Guard News - The National Guard

Joint, International Southern Strike 2023 Exercise Wraps Up
April 28, 2023 — GULFPORT, Miss. – U.S. military members across every branch of service trained with international forces on Mississippi’s coast for two weeks during Exercise Southern Strike 2023, hosted by the... MORE

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 186th Air Refueling Wing, Mississippi Air National Guard, refuels a F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 4th Fighter Wing April 19, 2023, during Southern Strike 2023. The exercise focused on Agile Combat Employment, which shifts generation of airpower from large, centralized bases to networks of smaller, dispersed locations to complicate adversary planning.

Tennessee, Georgia Guardsmen are Southeast’s Best Warriors
April 24, 2023 — FORT STEWART, Ga. - Tennessee and Georgia Guardsmen were named the Army National Guard’s best warriors in the Southeast after a grueling, week-long competition April 16-21.U.S. Army Spc. Jackson... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Nicolas White, an indirect fire infantryman representing the Georgia Army National Guard, splashes water on his face after completing the confidence course during the Region III National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Fort Stewart, Ga., April 17, 2023. The competition tested the adaptiveness and lethality of our forces.

Guard Soldier Featured in Army ‘Be All You Can Be’ Campaign
March 15, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Many military members consider their service life-changing, but for 1st Sgt. John Melson, it was lifesaving — literally. After doctors at Melson’s military entrance screening... MORE

First Sgt. John Melson, then a Sgt. 1st Class and member of the Massachusetts Army National Guard, was presented the Bronze Star Medal with "V" device for valor at Fort Benning, Ga., Aug. 23, 2013, for his actions in 2009 while fighting off a Taliban ambush in Gerani, Afghanistan. Melson, now a member of the Georgia National Guard, is featured in the new U.S. Army recruiting campaign commercials.

Pennsylvania Guard Institute Educates Medics Across Army
March 9, 2023 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Instructors with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 4th Battalion, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute (Medical Battalion Training Site), sent off the Army’s newest... MORE

U.S. Soldiers carry a simulated casualty to a field hospital during an exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, March 3, 2023. This exercise included responding to the scene of a mass casualty event, providing first aid and evacuating the simulated casualties to a field hospital while being assessed by instructors with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 4th Battalion, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute (Medical Battalion Training Site).

Hokanson: Army Guard Aviation is big, Widespread, Capable
January 26, 2023 — FORT RUCKER, Ala. – The National Guard’s top leader talked with Army aviators Tuesday about how the Guard has evolved over the past four decades and what the future holds.Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson,... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, addresses Army National Guard aviation students at Fort Rucker, Alabama, Jan. 24, 2023. The Army Guard has aviation assets and facilities in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia.

Guard Saved Lives, Property, Responding to 2022 Disasters
December 28, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – With approximately 450,000 members, the National Guard plays a role in every element of the National Defense Strategy, including defending the homeland. Over half of its members were... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Robert Wolford, a metals technician assigned to the 168th Maintenance Squadron, cleans up debris as part of Operation Merbok Response in Koyuk, Alaska, Sept. 27, 2022. Remnants of Typhoon Merbok caused dramatic flooding across more than 1,000 miles of Alaskan coastline.

Mississippi, Republic of Uzbekistan Celebrate 10-Year Partnership
December 21, 2022 — WASHINGTON - The Mississippi National Guard and the Republic of Uzbekistan celebrated the 10th anniversary of joining forces under the State Partnership Program during a reception at the Uzbekistan... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of the Mississippi National Guard, showcases a traditional wood plate presented from Uzbekistan Foreign Minister Vladimir Norov during a reception at the Embassy of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Washington Dec. 12, 2022. The Guard and Uzbekistan celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their partnership under the Defense Department National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

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.

Alaska Guardsmen Maintain Arctic Resilience, Readiness
November 15, 2022 — FORT GREELY, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard Soldiers of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion (Ground-based Midcourse Defense) showcased their resiliency and readiness during exercise Guardian Watch... MORE

Soldiers from 113th Military Police Company, Mississippi Army National Guard, patrol the missile defense complex as part of exercise Guardian Watch 23 at Fort Greely, Alaska, Nov. 2, 2022. Guardian Watch 23 focused on ground-based midcourse defense and critical installations security, which are the two missions of the 49th Missile Defense Battalion.

National Guard Trains with Partner Nations in Tajikistan
August 29, 2022 — DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – About 300 troops from the United States, Tajikistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Mongolia and Pakistan trained together for the exercise Regional Cooperation 22 Aug... MORE

Brig. Gen. Maurizio D. Calabrese, deputy commanding general for intelligence at U.S. Central Command’s Over-the-Horizon Counterterrorism Headquarters, exchanges a gift at the close of the Regional Cooperation 22 exercise in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, Aug. 19, 2022. RC 22 is an annual, multinational U.S. Central Command-sponsored exercise conducted by U.S. forces with Central and South Asia nations.

