Guard News - The National Guard

COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal Reinstatement
February 24, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Former Army National Guard Soldiers: You can continue your service in the Army National Guard.If you are a Soldier who separated solely due to refusing the COVID-19 vaccine... MORE

2nd Lt. Kyle Funk, military police officer, 323rd Military Police Company, conducts fast rope insertion and extraction system training out of a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter during Exercise Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Mich., Aug. 5, 2024. Fast-roping is a technique for descending a thick rope, allowing troops to deploy from a helicopter in places where the aircraft cannot touch down.

NY National Guard Wraps up Federally Funded COVID-19 Mission
July 1, 2022 — LATHAM, N.Y. - More than 840 days after the first Soldiers and Airmen went on duty to stem an outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in New Rochelle, the New York National Guard’s federally supported COVID-19... MORE

New York Army National Guard Pvt. Joshua Morales, a member of the 133rd Combat Support Company, directs a COVID-19 vaccination registrant to The State University of New York, Stony Brook, vaccination site March 16th, 2021.

Vermont National Guard Concludes COVID-19 Missions
June 30, 2022 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Vermont National Guard Soldiers and Airmen supporting Vermont’s COVID-19 response mission officially end orders July 1.The first mission began March 23, 2020, when Soldiers... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Nardo, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, injects James Bordeaux with a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Johnson, Vermont, March 18, 2021.

Wisconsin National Guard wraps up nursing care support
April 29, 2022 — LA CROSSE, Wis. – After more than three months, Wisconsin National Guard members’ mission to help as nursing assistants at state health care facilities is winding down.Senior Wisconsin National Guard... MORE

Brig. Gen. Tim Covington, the Wisconsin National Guard’s deputy adjutant general for civil support, presents a coin to 2nd Lt. Jonathon Jennings for his leadership as a platoon leader of Wisconsin National Guard nursing assistants supporting health care facilities during a ceremony at the Mayo Clinic in La Crosse April 26, 2022. The Wisconsin National Guard is winding down its nursing assistant support mission around the state.

New York National Guard supports nursing home
April 11, 2022 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. – When Senior Airman Taylor Dunham, an Air Force medical technician, joined the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing, he figured he would be taking temperatures or checking... MORE

New York Air National Guard Senior Airman Skyler Suazo, a medical technician assigned to the 174th Attack Wing, Hancock Field Air National Guard, talks with a resident at Loretto Health and Rehab in Syracuse, New York. National Guard medics have been deployed in nursing homes to help alleviate staff shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

National Guard winds down COVID-19 support, remains ready
April 8, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – With COVID-19 case counts and positivity rates decreasing, the Department of Defense ended its active-duty component’s support for coronavirus missions last week.But Defense... MORE

Senior Airman Carmen Gerda, 162nd Medical Squadron, aerospace medical technician, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a service member at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Tucson, Arizona, May 6, 2021.

165th Airlift Wing Guardsmen wrap up COVID-19 response
March 28, 2022 — SAVANNAH, Ga.– More than 30 Airmen from the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, demobilized March 18 after volunteering to serve on the Georgia Coronavirus Response Task Force.These... MORE

Thirty 165th Airlift Wing Airmen demobilized March 18, 2022, after serving more than 60 days spread out across Georgia. These multi-capable Airmen, all from different career fields, served at 15 COVID testing sites and 11 hospitals.

Michigan Airman embraces nurse assistant program, service
March 24, 2022 — MIDLAND, Michigan - Senior Airman Tiffany McPherson knows exactly why she joined the Michigan Air National Guard.“I didn’t join to become a stranger,” she says. “I joined to get more involved and to... MORE

Senior Airman Tiffany McPherson, an aircrew flight equipment specialist assigned to the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan Air National Guard, at Primrose Retirement Community of Midland, Michigan, March 7, 2022. McPherson volunteered to train and serve as a certified nursing assistant to help ease staffing shortages during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Pennsylvania National Guard ends COVID-19 response mission
March 23, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – After two years and hundreds of missions across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania National Guard has ended its COVID-19 response.Guard members were first activated March... MORE

Spc. Gary Sowash, a combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2/112th Infantry Regiment, Pennsylvania National Guard, administers a COVID-19 vaccine at Lancaster-Lebanon IU13 in Lancaster, March 12, 2021. After two years and hundreds of missions across the commonwealth, the Pennsylvania National Guard ended its COVID-19 response March 16, 2022.

New policy helps Guard members coming off COVID duty
March 21, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – A new policy intended to help National Guard members who were activated to support COVID-19 operations is a “win for the health of the force.”That is according to Army Maj. Gen. Jill... MORE

Washington Air National Guard Lt. Col. Robert Forbes, right, 194th Medical Group optometrist, tests Lt. Col. Erik Eliel, 194th Air Support Operations Group director of operations, vision during a 194th Medical Group periodic health assessment rodeo, Camp Murray, Wash., May 4, 2019. The PHA rodeo meets requirements to maintain an Airman’s deployable status by giving immunizations, blood lab draws, HIV screening, and health assessment questionnaires.

