Guard News - The National Guard

Nebraska Soldier recognized for lifesaving actions
March 23, 2022 — SAN DIEGO – Nebraska Army National Guard Sgt. Brittany West was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Joint Task Force North’s top leaders March 15 for saving a fellow service member’s life.West —... MORE

Nebraska Army National Guard Sgt. Brittany West is awarded the Meritorious Service Medal at a ceremony conducted by Company A, 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment, at Campo Border Patrol Station in Pine Valley, California, March 15, 2022. West took emergency actions to revive a fellow Soldier who collapsed and had no discernible pulse Feb. 18,

Illinois Army National Guard Soldier helps save man’s life
March 21, 2022 — SPRINGFIELD, Illinois – A 19-year-old Illinois Army National Guard Soldier and two other volunteers helped save the life of a man severely injured in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 55 in... MORE

Spc. Tyler Watters, assigned to the 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, with his mother. Watters and two other volunteers helped save the life of a man who was severely injured in a single-vehicle accident on Interstate 55 March 13, 2022.n Lincoln.

New York Guard leads world's largest St. Patrick's Day parade
March 18, 2022 — NEW YORK – More than 2 million people lined the streets of mid-town Manhattan to watch the New York Army National Guard’s 69th Infantry lead the city’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade for the 171st time on... MORE

The best junior enlisted Soldier and best non-commissioned officer of the year, of the New York Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, lead the unit's mascots, two Irish Wolfhounds named Billy and Autumn, during the St. Patrick's Day Parade, Manhattan, New York, March 17, 2022.

Son follows father, family's lineage of military service
March 17, 2022 — SIOUX FALLS, S.D. – The son of a former South Dakota National Guard Soldier is following in the footsteps of his father by becoming the newest member of the organization he once served. Connor Briest,... MORE

Connor Briest with his father, Sgt. Corey Briest, and mother, Jenny, as he joins the South Dakota Army National Guard at the Military Entrance Processing Station in Sioux Falls, S.D., March 11, 2022.

Technology helps 173rd FW runners avoid injury, run faster
March 16, 2022 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – Master Sgt. Justin Lafon stares intently at an image of a skeleton striding along, watching legs, feet and knees working in concert. The knee sweeps forward, rolling the foot... MORE

Amy Jones, a certified corrective exercise specialist at the 173rd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, explains the mechanics of a runner's gait and stride captured using RunDNA technology March 4, 2022, at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Ore. The system provides three-dimensional analysis previously only available to professional runners and helps correct problems that may cause injury while also helping create a faster, more efficient stride.

Illinois Guardsman helps fellow vets battle suicide with song
March 15, 2022 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – As a kid, David Allen Stone always wanted to be in the military and serve his country. Enlisting in a post-9/11 era, Stone knew he would be deployed overseas. However, he never... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class David Allen Stone performed his song "Bury These Burdens" at Gap Bar & Grill in Herod, Illinois, Sept. 4, 2021. The song has an important message for anyone contemplating suicide.

Cal Guard Soldier helps family evacuated from Ukraine
March 11, 2022 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anastasia Maynich was overcome with emotion when she saw her cousin, Tetiana, and Tetiana’s 11-year old daughter, Sofiia, at Henri Coandă International... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anastasia Maynich, right, with cousin Tetiana and 11-year-old Sofiia, March 10, 2022, in Bucharest, Romania. Tetiana and Sofiia fled their home in Odessa, Ukraine, for the safe haven of Romania where Maynich flew to meet them.

Vermont Guardsmen reflect on Operation Allies Refuge
March 10, 2022 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – When Vermont National Guard Spcs. Ryan Moon and Riley Benoit deployed to Southwest Asia with Task Force Avalanche, the mortarmen did not anticipate a 12-day mission in Afghanistan,... MORE

National Guard Soldiers from the Minnesota-based 34th Infantry Division pack a U.S. Air Force-operated C-17 in August 2021following the completion of their mission in Kabul, Afghanistan.

New York Guard ‘Fighting 69th’ to lead St. Patrick’s parade
March 10, 2022 — NEW YORK - After a two-year COVID-19 hiatus, the New York Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, will once again lead the world’s largest St. Patrick’s Day parade down Fifth... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry, march in the St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York March 16, 2019. The battalion traditionally leads the world's largest St. Patrick's Day Parade.

Afghan evacuee joins Indiana National Guard
March 4, 2022 — INDIANAPOLIS - An Afghan evacuee who supported U.S. troops overseas enlisted into the Indiana National Guard during a ceremony at the Indianapolis Military Entry Processing Station in Lawrence March... MORE

Recruit Mohammad Zaki Ahmadi swears into the Indiana National Guard as U.S. Army Capt. Aissata Diallo administers the oath of enlistment in Indianapolis March 3, 2022. Ahmadi was one of approximately 7,000 Afghan evacuees who filtered through Camp Atterbury as part of Operation Allies Welcome.

Maryland National Guard Soldiers help revive man
March 4, 2022 — LANHAM, Md. – Maryland National Guard service members have been serving their community in many ways during the COVID-19 pandemic, from providing food to administering vaccines. On Feb. 18, Spcs... MORE

Maryland Army National Guard Spcs. Patrick Sheil and Paul Hofe, members of 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, administered CPR and helped save a man's life at Doctors Community Hospital, Lanham, Maryland, Feb. 18, 2022.

