Guard News - The National Guard

N.Y. Guard Warrant Officer reinvented career to keep serving
December 3, 2018 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Throughout a military career that began in 1981, New York Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 3 Al Thiem has been reinventing himself. He was an enlisted Soldier who became an... MORE

Col. John Andonie, chief of staff for the New York Army National Guard, pins Chief Warrant Officer 3 Albert Thiem, electronic warfare officer for the 42nd Infantry Division,during his promotion ceremony at the Division of Military and Naval Affairs Headquarters in Latham, N.Y., Nov. 9, 2018.

Three generations show commitment to service in W. Va.
November 30, 2018 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. - When people speak of the 130th Airlift Wing, a small Air National Guard unit in Charleston, West Virginia, one common theme comes up. Family. Now, it usually isn't literal, it is... MORE

Lt. Col. Andrew Farmer, 130th Logistics Readiness Squadron Commander, stands with his daughters Halle Farmer, Staff Sgt. Alexis Farmer and Senior Airman Carly Farmer in front of a C-130H Nov. 3, 2018, at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va.

Alabama Guard member helps save girl in mall shooting
November 30, 2018 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. - Pfc. Rashad Billingsly was shopping Black Friday at the Riverchase Galleria mall in Hoover, Alabama, when he heard two distinct gunshots over the sound of the crowd. A few seconds... MORE

Pfc. Rashad Billingsley of the 2025th Transportation Company in Jacksonville, Ala., used his combat life-saving training to help save a 12-year-old girl who was shot at the Riverchase Galleria mall Nov. 23, 2018.

Idaho Army Guard Soldier coaches school to football title
November 30, 2018 — SUGAR CITY, Idaho - When Sugar-Salem High School won its first football state title Nov. 17, the win solidified five years's worth of work Idaho Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Tyler Richins put into... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Tyler Richins poses for a photo with his father, Dwight Richins, after coaching Sugar-Salem High School to the Idaho 3A state football championship Nov. 17, 2018. The father-son team previously served in the Idaho Army National Guard together, where Dwight Richins retired as a lieutenant colonel in 2012, and won the 1999 3A state title as a coach/quarterback duo for Teton High School.

National Guard service strengthens West Virginia family
November 29, 2018 — WILLIAMSTOWN, W. Va. - The goodbyes for now. The long, mournful last hugs and kisses before watching your husband or wife, son or daughter, mom or dad leave for deployment, training or other call to... MORE

U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Lohr, a C-12 master aviator and certified flight instructor assigned to Detachment 28 Operational Support Airlift Command, West Virginia Air National Guard in Williamstown, W.Va., poses with his wife Vicki Lynn and son Sgt. Nicholas Lohr, a crew chief with Company C, 1/150th Assault Battalion in Wheeling, W.Va., at the conclusion of his promotion ceremony held Nov. 16, 2018, at the West Virginia National Guard Armory in Williamstown, W.Va.

Hawaii life saver takes ‘fast track’ in career progression
November 28, 2018 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii - Life-threatening scenarios seem to occur at the most random of times and places; and when they do, it's usually not a pretty scene. While most people go about... MORE

Senior Airman Casey Whitworth, a full-time lifeguard and triage response team member of the Hawaii Air National Guard, was posted near this spot at Marine Corpse Base Hawaii when he was called to help rescue the victims of a commercial helicopter crash on Oct. 22, 2018. The rescue effort was successful because of the teamwork of his teammates, local firefighters and a few good Samaritans. Whitworth is a member of the 154th Medical Group’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), a unit that responds to emergencies on a regular basis. Whitworth attributes some of his preparedness to his training in the HIANG. This photo was taken on Nov. 22, 2018.

Citizen-Soldier helps contain California’s deadliest fire
November 27, 2018 — MATHER, Calif. – U.S. Army 1st Lt. Vincent Sherrill left his desk job Nov. 10 and headed for the airfield. He swapped his business suit for a flight suit and took one of the Army's newest helicopters... MORE

A U.S. Army UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter co-piloted by 1st Lt. Vincent Sherrill of the California Army National Guard's 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 140th Aviation Regiment, flies through the Feather River Canyon with a bucket of water, Nov. 16, 2018, in Butte County, California, during a mission to drop water on the deadly Camp Fire.

Pa. National Guard father and son become co-pilots
November 27, 2018 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Serving alongside their child in the Army is a thought many Soldiers find inconceivable. For Col. Howard Lloyd, commander of the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Ian Lloyd, left, and Col. Howard Lloyd, both with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, pose in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at Muir Army Airfield, October 9, 2018.

Retired Ky. Guard Airman honors vets with homemade wreaths
November 23, 2018 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - The Christmas season can be a joyous time of family and community, but it's also tinged with sadness for many whose loved ones have passed away. One retired Kentucky Air Guard member... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Lee East, a retired member of the Kentucky Air National Guard, prepares a workspace to make Christmas wreaths with the help of her granddaughter in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 16, 2018. East operates a project to place wreaths on the graves of deceased unit members. The project needs volunteers to help this season, starting the week after Thanksgiving.

Md. Army Guard member reflects on support his unit gave him
November 20, 2018 — ANNAPOLIS, Md. – On the day Sgt. 1st Class Quintin C. Steele was promoted to his current rank, he took time to speak on the overwhelming support his unit provided him at a time when it was needed... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Quintin C. Steele, intelligence specialist, stands with Sgt. Maj. Perlisa D. Wilson, senior enlisted leader, and Lt. Col. Stephen P. Gerber, a senior intelligence officer, during a promotion ceremony at the 110th Information Operations Battalion Nov 18, 0218, in Annapolis, Md. Steele's promotion speech sparked an emotional expression of gratitude to his unit for the support he received as his family lived through the devastation of Hurricane Michael in Panama City, Fla.

History: At end of WWI, N.Y. Guard helped occupy Germany
November 19, 2018 — SARATOGA SPRINGS, N.Y. – In just 24 hours, the warm welcome for New York National Guard Soldiers serving in the Allied Army of Occupation shifted 180 degrees. New York Doughboys marching into Germany... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Clement Alexander Finley Flagler, commander of the 42nd Division, arrives at the command post of the 167th Infantry Regiment in Sinzig, Germany, during the division’s march to the Rhine for occupation duties, Dec. 18, 1918. The 167th Infantry was composed of Soldiers from the Alabama National Guard’s 4th Infantry Regiment. The 42nd Division, known as the Rainbow Division for its inclusion of various National Guard units from across the United States, served as an occupation force following the armistice that ended World War I. The division served in Germany until April 1, 1919 when it embarked for its journey home.

Pennsylvania Guardsman zeroes in on President’s 100 award
November 14, 2018 — PITTSBURGH - Imagine lying in a large open field, supporting a long-range rifle. You gaze down the barrel through iron sights attempting to hit a target 600 yards away while using just your hands to... MORE

Master Sgt. Eric Moskal assigned to the 171st Air Refueling Wing near Pittsburgh poses for a photo to cover a news article recognizing his achievement of earning a spot in the President’s 100, Oct. 21, 2018.

Guard oxygen Airmen help 176th Wing aircrew breathe easy
November 13, 2018 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - When Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Connie Camama deployed to Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, it was the security forces Airman's job to keep aircrew... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Connie Camama is an aircrew flight equipment Airman with 176th Operations Support Squadron Aircrew Flight Equipment Oxygen Section. The Oxygen Section is responsible for maintaining anything involved with aircrew oxygen as well as night-vision devices.

Ohio Air Wing recruiter finds success in innovation
November 9, 2018 — MANSFIELD, Ohio – Tech. Sgt. Nicholas M. Alexander, recruiter from the 179th Airlift Wing, is using innovation to bring awareness of the Ohio Air National Guard to the local area. Although Alexander... MORE

Tech Sgt. Nicholas M. Alexander, recruiter at the 179th Airlift Wing, talks to students from the Ashland West Holmes Career Center Nov. 1, 2018 at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. Alexander has been a recruiter with the 179th AW for two years and is using innovation to bring awareness of the Guard to the local area.

Alaskan village welcomes Santa on his early rounds
November 8, 2018 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – The Alaska National Guard and the Salvation Army united Nov. 1 to take Operation Santa Claus to the village of Emmonak. An HC-130J Combat King II aircraft... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Vanessa Peterson hands out snacks to children in Emmonak during Operation Santa Claus on Nov. 1, 2018. Operation Santa Claus is an Alaska National Guard annual community outreach program that provides Christmas gifts, books, backpacks filled with school supplies, fresh fruit, and sundaes to youngsters in rural communities.

133rd Army National Guard Band provides more than just music
November 7, 2018 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - “Where words fail, music speaks,” said Danish author Hans Christian Andersen, who was particularly noted for his fairy tales. Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Pierson, commander of... MORE

The 133rd Army National Guard Band shown during their 2017 holiday concert in Auburn, Wash., plays year-round.

History: National Guard assisted WWI allies in ending war
November 7, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. - At 11 a.m. Greenwich Mean Time on Nov. 11, 1918 ("the eleventh hour of the eleventh month"), an Armistice took place between the Allied and Central powers across all battle zones. It... MORE

After this gun section of Battery D, 105th Field Artillery Regiment, New York National Guard, had fired its last shot at Etraye, the men raised Old Glory amid triumphant shouts on Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918.

167th Airlift Wing officers participate in exchange program
November 5, 2018 — MARTINSBURG, W. Va. - Once opponents, the United States and Germany have grown a close alliance since the end of World War II. For more than three decades, their respective military members have... MORE

Lt. Col. Teddy Wundenberg, third from left,a maintenance officer for Helicopter Wing 64 of the German Air Force, poses for a photo with the 167th Airlift Wing's Inspector General staff during the 167th AW's deployment training exercise in Alpena, Mich., last June. Lt. Col. James Freid-Studlo, the 167th AW inspector general, second from left, hosted Wundenberg for about two weeks as part of the Military Reserve Exchange Program.

Citizen-Warrior: Military, police work go hand-in-hand for Guard member
October 31, 2018 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Air Force Staff Sgt. Rodrigo Acosta, a security forces specialist with the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing, said he felt fortunate to belong to an Arizona-based unit when he... MORE

Air Force Staff Sgt. Rodrigo Acosta, a security forces specialist with the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Wing and a Tucson Police Department police officer, reviews data on his patrol car laptop in Tucson, Arizona, Aug. 28, 2018. Acosta said he thrives in settings outside of the office environment. "I can't see myself sitting behind a desk at all. I think I would fall asleep," he said. "Law enforcement and security forces always keeps me on my toes."

U.S. Soldiers host Halloween fall festival in Ukraine
October 31, 2018 — YAVORIV, Ukraine - Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard along with Canadian and Lithuanian counterparts hosted a Halloween fall festival Oct. 27 for Ukrainian soldiers and their families... MORE

Spc. Kristina Brown of the 278th ACR face paints during the Trick or Treat Halloween event at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center, Ukraine, Oct. 27, 2018.

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