Home : News : News Features
Michigan Air Guard couple from Zambia become U.S. citizens
June 14, 2021
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Waicha Gondwe, a material management specialist in the 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB), Michigan, born and raised in Zambia, stands with her husband, Master Sgt. Suzgo Gondwe, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 107th Maintenance Squadron, SANGB, also born and raised in Zambia, after she recited her oath of allegiance to become a U.S. citizen at the Immigration Services building, Detroit, Michigan, May 24, 2021. Since 2002, more than 139,000 members of the U.S. military have been naturalized, both at home and abroad.

He joined for the benefits and is now an Olympic hopeful
June 11, 2021
New Hampshire National Guard Spc. Thomas Echelberger shoots at the Biathlon Spring Fling on March 3, 2021, at Fort Kent, Maine. Echelberger placed sixth out of 35 competitors.

Nevada Air Guard’s ‘Baby Doc’ a leader in pandemic battle
June 9, 2021
Nevada Air National Guard 1st Lt. Caleena Longworth with Joint Task Force 17 prepares a syringe with the Moderna vaccine at the Las Vegas Readiness Center, Wednesday, Jan. 27, 2021 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Longworth has vaccinated 4,500 people.

Illinois Soldier joins 38th ID from aligned-for-training unit
June 8, 2021
Maj. Andrew Salmo of Herrin, Illinois, the 38th Infantry Division plans officer, at the division's tactical operations center at Camp Atterbury near Edinburgh, Indiana, June 5, 2021. As part of the Army National Guard's aligned-for-training program, Salmo jumped at the opportunity to work at a division level.

Alaska Air National Guardsman excels in marksmanship
June 8, 2021
Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Larson, a security forces member with the 268th Security Forces Squadron, poses for a photo after the annual Adjutant General Match, May 16, 2021. Larson took first place in the open rifle marksmanship competition, was added to the state team to compete in the regional competition, and was awarded the Governor's Twenty tab, which is generally awarded to the top 20 marksmen in the state.

VTNG Soldier completes French desert commando course
June 4, 2021
U.S. Army Spc. Caylen De Los Reyes, an 11B Infantry Soldier assigned to 1st Squadron, 172nd Cavalry (Mountain), 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Vermont National Guard, moving through an obstacle during the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti May 16, 2021.

Michigan Air Guard member follows path to England
June 1, 2021
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sydney Suwannarat, an all-source intelligence analyst with the 217th Air Operations Group, 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, stands outside RAF Molesworth, England, May 7, 2021. Suwannarat is serving a multiyear tour at RAF Molesworth’s Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center.

Iowa Army National Guard Soldier earns PhD while deployed
May 27, 2021
Capt. Thackery Faugstad of Lakeville, Minn., acting executive officer of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Iowa Army National Guard, in front of his battery’s land-based phalanx weapon system (LPWS) at an undisclosed location in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations on May 12, 2021. Faugstad earned a doctorate while deployed.

Soldier's journey from refugee to pilot goes full circle
May 26, 2021
2nd Lt. Valdeta Mehanja, a pilot with the 1-131st Aviation Regiment, posed for a photo in her flight helmet May 26, 2021, in Albania. Mehanja is an Albanian native born in Kosovo and a U.S. citizen; she never thought she would get to see Albania before participating in DEFENDER-Europe 21.

101st ESB Soldiers train for cooking competition
May 19, 2021
New York Army National Guard Spc. Fatima S. Edwards, assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, cooks chicken during training for the next Philip A. Connelly Competition at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., May 15, 2021. The competition provides recognition for excellence in the preparation and serving of food in Army troop dining facilities and field kitchens.