Guard News - The National Guard

Ohio National Guard assisting with COVID-19 vaccinations
February 12, 2021 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio National Guard has begun supporting the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Aging and several community partners to administer COVID-19 vaccines.“Our joint task... MORE

Ohio Army National Guard Spc. Amanda Heckman prepares to administer the COVID-19 vaccine to an Ohio resident as part of the state’s phased vaccination program Jan. 26, 2021, in Columbus. The Ohio National Guard is supporting the Ohio Department of Health, Ohio Department of Aging and several community partners.

Connecticut Air National Guard distributes food to needy
February 5, 2021 — EAST HARTFORD, Conn. – As the 103rd Airlift Wing increases the number of activated personnel to support COVID-19 response missions throughout the state, a team of Airmen is lending a hand to help the... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Ian McMahon, 103rd Security Forces Squadron, organizes bread trays for distribution at Rentschler Field in East Hartford, Connecticut, Feb. 4, 2021. Airmen from the Connecticut National Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing are supporting logistics operations at Foodshare’s drive-thru emergency distribution site.

Michigan National Guard helps meet demand for food
December 7, 2020 — COMSTOCK PARK, Mich. – Food banks have reached out to the Michigan Guard for assistance during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the increased demand for food and a shortage of volunteers.“I was really... MORE

A Soldier serving with Task Force Spartan, the Michigan National Guard’s COVID-19 response team assigned to Michigan food banks, repacks Pop-Tarts at Feeding America West Michigan, Comstock Park, Michigan, Nov. 17, 2020.

NCNG Soldiers distribute food to needy before Thanksgiving
November 25, 2020 — FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – North Carolina National Guard Soldiers and Airmen worked with the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern North Carolina to distribute free food at a drive-thru event at the... MORE

Sgt. Shaquille Ralls, assigned to the North Carolina Army National Guard’s G Company, 230th Brigade Support Battalion, places a frozen hen into a car during a mass food distribution sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank of Southeastern North Carolina at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville Nov. 24, 2020. A team of 27 Soldiers and Airmen supported the event.

Nevada National Guard stays in fight against COVID-19
November 25, 2020 — LAS VEGAS – More than eight months into the Nevada National Guard's battle against COVID-19, the stubborn microscopic enemy shows no sign of surrender as many of the state's counties report record... MORE

A Nevada Guard Airman conducts COVID-19 testing at the Reno-Sparks Indian-Colony in Hungry Valley, Nevada, Nov. 12, 2020. Since April, the Nevada National Guard has assisted at 10 tribal locations across Nevada, distributing food and providing medical and logistical support.

Michigan National Guard fills vital need for food delivery
November 17, 2020 — PONTIAC, Mich. – Soldiers and Airmen from the Michigan National Guard have worked with food pantries and other charities to help distribute more than 3.5 million pounds of food to those in need during... MORE

Michigan National Guard Soldiers with Michigan’s Task Force Spartan work with Gleaners of Pontiac, Michigan, Community Food Bank on Nov. 4, 2020. Since March, Michigan National Guard teams have supported food banks across Michigan.

Strong partnerships help Kansas agencies respond to COVID-19
October 15, 2020 — TOPEKA, Kan. – Severe storms. Tornadoes. Floods. Blizzards. Wildfires.Kansas has faced its share of these over the years. By working through these disasters, state agencies have forged and refined the... MORE

Jessica Robinson, Doniphan County Health Department and Home Health office manager, transfers a box of COVID-19 test samples to Spc. Adrian Turner, Kansas Army National Guard automated logistical specialist, 997th Brigade Support Battalion, in Troy, Kansas, July 27, 2020. Kansas National Guard teams have been transporting COVID-19 samples from across the state to the KDHE lab since March.

Connecticut Guard members deliver food to families
October 14, 2020 — DAYVILLE, Conn. – Members of the Connecticut National Guard partnered with the American Red Cross and the Department of Emergency Management to deliver boxes of food to families. Through the Farmers... MORE

Members of the Connecticut Air National Guard, 103rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, load Farmers to Families Food Boxes onto a school bus at the Killingly Highway Department in Dayville, Connecticut, Sept. 30, 2020. The boxes were going to be delivered to homes and food pantries.

Michigan National Guard helps get food to those in need
September 22, 2020 — ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard is helping a charitable food distribution network complete its mission despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.Michigan Citizen-Soldiers and... MORE

Michigan National Guard Spc. Ralph Mitchell of the 1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, and nine other members of his regiment help process and distribute food at the Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Royal Oak, Mich., Sept. 15, 2020. The Food Bank delivers surplus food to charities in metro Detroit.

Kentucky Guardsman feeds hundreds while restricted to India
September 16, 2020 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – In the Army, a culinary specialist prepares food in field or garrison operations. For Spc. Jayendra Patel, learning this military occupational specialty became an opportunity to do... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Spc. Jayendra Patel takes a moment while working for his unit in Louisville during the Kentucky Derby, Sept. 5, 2020. While stranded in his hometown in India during the COVID-19 pandemic, he used his experience as a culinary specialist to feed hundreds of people.

