Guard News - The National Guard

NY Guard’s 42nd Division bloodied in battle 75 years ago
December 31, 2019 — TROY, N.Y. – In the earliest days of 1945, Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division, now a part of the New York Army National Guard, fought furiously against German tanks and paratroopers during... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers of the 42nd Infantry Division prepare a defensive position at their log and dirt bunker near Kauffenheim, France, Jan. 8, 1945. The Soldiers, assigned to Company I, 242nd Regiment, held off the German offensive in Alsace, France, called Operation Nordwind without the division’s artillery or support elements. The actions of one division Soldier, Master Sgt. Vito Bertoldo, were highlighted in the 2018 Netflix documentary “Medal of Honor.”

NY National Guard Airmen helping NORAD track Santa this year
December 20, 2019 — ROME, N.Y – New York Air National Guardsmen and Royal Canadian Air Force personnel from the Eastern Air Defense Sector will play a key role Christmas Eve as the North American Aerospace Defense... MORE

Airmen at the Eastern Air Defense Sector (EADS) train in preparation for Santa’s Christmas Eve flight at EADS headquarters in Rome, N.Y., Dec. 17, 2019. Pictured are, from right, Senior Airman Timothy Destito of the New York Air National Guard; Capt. John Byeon, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Capt. Sarah Atherton, New York Air National Guard. Atherton and Destito are members of the 224th Air Defense Squadron and Byeon is a member of the Canadian Detachment at EADS.

Volk Field evolves to continue legacy of service dating to 1888
December 19, 2019 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. – As 2019 draws to a close, so too does Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center’s (CRTC) commemoration of its 65th year as an airbase. But Volk Field and the military reservation... MORE

1st. Lt. Jerome Volk, seen at his F-80 Shooting Star fighter jet in October 1951 while deployed in support of the Korean War. Volk, the first Wisconsin Air National Guard pilot to die in the line of duty during the Korean conflict, was shot down during a combat sortie against communist forces Nov. 7, 1951, and his remains have never been recovered. In 1957 the Wisconsin Legislature renamed the portion of Camp Williams used by the Wisconsin Air National Guard as Volk Field.

Florida Youth ChalleNGe changes lives for the better
December 18, 2019 — ORANGE PARK, Fla. – On Dec. 17 at the Thrasher-Horne Center, 144 cadets of class 37 of the Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy completed the first stage of their journey toward a successful future.The... MORE

Florida Youth ChalleNGe Academy class 37 valedictorian Michael Caldwell from Clearwater addresses his fellow cadets during their graduation ceremony Dec. 17 at Thrasher-Horne Center in Orange Park. Caldwell joined the program as a sophomore at risk of failing, and after enduring a rigorous five-and-a-half-month residential phase, he now has his GED and is looking forward to attending community college.

Missouri Airman returns to flight with one eye
December 18, 2019 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – U.S. Air Force Maj. Ed Fattmann, a pilot assigned to the 180th Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, took his first flight as an aircraft commander with one eye Sept... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Ed Fattmann, a pilot assigned to the 180th Airlift Squadron, Missouri Air National Guard, takes his first flight as an aircraft commander with one eye, above St. Joseph, Missouri, Sept. 4, 2019.

Soldiers serve in childhood town as commander, 1st sergeant
December 17, 2019 — BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Army National Guard Capt. Robert Taylor and 1st Sgt. Derek Clemence share a similar past: they grew up in the small town of Mountain Home, Idaho, and both shipped off to basic... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Capt. Robert Taylor and 1st Sgt. Derek Clemence serve in their childhood town of Mountain Home, Idaho, as commander and first sergeant of A Company, 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion. They grew up in the small town and are graduates of Mountain Home High School.

30th ABCT celebrates National Guard's 383rd birthday
December 13, 2019 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Guard celebrated the National Guard's birthday Dec. 13 with a cake-cutting ceremony while deployed for Operation Spartan Shield in the... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Robert Bumgardner, commander of the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina Army National Guard, is flanked by the youngest Soldier and most senior Soldier in the ranks for a cake-cutting ceremony in honor of the National Guard's 383rd birthday, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Dec. 13, 2019. Joining Bumgardner were Pfc. Charlie Christie, of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 145th Armor Regiment, and Chaplain Maj. William Withers of the 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion, North Carolina Army National Guard. The unit is deployed in the Middle East to support Operation Spartan Shield.

Family from the 121st prioritizes service
December 13, 2019 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Many Airmen and service members come from long lines of military heritage and service. For the Walkers, being part of the Air Force National Guard, specifically the 121st Air... MORE

Carson Walker was sworn into the 121st Air Refueling Wing in Columbus, Ohio, Nov. 25, 2019. Carson is carrying on a family tradition as his mother, father, and brother have all served at the 121st ARW.

W.Va. National Guard family continues tradition of service
December 9, 2019 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Military service is often a family tradition, as one generation passes along the values of duty, honor, and country to the next.For one West Virginia National Guard family, that... MORE

Tyler Phillips stands with his family after taking the oath of enlistment from his grandfather Daniel Phillips, a former Troop Commander in the 1-150th Cavalry Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard.

