Guard News - The National Guard

S.C. Soldier’s childhood dream becomes reality
October 1, 2018 — GEORGETOWN, S.C. - His journey began in middle school. There was a television show called "Inside Combat Rescue" that he watched nonstop. He dedicated his life to it. To this day, he still has every... MORE

Spc. Cody Watkins, 125th Multi-Role Bridge Company crew member, participates in a training exercise on the Sampit River in Georgetown, South Carolina on Sept. 24, 2018. If the flooding gets as bad as expected, his fulltime mission will be on the water helping to transport emergency vehicles to and from the mainland.

S.C. National Guard prepares for the worst on Sampit River
October 1, 2018 — GEORGETOWN, S.C. - More than 60 Soldiers with South Carolina's 125th Multi-Role Bridge Company, out of Abbeville, were mobilized Sept. 11, and continue to provide support to local communities in... MORE

South Carolina National Guard Soldiers from the 125th Multi-Role Bridge Company, Abbeville, South Carolina, drive to a float bridge on the Sampit River in Georgetown, South Carolina, Sept. 26, 2018. The float bridge is used to transport main supplies to and from areas that can no longer be accessed by roadways.

Army Guard comm tool kit supports Florence response
September 27, 2018 — WHITEVILLE, N.C. - The North Carolina Army National Guard used its new tactical network communication tool suite, known as the Disaster Incident Response Emergency Communications Terminal, or DIRECT,... MORE

Soldiers from the North Carolina Army National Guard 295th Signal Network Support Company (NSC), 130th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade configure the Commercial Coalition Equipment (CCE), part of their Disaster Incident Response Emergency Communications Terminal (DIRECT) system. The unit used the system to support Columbus County Emergency Management 911 Dispatch in Whiteville.

South Carolina Soldiers erecting quick-deployment water barriers
September 27, 2018 — GEORGETOWN, S.C. - South Carolina National Guard Soldiers from the 1220th Area Clearance Platoon, 1226th Utilities Detachment and 1227th Engineering Detachment based in Batesburg, South Carolina,... MORE

Sgt. Cody Puckett, 1226th Engineering Company training NCO and heavy equipment leader, fills a HESCO water barrier with dirt outside the Tidelands Health Georgetown Memorial Hospital in Georgetown, South Carolina, on Sept. 25, 2018. Approximately 2,000 South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are on duty to support local authorities in response and recovery operations to the ongoing flooding that followed Hurricane Florence's landfall. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from Alaska, Arkansas, Georgia, Maryland, New York, Tennessee, Virginia and Wisconsin are also supporting the South Carolina National Guard recovery efforts.

Pennsylvania Guard flies pump hoses and assesses flooding
September 26, 2018 — MYRTLE BEACH, S.C. – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard task force in South Carolina launched reconnaissance and transportation missions Tuesday from Myrtle Beach International Airport... MORE

U.S. soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard prepare a CH-47 Chinook helicopter for a transportation mission at Myrtle Beach International Airport, Sept. 25, 2018. The crew flew equipment to Georgetown, South Carolina, in response to flooding in the area from Hurricane Florence.

National Guard assists SC DOT to stem flood effects
September 26, 2018 — PAWLEY'S ISLAND, S.C. - Soldiers from the South Carolina Army National Guard are assisting the state's Department of Transportation in constructing an AquaDam to keep Highway 17 open from Georgetown... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from the South Carolina Army National Guard’s Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 118th Regiment carry hoses to set up an AquaDam on Highway 17 in Georgetown County, S.C., Sept. 25, 2018. The Soldiers are assisting South Carolina Department of Transportation with setup of the AquaDam to keep roads open during the rising waters in the area after Hurricane Florence.

Guard nation comes together after Hurricane Florence
September 24, 2018 — RALEIGH, N.C. - Hurricane Florence slammed into the Carolina coast as a Category 1 storm Sept. 14, and then it sat there. Florence quickly downgraded to a tropical storm but moved slowly enough, at... MORE

The North Carolina National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Morrisville, North Carolina, hosted Guard members and aircraft from 13 states who have flown in to support the N.C. in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence.

National Guard joins forces with Army Corps of Engineers
September 21, 2018 — CONWAY, S.C. - U.S. Army Corps of Engineers logistics and technical advisors join forces with South Carolina National Guard engineering battalions as part of Hurricane Florence response and recovery... MORE

U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Charleston District Commander, Lt. Col. Jeffrey Palazzini, left, coordinates flood mitigations efforts underway along U.S. Highway 501 in Horry County, S.C., with South Carolina Army National Guard Lt. Col. William A. Matheny, commander, 122 Engineering Battalion, Sept. 16, 2018. Army National Guard engineering units are working here with U.S. Army Corps of Engineers logistics and technical experts in support of FEMA, state and local partners during post-storm recovery operations.

Pennsylvania Guard rescues two South Carolina flood victims
September 21, 2018 — MULLINS, S.C. – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard and Pennsylvania Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team performed an aerial evacuation of two stranded residents Thursday. A Pennsylvania National... MORE

Flood victims hold hands aboard a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during an aerial evacuation over Marion County, South Carolina, Sept. 20, 2018. Pennsylvania Guard air crews joined to rescue them.

Massachusetts Guard member helps a neighbor in flood
September 20, 2018 — QUINCY, Mass. - While the remnants of Hurricane Florence continued to travel up the East Coast, Quincy was hit with flash flooding which resulted in some deep waters for commuters on Sept. 18. That... MORE

Spc. Mathew Hernon, a motor transport operator of the 1058th Transportation Company, Massachusetts National Guard, wades through the remnants of Hurricane Florence to assist a disabled woman trapped in her vehicle on Sept. 18, 2018.

Alaska, Calif., N.Y. Guard Airmen team up for N.C. rescues
September 20, 2018 — LUMBERTON, N.C.-The initial call from the local emergency operations center was that there were "ten plus one" people cut off at a farm by floodwaters who needed to be evacuated on Monday, Sept. 17... MORE

Pararescue Airmen Tech Sgt. Ryan Dush and Staff Sgt. Griffin Elzey, both members of the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, are lowered out of a HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the wing during a rescue mission in Lumberton, North Carolina, on Sept. 17, 2018. The two Airmen were descending to make an assessment of how many people were in the house, surrounded by flood waters and the best way to get them out. Eventually 15 people were rescued by two HH-60s, one flown by New York Air Guardsmen and the other by an aircrew from the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing.

Tenn. Guard Helicopters arrive in N.C. for Florence Support
September 19, 2018 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Three Black Hawk helicopters from the Tennessee National Guard's 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion arrived in North Carolina late Monday to assist in the relief effort of... MORE

Aircrew of the Tennessee National Guard’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion prepares to depart for North Carolina Sept. 17, 2018 to assist in the relief efforts of Hurricane Florence. Three aircraft with hoist capability will provide medical evacuation support to those most affected by the storm, as well as the ability to transport medical patients and supplies.

Michigan National Guard is helping after Florence floods
September 19, 2018 — LANSING, Mich. - The Michigan Army National Guard has mobilized six personnel from the Grand Ledge-based, C Company, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion and a HH60M Black Hawk helicopter to... MORE

Six Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers from the Grand Ledge-based, C Company, 3-238th General Support Aviation Battalion and a HH60M Black Hawk departed Sept. 17, 2018, to support relief efforts following the devastation and flooding caused by Hurricane Florence.

South Carolina Guard rises to occasion as waters go up
September 19, 2018 — CHESTERFIELD, S.C. - Tropical Storm Florence dumped unprecedented amounts of rain on the Carolinas during the weekend of Sept. 14-16, causing many rivers connecting the two states to overflow. That... MORE

South Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Bennettsville, S.C., law enforcement work together to help the local community evacuate as flooding caused by Tropical Storm Florence forces people from their home, Sept.16, 2018. Approximately 3,400 Soldiers and Airmen have been mobilized to prepare, respond and participate in recovery efforts as Tropical Storm Florence has caused flooding and damage to the state.

Indiana National Guard units supporting Florence relief
September 19, 2018 — INDIANAPOLIS – The 38th Combat Aviation Brigade deployed to Raleigh, North Carolina, on Sept. 16 to support Hurricane Florence relief efforts. After the request for aviation support was received from... MORE

Indiana National Guard soldiers with the 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion prepare a UH-60 for takeoff at the Gary Aviation Facility and prep the aircraft for hurricane relief efforts on September 16, 2018.

N.Y. Guard helicopters take off supporting hurricane rescue
September 19, 2018 — ROCHESTER, N.Y.-Two CH-47 Chinook heavy lift helicopters departed the New York Army National Guard flight facility in Rochester Monday morning with eight Soldiers to assist in the Hurricane Florence... MORE

HH-60 helicopters from the 106th Rescue Wing, New York Air National Guard, take off from Oceana, Virginia, in support of Hurricane Florence Relief Operations, September 12, 2018.

'It's not over,' Guard says of N.C. hurricane-relief mission
September 19, 2018 — FORT BRAGG, N.C. - Soldiers continue to help evacuate residents in flood-ravaged communities along North Carolina's coastal plains days after Hurricane Florence made landfall. Army personnel have... MORE

South Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers with the 1053rd Transportation Company assist a family that was trapped inside their vehicle during the early morning hours as a result of flood waters on the roadway in Hamer, S.C., Sept. 18, 2018. Rescues are underway in hard-hit North Carolina as well.

Pa. Guard continues search and rescue from Myrtle Beach, S.C.
September 19, 2018 — EASTOVER, S.C. – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard launched multiple search and rescue missions Tuesday in South Carolina from McEntire Joint National Guard Base here. Pennsylvania National... MORE

A U.S. Army high clearance vehicle makes its way to a stranded pick up truck on a flooded roadway near Nichols, South Carolina, Sept. 18, 2018.

Emergency means it's time to serve for this S.C. Guard MP
September 18, 2018 — FLORENCE, S.C. - Service during times of crisis is nothing new to Staff Sgt. Marvin Miller, a military policeman with the South Carolina National Guard's 133rd Military Police Company. Miller has... MORE

South Carolina National Guards Staff Sgt. Marvin Miller serves in the 133rd Military Police Company based in Timmonsville, South Carolina. Miller has served in the S.C. Guard for 17 years, with multiple deployments and numerous state activation missions during his career.

Air Guard rescue crews save 19 in one day in N.C.
September 18, 2018 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - Air National Guard Search and Rescue (SAR) teams from Alaska and New York conducted operations Monday in Sampson and Clinton Counties, North Carolina, resulting in 19 saves. Alaska... MORE

Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing’s 212th Rescue Squadron assist with recovering isolated flood survivors via a California ANG’s 129th Wing HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter crewed by members of the 210th RQS near Sampson County, N.C., Sept. 17, 2018.

National Guard Mobilizes Again to Provide Hurricane Relief

Tennessee Guardsmen Support Hurricane Recovery

Oklahoma Guard Supports Hurricane Relief in South Carolina

Ohio Guard Aircrews Assist with Hurricane Response Ops

California Airmen Receive Purple Heart Following Jordan Attack