Alaska Guardsmen win Chief of the National Guard Biathlon
March 4, 2022 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Four Alaska National Guard biathletes took first place in the women’s overall category at the Annual Chief of the National Guard Biathlon Championships.More... MORE

Alaska National Guard 1st Sgt. Angela Horn, Staff Sgt. Anna Knopes, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tracy Dooley, and Sgt. 1st Class Heather Percy competed in the Annual Chief of the National Guard Biathlon Race on Camp Ripley, Minnesota, in February 2022. The AKNG team took first place overall in the women's division.

Twin sisters retire from Ohio Air Guard together
March 1, 2022 — SPRINGFIELD, Ohio – Identical twin sisters retired from the Ohio Air National Guard together after more than 20 years of service at the 178th Wing.Senior Master Sgt. Tammy J. Mundy, administration... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Tammy Mundy and Chief Master Sgt. Tabatha King pose for a portrait with Lt. Col. Rebecca Rudy after their combined retirement ceremony Feb. 5, 2022, at the 178th Wing in Springfield, Ohio. Mundy and King are identical twins who have served side-by-side their entire military careers.

Missouri Airman joins rare group, flying 1,500 hours in B-2
February 25, 2022 — WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. – Successfully completing 1,500 flight hours is an accomplishment few achieve and one to be remembered. Doing so in a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber is rarer still.Lt. Col... MORE

Lt. Col. Drew Irmischer, 131st Bomb Wing pilot, celebrates surpassing 1,500 flight hours in the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber Jan. 27, 2022, at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri. Irmischer is only the 17th aviator to achieve that distinction.

Sheriff’s deputies deploy with Tennessee National Guard
February 24, 2022 — MEMPHIS, Tenn. – When the Tennessee National Guard’s 268th Military Police Company left for a yearlong deployment to the Horn of Africa last month, the 80-member company included experienced local... MORE

Spc. Daija Brunson, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Jones, and Spc. Christopher Williams hold a Shelby County Sheriff’s Office patch at the Millington National Guard Armory, Jan. 8. All three Soldiers are full-time deputies with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office and members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 268th Military Police Company. They are three of more than 80 Soldiers who left Jan. 10 for a yearlong deployment to the Horn of Africa.

New Hampshire Guardsman helps rescue woman from burning home
February 17, 2022 — STRATFORD, N.H. – On the afternoon of Feb. 7, Pfc. Liam MacVittie had to make an unscheduled trip to his home in Dover.  He had just finished his shift at the Coös County Nursing Hospital in West... MORE

Pfc. Liam MacVittie of Charlie Battery, 1-103rd Field Artillery Regiment, outside the Coös County Nursing Hospital in Stewartstown, New Hampshire, Feb. 8, 2022. Macvittie, who is assigned to the hospital as part of the state’s COVID relief effort, helped rescue a woman from her burning home the previous day.

Virginia Guard officer leads U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team
February 14, 2022 — RICHMOND, Va. – A Virginia Army National Guard officer is leading the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China, serving as head coach of the team.Capt. Michael... MORE

Capt. Michael Kohn, assigned to the Virginia National Guard joint operations section, is leading the U.S. Olympic Bobsled Team to the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, China, serving as the head coach of the team.

Arctic Warriors compete in biathlon championship
February 14, 2022 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – “You got this, Ang.”That’s what went through Master Sgt. Angela Horn’s head when the cowbell rang as she took off from the start line of the Sprint Race at the Chief, National... MORE

Master Sgt. Angela Horn with the Alaska National Guard's 297th HHC Regional Support Group, during the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championships at Camp Ripley, Minn., Feb. 13, 2022. The championships began with an individual sprint race.

New Hampshire National Guard Airman leads by example
February 11, 2022 — SEABROOK, N.H. – On a dreary day outside the Seabrook Emergency Room, the roads are slick with slush and hail and the temperatures fluctuate in and out of single digits. Luckily, the waiting room is... MORE

Senior Airman Devin Kentwallace, an aerospace medical technician with the 157th Medical Group, goes above and beyond the call of duty Feb. 4, 2021 at the Portsmouth Regional Hospital Seabrook Emergency Room in Seabrook, New Hampshire.

Daughter commissions into Idaho Guard as her father retires
February 3, 2022 — BOISE, Idaho – 2nd Lt. Marah Sharpe’s father has served in the Idaho Army National Guard for longer than she’s been alive. But despite commissioning into the organization Jan. 28, she will only have... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Russell Johnson and his daughter, 2nd Lt. Marah Sharpe, on Gowen Field in Boise, Idaho, Jan. 28, 2022, after Johnson administered the oath of commissioning to Sharpe. Russell is retiring from the Guard in March after more than 40 years of service just as his daughter begins her career in the same organization.

Maine Army Guard Engineers Build Communities, Readiness

Iowa Army Guard Soldiers Train at Tigerland

Idaho Guard Engineers Aid Redwood Park Restoration

Oregon Army Guard Helps Design Future Medevac Technology

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Five Distressed Boaters