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.

Kosovo Force Mission Aviation Units Conduct Flight Training
June 6, 2025 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – Task Force Aviation, made up of the Idaho and New Jersey Army National Guard, assigned to the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission’s Regional Command-East (RC-E) hosted an... MORE

U.S., Hungarian and Swiss aviation forces assigned to the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, also known as KFOR, conduct an international partner multi-ship familiarization flight, or IPMFF, around Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, May 12, 2025.

Museum Opens Exhibit Commemorating U.S. and Latvian Military Partnership
April 14, 2025 — RIGA, Latvia — U.S. and Latvian service members, diplomats and other guests gathered last week at the Latvian War Museum’s opening of a new exhibit commemorating the 32-year history of the U.S.-Latvia... MORE

U.S. and Latvian service members listen as speakers address the audience during the opening of a new exhibit commemorating 32 years of U.S.-Latvian military partnership at the Latvian War Museum in Riga, Latvia, April 11, 2025.

US, Polish Partners Strengthen Interoperability, Modernization
March 10, 2025 — WARSAW, Poland - About 75 U.S. and Polish Armed Forces personnel strengthened NATO interoperability and defense modernization during a military-to-military workshop Feb. 24-25. Brig. Gen. Michael... MORE

U.S. and Polish military personnel gather at 1 Baza Lotnictwa Transportowego (1st Airlift Base) in Warsaw, Poland, highlighting continued collaboration in enhancing NATO interoperability. The Illinois National Guard and Poland have been partners in the State Partnership Program since its inception in 1993.

Alaska Army Guard Black Hawk Crew Touches Down on Train
March 4, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Army National Guard aviators assigned to Golf Company, 2nd Battalion, 211th General Support Aviation Battalion, landed an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to Golf Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, lands on an Alaska Railroad train car while supporting Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 near Fairbanks, Alaska, Feb. 20, 2025. SOFAM 2025 is a Special Operations Command North training and validation event for unit medics that conduct exercises and operations in the North American Arctic.

Swedish Soldiers Train with 42nd Infantry Division Partners
February 7, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Four Swedish army service members spent time with the 42nd Infantry Division learning about large-scale combat operations during a warfighting exercise from Jan. 24 to Feb... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Jack A. James Jr., right, the commander of the New York National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division, speaks with Swedish Army soldiers during the division’s Warfighter 25-3 exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Jan. 31, 2025. The Swedish soldiers’ participation with the New York Army National Guardsmen during Warfighter Exercise 25-3 marks their second visit with the 42nd Infantry Division and their first experience working with the United States in a division-level warfighter exercise.

Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Participate in Lithuania Exercise
November 15, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in Exercise Strong Griffin in Lithuania.A total of 71 Soldiers from the 1st... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Ray Ortiz, an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, defends his post during exercise Strong Griffin at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, Oct. 27, 2024. Soldiers spent their two-week annual training period augmenting the 1st Cavalry Division forces participating in Strong Griffin — a Lithuanian-led NATO field exercise focused on training Lithuanian forces and enhancing interoperability with partner nation units.

Maryland National Guard Hosts International Visitor Leadership Program
November 4, 2024 — MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – The Maryland National Guard hosted more than 30 public officials, academics and security analysts from NATO member states and aspirant countries via the State Department's... MORE

Members of the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program pose for a photo with Maryland Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Janeen L. Birckhead, 31st adjutant general of the Maryland National Guard and an A-10 aircraft.

Canadian Armed Forces Awards Kansas ANG Unit With Top Honors
October 3, 2024 — SALINA, Kansas – A Kansas Air National Guard unit received one of Canada’s highest military honors for their help in restoring a specialized capability that was all but lost.Top-level Canadian Armed... MORE

From left, Maj. Gen. John Errington, commander of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre; U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Kevin Thomas, commander of the 284th Air Support Operations Squadron; and Chief Warrant Officer Pascal Gagne, Sergeant Major of the Canadian Army Doctrine and Training Centre, hold the scroll element of the Canadian Forces Unit Commendation award during a ceremony at Smoky Hill Air National Guard Range, Kansas, Oct. 1, 2024.

Air Guard Hosts Junior Officer Leadership Development Course
August 29, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard hosted 60 company-grade officers from nine countries for the annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course at McGhee Tyson Air National... MORE

Participants in the 30th Annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development course pose for a photo in front of a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Aug.14, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. IJOLD is an annual event designed to expand International Air Reserve junior officers to leadership concepts while collaborating with other NATO nations to better understand differing military cultures.