NY National Guard distributes over 52 million meals in New York City
August 6, 2020 — NEW YORK – New York National Guard troops have distributed more than 52 million meals to New York City residents since picking up that mission on March 21.That’s about half of the 100 million meals... MORE

Sgt. Thalia Santos from Yonkers, N.Y., left, and Spc. Kirt Joseph from Brentwood, N.Y., members of the New York Army National Guard, load boxed, packaged food, into a vehicle at a food distribution site in the Bronx, New York Aug. 5, 2020.

Ohio’s 1st female infantry officer on COVID-19 front lines
July 21, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – The Ohio National Guard’s support during the COVID-19 pandemic has presented many firsts for the organization. It marks the first time since the Blizzard of 1978 that the Guard has... MORE

Second Lt. Colleen O’Callaghan, a platoon leader with the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, oversees her team June 9, 2020, at Second Harvest Food Bank of Clark, Champaign and Logan Counties in Springfield, Ohio. O’Callaghan is the Ohio National Guard’s first female Army infantry officer in its 232-year history.

Ohio Guard helps build urban farm for Columbus communities
July 14, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – With widespread food insecurity across the state during the COVID-19 pandemic, Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were called in March to support regional food bank warehouses... MORE

Spc. Nicholas Parker, a Soldier assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 134th Field Artillery Regiment, cleans up around an urban farm June 23, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Parker and others in his unit have supported Mid-Ohio Foodbank’s operations during the COVID-19 pandemic since late March.

Guam National Guard prepares for COVID-19 drawdown
July 9, 2020 — BARRIGADA, Guam – The Guam National Guard has completed more than 38 missions in support of the fight against COVID-19 and is preparing to return to a more normal posture.In March, when President... MORE

Col. Ronnie Delfin, Joint Task Force 671 Title 32 deputy dual status commander, discusses traffic control with Guam Police Chief Stephen Ignacio during an assessment for community COVID-19 testing at the Astumbo Gym in Dededo April 23, 2020. The Guam National Guard continues to work with the government of Guam in its effort to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kansas National Guard packages 4 million meals and counting
July 6, 2020 — LEAWOOD, Kan. – Social distancing requirements have made it difficult for meal packaging services that rely on volunteers. The Kansas National Guard is pitching in to help fill the gap.Since late... MORE

Members of the Kansas National Guard pack, weigh, seal and box food bags n Leawood, Kansas, June 25, 2020, to meet the growing food demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The food is distributed at food pantries throughout Kansas.

Guard helps feed Kansans in need
July 6, 2020 — EFFINGHAM, Kan. – The Kansas National Guard and volunteers handed out fresh produce and dry goods in a monthly distribution of food to families in need due to the COVID-19 pandemic.Cars pulled up to... MORE

The Kansas National Guard and volunteers hand out boxes of fresh produce and dry goods at a food pantry in Effingham, Kansas, June 22, 2020. The food pantry is held once a month at different locations to meet the growing food demand caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Immigrant Guard member helps community at home and abroad
June 25, 2020 — DANBURY, Conn. – Hundreds of Connecticut National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have helped their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic. For one activated member of the Guard from Colombia, the... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Juan Herrera, 142nd Area Support Medical Company combat medic, at the Veterans Memorial Armed Forces Reserve Center in Danbury, Connecticut, June 24, 2020. In addition to providing care to COVID-19 patients and distributing medical equipment in his role as a Connecticut National Guardsman, Herrera has delivered food to local families in need during the pandemic. Herrera has also helped 30 families in Colombia, his home country.

NCNG provides food, hope to schoolkids
June 22, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – As COVID-19 swept the nation, schools closed their doors to safeguard students and help stop the spread of the coronavirus.The virus caused unemployment to skyrocket, causing families... MORE

Spc. Amber Cohen, assigned to the 449th Theatre Aviation Brigade, distributes meals prepared at Elizabethtown Middle School, to schoolkids in Bladen County, N.C., May 26, 2020. The NCNG is working with North Carolina Emergency Management, N.C. Department of Health and Human Services and food banks to help support COVID-19 relief efforts.

New York Guard delivers 22.7 million meals
June 11, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – Over 22.7 million meals delivered, 311,321 COVID-19 tests collected, 270,686 phone calls answered and 25,554 pallets of medical supplies warehoused and 6,394 distributed.Those are some... MORE

Since responding to the COVID-19 outbreak in March 2020, members of the New York National Guard have distributed more than 22.7 million meals, assembled 1.7 million test kits and answered more than 270,000 calls.

Kansas National Guard Soldiers stop to help distressed girl
June 10, 2020 — LAWRENCE, Kan. – Driving through rainstorms from Leawood toward Lawrence on Kansas Highway 10, Kansas Army National Guard Spc. Darin McQueen noticed a young girl sitting on a bridge with her feet... MORE

Kansas National Guard members saved a young woman from attempting suicide May 25, 2020, while driving back to Lawerence, Kansas. The Soldiers were mobilized to package and distribute food as part of the Kansas National Guard COVID-19 response.

New York Air Guard Ends Greenland Science Support Season

Maryland Airmen Test Cyber Skills in Virginia Exercise

Alaska Guard Joins Polar Dagger Special Ops Exercise

Alabama Air Guard Showcases Communications Capabilities

Oregon Guard Supports Wildland Firefighting Across State