Guard News - The National Guard

Citizen-Warrior: Iowa Soldier finds passion for running
May 31, 2019 — JOHNSTON, Iowa – On a Saturday evening in 2013, Kimberly Hamner carried a load of laundry into her daughter’s bedroom. As she set the laundry down, she noticed a stack of papers on the bed. Hamner... MORE

Sgt. Ayrin Hamner-Ripperger, the administration and supply non-commissioned officer with the Iowa Army National Guard’s 831st Engineer Company, stands at Camp Dodge, Iowa, with the race medals she has earned on her quest to run a half-marathon in all 50 states. Hamner-Ripperger is slated to finish her quest in October, when she runs in South Dakota.

N.Y. Soldier gets surprise final flight after 33-year career
May 31, 2019 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York Army National Guard Sgt. Maj. Joseph Marino, a federal technician specializing in helicopter maintenance for 33 years, expected the usual retirement lunch and jokes when he... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Maj. Joseph Marino sits with his wife Brenda, in Latham, N.Y., May 29, 2019, after returning from a final flight in a UH-72 light utility helicopter. Marino, a federal technician maintenance supervisor, was honored with a final flight because he was retiring after 33 years of service at the New York Army National Guard's Latham flight facility.

Chaplain from troubled home now helps strengthen families
May 29, 2019 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Military service is thought to change people. It is described as immersive, prolonged and tightly regimented. Many young people join for structure and to straighten into adulthood... MORE

N.Y. National Guard Soldiers hone nuclear response skills
May 28, 2019 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Indiana – One hundred and sixty New York Army National Guard Soldiers spent May 8-16 honing their emergency response skills during exercise Guardian Response 2019 at Camp Atterbury,... MORE

Soldiers of the 369th Sustainment Brigade man their command post on May 12, 2019 during exercise Guardian Response 19 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. One hundred and sixty New York National Guard Soldiers took part in the major national exercise.

Brothers serve together in the Ohio Air National Guard
May 28, 2019 — MANSFIELD, Ohio – For members of the National Guard, from the moment you raise your right hand and take the Oath of Enlistment, you gain a family. Brothers and sisters who have your back day and... MORE

Brothers Tyler Jenkins, Senior Airman Anthony Thielman and Dylan Jenkins, all members of the 200th REDHORSE Squadron, May 19, 2019, at the 200th REDHORSE Squadron, Mansfield, Ohio. Dylan and Tyler recently enlisted into the Ohio Air Guard, following in the footsteps of their older brother.

Psychological coordinator works to normalize mental health
May 24, 2019 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – Michelle Pennington, director of psychological health at the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing, has been involved in social work since she was a child. Her... MORE

Michelle Pennington, 104th Fighter Wing director of psychological health.

Against the odds: Ohio Airman battling extremely rare cancer
May 21, 2019 — DAYTON, Ohio – She has endured level-10 pain virtually head to toe. She has experienced partial paralysis, and she has endured her spinal cord stripped down to seemingly bare wire. Now, however,... MORE

Master Sgt. Charlotte Ortiz, the assistant recruiting and retention superintendent for Headquarters, Ohio Air National Guard in Columbus, Ohio, exhibits her positive, joyful spirit during a visit with her co-workers, at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio. Ortiz is fighting a very rare type of cancer.

Tennessee Guard Airmen train Soldiers on heavy equipment
May 17, 2019 — CATOOSA SPRINGS, Ga. – A crowd of Army National Guard Soldiers gather around a giant piece of heavy equipment as an Airman in a hard hat explains the purpose and function of the various knobs and... MORE

Sgt. Shantophia Cruz listens as Tech. Sgt. Doug Haveman explains operation of the Vermeer RT950.Airmen from the 241st Engineering Installation Squadron and Soldiers from the 230th Signal Company came together in Chatoosa, Georgia, May 9, 2019, to perform joint training. The 241st EIS Airmen provided training on heavy equipment needed to dig trenches for installation of fiber optics and other communications services.

Air Guard member gets Utah Cross for rescuing motorist
May 16, 2019 — SALT LAKE CITY – Tech. Sgt. Sean Price, a boom operator assigned to the 151st Air Refueling Wing at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Salt Lake City, was awarded the Utah Cross by Utah Gov... MORE

Tech Sgt. Sean Price, a boom operator with the 151st Air Refueling Wing, Utah Air National Guard, is presented with the Utah Cross by Utah Gov. Gary Herbert and the state adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Jefferson Burton, April 22, 2019, at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, Salt Lake City, Utah. Price was presented with the Utah Cross for providing lifesaving first aid to an injured driver.

103rd uses first virtual-reality loadmaster training system
May 10, 2019 — BRADLEY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Conn. – Loadmasters at the 103rd Airlift Wing helped develop the first Virtual Loadmaster Training System (VLTS), that recently became fully operational at Bradley Air... MORE

Bill Ehler, Capewell Aerial Systems business development manager, left, provides instruction on the virtual loadmaster training system (VLTS) to Staff Sgt. Chad Warren March 29, 2019 at Bradley Air National Guard Base, Conn. The development of this first-of-its-kind training system was a collaborative effort between the 103rd Airlift Wing and Capewell Aerial Systems.