Army National Guard Soldiers Train Alongside NATO Allies
July 29, 2024 — SENNELAGER, Germany - As day turned to dusk, raindrops hammered cobblestone roads while several members of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), New Hampshire Army... MORE

Members of Charlie Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountain), 54th Troop Command, New Hampshire Army National Guard, pose for a group photo after the closing ceremony of exercise RHINO HEART at the Normandy Barracks in Sennelager, Germany, on June 19, 2024

Georgia Army Guard Joins DEFENDER 24 Exercise in Sweden
May 8, 2024 — SKILLINGARYD, Sweden - This year’s DEFENDER 24 exercise emphasizes the significant partnership between the United States and Sweden, NATO’s newest member, with the Georgia Army National Guard putting... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Crandale Jackson, a cannon crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, speaks to Swedish Military Police during DEFENDER 24 in Skillingaryd, Sweden, May 5, 2024. DEFENDER 24 is the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercises that consist of Saber Strike, Immediate Response and Swift Response.

New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa
April 30, 2024 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Seven hundred New York Army National Guard Soldiers will take part in the multinational African Lion training exercise in Tunisia and Morocco in May.Most of the New York National Guard... MORE

African Lion provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands, including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command, and strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.

Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland
April 10, 2024 — POWIDZ, Poland - The 126th Air Refueling Wing completed a two-week deployment to Poland in support of Operation Copper Arrow.The operation enhanced combat readiness among NATO allies and partner... MORE

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing stand with Polish Air Force counterparts after touring the 33rd Air Base maintenance facility March 25, 2024, in Powidz, Poland. The Illinois Air National Guard wing visited Poland as a part of the State Partnership Program.

Ukraine Delegation Visits Washington National Guard Leaders
March 18, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - A delegation from Ukraine visited Washington National Guard leaders March 15 to thank them for supporting the country.“We know your unit deployed to Ukraine in 2021 to help our... MORE

Brig. Gen. Kenneth Borchers, left, director of the Joint Staff, Washington National Guard, shakes hands with Ruslan Kravchenko, head of the Kyiv Regional State Administration, during a visit to Camp Murray, Wash., March 15, 2024. The visit to Camp Murray focused on sharing stories and building on friendship established during the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team’s 2021 deployment to Ukraine supporting the Joint Multinational Training Group - Ukraine mission.

Virginia National Guard Takes Over Poland Sustainment Mission
March 15, 2024 — POWIDZ, Poland - The Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion unfurled its organizational colors and took responsibility for logistics, maintenance and supply missions from... MORE

U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, the commander of the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Elliot, the battalion's senior enlisted advisor, uncase their unit colors during a transfer of authority ceremony in Powidz, Poland, March 11, 2024.

West Virginia Public Affairs Detachment Joins Allied Spirit 24
March 11, 2024 — HOHENFELS, Germany – Soldiers with the 153rd Public Affairs Detachment, Joint Forces Headquarters, West Virginia National Guard, arrived at Hohenfels Training Area March 7 to support Allied Spirit... MORE

U.S. Army Pfc. Ayden Norcross provides photography support during Allied Spirit 24, March 9, 2024, in Hohenfels, Germany. Allied Spirit 24 is a U.S. Army exercise for its NATO allies and partners at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center near Hohenfels, Germany.

Louisiana Army Guard Aviation Unit Holds Deployment Ceremony
January 4, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Assault Helicopter Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, bid farewell to family and friends during a... MORE

Soldiers of the 1-244th Assault Helicopter Battalion sing the Army Song during a deployment ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility #1 in Hammond, Louisiana, Dec. 2, 2023. Over 70 Soldiers will deploy to Kosovo to support a NATO-led peacekeeping mission.

Ohio’s 123rd Air Control Squadron Trains with NATO Allies
October 26, 2023 — BLUE ASH, Ohio - Airmen assigned to the 178th Wing’s 123rd Air Control Squadron hosted a two-week combined training exercise with eight service members from NATO allies Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 123rd Air Control Squadron in Blue Ash, Ohio, pose alongside service members from NATO nations Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary. Eight service members from the NATO allies trained in Ohio Sept. 11-22.

In Finland, Hokanson Sees a Country’s Cold Will to Defend Itself
October 19, 2023 — HELSINKI – The National Guard’s top officer recently visited Finland as part of a larger Northern European itinerary to strengthen the Guard’s security cooperation ties in the region.The Guard has... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Lt. Gen. Vesa Virtanen, chief of Defense Command, Finnish Defense Forces, meet with Col. Mika Rytkonen, commander of Finland’s South-Eastern Border Guard District, near Vaalimaa, Finland, Oct. 13, 2023. Hokanson visited Finland to enhance bilateral ties between the National Guard and Finland.

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts