Guard News - The National Guard

PRANG Airman makes PPE for security forces, first responders
April 14, 2020 — CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – A Puerto Rico Air National Guard Airman is taking an innovative approach to the shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE) during the COVID-19 pandemic.After reading about... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Alejandro Oyola with the 156th Security Forces Squadron checks identification at the entrance to Muñiz Air National Guard Base, Puerto Rico Air National Guard, while wearing personal protective equipment, April 9, 2020. The 156th SFS Defenders now have plastic face shields, created by 1st Lt. Jose Arroyo, a cyberspace operations officer with the 156th Communications Flight.

Iowa National Guard couple combats COVID-19
April 13, 2020 — JOHNSTON, Iowa – More than 200 Soldiers and Airmen in the Iowa National Guard have been called to state active duty to help combat COVID-19. Many of them have spouses and children at home and go weeks... MORE

Spc. Janet Fonseca, a motor transport operator with the 1168th Transportation Company, Iowa Army National Guard, delivers medical supplies to Benton County emergency personnel in Vinton, Iowa, April 8, 2020. Fonseca and her husband, Pfc. Cesar Galvan, are both serving on state active duty in the 1168th to transport medical personal protective equipment to help combat the spread of COVID-19.

FLNG Soldiers take over Jacksonville drive-thru test site
April 13, 2020 — JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Soldiers with the Florida National Guard began supporting Jacksonville’s COVID-19 community-based testing site (CBTS) at TIAA Bank Field Monday.More than 60 members of the 3rd... MORE

A Florida National Guard Soldier works alongside a nurse as he learns the processes at Jacksonville’s COVID-19 community-based testing site at TIAA Bank Field, April 13, 2020. The FLNG's 3rd Battalion of the 20th Special Forces Group (Airborne) is taking over operation of the site.

Illinois Air Guard C-130s join the fight against COVID-19
April 13, 2020 — EUGENE, Ore. – What could have been a three-day trek across 2,150 miles of interstate highway was shortened to overnight delivery by Air National Guard C-130H Hercules aircraft joining Illinois’ fight... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Evan Spotloe, foreground, a loadmaster, and Staff Sgt. Seth Johnson, a flight engineer, both with the 169th Airlift Squadron, Illinois Air National Guard, help load medical isolation pods into a C-130H Hercules in Eugene, Ore., April 8, 2020. Two 182nd Airlift Wing C-130 aircrews airlifted 250 isolation pods in a cross-country overnight homeland defense mission delivery to Chicago for use in an alternate medical facility.

West Virginia National Guard ramps up COVID-19 support
April 13, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Since beginning support of the state’s COVID-19 response a month ago, the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) has completed nearly 320 missions and now has almost 585 members on... MORE

Members of the West Virginia National Guard’s Task Force Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise (CRE) (TF-CRE) sanitize workspaces for the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission in Charleston April 11, 2020.

Oklahoma National Guard medics train for COVID-19 response
April 13, 2020 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard medics joined forces in COVID-19 medical response training at the Oklahoma Regional Training Institute April 10 -11.The training was to prepare... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Sgt. Douglas Engle, Comprehensive Medical Training instructor at the Oklahoma Regional Training Institute, demonstrates how to place an advanced airway as part of COVID-19 medical response training at the 90th Troop Command Headquarters in Oklahoma City April 10 - 11. The training will prepare Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard medical personnel to help respond to the outbreak of COVID-19 across the state.

Guard commander leads COVID-19 response in civilian role
April 13, 2020 — HARTFORD, Conn. – Tractor-trailers began arriving at the Connecticut Convention Center shortly after 7:00 a.m. Saturday, and Connecticut National Guard members quickly set up over 600 beds should... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Sean Brennan, center, 103rd Medical Group commander and Hartford Hospital operations manager for alternative care sites, speaks with Connecticut National Guard members and local officials at the Connecticut Convention Center in Hartford, April 11, 2020. Brennan is helping lead the Hartford region’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic through his civilian role with Hartford HealthCare, where he works full time as a physician assistant-certified.

Mass. Guard conducts COVID-19 testing at nursing homes
April 13, 2020 — BOSTON – Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are conducting mobile COVID-19 testing on patients at nursing homes throughout the commonwealth.As of April 11, more than 3,000 swab tests... MORE

Soldiers and Airmen from the Massachusetts National Guard gather before testing residents for COVID-19 at the Alliance at West Acres nursing home, Brockton, Mass., April 10, 2020. Twelve medical teams are activated throughout the state to conduct testing at medical facilities and nursing homes with high-risk populations.

Looking back: 30 Days of Georgia DoD coronavirus response
April 13, 2020 — ATLANTA – In just one month, the Georgia Department of Defense has moved from contingency planning in preparation for COVID-19 operations to full engagements in 10 missions across the state.On March... MORE

Soldiers of the Atlanta-based Company C, 3rd Battalion 121st Infantry Regiment, Georgia National Guard, assist an infection control team of the Forsyth-based 2-121st who are disinfecting a nursing home in Plains, Georgia.

Task Force Spartan works to protect Soldiers from COVID-19
April 13, 2020 — KUWAIT – As COVID-19, commonly referred to as the coronavirus, steadily advances, Task Force Spartan is working hard to prepare and protect its subordinate units and their Soldiers deployed throughout... MORE

Maj. Jean Kratzer of Task Force Spartan washes her hands at the entrance of a dining facility in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility. To help prevent the spread of COVID-19, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. The CDC also recommends disinfecting frequently touched surfaces, avoiding close contact with those who are sick, covering coughs and sneezes with a tissue, cloth, or the inside of your elbow and observing social distancing.

