Guard News - The National Guard

Combat arms instructor keeps 176th Wing sharp
September 22, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Carrying a bullhorn and wearing a neon-red hat emblazoned with “Combat Arms,” Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Brian Sears looked like he might have been... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Brian Sears, a combat arms training and maintenance instructor with 176th Security Forces Squadron, coaches Airmen of 176th SFS in M4 carbine marksmanship skills Aug. 27, 2020, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. CATM instructors are specially trained Security Forces Defenders who train others to ably employ small arms.

Geospatial engineer fills key role in Kosovo deployment
September 17, 2020 — PRISTINHA/PRISTINA, Kosovo – At only 5 years old, Spc. Caleb Kaufmann rode beside his father in his semitruck traveling the westernmost states reading complex maps and topography books. He never... MORE

Spc. Caleb Kaufmann, a geospatial engineer Soldier with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, deployed to the KFOR Regional Command East mission sits on a stack of maps in the map depot Sept. 1, 2020, at Camp Film City, Pristina/Prishtina Kosovo. Kaufmann was the sole continuity between the outgoing Czech Republic NATO partners and incoming Austrian NATO partners in a warehouse with over 100,000 maps.

Kentucky Guardsman feeds hundreds while restricted to India
September 16, 2020 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – In the Army, a culinary specialist prepares food in field or garrison operations. For Spc. Jayendra Patel, learning this military occupational specialty became an opportunity to do... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Spc. Jayendra Patel takes a moment while working for his unit in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby, Sept. 5, 2020. While stranded in his hometown in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used his experience as a culinary specialist to feed hundreds of people.

New tracking devices to aid in study of black vultures
September 15, 2020 — MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – As part of a continuing study of black vultures in the Shepherd Field area, home of the 167th Airlift Wing and the Eastern West Virginia Regional Airport, five of the large... MORE

Chad Neil, a wildlife biologist for the Agriculture Department's APHIS Wildlife Services-West Virginia and part of the 167th AW’s Bird/Wildlife Aircraft Strike Hazard (BASH) team, holds a black vulture that has been fitted with a transmitting device in Martinsburg, W.Va., Aug. 18, 2020.

Michigan National Guard unveils joint innovation center
September 14, 2020 — MACOMB COUNTY, Mich. – Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist joined ranking members of the Michigan National Guard for a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the grand opening of the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain... MORE

Michigan Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II, joins Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, adjutant general and director of Michigan's Department of Military and Veterans Affairs; Brig. Gen. Bryan Teff, assistant adjutant general for the Michigan Air National Guard; and Brig. Gen. Rolf Mammen, 127th Wing commander, for the unveiling of the Kelly Johnson Joint All-Domain Innovation Center at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., Sept. 11, 2020.

Guam National Guard member saves fellow Soldier's life
September 14, 2020 — BARRIGADA, Guam – When Sgt. Gregory San Agustin heard the call for a medic the morning of Sept. 11, he made a fateful decision that ended up saving a life. Although he is not a trained medic, San... MORE

Sgt. Gregory San Agustin of the Guam National Guard's Bravo Company, 1-294th Infantry Regiment, left, during a video call with Capt. Duane Sablan at San Agustin's coining ceremony in Barrigada Sept.14, 2020 San Agustin rendered care to Sablan during a massive heart attack Sept. 11.

Joint promotion ceremony special for Washington Guard family
September 8, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Life is full of milestones: graduating from college, getting married, the birth of a child, a promotion at work. Having the chance to celebrate these milestones with your family... MORE

The Derda family following a joint promotion ceremony Sept. 2, 2020, at Camp Murray, Wash. Col. Kristin Derda and Lt. Col. Krystian Derda were able to celebrate their promotions on the same day.

High school student follows father into Idaho National Guard
September 3, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Army National Guard Pvt. Ashlynn Amoruso grew up wanting to be a surgeon. Over the summer, she took a big step toward accomplishing that goal by completing basic combat training... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Pvt. Ashlynn Amoruso with her father, 1st Sgt. Dan Amoruso, at Boise Airport Aug. 20 upon returning from basic combat training.

Colorado Airman’s military training helps save a life
September 2, 2020 — AURORA, Colo. – It is every Airman’s responsibility to perform regular exercise routines to stay ‘fit to fight.’ Few have experienced a workout like U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ronald Ebert, first... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ronald Ebert, first sergeant, 140th Medical Group, 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, and his wife, Alison, show that they’re ‘fit to fight’ at the gym where they routinely exercise and lead workouts. They helped save a fellow gym member’s life when he suffered a heart attack during a workout June 1, 2020.

Psychological health director a lighthouse in storm
September 1, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – A single COVID cell is no more than 140 nanometers in diameter – about 1/500th the width of a human hair – but it has come to dominate daily life the world... MORE

Diann Richardson, 176th Wing director of psychological health, regularly works with therapy dog, Bolt, as part of the licensed clinical social worker’s outreach to the wing. Following several months of socialization and training, the golden retriever became a nationally certified therapy dog.

