Guard News - The National Guard

Flying Yankees welcome honorary 'Pilot for a Day'
September 24, 2019 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – Sporting a youth-sized flight suit complete with a custom embroidered name patch, 10-year-old Jadiel Aponte became the newest honorary pilot in the 103rd Airlift Wing's annual... MORE

Jadiel Aponte, 103rd Airlift Wing honorary Pilot for a Day, breathes through an oxygen mask at the 103rd Operations Group aircrew flight equipment section during the 103rd Airlift Wing’s annual Pilot for a Day event at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. Sept. 19, 2019. The program puts the wing in partnership with local hospitals to identify a child with a life-threatening or terminal illness and bring them on base to meet members of the wing and learn about its mission. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Steven Tucker)

POW MIA Recognition Day - One MANG Soldier's Story
September 20, 2019 — HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – In 2003, Sgt. 1st Class Jessica Biggins was deploying with the 1058th Transportation Company in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. She knew from family stories that... MORE

Sergeant 1st Class Jessica Biggins presents her grandfather Clifford Benoit with an Army Service Uniform (ASU) jacket representing his 33 years in service. Benoit is a veteran of the Korean War, during which he was a POW for three years.

1st Lt. Vivian Roberts: Only Georgia National Guard WWI POW
September 20, 2019 — MACON, Ga. – One hundred years ago, the only Georgia Guardsman held as a POW during World War I began his long journey home to Macon from a prison hospital in Germany. 1st Lt. Vivian Roberts was... MORE

Vivian Roberts, the only Georgia Guardsman POW during World War I, in his American Legion uniform. Roberts was shot in the leg and captured by German soldiers in France in 1918. After the war, he served as clerk of Bibb County Superior Court in Georgia.

'Pilot for a Day' at the 179th Airlift Wing
September 19, 2019 — MANSFIELD, Ohio – The 164th Airlift Squadron collaborated to make 6-year-old Ayden Houston honorary "Pilot for a Day" at the 179th Airlift Wing Sept. 15. Ayden, who has been battling a variety of... MORE

Ayden Houston, 6, walks with aircrew to the flight line after being named honorary "Pilot for a Day" Sept. 15, 2019, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. The 164th Airlift Squadron collaborated with A Special Wish Foundation of Cleveland to provide Ayden with the unique experience. He has been battling a variety of health issues since birth.

Michigan Guardsman decorated posthumously for organ donation
September 17, 2019 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard posthumously recognized Staff Sgt. Justin Skaggs' legacy of selflessness by presenting his family with the Michigan National Guard Lifesaving Medal... MORE

Michigan National Guard Staff Sgt. Justin Skaggs, a Soldier with the 1225th Support Battalion, Detroit, Mich., died after a motorcycle accident May 23. His decision to be an organ donor saved several lives.

Army Guard EOD Soldier disarms life’s challenges
September 16, 2019 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Father. Husband. Community volunteer. Yale Student. Army National Guard member. Army Staff Sgt. William Eisenhart, the explosive ordnance disposal operations noncommissioned officer... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. William Eisenhart, the explosive ordnance disposal operations noncommissioned officer in charge with the Army National Guard's operations directorate, stands in front of the Herbert R. Temple Jr. Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall Station, Aug. 19, 2019.

NY National Guard cavalry troopers earn their spurs
September 13, 2019 — YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. – Twenty New York Army National Guard Soldiers from 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, had their mental and physical toughness put to the test in a grueling squadron spur ride at... MORE

Sgt. Jake Napier, a truck commander assigned to Alpha Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment, scans the area with binoculars, while Command Sgt. Maj. Kevin Roeser, the 2-101st senior enlisted Soldier, provides security during the squadron spur ride at the Youngstown Local Training Area in Youngstown, N.Y., Sep 7, 2019.

JROTC cadets become Flying Yankees for the day
September 11, 2019 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – Christine Libbey had seen C-130H Hercules aircraft flying over Connecticut and was familiar with the thunderous roar of the plane’s Rolls Royce T-56 engines. She had even been... MORE

Torrington High School Junior ROTC cadets tour Bradley Air National Guard Base, April 23, 2019,in East Granby, Conn. Cadets learned about the responsibilities of Connecticut Air National Guard operations and maintenance specialists.

National Guard paving the way in talent management
September 3, 2019 — DENVER – In his first trip as the Army's chief of staff, Gen. James McConville touted the work of National Guard Soldiers, adding the Army plans to take advantage of the skillsets many... MORE

Gen. James McConville, chief of staff of the Army, speaks during the annual conference for the National Guard Association of the United States in Denver Aug. 31, 2019. McConville touted the work of National Guard Soldiers and said the Army plans to take advantage of the skillsets many Citizen-Soldiers possess.

Pa. special warfare Airmen practice combat skills with Army
August 29, 2019 — BOISE, Idaho – Special warfare Airmen with the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, headed west this summer to Idaho’s Orchard Combat Training Center near Boise to... MORE

Tactical Air Control Party Specialists with the 148th Air Support Operations Squadron wait for the A-10 air support they called in to drop simulated munitions on a target Aug. 13, 2019. The Pennsylvania Air National Guardsmen traveled to Orchard Combat Training Center near Boise this summer to practice their ground combat skills, working alongside their Army counterparts at the 56th Stryker Brigade, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, and the Idaho Air National Guard.

