct. 20, 2022. All four of Chief Bigham’s children are serving at the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard.

Washington Guard Member Helps Guide ChalleNGe Academy Cadets
November 4, 2022 — BREMERTON, Wash. – Staff Sgt. Michelle Padilla is passionate about the Washington Youth ChalleNGe Academy, and she has been since she first stepped on campus in 2013.“Before I came to the Academy, I... MORE

Staff Sgt. Michelle Padilla, a cadre member at the Washington Youth Challenge Academy at Camp Parsons Boy Scout Camp in Brinnon, Wash., on Oct. 21, 2022.

Kansas National Guard a Family Affair for Atkins Brothers
November 3, 2022 — TOPEKA, Kan. – There comes a time when one must decide, “What am I going to do with my life?”Morland, Kansas, native Shawn Atkins asked himself that question in 1996 and decided to join the... MORE

Maj. Shawn Atkins, Maj. David Atkins and Maj. Casey Atkins posing for a photo. The brothers all serve in the Kansas National Guard and each of them has seen duty overseas, but never together.

Tennessee National Guard Honors Former President Polk
November 3, 2022 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard celebrated the life of former President James K. Polk in a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tennessee State Capitol Nov. 2 in honor of Polk’s 227th... MORE

Members of the Tennessee National Guard and the James K. Polk Association pay tribute to former President James K. Polk while Taps is played Nov. 2, 2022, at the Tennessee State Capitol in Nashville. A wreath is laid on the tomb of former presidents each year on their birthday on behalf of the current president.

National Guard Enables Twins to Support Family, Start Career
October 31, 2022 — FORT LEE, Va. – Separation can wait, at least for now.Team Gregory – 18-year-old identical twins Jaiden P. and Teagen N. Gregory – braced themselves to part ways as they headed into the Army National... MORE

Pvts. Jaiden and Teagen Gregory pose for a photo in the shop training area of the Ordnance School’s Stever Hall at Fort Lee, Virginia. The twins, trained as 91B wheeled vehicle mechanics, said they’re grateful to the Army National Guard for giving them a head start on their careers after quitting high school to support their family.

Junior Washington Guard Medic Earns Expert Field Medic Badge
October 24, 2022 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Spc. Raymond Alonso, a combat medic specialist with Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion, is the first member of his unit to earn the Expert Field Medical... MORE

Spc. Raymond Alonso, a combat medic specialist with Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion, shows off his Expert Field Medic Badge Oct. 20, 2022, at Camp Murray, Wash. Alonso joined approximately 150 other Army medics who completed the week-long test on Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Oct 11-15.

Iowa, New Jersey Guard Chaplains Make History Together
October 24, 2022 — JOHNSTON, Iowa – Two National Guard chaplains have become the first women to serve as state chaplains in their states and the country. Lt. Col. Martha Kester will serve the Iowa National Guard, while... MORE

Lt. Col. Martha Kester smiles after completing a Passing of the Stole Ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters in Johnston, Iowa, Oct. 22, 2022. Kester and Lt. Col. Heather Simon are the first women state chaplains — Kester will serve the Iowa National Guard, while Simon will serve the New Jersey National Guard.

Cal Guard Pilot and Meteorologist Keeps her eye on the sky
October 21, 2022 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. - You can look to the horizon or check your local newscast for the weather, but now when you check the sky, you might see your local meteorologist flying high.U.S. Army 2nd Lt... MORE

California Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Jessica Burch is a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot who also keeps her eye on the sky in her civilian job as a television meteorologist in the San Francisco Bay Area.

Arkansas Guardsman Takes Care of Medical Group
October 20, 2022 — FORT SMITH, Ark. – As a teenager, Ché Kinnard liked art. In college, he became more interested in the medical career field, and this passion took off when he joined the Air National Guard in... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Ché Kinnard, seated, talks with members of the 188th Medical Group at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas. The 188th Medical Group heads to Guatemala in October 2022 for a joint, Medical Ready Training Exercise mission with the Navy.

New York National Guard Honors Revolutionary War Minuteman
October 20, 2022 — SCHUYLERVILLE, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard Soldiers memorialized a Revolutionary War Soldier killed 245 years ago during the Battle of Saratoga and buried on the battlefield.A nine-Soldier... MORE

Ann Washburn Lord, the fifth great-granddaughter of Private Oliver Barrett, receives an American flag in his honor from Capt. Eric Sampson of the New York National Guard Honor Guard during military honors for the dedication of a memorial stone for Barrett at the Saratoga National Cemetery Oct. 19, 2022. Barrett volunteered as a Minuteman and died serving under the 10th Massachusetts Regiment in the Battle of Saratoga on Oct. 7, 1777, at 51 years of age.

Deployed Massachusetts Guardsman Wins Innovation Competition
October 17, 2022 — TAMPA, Fla. – Massachusetts Army National Guard Sgt. Mickey Reeve won first place out of five finalists in the inaugural Innovation Oasis competition at Central Command Oct. 14 for developing a... MORE

Sgt. Mickey Reeve, an infantryman with Bravo Company, 182nd Infantry, Massachusetts Army National Guard, won the inaugural Innovation Oasis competition at Central Command in Tampa, Florida, Oct. 14, 2022, for developing a Counter Unmanned Aerial Surveillance Trainer.

Virginia National Guard Father, Daughter Deploy to Kosovo
October 13, 2022 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - The military journeys of Virginia Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Viera and his daughter, Staff Sgt. Kayla M. Jaeger, came full circle when they both deployed... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph R. Viera, right, the senior enlisted leader of 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, and Staff Sgt. Kayla M. Jaeger, an intelligence analyst with the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th ID, pose for a photo while deployed to Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, March 18, 2022. Viera and Jaeger deployed to Kosovo in January 2022 for a nine-month rotation in support of Operation Joint Guardian.

Utah Honor Guard Provides Funeral Honors for WWII Airman
October 13, 2022 — BLUFFDALE, Utah – Almost 3,000 U.S. aviation service members were killed in air combat during World War II. Among that group was Army Air Corps Sgt. Elvin L. Phillips from Salt Lake City, a B-24... MORE

The Utah National Guard Honor Guard conducts funeral honors for the surviving family of U.S. Army Air Corps Sgt. Elvin L. Phillips, an Airman who was killed 79 years ago during World War II. Family from several states, friends, first responders, and service members gathered to render respect during the funeral at Utah Veterans Cemetery & Memorial Park in Bluffdale, Utah, Oct. 11, 2022.

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise

Air Guard Units Join Forces for Aerial Wildfire Suppression Training