Guard News - The National Guard

Five Utah sisters take five different military paths
July 10, 2019 — SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Tiara Puro was 17 years old when her father handed her a recruiting brochure for the Utah Army National Guard. She remembered a feeling of excitement as she flipped through the... MORE

The five Puro sisters of Utah took different paths to military careers. Left to right: Tiara, Air Force; Tambra, Army Guard, Tayva, Air Guard; Ty'lene, Army Guard; Taryn, Navy.

N.Y. Guard Soldiers remember Medal of Honor recipients
July 9, 2019 — TROY, N.Y. – Veterans and Soldiers of the New York National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team honored the World War II veterans of the 27th Division and one of its Medal of Honor recipients,... MORE

New York Army National Guard Lt. Col. William O'Brien, commander of the 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, leads his unit in the relief of another outfit during the battle of Saipan, June 18, 1944. O'Brien would receive the Medal of Honor posthumously for his leadership and actions during the largest Japanese suicide charge of the Pacific Theater July 6-7, 1944.

Female chaplain’s mission field is with Wisconsin troops
July 8, 2019 — MADISON, Wis. – Watching her husband and other Soldiers in the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team work through their deployment... MORE

1st Lt. Jennifer Kuhnert, a chaplain with the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 257th Brigade Support Battalion, speaks during a Jan. 13, 2019, memorial service for Staff Sgt. Madeline Wegner.

Tenn. Airman credits Guard training for successful IT career
July 8, 2019 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – When an Airman enters the military, it’s often for patriotic reasons, coupled with a number of great benefits including education, healthcare and a competitive salary. Staff Sgt... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Caleb uses a computer programs to identify network issues during his unit's training period at Berry Field Air National Guard Base, Nashville, Tenn, on May 5, 2019. Caleb's unit was training in advanced network systems and resolving network issues. (This photo has been altered for security purposes by blurring out identification badges.)

Ohio's 124th Intelligence Squadron restores natural habitat
July 3, 2019 — SPRINGFIELD-BECKLEY AIR GUARD STATION, Ohio – Behind the scenes of nature’s beauty often lies a deadly competition. Native plant species vie for resources in a struggle to survive. Reed Creek Nature... MORE

Forty-nine Airmen with the 124th Intelligence Squadron (IS) helped restore the Reed Creek Nature Park to its natural beauty during annual training June 13, 2019, at Fort Gordon, Georgia. Airmen cleared more than an acre of land of an invasive species, Chinese Privet, which threatened the natural habitat's native species.

Citizen-Warrior: Pa. Guard Soldier keeps comm lines open
July 1, 2019 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Spc. Courtney Petrauskas serves as an information technology specialist with Pennsylvania Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Expeditionary... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Courtney Petrauskas, information technology specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, poses for a photo in front of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at Muir Army Airfield.

W. Va. engineer officer earns dual tab recognition
June 28, 2019 — CHARLESTON, W. Va. – It's no surprise when first seeing U.S. Army Capt. Richard Payne that he is the 'go-getter' type. He exudes confidence through his demeanor and is physically ready to meet and... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Richard Payne poses for a photo June 25, 2019, in St. Albans, West Virginia. Payne recently completed U.S. Army Ranger School where he earned a Ranger tab to go along with the Sapper tab he earned in 2015. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Bo Wriston)

Kentucky Guard Soldier posts highest ACFT score yet
June 27, 2019 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – The U.S. Army is transitioning to a new physical fitness test, the Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT), to better prepare Soldiers in readiness and lethality. To date, no Soldier yet has... MORE

Spc. Ryan Sowder is an 88M truck driver for the 2112th Transportation Company based in Burlington, Ky. Sowder recently scored a 597 out of 600 points on the new Army Combat Fitness Test, which is the highest score to date across the force.

Natural disasters inspire Guard members to re-enlist
June 21, 2019 — TOPEKA, Kansas – No one wants bad things to happen, especially in their communities. However, for two Kansas National Guard members, the devastation of recent floods was a rejuvenating experience... MORE

Maj. Drew Polen (left), executive officer of the 891st Engineer Battalion, gives the reenlistment oath to Spc. Russell O'Neill (right), assigned to 891st Forward Support Company, June 2, a top of pallets of water that are ready to be distributed to communities in Kansas devastated by flooding in May.

W.Va. Guard Soldier makes impact in flood recovery program
June 20, 2019 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) Pvt. 1st Class James Jarrell, an interior electrician (12R), has been making a positive impact for flood recovery efforts in the state... MORE

Pvt. 1st Class James Jarrell, an interior electrician in the West Virginia Army National Guard, poses for a photo June 17, 2019. Jarrell works for the RISE West Virginia program to assist West Virginians affected by the devastating 2016 flood.

Gunnery simulators augment Army Guard training
June 19, 2019 — SUFFOLK, Va. – Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard’s Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, stood in the turret of a Humvee, prepared to engage targets with... MORE

Spc. Erik Murphy, a cavalry scout with the Virginia Army National Guard's Troop B, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, engages targets with an M2 .50 caliber machine gun on the Individual Unstabalized Gunnery Trainer during training at the Suffolk Armory in Suffolk, Virginia, June 8, 2019. The IUGT is a computer-based simulator that connects the body of a weapon to a virtual reality system and is used to augment the training on crew-served weapons.