Ohio Air Guard nurse cares for Airmen and cancer patients
May 9, 2019 — SWANTON, Ohio – A cancer diagnosis can leave patients reeling, frightened and uncertain of the future, especially when it is an aggressive form of cancer or one that doesn’t respond to traditional... MORE

U.S. Air Force Captain Stephanie Smiddy, the infection and immunization officer-in-charge at the 180th Fighter Wing, Ohio Air National Guard, administers a vaccination March 2, 2019, in Swanton, Ohio. Vaccinations ensure Airmen are ready to deploy anywhere in the world and to keep them healthy so they can continue to perform the mission.

Va. National Guard Soldiers join multi-state Cyber Shield
May 8, 2019 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — Virginia National Guard cyber warriors joined more than 800 National Guard personnel from 40 states and territories for Cyber Shield 2019 to test their skills in response to... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fairfax-based 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, provide digital forensics support to identify indicators of compromise and the source of intrusion to help protect a customer network in a virtualized training environment April 16, 2019, at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, during Cyber Shield 19.

North Carolina officer candidates learn battlefield lessons
May 7, 2019 — FREDERICKSBURG, Va. – The tradition of the staff ride dates back to the early 1900s when Maj. Eben Swift, the assistant commandant of the General Service and Staff School Fort Leavenworth, Kansas took... MORE

North Carolina National Guard Officer Candidate Patrick Henson briefs the rest of the 139th Regional Training Institue's Officer Candidate School Class 61 on important decisions made during the Battle of Chancellorsville while visiting the Civil War site near Fredericksburg, Virginia, on May 4, 2019. OCS Class 61 visited the site as a way to learn leadership through studying historical battles during their class staff ride.

Firefighter of 27 years focuses on safety; mentors Airmen
May 3, 2019 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – Thomas Zuffelato, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron fire lieutenant, began his firefighting career in 1992 when he switched from the active duty Air Force to the Nebraska Air... MORE

Fire Lt. Thomas Zuffelato, 104th Civil Engineering Squadron firefighter, poses for a photo May 2, 2019, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts. Zuffelato is also a firefighter in the Connecticut Air National Guard at the 103rd Airlift Wing.

Louisiana Guard members aim for excellence
May 1, 2019 — NEW ORLEANS – Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cotten and Sgt. Allen Smith, both Shreveport residents with the Louisiana National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team,... MORE

National Guard members from around the country participated in the 48th annual Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship at Fort Chaffee in Barling, Arkansas, March 29-April 3, 2019. Louisiana National Guard Sgt. Allen Smith and Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cotten, both Shreveport residents with 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took first place in the competition, hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center.

Citizen-Warrior: Ohio Guard Soldier follows competitive life
May 1, 2019 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – After her first year of college, Valerie Stearns came to the conclusion she wanted to do more with her life. “I realized that I had greater potential,” she said. “That is when I... MORE

Army 1st Lt. Valerie Stearns, the executive officer with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1191st Engineer Company, stands with Army Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., then-Ohio National Guard assistant adjutant general for Army, after Stearns won the lightweight division championship at the 2018 Ohio Army National Guard Combatives Tournament held at the Maj. Gen. Robert Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 19, 2018. Stearns has found that combatives is another way she can engage her competitive spirit.

Trio of Washington Guard members earn doctorate degrees
May 1, 2019 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – A trio of bandmates in the Washington Army National Guard’s 133rd Army Band can add “doctor” to their repertoire. “The band has historically been one of the most educated career... MORE

From left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Steve Friel, seated Staff Sgt. Joey Castilleja and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Pierson. Each member recently earned their doctorate degree.

Brothers carry on family service in the Guard
April 30, 2019 — SCHENECTADY, New York – For brothers Jack and Joshua Seeberger this truly is a family affair. Their father, Scott Seeberger retired as a master sergeant from the 109th Airlift Wing in 2012 serving... MORE

Brothers Jack and Joshua Seeberger enlisted together in 2018 and are now serving as loadmasters in the 109th Airlift Wing.

P-51 Mustang returns to Kentucky Air Guard after 63 years
April 29, 2019 — LOUISVILLE – A P-51 Mustang arrived back on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on April 12, more than six decades after departing. The Mustang, serial number of 44-74202, was once... MORE

Kentucky Air Guardsmen pose with a P-51 Mustang aircraft, serial number of 44-74202, on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, circa 1953-1956. The same aircraft, now restored, came home to fly in the 2019 Thunder Over Louisville air show on April 13.

Oklahoma Guard kids spend the night aboard a WWII submarine
April 24, 2019 — MUSKOGEE, Okla. – With a faint scent of rusted steel throughout the echoing halls, Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) children and volunteers had a unique opportunity Friday to spend the night in the... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) children experience a unique opportunity to spend the night aboard the historic USS Batfish (SS 310) submarine, April 19, 2019, in celebration of the Month of the Military Child.

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