Guard News - The National Guard

Iowa Air Guard Support Dog, Chaplain Reunite Post-Deployment
May 1, 2024 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa - For Adele (the dog, not the singer), after her person, Chaplain Lt. Col. Stephen Peters, deployed to Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar last fall, it was like he was gone for years in dog... MORE

After a six-month deployment, Chaplain Lt. Col. Stephen Peters is reunited with his dog, Adele, at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, April 30, 2024. Peters was serving as deputy command chaplain for U.S. Air Force Central Command at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar while Adele continued her duties as the morale support dog at the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing.

Oregon Guard Sharpens Combat Skills Before Deployment
April 24, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - Soldiers from the Oregon National Guard’s 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted intensive live-fire squad exercises April 19 at the Orchard Combat Training Center, honing crucial... MORE

A fire team from the Oregon National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team fires at targets while conducting a squad live-fire exercise at Orchard Combat Training Center in Idaho April 19, 2024. The intensive range tested Soldiers' abilities to maneuver under simulated combat conditions with pop-up targets and live ammunition.

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.

New Georgia Army Guard Soldiers say ‘Send Me’ Overseas
April 15, 2024 — FORT STEWART, Ga. - On April 13, 194 new Soldiers joined the Georgia Army National Guard during a battle handoff ceremony that followed basic and military occupational specialty training. Most will... MORE

Pfc. Cassandra Vazquez receives an Army Achievement Medal from the Georgia Army National Guard command team of Maj. Gen. Dwayne Wilson and Command Sgt. Maj. John Ballenger during a battle handoff ceremony April 13, 2024, in Fort Stewart, Ga.

Louisiana National Guard Conducts Premobilization Training
March 21, 2024 — PINEVILLE, La. – Approximately 85 Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 139th Regional Support Group, conducted annual premobilization training March 2-16.The two-week training at... MORE

A Louisiana National Guard Soldier from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 139th Regional Support Group, participates in pre-mobilization annual training at Louisiana National Guard Training Center Pineville. The training was conducted with 85 Soldiers March 2-16, 2024, to prepare for deployment to Europe this spring to support the European Assure, Deter and Reinforce mission.

Michigan National Guard Soldiers Return from Overseas Deployment
February 12, 2024 — LANSING, Mich. - For almost a year, dedicated Michigan National Guard members set aside their civilian lives and careers to support U.S. national security. Feb. 8 marked the homecoming of 84... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Jeff Stainsby, A Battery, 182nd Field Artillery, Michigan National Guard, holds his daughter, Clair, for the first time at the unit’s welcome home ceremony in Detroit, Mich, Feb. 8, 2024.

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.

Oklahoma National Guard Aviation Unit Deploying to Kosovo
January 2, 2024 — TULSA, Okla. – Loved ones gathered alongside nearly 50 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen during a deployment ceremony Dec. 30 at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa.Members of Charlie... MORE

Loved ones gathered alongside nearly 50 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen during a deployment ceremony Dec. 30, 2023, at the Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma. Members of Charlie Company, 1st Battalion (Assault Helicopter Battalion), 244th Aviation Regiment, 90th Troop Command, will deploy to Kosovo to support oOperation Joint Guardian (KFOR).

West Virginia Guardsmen End Deployment in Time for Holidays
December 21, 2023 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. - Soldiers with the West Virginia Army National Guard’s 156th Military Police Law and Order Detachment landed at Fort Bliss following a 10-month overseas deployment supporting the... MORE

Soldiers with the West Virginia Army National Guard's 156th Military Police Law and Order Detachment landed at Fort Bliss, Texas, Dec. 15, 2023, following a 10-month overseas deployment supporting the U.S. Army Central's Area Support Group - Jordan.

Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers Bound for Africa Mission
December 18, 2023 — HARRISBURG, Pa. – More than 300 Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, were honored during a deployment ceremony Dec. 17 at Zembo Shrine Auditorium.A... MORE

Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, and their families are recognized during a ceremony at the Zembo Shrine Auditorium in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Dec. 17, 2023. The Soldiers will leave their homes and families for about a year as they deploy to the Horn of Africa, supporting U.S. Africa Command and partner forces with regional security objectives.

Georgia Guard Field Artillery Unit Conducts Deployment Ceremony
December 13, 2023 — FORT STEWART, Ga. – The Savannah-based 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment “cased” their unit colors in Fort Stewart Dec. 12 in a symbolic ceremony before mobilizing overseas.The 1-118th... MORE

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 118th Field Artillery Regiment conduct a colors casing ceremony Dec. 12, 2023, in Fort Stewart, Ga., before deploying overseas.