Lessons Learned at JRTC Will Last a Lifetime, National Guard Chief Says
July 28, 2022 — FORT POLK, La. – In oppressive heat with humidity thicker than a wool blanket, Army National Guard Soldiers are training to build combat readiness and capacity. The theme at the Joint Training... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, and his senior enlisted advisor, SEA Tony Whitehead, visit Soldiers led by the California National Guard's 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team on rotation at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana, July 26, 2022. Fort Polk is a premier training center that provides rigorous and realistic pre-deployment training for thousands of Army, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Soldiers every year.

Southern Strike 2022 joint exercise concludes
May 13, 2022 — GULFPORT, Miss. – More than 2,000 U.S. Soldiers, Marines, Sailors, Airmen and Coast Guardsmen from throughout the country gathered at the Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center for Exercise... MORE

A U.S. special operations service member descends from a UH-60 Black Hawk during Fast Rope Insertion and Extraction System training at Gulfport Combat Readiness Training Center, Gulfport, Mississippi, April 22, 2022. The training was during Southern Strike 2022, a large-scale, joint and international combat exercise.

Alaska Army Guard conducts multiagency CBRNE exercise
March 28, 2022 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard’s 103rd Civil Support Team, National Guard CST units from other states, and local and federal agencies participated in Van Winkle... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Jonathan Ramos, section team leader for the 103rd Civil Support Team, gives an exercise brief before down-range operations during Van Winkle 2022 in Juneau, Alaska, March 22. Van Winkle 2022 is a chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive response exercise designed to enhance interoperability between state, federal and local first responders with complex training scenarios. Exercise participants included CST units from the Alaska National Guard, Montana National Guard, Connecticut National Guard, Mississippi National Guard and North Carolina National Guard.

VNG cyber protection battalion completes TF Echo mission
December 17, 2021 — FORT GEORGE G. MEADE, Md. – The Virginia National Guard’s 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, ended its support for Task Force Echo with a transition of authority ceremony Dec... MORE

Army National Guard Soldiers of the 123rd Cyber Protection Battalion, 91st Cyber Brigade, completed their support of the Task Force Echo V mission and returned to their home states of Illinois, Minnesota, Virginia and Wisconsin after a transition of authority ceremony Dec. 1, 2021, at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland.

Mississippi Guard receives national conservation award
November 3, 2021 — CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – Maj. Gen. Janson D. Boyles, the adjutant general of Mississippi, received the 2021 Military Conservation Partner Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.Leopoldo “Leo”... MORE

The Mississippi National Guard's Environmental Team received the 17th Annual Military Conservation Partner Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Nov. 2, 2021, in recognition of excellence and exceptional leadership in natural resource conservation. The team is shown at the award ceremony at the Mississippi Armed Forces Museum, Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, near Hattiesburg.

COVID response prompts 1st Idaho Guard dual-status commander
October 5, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – In September, after a second wave of COVID-19 cases spread across Idaho, Gov. Brad Little authorized the mobilization of up to 150 Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen. He also... MORE

Brig. Gen. Russ Johnson, Idaho National Guard director of joint staff, visits Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at medical facilities in Idaho, Oct. 1, 2021, after being appointed the state's first dual-status commander of its COVID-19 response.

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.

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.

Thousands of National Guard members support hurricane relief
August 31, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – More than 5,100 National Guard members from multiple states are assisting with rescue and relief efforts in the wake of Hurricane Ida's destructive path through Louisiana, Mississippi... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard has rescued 359 people and 55 pets either by high-water vehicles, by boats or by air during the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, which made landfall in south Louisiana Aug. 29, 2021, as a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds.

Guardsman sets records at CMP National Trophy Rifle Matches
August 9, 2021 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – The National Guard All Guard Service Rifle team broke two national records and earned 10 first or second place honors during the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) National... MORE

Master Sgt. Greg Neiderhiser, Pennsylvania National Guard, had a perfect shot during the Hearst Doubles Match at the 2021 CMP National Trophy Rifle matches Aug. 4, 2021, in his final event as an All Guard member.

Massachusetts Guardsman Epitomizes Army ‘Be All You Can Be’

Wisconsin Army Guard Soldiers Reflect on Africa Deployment

New York Guard Completes Horn of Africa Security Mission

Malaysia, U.S. Strengthen Ties at Bersama Warrior Exercise

Maryland Army National Guard ‘Takes Flight’ with Raven