Alaska Guard brings Christmas gifts to children in villages
December 9, 2019 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — The Alaska National Guard has a tradition of serving communities throughout Alaska during the holidays, delivering Christmas gifts and a variety of delights... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Sgt. Randall Andrew, an infantryman assigned to the National Guard Readiness Center in Bethel, Alaska, gives a child a gift during Operation Santa Claus in Napakiak, Alaska, Dec. 3, 2019

NY Honor Guard makes old Soldiers final request come true
December 6, 2019 — CALVERTON, N.Y. – A former Army paratrooper's final request—to be buried with military honors alongside other veterans – was carried out by a New York Army National Guard honor guard on Monday, Dec. 2... MORE

Members of the New York Military Forces Honor Guard provide military honors for the funeral service of former Army paratrooper Pvt. Needham Mayes at Calverton National Cemetery, N.Y. Dec. 2, 2019.

NY Guard honors America's 8th President Martin Van Buren
December 6, 2019 — KINDERHOOK, N.Y. – Air Force Major General Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, marked the 237th birthday of President Martin Van Buren, the man who gave the term 'OK'... MORE

Air Force Maj. Gen. Timothy LaBarge, commander of the New York Air National Guard and assistant adjutant general of New York, and New York State Command Chief Master Sgt. Maureen Dooley salute after presenting a wreath from President Donald Trump at the grave of President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook, N.Y. on his 237th birthday, Dec. 5, 2019.

NY National Guard Captain helps replace lost Medal of Honor
December 2, 2019 — BEREA, OHIO – It took three years of writing letters, filing forms and cutting through red tape, but thanks to New York Air National Guard Capt. Jason Cole, the actions of a World War I Soldier are... MORE

New York Air National Guard Capt. Jason Cole (left), a member of the 224th Air Defense Group, worked with his father, Gary Cole (far right), to replace a Medal of Honor originally issued to the family of his great uncle in World War I. The medal was presented to the Berea Ohio American Legion Post Nov. 18, 2019. Also taking part were Marianna Peris, president of Berea, Ohio American Legion Post 91 Auxiliary, and Mel Baher, past commander of Post 91.

Citizen-Warrior: Senior Airman finds a family in Vehicle Maintenance
December 2, 2019 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. – "My favorite thing about working for Vehicle Maintenance is the close family dynamic. That was really attractive to me when I first was picking what shop I wanted to work at... MORE

Senior Airman Annie VanArman works in the 110th Logistics Readiness Squadron as a Vehicle Maintenance Journeyman at Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Mich., Oct. 26, 2019.

'Snow King' presides over base cleanup
November 29, 2019 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Enough snow fell during a Thanksgiving Day eve storm in Western Iowa to cause Master Sgt. Dave Twohig, the 185th Air Refueling Wing's "Snow King," to kick-start his plan for... MORE

A member the 185th Air Refueling Wing snow removal team clears snow on the ramp area at the Sioux City, Iowa, base Air Guard unit on Nov. 27, 2019.

104th Fighter Wing original member turns 100
November 26, 2019 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – The 104th Fighter Wing celebrated Col. Edwin J. Malikowski's 100th birthday with a surprise party in the main hangar Nov. 25, four days before his actual birthday."I'm honored to... MORE

The 104th Fighter Wing threw a surprise birthday for retired Col. Edwin J. Malikowski on Nov. 25, 2019, four days before he turns 100. Malikowski spent 39 years in the Army and Air National Guard.

Russian language course can boost counterdrug efforts, pay
November 25, 2019 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – A new Russian language course provided by the Washington National Guard’s Counterdrug Program helps law enforcement officers interact with the Russian-speaking community to deter,... MORE

Students look over a sand table during a Russian language terrain feature module at the Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center on Camp Murray. The exercise is part of a Washington National Guard Russian language course geared to law enforcement officers.

First WWII Native American Medal of Honor recipient honored
November 21, 2019 — FORT DRUM, N.Y. – The life and legacy of retired Lt. Col. Ernest Childers was celebrated during a plaque dedication ceremony Nov. 20 at the Range 1 training facility at Fort Drum. Childers, a Muscogee... MORE

Wife, husband start National Guard careers together
November 20, 2019 — AUBURN, Wash. – After committing themselves to each other, married couple Hunter White and April Talaiga vowed on Oct. 30 to serve in the Washington National Guard.They were approaching their first... MORE

From left to right: PV2 Hunter White, PV2 April Talaiga and Staff Sgt. Marilyn Gerhardt stand with the Minuteman statue at Camp Murray Nov. 17, 2019. The couple joined the Guard together on Oct. 30, 2019.

Family, in and out of uniform
November 18, 2019 — JACKSON, Miss. – The National Guard encourages Soldiers to build close relationships with one another to accomplish missions more efficiently. Often, these relationships grow into “military families.”... MORE

From left to right: Lt. Col. Annie Lee, G4 for the 184th Sustainment Command, Sgt. Nia Davis, a human resources noncommissioned officer with the Higher Headquarters Command 66th Troop Command, and Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. for the 407th Army Field Support Brigade Stephanie Price. Davis’ family members Lee (mother) and Price (aunt) were in attendance for her promotion ceremony from specialist to sergeant.

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

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