Guard News - The National Guard

WANG's 1041st Transportation Company trains in Montana
June 23, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – After eight months of planning and preparing, the transportation specialists from the 1041st Transportation Company made it to Fort Harrison, Montana, to conduct the unit’s... MORE

A Washington National Guard member of the 1041st Transportation Company ensures equipment is tied down before departing Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., June 7, 2021, for annual training at Fort Harrison, Montana.

WANG chemical company conducts annual training
June 22, 2021 — RICHLAND, Wash. – Given its mission, the 792nd Chemical Company is trained for a variety of unexpected situations. However, the last year presented unimaginable challenges that placed training on... MORE

Members of the Washington National Guard's 792nd Chemical Company conduct a chemical sampling exercise in a biological hazard environment at the HAMMER Training Facility in Richland, Wash., June 15, 2021. The 792nd Chemical Company supports the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear team under the Washington National Guard Region X Homeland Response Force.

Guardsmen earn Norwegian Foot March Badge during joint event
June 11, 2021 — ELLENSBURG, Wash. – Kittitas County farmland doesn’t seem like the place to earn a coveted military honor, but for Washington National Guardsmen and Central Washington University cadets, it was the... MORE

Capt. Laudy Choum, communications officer with the 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, poses with other members of the Washington National Guard after completing the Norwegian Foot March in Ellensburg, Wash., June 5, 2021. Participants must march 18.6 miles within 4 hours, 30 minutes while in uniform and boots carrying a 25-pound rucksack.

Washington National Guard prepares for wildfire season
May 27, 2021 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Washington National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are transitioning from COVID-19 response and civil disturbance missions to prepare for what could be another... MORE

Soldiers from the Washington National Guard take part in wildland firefighter training with the Washington Department of Natural Resources at Joint Base Lewis-McChord May 25, 2021. The Washington National Guard has partnered with the DNR since 2013 to conduct annual wildland firefighter training.

National Guard, partners to conduct ORCA 21 CBRNE exercise
May 14, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Hundreds of National Guard Civil Support Team units from 11 states will participate in Exercise ORCA 2021 in Anchorage, Matanuska-Susitna Valley and Seward... MORE

Members of the Michigan National Guard’s 51st Civil Support Team run through decontamination procedures during Northern Exposure 21, March 16, 2021, at Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Northern Exposure 21 was integrated with another exercise known as Rising Waters 2021. This year's scenario was catastrophic flooding leading to chemical contamination, which was followed by a possible WMD situation.

Sisters and brother-in-law follow brother, join Washington Guard
May 5, 2021 — PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – After graduating from high school, Mark James admits he was a little lost. “I did an early program and I graduated high school a year and a half early,” said Mark. “I looked... MORE

From left to right with Staff Sgt. Tramal Williams: Kelsey James, Balint Moreland, Courtney James, Caitlin James join brother Mark James as a member of the Washington Army National Guard.

Deployed Washington Guard captain embraces opportunities
April 23, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Deployments are often spent surrounded by fellow Guardsmen, which makes the time away from home much easier. Sometimes, they’re spent alone. “I have been a bit of a lone survivor... MORE

Capt. Theodore Tatum, a logistician with the Washington National Guard, prepares for a supply air drop in support of Special Operations Task Force-North West Africa. Tatum is stationed at Baumholder, Germany, and has been supporting the mission for 15 months.

Michigan, Latvia strengthen partnership in virtual workshop
April 2, 2021 — LANSING, Mich. – U.S. military public affairs professionals from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington joined with counterparts from the Republic of Latvia to sharpen their skills as media... MORE

The Michigan National Guard and Latvia strengthened their partnership under the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program with a virtual workshop March 15-19, 2021. U.S. military public affairs professionals from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington joined with counterparts from the Republic of Latvia to sharpen their skills as media content creators.

Task Force Phoenix trains at North Fort Hood for deployment
March 29, 2021 — NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas – Flexibility and adaptability have been key for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade in the lead-up to a 9-month deployment to the Middle East.The brigade is poised to deploy to... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jose Bulow, a flight medic with Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), is hoisted into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, March 26, 2021, at North Fort Hood, Texas, as part of training before a 9-month mission to the Middle East. Golf Company is attached to Task Force Phoenix, led by the California Army National Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade.

In historic year, Washington National Guard answers the call
March 11, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – To describe 2020 as unprecedented would be an understatement. "This past year has been a trying year," said Washington National Guard Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant... MORE

Staff Sgt. Melinda Grounds, a medic with the 141st Medical Group and a registered nurse in Idaho, goes through a questionnaire with a visitor to the mass vaccination site at the Clark County Fairgrounds in Ridgefield, Wash., Jan. 28, 2021. The Washington National Guard is helping at four vaccination sites.

Guard's mobile team vaccinates residents of San Juan Islands
March 10, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Tears of joy and sighs of relief greeted members of the Washington National Guard’s mobile vaccination team in late February when they began administering vaccines on the San Juan... MORE

Service members with Joint Task Force Steelhead's mobile vaccination team board a Washington State ferry en route to Orcas Island, Washington, March 2, 2021. The Washington National Guard’s MVT travels around the state, delivering and administering the COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk communities and remote areas.

Washington National Guard supports 4 vaccination sites
February 2, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As demand for the COVID-19 vaccine climbs, more than 150 Washington National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are helping the state ensure Washingtonians receive their first dose.“We are... MORE

Teamwork leads to historic mobilization of Washington Guard
January 19, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Dozens of Washington National Guard Airmen and Soldiers listened to words of encouragement from their state and military leadership in the passenger terminal at Joint Base... MORE

Gov. Jay Inslee speaks to members of the Washington National Guard Jan., 17, 2021, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., before their departure to Washington, D.C., to support the presidential inauguration. They are among 25,000 Guard members who are in the District of Columbia from all 50 states, three territories and D.C.

Washington National Guard supports Emergency Food Network
January 13, 2021 — FIFE, Wash. – While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to drive the need at food banks across the country, members of the Washington National Guard working alongside Emergency Food Network staff packed... MORE

Washington National Guard Pfc. Trenton Choate packs a food box at the Emergency Food Network warehouse in Fife, Wash., on Jan. 6, 2021. The Guard helped pack more than 8,000 emergency food boxes for residents of Pierce County.

10th Civil Support Team supports COVID-19 response
January 7, 2021 — SHORELINE, Wash. – As more people are vaccinated for COVID-19, the need for testing is still critical to slow the spread and reopen the economy.In December, the Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil... MORE

Maj. Wes Watson, commander of the Washington National Guard's 10th Civil Support Team, tests a COVID-19 collection sample in the mobile laboratory on behalf of the Washington Department of Health on Jan. 5, 2021, in Shoreline, Wash.

10th Civil Support Team trains at SeaTac Airport
November 24, 2020 — SEATAC, Wash. – Seattle-Tacoma International Airport is one of the nation's busiest airports and one of the busiest ports of entry into the United States for foreign travelers. Those are solid reasons... MORE

Survey team members from the 10th Civil Support Team conduct a hazardous material detection exercise with the Port of Seattle Fire Department with Washington State Department of Health observers at the Seattle Tacoma International Airport on Nov. 18, 2020. The 10th Civil Support Teams trains for a number of different scenarios alongside civilian first responders.

National Guard will support election in multiple states
November 2, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – At the request of their governors, Soldiers and Airmen of the National Guard are assisting at polling stations, providing cyber support and conducting logistical missions for the Nov... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Jordan Rivera, left, and Sgt. Evan M. Ruggiero, both with Charlie Battery, 3-112th Field Artillery Regiment, New Jersey Army National Guard, process ballots at the Atlantic County Board of Elections in Mays Landing, N.J., July 7, 2020. More than 100 New Jersey Army National Guard Soldiers assisted election officials in seven counties during the state’s primary.

Guard responds after wildfires hinder food bank operations
September 29, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – When wildfires threatened thousands of homes in the Sumner-Bonney Lake area, related power outages threatened an important lifeline.“The Guard saved this food bank, they came in... MORE

Members of the Washington National Guard pack and distribute food at a food bank in Touchet, Wash., May 13, 2020. Washington Air and Army National Guards service members are supporting food banks around the state during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Cyber Shield 2020 tests Washington Guard cyber professionals
September 24, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As cyber threats become more sophisticated, there is an increased demand on cyber professionals in the National Guard to help protect critical infrastructure in cyberspace.The... MORE

Ten members of the Washington National Guard, shown at Camp Murray, Wash., Sept. 22, 2020, took part in the Cyber Shield 2020 virtual cybersecurity exercise involving more than 800 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from around the United States.

Western Air Defense Sector helps shape ABMS
September 21, 2020 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – A small Washington Air National Guard unit has become a key player for Air Force acquisitions in the evolution of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, adjutant general, Washington National Guard, second from left, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, commander, Washington Air National Guard, second from right, observe software demonstrations during an Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) onramp event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 2-3, 2020.

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