Guard News - The National Guard

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.

176th Wing budget analyst wins national honors
November 15, 2019 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – To non-accountants, looking at the budget financials for 176th Wing may make as much sense as a dusty wall of ancient hieroglyphs.To Alaska Air National Guard... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Master Sgt. John "J.C." McAleavey, 176th comptroller flight budget analyst, is the National Guard Bureau financial management and comptroller noncommissioned officer of the year for fiscal 2018. McAleavey is a native of Eagle River, Alaska, and began his career in the Air National Guard as a C-130 Hercules loadmaster.

173rd Fighter Wing hosts health initiative
November 14, 2019 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. – The 173rd Fighter Wing hosted a men's health initiative coinciding with "Movember," a moniker combining men's health awareness month with the mustaches many grow to call... MORE

Agencies from around the Klamath Basin start the run portion of a Blue Zones Klamath Falls initiative to promote male health awareness for the month of November at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Ore. Nov. 6, 2019. Klamath Falls Fire District #1, Oregon Department of Forestry, Klamath Falls Police Department. and the 173rd Fighter Wing fielded teams in the initiative.

Tennessee Soldier awarded ribbon for valor for flood rescue
November 5, 2019 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Sgt. Ryan Grillo of the Tennessee National Guard was awarded the Ribbon for Valor Nov. 2 for helping rescue two women and a child stranded in their cars by rising floodwaters. Maj... MORE

Maj. Gen. Jeff Holmes, Tennessee’s adjutant general, presents Sgt. Ryan Grillo, a Soldier with the 1176th Transportation Company, the adjutant general’s Ribbon for Valor on Nov. 2. Grillo and another citizen rescued two women and a small child from flood waters in Athens Sept. 26, 2018.

Citizen-Warrior: Wash. Guard Soldier serves as volunteer firefighter
November 1, 2019 — OLYMPIA, Wash. – A service member is often born with a strong desire to help others. Whether it’s coaching a child’s sports team, cleaning up the neighborhood or any number of other community... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Nick Van Kirk, a logistics and decontamination non-commissioned officer with the 10th Civil Support Team and volunteer firefighter with South Bay Fire Department, talks with his two commanders before a ceremony Oct. 10, 2019, in Olympia, Washington.

Therapy dog puts Airmen at ease
October 30, 2019 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – Excited voices echo down the hall and people start leaning out of their offices to see what is happening. Soon Airmen are gathered together talking. In the middle of... MORE

Staff Sgt. Lynn Pilj, 168th Maintenance Squadron unit training manager, spends time with Kansas, the Alaska Air National Guard 168th Wing therapy dog at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, July 22, 2019. Kansas works with the 168th Wing's director of psychological health, Jane Lorenz, to break down interpersonal barriers and help Airmen connect with one another.

Friends devote decades to Honor Guard
October 29, 2019 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Tech. Sgt. Mark Crabbe and Staff Sgt. Darrell Bactad started in the prestigious Hawaii Air National Guard (HIANG) Honor Guard in their 30s and remained active... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Mark Crabbe and Staff Sgt. Darrell Bactad, 204th Airlift Squadron information managers, practice Honor Guard ceremonial movements Oct. 4, 2019, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. The friends have performed military ceremonies side-by-side in the Hawaii Air National Guard Honor Guard team since the early 2000s. Bactad joined the Honor Guard when it was established in 1999 and Crabbe joined two years later.

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