Guard News - The National Guard

Illinois Guard Unit to Support U.S. Army Europe and Africa
January 21, 2025 — SULLIVAN, Ill. - The Illinois Army National Guard’s 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element was activated Jan. 20 for deployment to Africa and Europe.A forward logistics element is a... MORE

Soldiers stand in formation during a mobilization ceremony for the 634th Brigade Support Battalion Forward Logistics Element Jan. 20, 2025, at the Illinois Army National Guard's Readiness Center in Sullivan. The unit, with just over a dozen Soldiers, will support logistics for U.S. Army Europe and Africa.

Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa
April 19, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - U.S. Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team recently deployed to Africa to support Special Operations Command Africa.Task Force... MORE

Soldiers with Task Force Iroquois train for deployment to Africa to support Special Operations Command Africa March 5, 2024, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania. The 14 Soldiers, mostly with the 328th Brigade Support Battalion, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, put in many weeks of rigorous training since January to prepare for their yearlong deployment.

Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch
March 27, 2024 — CAMP SIMBA, Kenya - Task Force Paxton’s command team, Lt. Col. Eric Ponzek and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Barclay, led one of the most memorable moments of a Soldier’s career at a Camp Simba ceremony... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, deployed as Task Force Paxton, receive their combat patches during a ceremony at Camp Simba, Kenya, March 21, 2024. Officially called the Shoulder Sleeve Insignia-Military Operations in Hostile Conditions, eligible Soldiers are able to wear that insignia on their right shoulder for the rest of their Army career.

Michigan Guard, Liberia Partner on NCO Academy in West Africa
March 6, 2024 — MONROVIA, Liberia – Instructors from the Michigan National Guard’s 177th Regional Training Institute assessed an instructor “dry-run” led by the Armed Forces of Liberia Feb. 19 to March 4 as the West... MORE

Instructors from the Michigan National Guard’s 177th Regional Training Institute teamed with instructors from the Armed Forces of Liberia Feb. 19 to March 3, 2024, to assess an instructor “dry-run” at Camp Ware, Liberia. The West African nation, partnered with the Michigan National Guard under the State Partnership Program since 2009, is standing up its own Noncommissioned Officer Academy.

Army General Meets with National Guard Partner Benin
February 9, 2024 — VICENZA, Italy – The commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) visited Benin Jan. 22-23 to strengthen relationships between the U.S. Army and the Benin... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), poses for a photo with Benin Chief of Army Staff, Brig. Gen. Abou Issa, in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 22, 2024. Wasmund and Issa discussed defense cooperation and opportunities for additional partnerships between the U.S. Army and the Benin Armed Forces.

National Guard Joins Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit
November 13, 2023 — ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire - Senior enlisted leaders from the United States, including the State Partnership Program, and 20 African nations attended the African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit Nov. 7-9.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa command chief, speaks at the first Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Nov. 7, 2023. The three-day summit was hosted by U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and Côte d'Ivoire air force senior enlisted leaders.

Army Command Works to Engage With African Partners
October 12, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Africa is a continent of potential, and service members at the Southern European Task Force, Africa, work every day to help African partners turn that potential into reality, said... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Todd Wasmund, commander of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa, and Ghana’s military leadership share a lighthearted moment following the culminating exercise at African Lion 2023 near Daboya, Ghana, June 13, 2023.

Wisconsin Guard Unit Returns Home From Africa Deployment
August 1, 2023 — MADISON, Wis. - More than 250 Soldiers from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade returned to Wisconsin after a nine-month deployment to Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti to... MORE

Maj. Gen. Paul Knapp, Wisconsin’s adjutant general, and other senior Wisconsin National Guard officials welcomed home approximately 260 Soldiers of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade at Dane County Regional Airport July 29, 2023. The 157th returned from a nine-month deployment to Djibouti, Africa, in support of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

Hokanson: State Partnership Program Stable, Steadfast and Growing
April 21, 2023 — DENVER – The Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program — built on enduring relationships, common interests and trust — is stable, steadfast and growing, the Guard’s top... MORE

Lt. Gen. Bashkim Jashari, commander of the Kosovo Security Force, is briefed on unit operations by the commander of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, during a tour of training at Camp Atterbury, Indiana, May 19, 2022. Approximately 15 KSF troops embedded with companies in the 1-133rd Infantry during a two-week annual training exercise.

Oregon Guard, Bangladesh Army Train During Tiger Lightning
March 27, 2023 — GAZIPUR, Bangladesh – Members of the Oregon National Guard, the 5th Security Force Assistance Brigade out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, and Civil Affairs and Explosive Ordnance Disposal... MORE

Oregon Army National Guardsmen of 3-116 Cavalry unit, Charlie Company, and Bangladesh Army counterparts carry a local role player on a litter during cordon and search operations training as part of Exercise Tiger Lightning 2023 near Dhaka, Bangladesh March 9, 2023. The training prepares Bangladesh military members for peacekeeping missions to Africa.