Georgia National Guardsmen Return from Overseas Mission
December 4, 2023 — MARIETTA, Ga. - More than 80 Soldiers of the Georgia National Guard’s 201st Regional Support Group Forward returned home Dec. 1 after a nearly year-long deployment to Europe. Soldiers and family... MORE

Col. Matthew Kukla and Command Sgt. Major Lafayette Deal, command team of the Georgia National Guard’s 201st Regional Support Group (Forward), uncase the unit colors during a welcome home ceremony at the Clay National Guard Center in Marietta, Ga., Dec. 1 following a 10-month deployment to Europe.

NY Army Guard Aviation Soldiers Mobilize for Mideast Mission
January 20, 2023 — ROCHESTER, N.Y. - Almost 400 New York Army National Guard Soldiers will leave for a deployment to Kuwait.The Soldiers from Rochester, Dunkirk and Long Island will train in Pennsylvania and Texas... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Joann Duclose, a senior human resources sergeant from the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion, flags in a UH-60 Black Hawk during night sling-load training with aviators from 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion, June 5, 2014, in Camp Buehring, Kuwait, during the battalion's 2014 deployment. Soldiers of the 642nd Aviation Support Battalion will deploy to the Middle East again in 2023.

Maryland Guard Airmen Prepare for Engineering Deployment
June 30, 2022 — MIDDLE RIVER, Md. - Maryland Air National Guard engineers conducted career field and readiness training at military sites across the region June 22-24 as they prepare for deployment. Thirteen Airmen... MORE

An Airmen assigned to the 175th Civil Engineer Squadron, Maryland Air National Guard, maneuvers a piece of heavy equipment at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, June 22, 2022. The Airmen of the 175th CES trained at the 201st Regional Training Site to gain proficiency in their career field.

Vermont Army Guard to Support Swift Response Exercise
May 6, 2022 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – More than 120 Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers will participate in the training exercise Swift Response 22 in North Macedonia. Exercise Swift Response is an annual U.S. Army... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment, 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Mountain), Vermont Army National Guard, perform a live-fire training lane, Ethan Allen Firing Range, Jericho, Vermont, July 16, 2020. The live-fire range was conducted as part of their annual training.

116th IBCT completes exercise ahead of Kosovo deployment
March 3, 2022 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – After nearly a year of training, the Soldiers of the 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia and Kentucky National Guard, are ready to support the... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 29th Infantry Division, conduct fire phobia training at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Hohenfels, Germany, Feb. 11, 2022. The training provided the Kentucky Citizen-Soldiers with the skills and confidence to respond to civil unrest where incendiary devices may be used.

Tennessee National Guard unit prepares to deploy
November 18, 2021 — SMYRNA, Tenn. – Members of the 208th Area Support Medical Company have responded to natural disasters, played a major role in the state’s COVID-19 response, and are now preparing for a year-long... MORE

Members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 208th Area Support Medical Company move through a hand grenade qualification course Nov. 3, 2021, at Smyrna’s volunteer training site. The unit is deploying to five countries in December.

Swamp Foxes end expeditionary force rotation in Saudi Arabia
July 19, 2021 — MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. – Approximately 300 Airmen and a contingent of F-16CJ Fighting Falcon aircraft from the South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing ended a... MORE

South Carolina Air National Guard personnel return home July 16, 2021, to the 169th Fighter Wing at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, after a three-month deployment to Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. “Swamp Fox” Airmen projected combat power and bolstered defensive capabilities against potential threats in the region.

Highway Patrol officers add value on Cal Guard deployment
June 14, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – National Guard members are Citizen-Soldiers who often have civilian careers with very different skill sets than their military occupational specialties.On the military side,... MORE

Sgt. Daniel Gunther and Staff Sgt. Cindy Gray at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Gunther and Gray are California Army National Guard members deployed to the Middle East with Task Force Phoenix. On the civilian side, both are highway patrol officers with the California Highway Patrol (CHP).

466th Medical Company returns from Middle East deployment
June 2, 2021 — QUEENSBURY, N.Y. – Forty-seven New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 466th Medical Company-Area Support returned from a nine-month deployment to Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Iraq.The... MORE

Spc. Olivia Mannetti, a combat medic with the 466th Medical Company, Area Support, New York National Guard, prepares to make an incision on a simulated throat as she practices conducting a cricothyrotomy at the Role 2 compound at Ain al-Asad base, Iraq, Oct. 30, 2020. The company recently completed a nine-month deployment to the Middle East and returned to New York.

Virginia Guard Takes Holistic Approach to Health, Readiness

West Virginia’s 167th Wing Conducts Readiness Exercise

New York Army Guard Hosts Regional Best Warrior Competition

Alaska Guard Helps Provide Free Health Care to Kodiak Residents

Wisconsin Soldier, Arkansas Team Win Small Arms Championship