N.Y. National Guard leader recognizes small-town veterans
August 29, 2019 — HOOSICK FALLS, N.Y. – Sixty-six years after serving as an Airman 1st Class in the Korean War, Hoosick Fall’s resident Merton Houghton got to do something he’d never done before: shake the hand of a... MORE

Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the adjutant general of New York, presents a military challenge coin to Air Force Korean War veteran Merton W. Houghton during an awards ceremony at the former New York State Armory in Hoosick Falls, N.Y., on Aug. 28, 2019. Shields honored 10 local veterans with New York state awards recognizing their military service during the event.

Alabama Guard member saves Soldier's life during training
August 28, 2019 — CAMP SHELBY, Miss. — It was late and Spc. Micah Turnbull, senior combat medic for B Company, 1-167th Infantry Battalion, began his assessment on yet another heat exhaustion patient in the scorching... MORE

Spc. Micah Turnbull, 1-167th Infantry Medic, posses for a photo at Camp Shelby, Miss., on Aug. 14, 2019.

106th Rescue Wing gives tour to Scout troop after tragedy
August 27, 2019 — WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. – Members of Boy Scout Troop 161 were welcomed last Friday to the 106th Rescue Wing's base in a show of support after the loss of one of their scouts, Andrew McMorris,... MORE

Lt. Col. Stephen “Doc” Rush, a 103rd Rescue Squadron Pararescue flight surgeon and former Air Force Pararescue Medical Director, shows how to safely move a patient as part of a first aid demonstration during a base tour at New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Aug. 23, 2019.

Indiana sisters support Task Force Spartan
August 27, 2019 — GARY, Ind. – Two 38th Infantry Division Citizen-Soldiers, sisters from Gary, Indiana, wake up most mornings to face 110-plus degree heat in the Kuwaiti desert ready to serve in support of Task... MORE

Staff Sgt. Justine Jones, a culinary specialist from Gary, Indiana, proudly stands with her sister, Sgt. Jenna Jones, aviation operations specialist from Gary, Indiana, Aug. 21, 2019. The sisters support Task Force Spartan, building lasting and trusting relationships with regional partners from Camp Arifjan, Kuwait.

Multiple Guard units sharpen combat skills at Fort Pickett
August 27, 2019 — FORT PICKETT, Va. – Virginia and Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and enabler units from Guard units in Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois, Indiana,... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Charlottesville-based Charlie Company, 429th Brigade Support Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team conduct a mass casualty exercise using personnel with simulated injuries July 17, 2019, during eXportable Combat Training Capability Rotation 19-4 at Fort Pickett, Virginia.

Massachusetts Airman always wondered how things worked
August 23, 2019 — OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – As a child living in Hong Kong, young Wing Ng had an interest in how things worked. This became evident when his father came home with a toy airplane as a... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Wing Ng of the 102nd Intelligence Wing poses beside the F-15 he launched on Sept. 11, 2001.

Conference: Inspectors general live 'to teach and train'
August 21, 2019 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Embracing the motto “to teach and train,” over 100 inspectors general from the 50 states, three territories, and District of Columbia met at the 2019 National Guard Bureau Inspectors... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, director, Army National Guard, addresses National Guard inspectors generals during the 2019 National Guard Bureau Inspectors General conference, July 30, 2019, Arlington, Virginia.

Maine National Guard combined heat and power - four years later
August 20, 2019 — WASHINGTON, D.C. – A Maine National Guard project came online four years ago, and the Combined Heat and Power (CHP) system provides energy resilience and enhances Army readiness to directly support... MORE

A.J. Ballard, the energy manager for the Maine Army National Guard points out some of the engine details of the award-winning combined heat and power system at the Maine Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility in Bangor, Maine. "This is a wonderful machine," said Ballard. "This system produces electricity we don't have to pay for, and heat we don't have to pay for."

Children of Idaho National Guardsmen 'survived' summer camp
August 20, 2019 — McCALL, Idaho – After a week away from their parents, 115 children of Idaho Army and Air National Guard members not only survived the “Survivor”-themed summer camp, they thrived. The event-filled... MORE

Children of Idaho Army and Air National Guard members not only survived the “Survivor”-themed summer camp, they thrived. The event-filled camp was held Aug 12-16, 2019, and was designed to build resiliency and strength in youth of military families.

Kansan is named Air National Guard's outstanding Airman
August 19, 2019 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – Airman 1st Class Kaleigh M. Bevan, a cyberwarfare operator from the 184th Intelligence Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, was selected as the Air National Guard’s 2019... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Kaleigh M. Bevan, a cyberwarfare operator assigned to the 184th Intelligence Wing, Kansas Air National Guard, poses for an award portrait in Wichita, Kansas, July 19, 2019. Bevan was recognized as the Air National Guard’s 2019 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