NY National Guard has 3,500 on duty to fight COVID-19
April 13, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – A month into the COVID-19 response, the New York National Guard has about 3,500 members on the mission from the eastern tip of Long Island to Buffalo.The force on COVID-19 response duty... MORE

Spc. Gilliam-Gray Shawnese with the 101st Expeditionary Signal Battalion, 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York Army National Guard, gives instructions to people in their vehicle at the COVID-19 Mobile Testing Center in Glenn Island Park, New Rochelle, Apr. 8, 2020. The New York National Guard continues support at seven drive-thru testing sites.

Massachusetts National Guard helps test first responders
April 13, 2020 — WEST SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers from the 26th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Headquarters Company, and the 126th Aviation Battalion helped administer COVID-19 tests to... MORE

A Soldier from the 126th Aviation Battalion, Massachusetts Air National Guard, helps administer COVID-19 tests to first responders at a drive-thru testing facility, April 9, 2020, on the Big E fairgrounds in West Springfield, Massachusetts. The soldiers worked with other Massachusetts agencies at the site.

Massachusetts Guard helps protect homeless
April 12, 2020 — WESTFIELD, Mass. – Security Forces Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, and Soldiers with the 747th Military Police Company, Massachusetts Army National Guard, are... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers of the Massachusetts National Guard take a photo as they respond together to help their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. Security Forces Airmen from the 104th Fighter Wing, Barnes Air National Guard Base, and Soldiers with the 747th Military Police Company, Massachusetts Army National Guard, are providing security for testing sites and shelters for the homeless who may have contracted the coronavirus.

Community giving comes full circle for Ohio National Guard
April 12, 2020 — CINCINNATI – Harbingers of spring began their bloom in early March around the same time the first COVID-19 cases were reported in Ohio. The focus since has not been on renewal or growth but rather on... MORE

Soldiers from the Ohio National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 107th Cavalry Regiment — on state active duty supporting the Freestore Foodbank in Cincinnati during the COVID-19 pandemic — help deliver meals and Easter baskets to the Friars Club, a nonprofit social service organization, for families. Just last year, community businesses and organizations helped sponsor the unit’s holiday brunch, an egg hunt and Easter baskets for children of unit members.

Wisconsin Guard getting critical equipment to the right places
April 11, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – A team of Citizen-Soldiers continues to work every day behind-the-scenes to ensure critical personal protective equipment (PPE) is received, repackaged, and distributed to entities in... MORE

Spc. Edgar Mendez, an automated logistical specialist, loads personal protective equipment while on State Active Duty as part of the Wisconsin National Guard’s response to COVID-19.

Indiana Guard supports first state drive-thru testing site
April 10, 2020 — MERRILLVILLE, Ind. – The Indiana National Guard helped conduct the state’s first drive-thru COVID-19 testing site April 8. Twenty-eight Soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment,... MORE

An Indiana National Guard Soldier from the 381st Military Police Company, Plymouth, Indiana, directs traffic at a drive-thru COVID-19 testing site at Merrillville High School, Merrillville, Indiana, April 8, 2020.

California Air National Guard flies ventilators to 4 states
April 10, 2020 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – From across the state they converged at Mather Airport early April 8 – a C-130J, Super Hercules and an equally impressive HC-130J Combat King II. Aircraft from the California Air... MORE

Staff Sgt Adrianne Rigez, left, and Airman 1st Class Casey Rodriguez, loadmasters with the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, load the first pallet of ventilators heading to various states, April 7, 2020, at Mather Airport, Sacramento, California. The state loaned 500 ventilators for treatment of COVID-19 patients in New York, New Jersey, Illinois and Nevada.

NJ National Guard helps set up 3rd field medical station
April 10, 2020 — ATLANTIC CITY, N.J. – New Jersey National Guard Airmen and Soldiers answered the call for volunteers to set up a third field medical station in the Garden State to assist in the battle against... MORE

New Jersey Air National Guard Airmen put together wheelchairs during the buildup of a field medical station at the Atlantic City Convention Center in Atlantic City April 9, 2020. Atlantic City is one of three stations that will offer overflow from local hospitals focused on COVID-19 patients.

National Guard chief: More Guard members to be called up
April 10, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 28,000 National Guard members are on duty as part of COVID-19 response efforts, and that number is expected to grow, the Guard’s top general says. “Over the past few weeks,... MORE

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen collect nasal swabs from patients during a drive-through, community-based COVID-19 testing site in New Orleans March 20, 2020. More than 28,000 National Guard members have been mobilized throughout the country as part of COVID-19 response efforts, with additional Soldiers and Airmen expected to come on duty in the coming weeks.

177th FW sews face masks for mission-essential personnel
April 10, 2020 — ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. – The 177th Fighter Wing Aircrew Flight Equipment shop began sewing and distributing face masks for mission-essential personnel April 8.The 177th FW is... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael R. Ottaviano, 177th Fighter Wing, volunteers to prepare fabric for face masks April 8, 2020, in the Aircrew Flight Equipment shop at the New Jersey Air National Guard Base. The 177th AFE shop is sewing and distributing face masks for mission-essential personnel.

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise