Guard News - The National Guard

Missouri Airmen, Soldiers Showcase Sharpshooting Skills
March 26, 2024 — NEOSHO, Mo. - Nine Airmen from the 139th Airlift Wing earned the Schützenschnur, or German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge, during the adjutant general’s annual marksmanship competition at Camp... MORE

Missouri National Guard Airmen and Soldiers pose for a group photo during the 2024 adjutant general's annual TAG Match marksmanship competition at Camp Crowder, Neosho, Missouri. Nine Airmen from the 139th Airlift Wing earned the Schützenschnur, or German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge.

Massachusetts Guard Attends Planning Conference in Israel
September 25, 2023 — RAMLA, Israel - Members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, attended the National Guard Bureau-Home Front Command annual planning conference in Israel July 22-28.U.S. Air... MORE

Members of the 102nd Intelligence Wing, Massachusetts Air National Guard, attended the National Guard Bureau-Home Front Command annual planning conference at HFC Headquarters in Ramla, Israel, July 22-28, 2023.

Hokanson: Panama a Global Crossroads, Key Security Cooperation Partner
September 19, 2023 — PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Republic of Panama is a bridge that connects the Americas. Its renowned canal is one of the most strategic waterways in the world. It also is a key security cooperation... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, left, chief, National Guard Bureau, meets with Panama Minister of Public Security Juan Manuel Pino Forero at the Ministry of Public Security, Panama City, Panama, Aug. 28, 2023. Panama and the Missouri National Guard have been paired in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program since 1996.

35th Infantry Division Hosts 2023 Readiness Symposium
September 19, 2023 — LEAVENWORTH, Kan. – The 35th Infantry Division hosted the first Division Readiness Symposium, welcoming a diverse array of Army National Guard units from several states to division headquarters Sept... MORE

The 35th Infantry Division hosted the First Annual Division Readiness Symposium Sept. 9-10, 2023, welcoming a diverse array of units from the Army National Guard in several states to Division Headquarters in Leavenworth, Kansas. The event aimed to enhance communication and understanding, ensuring operational, exercise and deployment readiness.

Tradewinds 23 Exercise Highlights Multinational Partnerships
July 31, 2023 — GEORGETOWN, Guyana – Tradewinds 23, a two-week multinational exercise supporting the security of the Caribbean and Central America, wrapped up with a closing ceremony July 27. Tradewinds 23 involved... MORE

The Tradewinds 23 closing ceremony was held in Georgetown, Guyana, July 27, 2023. The multinational, two-week exercise included representatives from 21 nations and Army and Air National Guard units from Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Oklahoma and the Virgin Islands.

Missouri Guard Bomb Wing Leads Medical Training Exercise
July 11, 2023 — WHITEMAN AIR FORCE BASE, Mo. - Airmen with the 131st Medical Group completed Operation Healthy Delta, an Innovative Readiness Training exercise for service members from across the Defense and Health... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Theresa Nguyen, assigned to the 131st Medical Group, Jefferson Barracks Air National Guard Base, Missouri, tests a patient’s vision during Operation Healthy Delta Innovative Readiness Training Program at Anna, Illinois, June 11, 2023. The Department of Defense-sponsored program builds relationships with local communities by providing free medical, dental and vision services while leveraging the strength of joint forces.

Louisiana Guard Tiger Brigade Tested in Warfighter Exercise
November 29, 2022 — PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team sent more than 100 Soldiers to participate in Warfighter Exercise 23-2 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Oct. 25-Nov... MORE

Soldiers with the Louisiana National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team plan and review the unit’s movements during Warfighter 23-2 at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, Nov. 8, 2022. The warfighter exercises provide virtual battlefield scenarios that test a unit’s staff and Soldiers’ ability to coordinate and communicate in functional skill areas such as command and control, movement and maneuver, intelligence, targeting processes, sustainment and protection.

Family Serves Missouri National Guard Since the ’50s
November 8, 2022 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Bigham family has served with the 139th Airlift Wing since 1953, when Jim Bigham joined the unit with his twin brother, Mort. Jim’s son would eventually join the unit and attain... MORE

From left: Tech. Sgt. Kacie McCullough, Staff Sgt. Braden Bigham, Chief Master Sgt. John Bigham, Capt. Justin Bigham, and Capt. Riley Coats at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri, Oct. 20, 2022. All four of Chief Bigham’s children are serving at the 139th Airlift Wing, Missouri Air National Guard.

National Guard Supports Armed Forces of Ukraine
June 8, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Pinned down by a Russian tank and armed with only a failed anti-tank missile, a Ukrainian soldier recently turned to an unlikely source as the most effective weapon available — his... MORE

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis watch a demonstration of tactical equipment during a visit to the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, California, Sept. 2, 2021. The California National Guard and Ukraine have been partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 1993.

Missouri National Guard, SPP Partner Panama Conduct SMEE
May 6, 2022 — PANAMA CITY, Panama – The Missouri National Guard recently traveled to Panama to participate in a State Partnership Program subject matter expert exchange with law enforcement and protection... MORE

Staff Sgt. William Rudd, 1175th Military Police Co., facilitates a presentation on taking DNA evidence with Staff Sgt. Jaymes Dooley (1139th MP Co.), serving as a demonstrator. The presentation was part of a crime scene investigation subject matter expert exchange between Missouri National Guard Soldiers and members of Panama's law enforcement and protection agencies. The Missouri National Guard has partnered with the country of Panama since 1996 under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Off-duty Missouri Guard firefighter helps save a life
January 10, 2022 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – A routine trip to the gas station for off-duty firefighter Kimberly Rauch turned into a lifesaving rescue.Rauch has been a firefighter for the Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th... MORE

Firefighter Kimberly Rauch, with the 139th Fire Department, Missouri Air National Guard, in front of a fire truck at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, in St. Joseph, Missouri, Dec. 13, 2021. While off-duty, Rauch helped save a man trapped in a burning house.

111th Med Group hosts Advanced Trauma Life Support course
October 21, 2021 — HORSHAM, Pa. – More than a dozen Air National Guard members from six states learned the ABCs during a medical course hosted by the 111th Medical Group.Not the song to teach preschoolers the alphabet,... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Maj. Sammar Atassi, an internal medicine physician assigned to the 130th Medical Group headquartered at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, West Virginia, intubates an infant training mannequin during the Advanced Trauma Life Support course at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, Sept. 28, 2021. Sixteen service members from nine ANG units in six states participated in the class, which was hosted by the 111th Medical Group.

National Guard neighbors help Louisiana rebuild after Ida
October 1, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – Every military service member understands sacrifice and selfless service are part of the big picture before taking an oath to defend the United States. After Hurricane Ida ripped through... MORE

Mississippi National Guard 2nd Lt. Austin Riels, assigned to the 113th Military Police Company, 112th Military Police Battalion, waves vehicles through a traffic control point after Hurricane Ida, Grand Isle, Louisiana, Sept. 17, 2021.

All Guard Combat team named marksmanship champions
September 13, 2021 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – Six four-person teams consisting of top shooters from the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserves competed in the 30th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting (AFSAM) Aug. 28-Sept... MORE

Army Sgt 1st. Class Michael Bautista, Idaho National Guard, examines his target during a rifle match Sept. 3, 2021, at the 30th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center. Established in 1991, the Armed Forces Skills at Arms Meeting (AFSAM) is a multinational and interservice competition created to promote marksmanship training and competition between the different components and services of U.S. military forces and allied nations.

National Guard responds in force to Hurricane Ida
September 1, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Thousands of National Guard Soldiers and Airmen responding to Hurricane Ida in Louisiana have rescued hundreds of people, cleared roads and distributed food and water to victims of... MORE

Louisiana National Guardsmen rescue people in LaPlace, Louisiana, in the aftermath of Hurricane Ida. More than 6,000 members of the National Guard from more than a dozen states were in Louisiana assisting state and federal partners with relief efforts.

75th Troop Command supports SOUTHCOM at Tradewinds exercise
July 12, 2021 — BASE CAMP STEPHENSON, Guyana – After more than a year of planning, the Kentucky National Guard's 75th Troop Command executed the largest U.S.-led multinational training exercise in the Caribbean this... MORE

A Soldier participating in a Tradewinds 21 combined forces jump prepares to land at Airbase London, Guyana, June 20, 2021. Tradewinds 21 is a U.S. Southern Command-sponsored Caribbean security exercise with partner nations in the ground, air, sea and cyber domains.

Missouri Airmen mother, daughter join in fight against COVID
May 14, 2021 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – Missouri National Guard Senior Airman Terra Waitl from the 139th Logistics Readiness Squadron's material management office was activated for food bank missions in May last year.But... MORE

Senior Airman Terra Waitl, right, who is assigned to the 139th Logistics Readiness Squadron’s material management office, Missouri Air National Guard, outside the Nutrition Center in St. Joseph, Missouri, Nov. 12, 2020. The Missouri National Guard has been assisting at food banks across the state as part of Missouri’s COVID-19 response.

Army National Guard transitions cyber task force mission
February 16, 2021 — FORT MEADE, Md. – The transition of authority between two Army National Guard battalions was quiet and seamless, without the traditional pomp and circumstance associated with significant Army events... MORE

Army National Guard Soldiers from the 124th Cyber Protection Battalion are deployed as part of Task Force Echo IV in support U.S. Cyber Command, Fort Meade, Maryland.

Married to the job: two first sergeants tackle leadership
October 29, 2020 — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – One Missouri National Guard couple provides new meaning to the word team. Trisha and David Katzfey, both first sergeants and full-time Soldiers, find balance with their different... MORE

David and Trisha Katzfey are first sergeants and full-time Soldiers who provide new meaning to the word team in the Missouri National Guard.

Soldier is 1st woman to command MONG infantry rifle unit
August 26, 2020 — JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. – Capt. April Bruner is the first female commander of a rifle company in the Missouri National Guard as part of the evolution of female integration into combat arms established... MORE

Capt. April Bruner is the first female commander of a Missouri National Guard infantry unit.

Pennsylvania Guard WMD Civil Support Team Completes Exercise

Maryland Guard, Bosnia and Herzegovina Conduct JTAC Training

Finnish Air Force Commander Meets Virginia Guard Leaders

South Carolina National Guard Airmen Return From Deployment

Army, Air Force Team up to Load Helicopters at Shaw AFB