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Tennessee Guardsman uses medic skills during COVID mission
July 14, 2021
Spc. Alexander Smith, a combat medic with the 230th Sustainment Brigade, prepares a COVID-19 vaccine in Cleveland, Tenn. Smith has participated in the testing and vaccination phases of the Tennessee National Guard’s COVID-19 task force mission since March 2020.
Knowledge tops rank for Guardsman leading Phoenix Oracle
July 13, 2021
Staff Sgt. Steven De Leon views an unclassified version of a geospatial web application depicting the measurement tool and threat analysis feature of the Phoenix Oracle website. The New Jersey Air National Guardsman is an intelligence analyst with the 204th Intelligence Squadron at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst and has been named the chief lead of the team developing this Air Mobility Command-led web capability project.
ANG facility completes Blacksnake livery on Indiana A-10
July 12, 2021
A black and gray U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt II from the Indiana Air National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing “Blacksnakes,” flying home to Fort Wayne July 7, 2021, after being painted at the Air National Guard paint facility in Sioux City, Iowa. The paint scheme commemorates the 100th anniversary of aviation in the Indiana National Guard.
Musher thanks Arctic Guardians for Iditarod rescue
July 1, 2021
Alaska Air National Guardsmen of 210th Rescue Squadron, Tech. Sgt. Anthony Guedea (left) and Lt. Col. Michael Jordan meet with Iditarod musher Aliy Zirkle June 28, 2021, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Guedea and Jordan were part of the team that rescued Zirkle March 9 at the Iditarod Rohn checkpoint after she suffered a head injury.
Idaho Guardsmen step in to help care for ailing WWII veteran
June 30, 2021
124th Security Forces Squadron defenders stepped in to help care for ailing retired Capt. William Brand, 96, who was a P-47 Thunderbolt pilot with the Eighth Air Force in Okinawa, Japan, during World War II. Brand lives in Hailey, Idaho, but regularly travels to Gowen Field in Boise to stay at on-base lodging when he has appointments at the Boise VA Medical Center.
New York Army Guard Twins serve together on COVID-19 mission
June 30, 2021
New York Army National Guard Spcs. Armani and Artez Wilkins, right, and Pfcs. Jiralmi and Gizelle Lugo, left, on the roof of the Jacob Javits mass vaccination site in New York June 29, 2021. The two sets of identical twins have served together to support New York’s Operation COVID-19 response.
Waiver enables 62-year-old doctor to join New York Air Guard
June 25, 2021
New York Air National Guard Lt. Col. Steven "Doc" Rush, commander of the 106th Medical Group, administers the oath to Dr. David M. Feldman, 62, who was commissioned as a lieutenant colonel in the 106th Rescue Wing at Gabreski Air National Guard Base May 25, 2021. The wing worked to get a waiver to allow the experienced doctor to become a flight surgeon.
Vermont Guardsman receives Soldier’s Medal for 2020 rescue
June 23, 2021
U.S. Army Sfc. Dustin Dearborn, a Vermont National Guard instructor at the Army Mountain Warfare School, is awarded the Soldier's Medal by Vermont Gov. Phil Scott June 18, 2021, at the Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt. Between Feb. 28 and March 1, 2020, Dearborn helped rescue two people at the Stowe Mountain ski area. One the military’s highest honors, the medal is awarded for acts of heroism not involving conflict with an armed enemy.
Georgia Guard Soldier returns to Africa for African Lion 21
June 21, 2021
Georgia Army National Guard Spc. Reginald Aikins, a medic, stands in front of a field litter ambulance during exercise African Lion 21 June 15, 2021, in Tan-Tan, Morocco. African Lion 2021 is U.S. Africa Command's largest annual exercise, hosted by Morocco, Tunisia and Senegal June 7-18. Aikins grew up in Ghana and immigrated to the United States in 2013.
Michigan Air Guard couple from Zambia become U.S. citizens
June 14, 2021
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Waicha Gondwe, a material management specialist in the 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB), Michigan, born and raised in Zambia, stands with her husband, Master Sgt. Suzgo Gondwe, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 107th Maintenance Squadron, SANGB, also born and raised in Zambia, after she recited her oath of allegiance to become a U.S. citizen at the Immigration Services building, Detroit, Michigan, May 24, 2021. Since 2002, more than 139,000 members of the U.S. military have been naturalized, both at home and abroad.
He joined for the benefits and is now an Olympic hopeful
June 11, 2021
New Hampshire National Guard Spc. Thomas Echelberger shoots at the Biathlon Spring Fling on March 3, 2021, at Fort Kent, Maine. Echelberger placed sixth out of 35 competitors.
Nevada Air Guard’s ‘Baby Doc’ a leader in pandemic battle
June 9, 2021
Nevada Air National Guard 1st Lt. Caleena Longworth with Joint Task Force 17 prepares a syringe with the Moderna vaccine at the Las Vegas Readiness Center, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Longworth has vaccinated 4,500 people.
Illinois Soldier joins 38th ID from aligned-for-training unit
June 8, 2021
Maj. Andrew Salmo of Herrin, Illinois, the 38th Infantry Division plans officer, at the division's tactical operations center at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Indiana, June 5, 2021. As part of the Army National Guard's aligned-for-training program, Salmo jumped at the opportunity to work at a division level.
Alaska Air National Guardsman excels in marksmanship
June 8, 2021
Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Larson, a security forces member with the 268th Security Forces Squadron, poses for a photo after the annual Adjutant General Match, May 16, 2021. Larson took first place in the open rifle marksmanship competition, was added to the state team to compete in the regional competition, and was awarded the Governor's Twenty tab, which is generally awarded to the top 20 marksmen in the state.
VTNG Soldier completes French desert commando course
June 4, 2021
U.S. Army Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, an 11B Infantry Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, moving through an obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti May 16, 2021.
Michigan Air Guard member follows path to England
June 1, 2021
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sydney Suwannarat, an all-source intelligence analyst with the 217th Air Operations Group, 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, stands outside RAF Molesworth, England, May 7, 2021. Suwannarat is serving a multiyear tour at RAF Molesworth’s Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center.
Iowa Army National Guard Soldier earns PhD while deployed
May 27, 2021
Capt. Thackery Faugstad of Lakeville, Minn., acting executive officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Iowa Army National Guard, in front of his battery’s land-based phalanx weapon system (LPWS) at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations on May 12, 2021. Faugstad earned a doctorate while deployed.
Soldier's journey from refugee to pilot goes full circle
May 26, 2021
2nd Lt. Valdeta Mehanja, a pilot with the 1-131st Aviation Regiment, posed for a photo in her flight helmet May 26, 2021, in Albania. Mehanja is an Albanian native born in Kosovo and a U.S. citizen; she never thought she would get to see Albania before participating in DEFENDER-Europe 21.
101st ESB Soldiers train for cooking competition
May 19, 2021
New York Army National Guard Spc. Fatima S. Edwards, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, cooks chicken during training for the next Philip A. Connelly Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 15, 2021. The competition provides recognition for excellence in the preparation and serving of food in Army troop dining facilities and field kitchens.
MING Soldier helps at vaccination events with sign language
May 17, 2021
Michigan Army National Guard Sgt. Bill Fitrakis, 1460th Transportation Company, certified in American Sign Language, explains the COVID-19 vaccine process during a vaccination clinic at the Marine City Middle School in Marine City, Michigan, April 27, 2021. Due to most of sign language being a visual language, he cannot wear a mask as it would not impart the message.