Guard News - The National Guard

Wisconsin Army Guard Medic Earns Expert Field Medical Badge
May 23, 2023 — FORT MCCOY, Wis. - A Wisconsin Army National Guard combat medic has a coveted badge and some bragging rights after two intense weeks.Sgt. 1st Class Talon Dumke of Sun Prairie, a member of the... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Talon Dumke, second from right, a combat medic assigned to the Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team, with Lt. Col. Seth Kaste, right, 54th Civil Support Team commander, during the Expert Field Medical Badge ceremony May 12, 2023, at Fort McCoy, Wis. Dumke was one of eight Soldiers to complete the grueling competition, which challenged Soldiers in their technical proficiency and tactical acumen under extreme duress and scrutiny.

Guard Soldiers, Airmen Compete for All Guard Marathon Team
May 9, 2023 — LINCOLN, Neb. - More than 200 Airmen and Soldiers representing the National Guard from all 50 states, three U.S. territories and the District of Columbia ran the 46th annual Lincoln Marathon May 7,... MORE

National Guard athletes race in the 46th annual Lincoln Marathon, which also serves as the National Guard Marathon Team time trials, held May 7, 2023, in Lincoln, Nebraska. More than 200 National Guard Airmen and Soldiers from across the country competed for spots on the All Guard Marathon Team.

Iowa, Minnesota Guardsmen Win Regional Best Warrior Title
May 8, 2023 — NEWTON FALLS, OHIO – Soldiers from across the Midwest and from Hungary and the Republic of Serbia tested their mental and physical fortitude in the five-day regional Best Warrior Competition at Camp... MORE

Competitors begin the 12-mile ruck march at the Region IV Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center, Newton Falls, Ohio, May 7, 2023. Guard members from Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Illinois competed in land navigation, marksmanship, weapons skills, medical and radio skills and an appearance board, among other events.

Cal Guard, CAL FIRE Team up for Wildland Firefighting Training
May 2, 2023 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. - California National Guard members participated in annual wildland firefighting training alongside the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection near Ione April 23.The... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jacob Sorensen, crew chief, Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th General Support Aviation Battalion, Utah National Guard, on an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter during annual wildland firefighting training in Sacramento, Calif., April 22, 2023. California, Utah, Nevada and Wisconsin National Guard members participated in the training with CAL FIRE.

Wisconsin Guard Black Hawks Respond to Large Wildfire
April 14, 2023 — MADISON, Wis. - Two Wisconsin Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 helped battle a wildfire near Necedah in Juneau County April 12.The Wisconsin... MORE

A Wisconsin Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the Madison-based Army Aviation Support Facility #2 carries a bucket of water to help fight a fire near Necedah in Juneau County April 12, 2023. The Wisconsin National Guard responded to a request for assistance from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

Wisconsin Army Guard Conducts Aerial Firefighting Training
April 13, 2023 — FORT MCCOY, Wis. - Wisconsin Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew members with the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, trained to drop water on wildfires April 10 while the Fort... MORE

A Wisconsin Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aircrew with the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, trains to drop water on wildfires April 10, 2023, using a bucket at Fort McCoy, Wis.

Wisconsin National Guard, Papua New Guinea Strengthen Ties
April 3, 2023 — PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - Six Wisconsin Army National Guard noncommissioned officers visited Papua New Guinea March 20-27 to conduct a senior information exchange with counterparts from the... MORE

First Sgt. Aaron Ritchie, right, 64th Troop Command’s senior supply sergeant and sustainment noncommissioned officer (NCO) representative, asks a Papua New Guinea Defence Force Soldier about serial numbers for supply items March 24, 2023, at Murray Barracks in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea. Six NCOs conducted an information exchange with Papua New Guinea Defence Force counterparts March 20-27 as part of the State Partnership Program.

Kentucky Civil Response Team Hosts Multi-agency Exercise
March 17, 2023 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – If there ever were an incident at the Churchill Downs Racetrack requiring the specially trained chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) unit of the National Guard,... MORE

An officer with Louisville Metro Police's Hazardous Incident Response Team gets out of his hazardous material suit after working a simulated scenario with the help of Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Dormbrusch, 12th CST, New Hampshire National Guard, during a training event at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., March 13, 2023. National Guard CSTs from eight states participated in the one-day exercise.

Task Force Mustang Maintainers Sustain CENTCOM Flight Ops
March 6, 2023 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - With over six months of overseas duty completed, aviation Soldiers of the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Task Force Mustang, continue to maintain and repair aircraft for flight... MORE

U.S. Army aviation maintenance Soldiers from Delta Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, General Support Aviation Battalion, 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, "Task Force Mustang," gather in front of a readied CH-47F Chinook helicopter at the Udairi Landing Zone in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Feb. 18, 2023. Left to right: Spc. Jacob Hess, Pfc. Kaleb Fegurgur, Sgt. Adam Scheef, Spc. Sydney McElhany, Spc. Jacob Carreon, Spc. Jorge Gonzalez, Spc. Matthew Glover, Spc. Austin Chancellor, Spc. Louie Chacon, Staff Sgt. Nicholas Schupe, and Sgt. Kevin Vasquez.