State Partnership Program a Difference Maker in Africa, U.S. military leaders say
March 7, 2023 — ROME – Africa is fertile ground for external influence, and senior U.S. military leaders underscored the value of partnerships to building security capacity on the continent during the 2023 African... MORE

U.S. Army and Air Force medical professionals with the Vermont National Guard are working for the next two weeks at the Thies Regional Hospital, and two smaller medical centers in and around Thies, Senegal.

NY Guard Soldiers Complete French Desert Commando Course
February 27, 2023 — CAMP LEMONNIER, DJIBOUTI – Thirty-one Army National Guard Soldiers and one Air Force Airman assigned to Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa completed the arduous French Desert Commando Course... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Barry Lindenoll, an infantryman assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 108th Infantry Regiment, traverses a cable during the French Desert Commando Course in Djibouti Jan. 29, 2023. Participants who successfully completed the training received the prestigious desert commando badge.

Team Approach Strengthens African Partner Medical Capabilities
January 11, 2023 — FALLS CHURCH, Va. - A five-year program to enhance the expeditionary medical capabilities of four African partner nations was completed last month.The African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership,... MORE

Rwandan Armed Forces soldiers and U.S. Nebraska Air National Guard medical personnel load a simulated patient onto a gurney for a patient transfer exercise in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2022 as part of the African Peacekeeping Rapid Response Partnership program.

Deployed NY Infantry Regiment Commemorates Battle of Makin
December 7, 2022 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Soldiers with the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, commemorated the 79th anniversary of the Battle of Makin Nov. 26.The annual Makin Dinner honors the brave legacy of... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Thomas Spencer, right, and Command Sgt. Maj. Corey Cush, left, the commander and senior enlisted leader of the 42nd Infantry Division, present a plaque to Maj. Gen. Jami Shawley and U.S. Marine Corps Command Sgt. Maj. Frank Kammer, the commander and senior enlisted leader of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa, during the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment’s annual Makin Diner Nov. 26, 2022. The unit held the event at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti.

Planners Shape Justified Accord 23 African Military Exercise
November 9, 2022 — NAIROBI, Kenya – More than 80 participants from the United States, African partner nations and multinational forces gathered in Nairobi Oct. 24-28 to plan exercise Justified Accord 2023 — U.S. Africa... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 503rd Infantry Regiment, 173rd Airborne Brigade, meet with Kenyan Defence Force Soldiers to prepare for a bilateral exercise during Justified Accord, March 13, 2022. Exercise Justified Accord allows the United States and African partners to support peace and stability in the region.

New York Army National Guard Soldiers Headed to Africa
November 7, 2022 — LATHAM, New York – Five New York Army National Guard Soldiers who operate a C-12 transport plane based at the Army Aviation Support Facility are headed to East Africa this month to support U.S... MORE

Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Detachment 5 of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment, salute during the playing of the national anthem at a farewell ceremony at Army Aviation Support Facility #3 in Latham, New York, Nov. 6, 2022. The Soldiers, who fly the C-12 Huron transport aircraft, will deploy to Djibouti in East Africa to support U.S. military forces in the region.

National Guard Infantry Units Support East Africa Mission
September 22, 2022 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Two storied National Guard units came together to transfer control of the continuing security mission in East Africa.U.S. Army National Guard Col. Jim Tierney, the 1st... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Shawn Tabankin, the commander of 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Zeller, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, senior enlisted leader, unfurl the unit’s colors during a transfer-of-authority ceremony at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Sep. 19, 2022. During the ceremony, more than 1,100 New York Army National Guard Soldiers officially began their service as part of Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa.

Virginia Guard Red Dragons Earn Their Spurs in Kenya
September 12, 2022 — CAMP SIMBA, Kenya – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, held a spur ride... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Task Force Red Dragon, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa, navigate an obstacle course during a spur ride Aug. 20, 2022, in Manda Bay, Kenya. The spur ride included physical training events, an obstacle course, rifle and pistol live-fire, weapons familiarization, reconnaissance and medical evacuation lanes, and a night call for fire and crew-served weapons live-fire event.

Kentucky National Guard Shares Knowledge with Partner Djibouti
September 9, 2022 — DJIBOUTI CITY, Djibouti – Although the early-morning sun was still low in the sky, temperatures were already hovering near 100 degrees as a small group of Kentucky National Guard signal leaders made... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Sgt. Corey Davis, with Joint Force Headquarters, wireless communications, conducts a check on knowledge, Aug. 17, 2022, regarding initial radio setup and functions testing with Djiboutian Armed Forces Bataillon d’Intervention Rapide (BIR).

New York Army National Guard Troops Deploy to Africa
September 9, 2022 — FORT BLISS, Texas - A thousand New York Army National Guard Soldiers completed two months of training at Fort Bliss and are heading to assignments in the Horn of Africa for 10 months.Known as Task... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Shawn Tabankin, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment commander, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Zeller, the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment senior enlisted advisor, case the battalion’s colors during a ceremony at Fort Bliss Texas, Sept. 6, 2022. The colors will be unfurled in Africa when the unit assumes responsibility for a security mission as part of Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts

Missouri Airmen Provide Airlift in Central American Exercise

Washington Guard Improves Park Through Innovative Readiness Training

State Partnership Program Enables Global, Shared ‘Peace through Strength’