Guard News - The National Guard

New York National Guard conducts sling-load training
December 8, 2020 — CAMP SMITH, N.Y. – Eleven New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 145th Support Maintenance Company and six Soldiers assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation, conducted... MORE

Sgts. Beqa Sabanashvili and Yorby Fenandeztejada, assigned to the 145th Support Maintenance Company, New York Army National Guard, conduct sling-load operations during training at the Army Aviation Safety Facility in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., on Nov. 24, 2020. Sling-load operations allow for the quick deployment of supplies during combat or to areas that are geographically difficult to reach during natural disasters or emergencies.

New York National Guard honors 8th president on his birthday
December 7, 2020 — KINDERHOOK, N.Y. – New York National Guard Airmen honored Martin Van Buren, the nation's eighth president, on Dec. 5 in the Hudson Valley village where he was born and died.Brig. Gen. Michael Bank,... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michael Bank, the assistant adjutant general – air for New York state, Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Trottier and other members of the New York Air National Guard salute the resting place of former President Martin Van Buren during a ceremony commemorating his birthday at the Kinderhook Reformed Church Cemetery in Kinderhook, New York. Van Buren was the eighth president of the United States and a native of Kinderhook.

Guard members help spread socially distant holiday cheer
December 1, 2020 — BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – More than 20 volunteers from the New York Army and Air National Guard joined area veterans and fellow service members at Ellms Tree Farm to load 125 Christmas trees in support of... MORE

Volunteers pass a tree up to FedEx driver Don Pelletier during the Trees for Troops loadout on Nov. 30, 2020, at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y. More than 20 volunteers from the New York Army and Air National Guard joined with Capital District area veterans to help load about 125 Christmas trees being donated and sent to military bases around the country to support troops and military families this holiday season.

Virtual tour highlights historic N.Y. battle flag collection
November 27, 2020 — ALBANY, N.Y. – Some of New York’s 2,200 battle flags – the largest collection of its kind in the country – are now featured in a virtual video tour of the New York State Capitol. The six-minute video... MORE

The Flag Room in the New York State Capitol in Albany, pictured in a virtual tour video, houses a collection of historic battle flags maintained by the New York State Division of Military and Naval Affairs.

N.Y. National Guard adds troops to airport screening mission
November 25, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – The New York National Guard has screened more than 456,000 airline passengers since starting a mission to help the New York State Department of Health limit the spread of COVID-19.Five... MORE

A New York Army National Guard Soldier guides a resident through a drive-through COVID-19 testing site in New Rochelle, N.Y., on Nov. 23, 2020. Across the state Guard Soldiers and Airmen have assisted in testing more than 832,000 people.

N.Y. Guard Airman proud to be a Soldier after 29-year career
November 23, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – Twenty-nine years after walking into a recruiting office, Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Peno says he probably makes a better Soldier than he does an Airman.He's proud to be a member of the... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Peno instructing members of the New York Guard, the state's defense force, on the use of the computer communications system used by the New York National Guard during disasters, at Camp Smith Training Site on June 24, 2017.

New York Guard's 2nd CST conducts disaster response training
November 16, 2020 — ROTTERDAM, N.Y. – More than 20 Airmen and Soldiers from the New York National Guard’s 2nd Civil Support Team (CST) deployed to an abandoned office building to search for a simulated blister agent lab... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers assigned to the New York National Guard's 2nd Civil Support Team, based at Stratton Air National Guard Base, Scotia, N.Y., pair up in two-person survey teams to search for possible hazardous materials during a training exercise at Rotterdam Industrial Park, Rotterdam, N.Y., Nov. 10, 2020.

N.Y. Army Guard partners with FBI for blast training
November 9, 2020 — JAMESVILLE, N.Y. – Nearly 30 members from several agencies, including 21 Soldiers from the New York Army National Guard's 1108th Explosive Ordnance Company, trained with FBI agents to identify... MORE

Members of the New York, Vermont and Puerto Rico National Guard viewed blast demonstrations and conducted crater analysis during a five-day Post Blast Investigators School training led by the FBI at a rock quarry in Jamesville, N.Y., Oct. 27, 2020.

NY National Guard supports COVID-19 travel safety operations
October 28, 2020 — BUFFALO, N.Y. – Passengers getting off airplanes coming from outside New York are being greeted by New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen helping the Department of Health enforce New York’s... MORE

Army Sgt. Benjamin Zawacki and Spc. Kevin Hamilton, Soldiers assigned to 105th Military Police Company, Buffalo, N.Y., sanitize their hands between flight arrivals at Buffalo-Niagara International Airport Oct. 23, 2020. The team meets arriving passengers to distribute the State Department of Health traveler form to people coming from restricted states.

NY National Guard continues statewide COVID-19 response
October 19, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – More than 1,300 members of the New York National Guard remain on duty for the state's COVID-19 response, 225 days after initial operations began in New Rochelle in early March.Since... MORE

Members of the New York National Guard help state Department of Health officials screen travelers at JFK Airport in New York City Oct. 16. 2020. Travelers arriving from states with significant community spread are advised to quarantine for 14 days as a precaution.

New York Airmen help fight California fires
October 14, 2020 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. – Four New York National Guard Airmen made a big difference in California's effort to contain 27 massive wildfires this summer.Three MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft crewmembers... MORE

An MQ-9 Reaper remotely piloted aircraft flown by 163d Attack Wing pilot Lt. Col. Paul Brockmeier, with sensor operator Master Sgt. Anthony Martinez, views the smoky San Gabriel Mountains of southern California in transit to a fire mission in northern California, late August 2020.

Recruits become Rangers in Army Guard training program
October 14, 2020 — UTICA, N.Y. – Two of the new faces in the New York National Guard arrived at their first unit for drill this year with a unique addition to their uniforms: the Army Ranger tab.Pfcs. Jason Chun, 20, of... MORE

New York Army National Guard Pfc. Jason Snyder, standing at center, marks his completion of the U.S. Army Ranger Course with fellow Rangers Aug. 27, 2020, at Fort Benning, Georgia.

NY Guard aircrews streamline first responder communication
October 7, 2020 — LATHAM, New York. – Thanks to assistance from New York State’s Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications, New York Army National Guard helicopter aircrews can now talk quickly and easily to... MORE

Lawrence Mitchell, a radio engineer from the New York State Office of Office of Interoperable and Emergency Communications, verifies the operation of a UH-60 radio by using the aircraft headset to conduct a radio test with another engineer on a portable radio at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Latham, New York, Sept. 30, 2020. Teams from the office uploaded civilian emergency response channels onto radios on all New York National Guard helicopters.

New York National Guard honors 21st president
October 5, 2020 — MENANDS, New York – New York Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Michel Natali marked the 191st birthday of President Chester Arthur, the 21st president, during a ceremony at his grave at Albany Rural... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers forming a color guard move into position during a ceremony saluting President Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, at his burial site in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York, on Oct. 5, 2020. The current occupant of the White House sends a wreath to mark the gravesites of former presidents on their birthdays. The wreath is presented by a military leader. Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the assistant adjutant general, Army, of the New York National Guard, presented the wreath.

New York National Guard, Brazil share COVID-19 experiences
October 2, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York was one of the states impacted the most by the COVID-19 pandemic, so New York National Guard members passed on lessons learned in mitigating the virus to their Brazilian... MORE

Maj. Amy Crounse, New York National Guard State Partnership Program officer, begins a videoconference with representatives from Brazil to discuss how the two sides responded to COVID-19, New York National Guard Headquarters, Latham, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2020. The New York Guard and Brazil's military work together under the State Partnership Program.

New York National Guard CST helps keep U.S. Open safe
September 29, 2020 — MAMARONECK, New York. – When top golfers from the United States and Europe faced off for the 2020 U.S. Open Golf Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club Sept. 14-20, the New York National Guard's 24th... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Christopher Rodriguez, assigned to the 24th Civil Support Team, 53rd Troop Command, New York Army National Guard, with handheld radiation detection equipment used during the U.S. Open Golf Championship at Winged Foot Golf Club, Mamaroneck, NY., Sept. 19, 2020. The 24th CST, based out of Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, responds to chemical, biological and weapons of mass destruction threats.

ANG gets 1st non-pilot, 1st woman deputy director
September 23, 2020 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. – In 1985, newly commissioned 2nd Lt. Dawne L. Deskins arrived at her first duty station, McChord Air Force Base, ready to take on the job of an air battle manager. Initially,... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Dawne L. Deskins, the deputy director of the Air National Guard, at the Pentagon in Arlington, Va., Sept. 11, 2020. Deskins is the first non-pilot and first female to serve as DDANG.

NY Guardsman prepares for Brazilian jungle warfare course
September 22, 2020 — SCOTIA, New York – A member of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing is heading for the Brazilian Army's jungle training center along the Amazon River this week. Senior Airman Caleb... MORE

Senior Airman Caleb Lapinel of the 109th Airlift Wing will represent the New York National Guard and the United States at the Brazilian Army Center for Jungle Warfare instruction course in Manaus, Brazil, beginning Sept. 26, 2020.

Future New York Guard leaders learn lessons at Ticonderoga
September 21, 2020 — TICONDEROGA, NY – New York Army National Guard Soldiers selected as company commanders and first sergeants visited one of America’s most historic sites Sept. 16 to learn lessons from the past to apply... MORE

Re-enactors wearing 18th century uniforms demonstrate the firing of a cannon at Fort Ticonderoga in New York Sept. 16, 2020, for members of the New York Army National Guard. The visit was part of the Company Commander and First Sergeant Pre-Command Course of instruction Sept. 14-18. Three dozen Soldiers toured the historic battlefield of the American Revolution and French and Indian War to discover leadership lessons to prepare for their upcoming command tours.

185th ARW exercise held despite COVID-19, Hurricane Sally
September 16, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing is conducting a mobility exercise this week after making a last-minute decision to move the event away from the Gulf Coast... MORE

Iowa Air National Guard members from the 185th Air Refueling Wing board a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, Sept. 14, 2020, for a mobility training exercise.

Connecticut Guard Takes Holistic Approach to Fitness

Pennsylvania Guard Takes Part in African Lion 23 in Tunisia

Royal Thai Army Commander Visits Washington Guard Leaders

Michigan Guard Brings HIMARS Capability to Swift Response 23

194th Wing Conducts Phoenix Dawn Readiness Exercise