Guard News - The National Guard

Tennessee Guard Participates in Bulgaria’s Best Warrior Competition
June 30, 2025 — VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria – Members of the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard competed in the Bulgaria Armed Forces’ first multinational Best Warrior Competition at the National Military... MORE

Members of the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard competed in the Bulgaria Armed Forces’ first multinational Best Warrior Competition, at the National Military University, June 23-26.

Tennessee Guardsmen Respond to Polk County Wildfire
April 15, 2025 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee Army National Guard provided two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion today to support a wildfire response in Polk... MORE

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion delivers water with a Helicopter Bucket to fight a wildfire near Turtletown, in Polk County, April 15.

Tennessee National Guard Rescues Great Smoky Mountains Hiker
March 25, 2025 — LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee Army National Guard flight crew based at Joint Base McGhee-Tyson rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park March 22. Shortly after 5:30 p.m... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class John Sharbel, with the Tennessee Army National Guard, and an injured hiker are hoisted into a hovering UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, March 22, 2025.

Tennessee Guard Honors Former President Andrew Jackson
March 25, 2025 — HERMITAGE, Tenn. – Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, Tennessee’s assistant adjutant general-Army, placed a wreath at former President Andrew Jackson’s tomb March 15 on what would have been his 258th... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Steven Turner, Tennessee's assistant adjutant gGeneral, salutes the tomb of former President Andrew Jackson on what would have been his 258th birthday at The Hermitage March 15, 2025. Every year a wreath is placed at the tomb of the seventh president of the United States, honoring his service to his country and celebrating his life.

117th Regional Training Institute Graduates Military Police
March 24, 2025 — SMYRNA, Tenn. - Fourteen new military policemen graduated from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s Military Police Basic Course March 21 and are now military law enforcement officers and the latest... MORE

Military Police students attending the Tennessee Army National Guard’s Military Police Basic Course conduct tactical training at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site March 19, 2025. The students graduated from the four-week course March 21 and are now U.S. Army law enforcement officers and the newest members of the Military Police Corps.

Tennessee Guard, Bulgarian Partners Vie to be Best Warriors
March 17, 2025 — TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Army National Guard and two Bulgarian Armed Forces soldiers participated in the State Best Warrior Competition March 13-16. Ten competitors represented Tennessee’s... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Brian Hayes watches as his weapon is zeroed during the 2025 Tennessee Best Warrior Competition March 13, 2025. Hayes won Soldier of the Year in the state competition.

Tennessee Aquatic Rescue Team Upgrades Helicopters
February 13, 2025 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. - Tennessee’s Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team continues to strengthen its lifesaving capabilities with advancements in aviation technology, including a recent upgrade to the UH-60V... MORE

UH-60L and UH-60V Black Hawk avionics are displayed at Berry Field Air National Guard Base in Nashville, Tenn., Jan. 29, 2025. The UH-60V features a moving map display, real-time positional awareness, and more intuitive monitoring of engine readings versus the UH-60L's traditional gauges.

Tennessee National Guard Supports Bulgaria’s F-16 Acquisition
February 7, 2025 — GREENVILLE, S.C. – The Bulgarian Air Force received its first batch of F-16 “Fighting Falcon” aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s production facility Jan. 31, marking a milestone in its efforts to modernize... MORE

Members of the Bulgarian Defense Ministry and the Tennessee Air National Guard pose for a photo after Bulgaria took delivery of its first batch of F-16 “Fighting Falcon” aircraft at Lockheed Martin’s Greenville, South Carolina, site, Jan. 31, 2025. Tennessee and Bulgaria have been partners in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 1993.

Tennessee Guard Airmen Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
December 9, 2024 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Eleven 134th Air Refueling Wing Airmen were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Dec. 7 for their heroic actions during a critical mission defending Israel from a barrage of... MORE

Eleven Airmen from the 134th Air Refueling Wing receive the Distinguished Flying Cross on Dec. 7, 2024, at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tennessee, for helping defend Israel from a massive missile and drone attack from Iran.

Tennessee Guardsmen Support Hurricane Recovery
October 9, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Nearly 600 Tennessee National Guardsmen, with more than 150 vehicles and construction equipment, continue to support state, county and local first responders in East Tennessee areas... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Ryan Schulze, 118th Wing pavements and construction equipment craftsman, cuts a fallen tree with a chainsaw during Hurricane Helene relief efforts in Elizabethton, Tennessee, Oct. 5, 2024. Airmen continue to commute to the town and surrounding areas daily to help clear debris and help local residents in need due to flooding from Hurricane Helene.