Colorado crew director injured in car crash returns to duty
September 1, 2020 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Serving as a 100th Missile Defense Brigade crew director is a difficult job, requiring thousands of hours to learn and years to perfect. Army Lt. Col. George Lambos had... MORE

A group of 100th Missile Defense Brigade Soldiers stand for a photo with Colorado National Guard Lt. Col. George Lambos at UCHealth Memorial Hospital Central in Colorado Springs May 28, 2019. The Soldiers came so Lambos could participate in the promotion ceremony of one of his Soldiers.

Soldier becomes U.S. citizen before deployment
August 31, 2020 — FORT HOOD, Texas – U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Rivera Romero, a CH-47 helicopter repairer deployed with Bravo Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, became a... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Rivera, a Michigan National Guard Soldier and CH-47 helicopter repairer deployed with Bravo Company, 628th Aviation Support Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, takes the oath of allegiance during a naturalization ceremony at the 28th ECAB's mobilization station.

VNG LT earns Ranger tab with teamwork, attention to detail
August 31, 2020 — RICHMOND, Va. – When Virginia National Guard 1st Lt. Aidan O’Connor decided to go to Ranger School, it was partly because of leadership. So many of the best leaders he’d met had Ranger tabs on their... MORE

Virginia National Guard First Lt. Aidan O’Connor, front row, third from right, alongside his fellow Ranger School graduates after successfully completing the course.

New York National Guard aviator concludes 40-year career
August 28, 2020 — ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Throughout his four decades of service, New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Sauer said he always had a room with a view. Sauer concluded his 40-year career... MORE

New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 James Sauer pilots his Army C-12 airplane through a salute wet down, concluding his final flight as an Army aviator Aug. 25, 2020. His flight caps a 40-year career and friends and family joined him as he arrived to celebrate at the Army Aviation Flight Facility in Rochester, N.Y.

42nd Infantry Division has its share of legacies
August 28, 2020 — UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – Family legacy can run deep in the military, and this is certainly true of the 42nd Infantry Division. Two Soldiers in the 42nd ID, Capt. Joshua Tosi and Col. Christopher... MORE

Col. Christopher Guilmette of the 42nd Infantry Division followed in the footsteps of his father, retired Maj. Leo Guilmette, who served in the division in the '70s and '80s.

Lincoln the dog joins 185th care team
August 26, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – It is a familiar scene. The pressure is on and expectations are high, then the new guy walks into the room for the first time. First observations are that this newbie seems a bit... MORE

Lt. Col. Steve Peters, 185th Air Refueling Wing chaplain, with his dog, Lincoln, at the Iowa Air National Guard unit in Sioux City, Iowa, Aug. 13, 2020. Lincoln is an English Cream Golden Retriever puppy training to become a therapy dog at the Iowa Air Guard unit.

Wisconsin MSG is ANG’s Outstanding First Sergeant of 2020
August 20, 2020 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – Master Sgt. Chontelle R. Southworth of the 115th Fighter Wing, Wisconsin Air National Guard, is the Air National Guard 2020 Outstanding First Sergeant of the Year.Southworth,... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Chad Martin, right, vehicle maintenance specialist for the 115th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron, explains unit preventative maintenance measures to 115th LRS first sergeant Master Sgt. Chontelle Southworth, left, at Truax Field in Madison, Wis., July 7, 2020. Southworth was recognized as the 2020 Air National Guard First Sergeant of the Year for her outstanding leadership and dedication.

Oregon Airman is ANG’s Outstanding NCO of 2020
August 19, 2020 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – Tech. Sgt. Benjamin J. Schultz of the 142nd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, is the Air National Guard 2020 Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.The U.S... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Schultz, a water and fuels systems maintenance craftsmen from the 142nd Fighter Wing, Oregon Air National Guard, flushes a hydrant on Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., July 2, 2020. Schultz was selected as the Air National Guard 2020 Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.

Two Early-American war veterans honored in Michigan
August 19, 2020 — PINCKNEY, Mich. – The graves of father and son Claudius Britton II and III, who both fought in Early-American wars and died in Michigan, were marked and dedicated at the Pinckney Cemetery Aug... MORE

A member of the Sons of the American Revolution fires off three cannon volleys during the grave-marking ceremony honoring Claudius Britton II and III at the Pinckney Cemetery Aug. 8, 2020.

ANG’s Outstanding Airman of 2020 is from Rhode Island Guard
August 18, 2020 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – Senior Airman Christiana D. Bardsley of the 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island Air National Guard, is the Air National Guard 2020 Outstanding Airman of the Year.In September... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christiana D. Bardsley, an intelligence analyst with the the 143rd Airlift Wing, Rhode Island Air National Guard, was selected as the Air National Guard 2020 Outstanding Airman of the Year.

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