Wisconsin Guard Trains on Fire Missions in Frigid Weather
February 1, 2023 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - At least one Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldier is a fan of the winter weather at Northern Strike, the country’s largest National Guard Bureau-sponsored military exercise.“I... MORE

A gun team from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment, set up an M119 howitzer during Northern Strike 23-1 on Jan. 21, 2023, at Camp Grayling, Mich. The 120th Field Artillery is building readiness by conducting cold-weather training to meet objectives of the Department of Defense’s Arctic strategy.

Northern Strike Builds Readiness, Challenges Visiting Units
January 27, 2023 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. - The muzzle flash of an M240 machine gun illuminates a snow-covered embankment. Below, military vehicles pulling field artillery guns grind to a halt as Soldiers duck and begin... MORE

Staff Sgt. Daniel Czech ambushes a convoy from the 120th Field Artillery Regiment, Wisconsin National Guard, during Northern Strike 23-1 exercise Jan. 26, 2023, at Camp Grayling, Mich. The training builds readiness for visiting units by challenging Soldiers in a variety of ways.

Wisconsin National Guard Supports Search and Rescue Training
January 23, 2023 — MERRILL, Wis. – A Wisconsin Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter crew participated in a collaborative first responder search and rescue training exercise in southern Lincoln County Jan. 14.Maj... MORE

Sgt. Patrick Blaesing, a Wisconsin Army National Guard combat medic, works with local first responders to load a simulated patient for transport by Black Hawk helicopter during a search and rescue training exercise Jan. 14, 2023, in southern Lincoln County.

Northern Strike 23-1 set for Northern Michigan Winter
January 10, 2023 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Northern Strike 23-1, this year’s winter exercise hosted by the Michigan National Guard, is scheduled across Northern Michigan’s National All-Domain Warfighting Center Jan... MORE

Bravo Battery, 120th Field Artillery Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Wisconsin National Guard, conducted a fires mission at Camp Grayling, Mich., Jan. 24. 2022, during Northern Strike 22-1. The 2023 version is scheduled at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center Jan. 20-29.

Wisconsin, Papua New Guinea Sign State Partnership Agreement
December 13, 2022 — PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - Leaders of the Wisconsin National Guard and Papua New Guinea signed a State Partnership Program agreement Dec. 2. The partnership officially began in 2020, but... MORE

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Mark Goina, chief of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after signing a State Partnership Program agreement Dec. 2, 2022, in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Illinois Guard Hands off Africa Mission to Wisconsin Guard
November 16, 2022 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – The Illinois Army National Guard’s 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade transferred responsibility for the Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa headquarters staff... MORE

A guidon bearer from the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade holds the unit's colors during a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Nov. 5, 2022.

Packers Visit Wisconsin Guard Challenge Academy Cadets
October 25, 2022 — FORT MCCOY, Wis. – Members of the Green Bay Packers football team visited the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy campus at Fort McCoy Oct. 18.Seven players shared lunch with cadets, toured... MORE

Green Bay Packers running back Aaron Jones answers a question from cadets during a visit to the Wisconsin National Guard Challenge Academy campus at Fort McCoy, Wis., Oct. 18, 2022. The voluntary Challenge Academy program uses a structured military-style environment and state-certified teachers and counselors to reshape the lives of 16-to-18-year-olds at risk of not completing high school.

Wisconsin Army Guard Prepares for Africa deployment
October 4, 2022 — MILWAUKEE – Col. Eric Leckel, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, told 280 deploying Soldiers and their families and friends about the historic nature... MORE

Col. Eric Leckel, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, speaks during a formal sendoff ceremony Sept. 30, 2022, in downtown Milwaukee. Approximately 280 Soldiers from the brigade’s headquarters company and 357th Signal Company will support Operation Enduring Freedom – Horn of Africa to enhance partnerships and stability in the region.

Wisconsin Guard Soldiers Hone Survival, Rescue Skills in Fox River
September 14, 2022 — OSHKOSH, Wis. – Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers conducted combat water survival and swift water rescue training in the Fox River Sept. 10.The rigorous training prepared the Soldiers of Company A,... MORE

Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers of Company A, 2nd Battalion, 127th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conduct combat water survival and swift water rescue training on the Fox River in Oshkosh, Wis., Sept. 10, 2022.

National Guard Honored for Youth ChalleNGe Program
September 1, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, which helps “at-risk” teens earn their high school diploma or GED, earned national recognition Aug. 31 during the 103rd American Legion... MORE

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp accepts the 2022 American Legion National Education Award on behalf of the National Guard Bureau at The American Legion 103rd National Convention at the Milwaukee Center in Milwaukee Aug. 31, 2022. The award was presented for the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe program, which helps “at-risk” teens earn their high school diploma or GED.

Wisconsin Guard Civil Support Team Hones Skills, Supports Events
August 8, 2022 — Milwaukee, Wis. – Of the more than 445 thousand people who thronged Summerfest this year at Milwaukee’s lakefront, a handful were checking out more than the music.Members of the Wisconsin National... MORE

Members of the Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team (CST) identify where they will enter a building with a notional contaminant as part of a hazardous material training exercise in Poynette, Wis., July 14 at the Village Hall.

Massachusetts Guardsman Epitomizes Army ‘Be All You Can Be’

Wisconsin Army Guard Soldiers Reflect on Africa Deployment

New York Guard Completes Horn of Africa Security Mission

Malaysia, U.S. Strengthen Ties at Bersama Warrior Exercise

Maryland Army National Guard ‘Takes Flight’ with Raven