Tennessee Guard Provides Drinking Water to Helene Victims
October 7, 2024 — MOUNTAIN CITY, Tenn. – Guardsmen with the Tennessee Army National Guard’s A Company, 169th Divisional Sustainment Support Battalion, deployed a tactical water purification system Oct. 6 to provide... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Diamond Espinoza, a water treatment specialist assigned to Alpha Company,169th Divisional Sustainment Support Battalion, pumps water for a resident in Mountain City, Tennessee, Oct. 6, 2024. The Tennessee National Guard continues to support the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and the state, county and local first responders in the areas impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane Helene.

Tennessee Guardsmen Continue Supporting Helene Recovery Efforts
October 6, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 450 Soldiers and Airmen with the Tennessee National Guard continue to support state, county, and local first responders in East Tennessee areas impacted by severe flooding... MORE

Tennessee Air National Guardsmen loading a truck with debris in Hampton, Tennessee, on Oct. 2, 2024.

Tennessee Guard Engineers Continue to Support Helene Recovery Efforts
October 3, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – More than 100 Tennessee Army and Air National Guard engineers continue to support recovery operations in East Tennessee counties impacted by severe flooding following Hurricane... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Kevin Jackson, a senior leader from the 134th Mission Support Squadron helps clear debris with Airmen from the 134th Civil Engineer Squadron, in Elizabethton, Tenn., Oct. 2, 2024.

Wisconsin Army Guard Deploys More Than 300 Soldiers
September 30, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - Gov. Tony Evers and senior Wisconsin National Guard leaders joined families and friends at a formal sendoff ceremony Sept. 28 for more than 300 Wisconsin Army National Guard... MORE

More than 300 Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldiers board charter flights Sept. 28, 2024, at Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Camp Douglas, Wis., following a formal sendoff ceremony. The Soldiers, part of the 1st Battalion, 128th Infantry Regiment, the 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment, the 132nd Brigade Support Battalion and the 457th Chemical Company, are deploying to U.S. Central Command in Southwest Asia and U.S. Africa Command, Horn of Africa.

Tennessee Guard Rescues Stranded Hospital Patients, Staff
September 28, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard is supporting the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency and state, county and local first responders in the areas impacted by severe flooding following... MORE

Tennessee National Guard Soldiers from Nashville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion at the Elizabethton Municipal Airport prepare to transport Tennessee State Forestry personnel into areas affected by Hurricane Helene to begin debris removal Sept. 30, 2024.

Army Guard’s 41st IBCT Prepares for NATO-led Mission
September 24, 2024 — FORT CAVAZOS, Texas - The 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, and supporting National Guard units from across the United States completed a culminating training event Sept... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Joe Kaufman, 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, communicates radio commands during training at Fort Cavazos, Texas, Sept. 14, 2024. The Soldiers are preparing to support NATO-led Kosovo Forces, also known as KFOR, in a peacekeeping mission.

Tennessee National Guard Hosts Bulgarian Logistics Command
September 20, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Soldiers from the Tennessee Army National Guard’s logistics staff and the 230th Sustainment Brigade welcomed their Bulgarian counterparts for a week-long exchange to enhance joint... MORE

Tennessee Army National Guard members hosted Bulgarian Armed Forces at Smyrna’s Volunteer Training Site Sept. 17, 2024. The group toured the Tennessee National Guard’s 117th Regional Training Institute and worked to enhance joint training operations and international military collaboration.

Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
September 10, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee Army National Guard flight crew based at Joint Base McGhee-Tyson rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park early Sept. 10.Shortly after 3 a.m... MORE

A Black Hawk from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Tennessee National Guard hovers while medics prepare to descend during the SAREX 23 exercise in Pickett State Park near Jamestown, Tenn., Jan. 7, 2023. The group worked on tracking, locating and evacuating missing people as part of a training exercise with other military and civilian agencies.

Tennessee Guardsmen Help Battle East Tennessee Wildfires
August 29, 2024 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard battled wildfires from the air in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week.At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the... MORE

A Tennessee National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion monitors wildfires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Aug. 27, 2024. The Guard dropped thousands of gallons of water on the fires from the air.

Tennessee’s Adjutant General Match Strengthens Partnerships
July 31, 2024 — TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard held its inaugural Adjutant General Sniper Match, organized by the Tennessee Combat Marksmanship Program, from July 26 to 28 at Tullahoma’s Volunteer... MORE

Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers from team Sneaky Snakes and Bulgaria Team 1 participate in the Unknown Steel Match during Tennessee's Adjutant General Sniper Match on July 28 at Tullahoma's Volunteer Training Site.

Idaho Guard Conducts Two Rescues in Nine Days

Connecticut Guard Soldier Aids Rollover Crash Victim in Dramatic Highway Rescue

Arkansas Air Guard Participates in REFORPAC 25 Exercise

Fox EMBER Sharpens Airmen’s Skills in Joint Environment

Puerto Rico Air Guard Conducts Deployment for Training at Aviano