Guard News - The National Guard

How 9/11 shaped the future of the Washington National Guard
September 9, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The world is undoubtedly a different place than it was 20 years ago.Following the worst terrorist attack on U.S. soil, more than 200 Washington National Guardsmen deployed to... MORE

The 9/11 terrorist attacks 20 years ago prompted the Washington National Guard to make changes to face the increased threat at home and abroad.

National Guard supports vulnerable Afghans at military bases
August 31, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – National Guard Airmen and Soldiers from around the nation are helping support Afghan personnel who are temporarily housed at Department of Defense installations as part of Operation... MORE

U.S. Army Cpl. Sean Jackett, left, and Spc. Zackary Jensen, Wisconsin Army National Guard linguists, create signs in Dari and Pashto Aug. 25, 2021, to place in a welcome area for Afghans arriving at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center near Camp Douglas, Wisconsin. The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command and in support of the Department of State and Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening and general support for up to 50,000 Afghan evacuees.

Washington Guard, partner countries test cybersecurity
August 25, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – In a matter of minutes, cybercriminals strike an electrical grid outside Bangkok and critical infrastructure in Japan and Korea. It’s a likely scenario being tested and trained... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Lance Shimamoto, a cyber professional with 156th Information Operations Battalion, Washington Army National Guard, takes part in the "Red Team" exercise during the Cobra Gold 21 Cyber Exercise at Camp Murray, Wash., Aug. 11, 2021.

National Guard well-equipped to handle West Coast wildfires
August 2, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When wildfires happen in the West, the National Guard is there to fight those fires. And for now, they've got a good handle on the effort, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said... MORE

An Air National Guard C-130 drops retardant on the Beckwourth Complex Fire July 9, 2021, near Frenchman Lake in Northern California.

Aviation exchange marks return of in-person SPP engagement
July 27, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard welcomed six members of the Royal Thai Army Aviation Division back to Washington State to conduct a week-long aviation subject matter exchange at... MORE

Members of the 9th Aviation Battalion from the Royal Thai Army Aviation Center traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 20, 2021.

National Guard units across the nation complete Cyber Shield
July 26, 2021 — CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah - The National Guard completed its annual cyber defense training exercise July 23, with more than 750 top cyber defense professionals from Soldiers and Airmen to industry partners... MORE

Washington National Guard cyber experts and civilian partners who participated in the Cyber Shield 2021 exercise, shown July 21, 2021, at Camp Murray, Wash.

National Guard support critical to U.S. European Command
July 22, 2021 — STUTTGART, Germany – From Poland to Kosovo, Lithuania to Ukraine, Soldiers and Airmen from the U.S. National Guard operate alongside allies and partners throughout Europe. They train in all domains,... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Sachariason, left, a Soldier assigned to the Florida Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, instructs 1st Lt. Almir Sarac, a soldier with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, how to shoot the M4A1 carbine rifle at Manjaca Training Area, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 19, 2021.

506th Military Police train to develop new Soldiers
July 9, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – For the Citizen-Soldiers of the 506th Military Police Detachment, this year’s annual training was a chance to return to collective unit training and develop new Soldiers'... MORE

Washington National Guard Soldiers with the 506th Military Police train on a high-risk traffic stop as part of their annual training June 14, 2021, at Camp Murray, Wash. The 506th Military Police focused annual training this year on developing the skills of newer Soldiers.

Ordnance Battalion focuses on basics during annual training
July 1, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Following a year of irregular training, the 741st Ordnance Battalion (EOD) focused on the basics as the unit traveled more than 900 miles to Camp Roberts, California, for annual... MORE

A Washington National Guardsman participates in an explosive ordnance disposal exercise on June 18, 2021, at Camp Roberts, Calif.

Washington National Guard prepares for wildfire season
June 30, 2021 — RAINIER, Wash. – With the summer months in full swing, the Washington National Guard is preparing for what could be a busy fire season.“We successfully trained 180 Guardsmen during the four academies... MORE

Washington National Guard Pfc. Xavier Cha, 1st Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, practices with a flare during wildfire training with the Washington Department of Natural Resources June 24, 2021, in Rainier, Wash. About 250 Washington National Guard members received firefighter training this spring in preparation for wildfire season.

Military intelligence pros train at Panther Strike 21
June 25, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – After a year's hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the intelligence professionals of the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion and Delta Company 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion... MORE

Panther Strike participants stand at parade rest for a group photo at Camp Williams, Utah, June 7, 2021. Panther Strike is an elite military intelligence exercise organized by the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade to provide all-source training to counter hybrid threats in a technological and challenging environment.

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.

Utah Guard Opens Medical Simulation Training Center at Camp Williams

Louisiana Guard Supports State Police During Bayou Classic

New York Guard Volunteers Give Lift to Trees for Troops

New York Air Guard, Police Department Sharpen Rescue Skills in Exercise

Tennessee Guard Unit Returns from Southern Border Mission