Idaho Guard works with SWAT team to boost marksmanship
June 17, 2019 — MELBA, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard marksmanship team participated for the first time in the urban and rural sniper training held in Melba by the Treasure Valley's SWAT sniper element. The... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Jared Frogley, the IDNG state marksmanship NCO in charge engages precision fire on targets with a bolt-action scope rifle as the Idaho National Guard marksmanship team participated for the first time in the urban and rural sniper training held in Melba by the Treasure Valley's SWAT sniper element. The Meridian Police Department sponsored the course and the SWAT team instructors volunteered their time and to produce the intense 50-hour, five-day course, held from June 3 through June 7, 2019.

Under pressure: Providing critical care when it matters most
June 14, 2019 — SWANTON, Ohio – While other children watched "Sesame Street" or "Lamb Chop's Play-Along," Kaitlyn Newkirk watched shows about trauma surgeons. Even as young as three years old, her dad would find her... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Kaitlyn Newkirk, a clinical nurse assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, poses for a portrait March 18, 2019, at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. As a clinical nurse, she draws blood, gives shots, and teaches self-aid and buddy care to all 180FW Airmen to ensure they have the skills to provide life-saving first aid during the often chaotic and high-stress situations they might face in deployed environments.

Resident opens heart and home to Oklahoma Guard members
June 11, 2019 — SAND SPRINGS, Okla. – Two weeks ago, a man named Bob and the Soldiers of Headquarters Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment had never met. They would have never met. They would... MORE

Sand Springs, Oklahoma, resident Bob Casebold sits in his garage with Spc. Kailey Bellville, a unit supply specialist in Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, after she helped lay sandbags around trees at his Sand Springs home May 30, 2019.

New York Soldier is honored for his academic work
June 7, 2019 — ALBANY, N.Y. – For the past couple of years, when Maj. Keith Casserly wasn’t on the job as unit commander of the New York Army National Guard’s Medical Command, he’s been in class, the library, or... MORE

New York Army National Guard Major Keith Casserly with the atmospheric sampler he used to conduct a study of particulate air pollution along bus routes in Albany, N.Y. outside New York National Guard headquarters in Latham on May 15, 2019. Casserly conducted the study as part of his studfies toward a Masters in Public Health and was recognized by the State University of New York, Albany, with an award for Excellence in Scholarship.

Civil engineer Airmen learn disaster skills at Global Dragon
June 7, 2019 — PERRY, Ga. – Civil engineer operations students from the 147th Attack Wing learned route-clearing skills during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, held at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, May 29. In the... MORE

Civil engineer team members participate in a route clearing exercise simulating an after effect of a tornado during Exercise Global Dragon 2019 at the Guardian Centers of Georgia, held in Perry, Ga., May 29, 2019. Global Dragon is a biannual, Air National Guard led joint training exercise focusing on career fields across the Mission Support enterprise in as close to real-world conditions as possible.

Emergency Management Airmen suit up at Global Dragon 2019 
June 7, 2019 — PERRY, Ga. – Emergency Management team members held a Level-A Olympics, donning chemical protective gear before participating in various training games during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, June 3, at... MORE

Emergency Managers from around the country play in Level-A Olympics during Exercise Global Dragon 2019, in Perry, Georgia, May 31, 2019. Global Dragon is a biannual, Air National Guard led joint training exercise focusing on career fields across the Mission Support enterprise in as close to real-world conditions as possible.

105th Airlift Wing Airmen conduct annual escape training
June 5, 2019 — STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – Among the mountains, woods, and water of the Hudson Valley, aircrew members with the 137th Airlift Squadron of the 105th Airlift Wing completed combat survival... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 105th Airlift Wing participate in combat survival training at Plum Point County Park, New Windsor, New York, June 1, 2019. The training equips aircrews with the skill necessary to survive in hostile environments.

Kansas Army Guard medic serves his county and his country
June 3, 2019 — FORT IRWIN, Calif. – If Kansas Army National Guard Sgt. Christopher Rectenwald is at work, he’s likely saving someone’s life or standing by ready to do so. As a civilian, he works as a paramedic for... MORE

Kansas Army National Guard Sgt. Kenneth Kester and Sgt. Christopher Rectenwald, 242nd Engineer Company, discusses the outer perimeter of the tactical assembly area June 1, 2019, at Fort Irwin, California. Rectenwald is assigned to the 242nd Engineer Company as a 68W combat medic.

Like father like sons, Idaho's Bundy brothers serve together
June 3, 2019 — FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Idaho Army National Guard Soldiers 2nd Lt. Zane Bundy and his big brother Sgt. Nathan Bundy take after their father, Mountain Home city councilman Matt Bundy, in a number of ways... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Zane Bundy and Sgt. Nathan Bundy pose for a selfie while training together at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California May 29, 2019. The brothers, from Mountain Home, Idaho, both serve in the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team’s 2nd Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment.

Iowa Air Guard’s 132nd Security Forces Squadron Conducts Annual Training in Hawaii

Wisconsin Air Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Partners With UW Health for Medical Airmen Training

Connecticut Army Guard Partners With Coast Guard to Dislodge Beached Buoy

Minnesota Guard Among First to Field Army’s Newest M250 Automatic Rifle

Soldier’s Medal Awarded to Georgia Guardsman Who Pulled Driver From Burning SUV