Connecticut National Guard ends COVID response mission
March 17, 2022 — NEW BRITAIN, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard handed over the keys to the state commodities warehouse in New Britain to the Connecticut Department of Health March 15, effectively ending its... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jessica Perez, a motor transport operator assigned to the 1048th Medium Transportation Company, 143rd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, Connecticut Army National Guard, operates a forklift to move COVID-19 relief supplies at the State Commodity Warehouse, New Britain, Connecticut, March 8, 2022.

Washington Guard helps out at veterans’ homes, prisons
March 16, 2022 — PORT ORCHARD, Wash. – While restrictions begin to ease following the latest surge of the COVID-19 omicron variant, the Washington National Guard continues to support people in need. A Washington... MORE

Air Force Capt. Geneva Hoskins-Dorsey, 194th Medical Group, Washington Air National Guard, poses for a photo at the Veterans Home in Port Orchard, Washington, March 9, 2022. Hoskins-Dorsey was the officer in charge of the Port Orchard facility as members of her team helped veterans' home employees by answering resident call lights and non-clinical requests and performing COVID screenings.

Oregon Guard winds down hospital support mission
March 15, 2022 — ACROSS OREGON – With declining infection rates from the COVID-19 omicron variant and the indoor mask mandate ending, Soldiers and Airmen from the Oregon National Guard wrapped up their mobilization to... MORE

Hospital Facilities Operations Manager Don Wilder gives Oregon Army National Guard hospital relief mission members a tour of West Valley Hospital in Dallas, Oregon, Jan. 18, 2022, as part of the team's first-day orientation.The Guard is ending its support of more than 50 hospitals across Oregon.

Wisconsin Guard highlights 2-year COVID response mission
March 14, 2022 — MADISON, Wis. – The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs took a few minutes March 10 to commemorate its two-year effort supporting the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.“It’s not ‘mission... MORE

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, speaks during a March 10 ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison, Wis., commemorating the two-year COVID-19 response. The pandemic accounts for the longest continuous active domestic response by the Wisconsin National Guard and Wisconsin Emergency Management.

167th Airmen assist in West Virginia hospitals
March 11, 2022 — MARTINSBURG, W.Va. – For two years, the West Virginia National Guard has assisted with multiple roles and capacities in the fight against COVID-19 within the state.In January, Gov. Jim Justice... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Derek Premo, a flight chief for the 167th Security Forces Squadron, and U.S. Army Spc. Tamara Bumgardner, a motor vehicle operator for the 1528th Forward Support Company, Special Operations (Airborne), prepare a patient examination bed in a room at Jefferson Medical Center in Ranson, West Virginia. West Virginia Guardsmen have been assisting in hospitals throughout the state since January.

New York National Guard COVID mission tops 2 years
March 10, 2022 — NEW YORK - In the two years since the New York National Guard was ordered to help contain a COVID-19 outbreak in New Rochelle, 7,050 members of New York’s military forces have been part of the state’s... MORE

Air Force Lt. Col. John Reynolds, a member of the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, vaccinates Tom Pescatore May 20, 2021 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York City. Pescatore's injection was the 600,000 shot administered at the massive vaccination site established and staffed by the New York National Guard.

Idaho National Guard assists at minimum-security prison
March 7, 2022 — BOISE, Idaho – Spc. Kyle Shuman grew up an Army brat and wanted to join the Army himself. Five years ago, he enlisted into the Idaho Army National Guard as a 68W combat medic.“I wanted to follow in my... MORE

Idaho National Guard leaders visited state of Idaho prisons where Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are temporarily augmenting staffing. The Idaho Department of Corrections is short-handed due in part to COVID-19 pandemic.

New Hampshire Guardsmen juggle civilian, military jobs
March 4, 2022 — PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – Living by the motto “Always Ready, Always There” is easier said than done for New Hampshire National Guard members trying to balance their military obligation with their civilian... MORE

Staff Sgt. Steven San Antonio of the 195th Regional Training Institute answers a call Feb. 14, 2022, at the St. Joseph COVID triage call center in Nashua, New Hampshire. San Antonio is one of two New Hampshire Guardsmen assigned to the center as part of Operation Winter Surge.

Pennsylvania Guard members pitch in during pandemic
February 23, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – It’s been nearly two years since the Pennsylvania National Guard began supporting COVID-19 medical missions.During that time, Pennsylvania National Guard members have helped... MORE

Spc. Han Thach, left, a combat medic with the Pennsylvania National Guard, administers the COVID-19 vaccine to a patient in Enola, Pa., March 26, 2021. Thach was part of the Guard mission to vaccinate Pennsylvania teachers, child-care workers and other staff.

Hundreds of Oregon Guardsmen help overwhelmed hospitals
February 16, 2022 — MEDFORD, Ore. – Oregon National Guardsmen are assisting more than 40 hospitals across the state struggling with heavy patient loads and short staffing caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.Guardsmen handle... MORE

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Donna Prigmore, Oregon Air National Guard commander, visits Senior Airman Nathan Turpen, a 173rd FW hydraulics mechanic, while he washes dishes at Providence Medford Medical Center Feb. 4, 2022. Nearly 1,200 Oregon Guardsmen are activated around the state of Oregon to help hospitals cope with heavy patient loads and low staffing during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts