Guard News - The National Guard

New Mexico National Guard Rescues Flood Victims
July 1, 2024 — RUIDOSO, N.M. - Six New Mexico Army National Guard Soldiers rescued four elderly Ruidoso residents from their home during a dramatic mission June 29 as floods began to wash out parts of the area... MORE

Six New Mexico Army National Guard Soldiers rescued four elderly residents from their home in Ruidoso June 29, 2024, as floods began to wash out parts of the area scarred by recent wildfires.

National Guard Athletes Finish Strong at Lincoln Marathon
May 6, 2024 — LINCOLN, Neb. - Twenty-one of the National Guard’s best athletes from the All Guard Marathon Team, representing 17 states and territories, competed in the 47th annual Lincoln Marathon May 5. The... MORE

Puerto Rico National Guard runner Sgt. Angeles Virella crosses the finish line of the 47th annual Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon May 5, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Nebraska National Guard has a long history of supporting the Lincoln Marathon, which biennially serves as the time trials for the National Guard All Guard Marathon Team.

First Lady Welcomes National Guard Families to White House
December 1, 2023 — WASHINGTON - For the second straight year, first lady Jill Biden welcomed National Guardsmen, spouses and children to the White House to discuss their challenges and how best to support them.The first... MORE

First lady Jill Biden welcomes National Guard senior leaders and family members for a roundtable discussion on support for National Guard children in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington Nov. 27, 2023. Attendees, including Guard children, and adjutants general, also joined the first lady’s presentation of the 2023 White House “Magic, Wonder & Joy” holiday theme and decorations.

National Guard’s Heritage Honored at Storied Army Base
November 7, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – In a hallowed corner of Patton Hall at Northern Virginia’s Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, a journey through the annals of American military history awaits. An officer’s saber from... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, left, chief of the National Guard Bureau, chats with Air Force Maj. Gen. John P. Hronek, the adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, during the opening ceremony at The 1636 Room at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Patton Hall in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 1, 2023. Named in recognition of the first organized militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 – the predecessor of today’s National Guard – the exhibit space runs the gamut of strategically placed artifacts, framed flags, panel displays, photographs, visual arts and replicated items.

Montana, NM, Arizona Guard Provide Health Care on Reservation
August 29, 2023 — FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. - More than 100 service members, including Montana, New Mexico and Arizona National Guard personnel, conducted medical operations to support the 2023 Walking Shield... MORE

Over 100 service members from the Montana, Arizona and New Mexico National Guard, U.S. Army Reserves, U.S. Public Health Service and U.S. Air Force conducted medical operations for two weeks in August to support of the 2023 Walking Shield Innovative Readiness Training at the Fort Belknap Reservation, Montana.

Army Guard Sniper Team Wins International Sniper Competition
April 27, 2023 — FORT BENNING, Ga. - It’s official. Soldiers from the U.S. Army National Guard are the best snipers in the world. Four National Guard sniper teams emerged as best contenders in the 2023 International... MORE

Team Leader Sgt. 1st Class Erik Vargas of the New Mexico National Guard, and teammates Staff Sgt. Benjamin Cotten and Staff Sgt. Allen Smith of the Arkansas National Guard during the International Sniper Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., April 8-13, 2023. The team placed first.

Guam National Guard Hosts Chief of Staff Advisory Council
April 21, 2023 — BARRIGADA, Guam - National Guard chiefs of staff from seven states visited Guam this week as part of ongoing efforts to prioritize Guam in regional and national defense strategy.The seven U.S. Army... MORE

National Guard chiefs of staff from Region VII render a solemn salute at the Guam National Guard Fallen Heroes Memorial in Barrigada April 18, 2023. The delegation spent three days on the island to discuss regional issues, share best practices, and gain a better understanding of the uniqueness of Guam's operational and cultural environment.

Guard Continues Domestic, Global Missions in a Busy 2022
December 21, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The National Guard’s footprint on domestic and international events continued in 2022, highlighting its transformation from a Cold War strategic reserve to the combat reserve of the... MORE

Spc. Megan Koszarek, an infantryman with the Alaska Army National Guard’s Avalanche Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, conducts a security sweep during a training exercise near Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Dec. 3, 2022. The exercise's aim was to enhance the unit’s combat readiness and evaluate proficiency in an arctic environment.

New Mexico Guard's 3631st Signal Company Ends Deployment
November 17, 2022 — RIO RANCHO, N.M. - Approximately 30 Soldiers from the 3631st Signal Company have reunited with their families, ending a deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility to support... MORE

Staff Sgt. Robert Chavez, a signal support systems specialist with the 3631st Signal Company, reunites with his children at the Rio Rancho Readiness Center Nov. 15, 2022, following a 10-month deployment to the Central Command Area of Responsibility to support Operation Spartan Shield. The unit provided communications support to forces across the region.

New Mexico Guard Cyber Teams Train with Mescalero Apache Telecom
June 22, 2022 — RUIDOSO, N.M. - New Mexico National Guard Airmen and Soldiers trained with Mescalero Apache Telecom Inc. June 13-16 as part of the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training program that... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jamison Herrera, deputy adjutant general, New Mexico National Guard, talks to the Cyber Innovative Readiness Training team during his visit to Mescalero Apache Telecom Inc. in Ruidoso, N.M., June 16, 2022. The New Mexico Air and Army Guard spent a week with their MATI counterparts focusing on cyber issues.

Utah National Guardsman is Regional Soldier of the Year
June 3, 2022 — GUAM – Seven states and the territory of Guam sent their strongest, fittest and most capable Soldiers to compete in the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on Guam, May 23-26. The competition crowned... MORE

Blindfolded competitors are taken on a boat to an island during the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on Guam May 26, 2022. The annual competition featured the best noncommissioned officer and Soldier from Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The winners move on to the national competition in July.

Fighting wildfires almost year-round, Guard preps for more
May 26, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The Hermit’s Peak Fire in New Mexico is now the largest fire in state history, scorching more than 310,000 acres and prompting the governor to activate nearly 180 New Mexico National... MORE

A Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter drops water from a 780-gallon bucket onto a smoldering hot spot near Arapahoe, Nebraska, April 9, 2022. National Guard units throughout the nation have been fighting wildfires already, before the traditional start of the wildfire season in June.

New Mexico Guardsman assists woman suffering seizures
January 21, 2022 — KIRTLAND AIR FORCE BASE, N.M. – New Mexico National Guard Capt. Adrian Mateos was having lunch in Kearny, New Jersey, Oct. 14 when he noticed a woman faint and fall to the ground because of a... MORE

Capt. Adrian Mateos assisted with a medical emergency while supporting the Operation Allies Welcome mission in Kearny, New Jersey, Oct. 14, 2021. He is a medical services corps officer with the 150th Medical Group, New Mexico Air National Guard.

COVID-19 adds intensity to Golf Company MEDEVAC mission
August 9, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – In June, the condition of a Soldier with COVID-19 began rapidly deteriorating. The Soldier was intubated and placed on heavy narcotics. He needed to get from Camp Arifjan,... MORE

A Task Force Phoenix medevac crew from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), known as DUSTOFF, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The fully vaccinated crew took extra precautions during a medevac mission in which they transported a severe COVID-19 patient to higher care. Clockwise from top left, emergency critical care nurse Maj. Cody McDonald, flight medic Staff Sgt. Jose Bulow, crew chief Sgt. Dena Lee and pilot 1st Lt. James Pettigrew.

Training team seizes opportunities on medical mission
July 15, 2021 — GREENVILLE, Miss. – When Capt. Adrian Mateos, 150th Medical Group, New Mexico Air National Guard, was named the officer in charge of training for the 2021 Delta Wellness Innovative Readiness Training... MORE

Capt. Adrian Mateos, officer in charge of Delta Wellness Innovative Readiness Training, teaches a class on “combatives” July 10, 2021. Mateos was responsible for the entire training program during the two-week IRT.

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.

New Mexico Guard, USAF join forces to administer vaccines
March 24, 2021 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – New Mexico National Guard members joined active-duty U.S. Air Force personnel to administer COVID-19 vaccinations at the Wyoming Readiness Center March 18.With support and supplies... MORE

A member of the New Mexico National Guard administers a COVID-19 vaccine at the Wyoming Readiness Center in Albuquerque, N.M., March 18, 2021. The NMNG and active-duty Air Force vaccinated about 400 eligible Department of Defense service members, federal technicians, contractors and others.

New Mexico woman joins husband, son in National Guard
January 22, 2021 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Tanya Saavedra thought her days in the military had ended.During 14 years in the Navy, Tanya pushed her body to its limits as a combat diver and underwater technician, going on... MORE

The Saavedra family: Pvt. Jeremiah Shaw, Staff Sgt. Tanya Saavedra and 1st Sgt. Jason Saavedra. Tanya Saavedra enlisted in the New Mexico National Guard after 14 years in the Navy. Jason Saavedra is a 21-year veteran of the National Guard. Shaw, a 17-year-old high school senior, enlisted in the Guard at the end of his junior year.

National Guard troops in DC for inaugural support
January 14, 2021 — WASHINGTON – National Guard troops from all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia are supporting law enforcement in the nation's capital for the presidential inauguration.More than... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, stand guard Jan. 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from multiple states have traveled to Washington to support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th presidential inauguration.

Guard Soldiers achieve marksmanship overmatch in Utah
July 17, 2020 — LEHI, Utah – At 800 meters from the target, the Soldiers started running. The sun beat down on their shoulders as their boots pounded along the winding dirt road, kicking up dust. Each Soldier carried... MORE

Staff Sgt. Wayne “Guido” Gray, California National Guard, engages targets in the Reflexive Fire match July 10, 2020, during the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region Seven Championships at Camp Williams, Bluffdale, Utah. Thirty-four Guard members from California, Colorado, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah spent three intense days in the mountains of Utah competing. Colorado took home the team championship title.

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training

Oregon National Guard Trains for Peacekeeping Deployments

Medical Training Brings New Opportunities to Blackfeet Tribe