Guard News - The National Guard

Task Force Phoenix ends 9-month mission in Middle East
January 10, 2022 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – With the casing of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade’s red and blue colors, Task Force Phoenix’s nine-month mission in the Middle East formally came to an end.On Jan. 6, Col... MORE

Task Force Phoenix Over the Horizon (OTH) force CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrive at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2021. The helicopters are flown by crews from Task Force Phoenix's 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), from the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard.

Cal Guard pilots honored in London for Creek Fire rescue
November 15, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Two California Army National Guard flight crews were awarded the prestigious Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots in London Oct. 21... MORE

From left, Falicia Ramos, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Irvin Hernandez, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Hlebain, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Rosamond, Jill Goding, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kipp Goding, Warrant Officer 1 Ge Xiong and Pangia Xiong in front of Guildhall in London Oct. 21, 2021. The California National Guard members received the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots for their actions rescuing campers and hikers from the Creek Fire in California on Labor Day weekend in 2020.

Task Force Phoenix CEMA cell counters unmanned aerial systems
October 19, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Coalition forces are countering adversary unmanned aerial systems (UAS) in the U.S. Central Command area of operations with a rapidly evolving set of tools and training.Task... MORE

Staff Sgt. Daniel Butts, with the 386th Expeditionary Security Forces Squadron, trains with a SPECTRE Virtual Reality Trainer during a counter-unmanned aerial system (CUAS) course at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Course instructor Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Meneely stands behind him.

Task Force Phoenix halfway through Middle East mission
October 4, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The Soldiers of Task Force Phoenix have endured intense heat with highs reaching above 120 degrees for nearly four months while conducting operations in five Middle Eastern... MORE

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter from Task Force Wolfpack, 1st Attack Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, flies over northern Iraq. Wolfpack's highly lethal Apaches serve as air weapons teams on 24-hour alert. They also provide overwatch during ground operations, convoy escort and reconnaissance in support of base defense.

COVID-19 adds intensity to Golf Company MEDEVAC mission
August 9, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – In June, the condition of a Soldier with COVID-19 began rapidly deteriorating. The Soldier was intubated and placed on heavy narcotics. He needed to get from Camp Arifjan,... MORE

A Task Force Phoenix medevac crew from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), known as DUSTOFF, at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The fully vaccinated crew took extra precautions during a medevac mission in which they transported a severe COVID-19 patient to higher care. Clockwise from top left, emergency critical care nurse Maj. Cody McDonald, flight medic Staff Sgt. Jose Bulow, crew chief Sgt. Dena Lee and pilot 1st Lt. James Pettigrew.

Updated electronic warfare course resumes at Camp Buehring
July 26, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were a deadly threat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, causing most casualties in both conflicts. IEDs remain a... MORE

Sgt. Ismael Pulido, electronic warfare NCO, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Meneely, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Douglas Montgomery discuss Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Warfare system training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Pulido, Meneely and Montgomery are the Task Force Phoenix Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities cell.

Task Force Phoenix rises again in the Middle East
May 19, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – After more than two years of preparation and training, the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, as Task Force Phoenix, formally assumed its overseas mission.For the next nine months,... MORE

Task Force Phoenix Command Sgt. Maj. Refugio Rosas and Commander Col. Alan Gronewold await the arrival of visitors from Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve on the flight line before a transfer of authority ceremony at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, May 16, 2021.

28th ECAB officially released, completes Mideast mission
May 17, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade formally transferred authority of its mission in the Middle East to the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade.The ceremony included the... MORE

A UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, operated by Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, flies over an airfield in the 28th ECAB's area of operations in the Middle East.

Soldiers shave their heads to support battle buddy's sister
May 11, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – An overseas deployment to an austere location where the heat, workload and OPTEMPO are high can be challenging. Knowing that a loved one back home has cancer can make a... MORE

Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), shaved their heads and posed for a picture at North Fort Hood, Texas, before deploying to the Middle East with Task Force Phoenix. They shaved their heads in support of Staff Sgt. Brandon Stafford's sister, who was going through chemotherapy and radiation treatment after having a brain tumor removed.

Pennsylvania-California military ties date back to Civil War
May 11, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – As Soldiers of California’s 40th Combat Aviation Brigade trade places with their counterparts of Pennsylvania’s 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, troops will be... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the California National Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade are taking over the aviation mission in the Middle East from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, taking part in Pennsylvania-California military cooperation that has been going on since the Civil War.

Task Force Phoenix completes pre-deployment exercise
April 21, 2021 — NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas – The Soldiers of Task Force Phoenix faced several worst-case scenarios during a 10-day culminating training exercise (CTE) in April. Indirect fire attacks, downed aircraft,... MORE

Task Force Phoenix UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters from G Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), land at North Fort Hood, Texas, April 17, 2021, during a medevac training mission that was part of a culminating training exercise.

Task Force Phoenix trains at North Fort Hood for deployment
March 29, 2021 — NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas – Flexibility and adaptability have been key for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade in the lead-up to a 9-month deployment to the Middle East.The brigade is poised to deploy to... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jose Bulow, a flight medic with Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), is hoisted into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, March 26, 2021, at North Fort Hood, Texas, as part of training before a 9-month mission to the Middle East. Golf Company is attached to Task Force Phoenix, led by the California Army National Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Army Guard Soldiers Train for Kosovo Deployment

Alaska Air Guard’s 168th Wing Sharpens Readiness with CBRN Training

Air National Guard Drone Training Bridges Gap for First Responders

Massachusetts Air Guard’s 102nd Mission Support Group Conducts Readiness Training

New Hampshire Army National Guard Hosts 2025 Cyber Yankee Training Exercise