Guard News - The National Guard

Washington Guard, Thailand Partners Train Through Cobra Gold 2026
March 2, 2026 — PHANOM SARAKHAM DISTRICT, CHACHOENGSAO, Thailand – When a disaster happens, and lives are in danger, time might be the most critical asset first responders have.“We train together, [so] we can respond... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Waylon Dashiell, 141st Civil Engineers, Washington Air National Guard, cuts a concrete wall alongside the Bangkok Fire and Rescue Department during the humanitarian assistance disaster relief demonstration, part of Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 at the Disaster Relief Training Centre, Phanom Sarakham District, Chachoengsao, Thailand, Feb. 27, 2026.

West Virginia Guard, Qatar Strengthen Security Ties for Scout Event
February 26, 2026 — GLEN JEAN, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard welcomed the Qatar Armed Forces Military Police Forces commander and senior leaders during a Feb. 13 tour of Scouting America facilities at the... MORE

The West Virginia National Guard welcomed the Qatar Armed Forces Military Police Forces commander and senior leaders during a tour of Scouting America facilities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia, on Feb. 13, 2026.

Exercise Justified Accord 2026 Begins in Kenya, Tanzania
February 25, 2026 — NAIROBI, Kenya – Exercise Justified Accord 2026, the U.S. Africa Command's largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially began Feb. 23 across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania.Led by... MORE

Illinois, Pennsylvania and California Guardsmen Strengthen Ties with State Partners
February 25, 2026 — LUBLIN, Poland – The Lithuanian, Polish, Ukrainian Brigade, or LITPOLUKRBRIG, conducted Exercise Brave Band 2026 from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6, an annual battle staff training event designed to enhance the... MORE

Allies and partners gather for a group photo after the Brave Band 2026 Exercise.

Virginia Guard Participates in Finnish Cyber Security Exercise
February 23, 2026 — RIIHIMÄKI, Finland – Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 192nd Wing participated in Elements... MORE

Maryland Guard Participates in Crossed Swords 25 with Estonian Partners
February 9, 2026 — TALLINN, Estonia – The Maryland National Guard participated in Crossed Swords, a comprehensive cyber defense exercise, with their Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program... MORE

Maryland Air National Guard Lt. Col. Bob DeLuca, flight commander for the 175th Cyberspace Operations Squadron; Capt. James Bradford with the 276th Cyberspace Operations Squadron; and a member of the Estonian Defence Force speak with Maryland Air National Guard Senior Master Sgt. Martin Bartkowski, 275th Operations Support Squadron senior enlisted leader, while they participate in Crossed Swords 25 in Tallinn, Estonia, Nov. 3, 2025.

Massachusetts Guard’s Adjutant General Leads Engagements in Paraguay
January 28, 2026 — ASUNCION, Paraguay – Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, led a series of senior leader engagements in Paraguay from Jan. 16-22 to strengthen bilateral... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, left, awards Paraguayan Air Force Commander Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes with the Medal of Merit in Asunción, Paraguay, Jan. 21, 2026. The award recognizes Fullaondo’s leadership and contributions to strengthening aviation cooperation, interoperability and international partnerships between the Massachusetts National Guard and the Paraguayan Armed Forces.

Virginia Guard Participates in Warfighter Exercise in Finland
January 21, 2026 — KOUVOLA, Finland – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters participated in the Finnish training exercise Operation Karelian Spear Nov... MORE

Illinois Guard, Portugal Formalize New State Partnership Agreement
January 13, 2026 — LISBON, Portugal – The Illinois National Guard and the Ministry of National Defense of the Portuguese Republic held a ceremony Jan. 12 to officially establish a new State Partnership Program agreement... MORE

Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard, and Portuguese Lt. Gen. Rui Freitas sign the formal agreement creating the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program between the Illinois National Guard and the Portuguese military on Jan. 12, 2026, at the Portuguese Ministry of Defense in Lisbon.

Pennsylvania Guard, Côte d’Ivoire to Partner Through State Partnership Program
January 13, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Pennsylvania National Guard and Côte d’Ivoire military officials announced Jan. 13 that the Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire... MORE

Pennsylvania National Guard and Côte d’Ivoire military officials announced Jan. 13, 2026, that the Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Michigan National Guard and Latvia Have Built an Enduring State Partnership
January 12, 2026 — LANSING, Mich. — The Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program began as a cautious post-Cold War experiment and has evolved into one of the most enduring and cost-effective... MORE

Michigan National Army and Air Guard members, along with other services, represent the United States of America at the Latvian Centennial Parade in Riga, Latvia Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018.

Washington Guard, Thailand Participate in Aviation Exchange
January 6, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Guard members from the Washington National Guard’s 96th Aviation Troop Command conducted an Aviation Subject Matter Expert Exchange, or SMEE, with Royal Thai aviation partners... MORE

Capt. Taylor Payne, Army Aviation Support Facility 2 commander and State Partnership Program aviation liaison, receives a coin from his Royal Thai Army counterpart during the closing ceremonies following an Aviation Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Lop Buri, Thailand, Dec. 12, 2025.

Washington Guard Participates in Stryker Exchange with Thai Partners
January 6, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard’s G4 maintenance section led a Stryker Maintainer and Maintenance Manager Subject Matter Expert Exchange, or SMEE, with Royal Thai... MORE

Washington Guard members and Royal Thai Army members pose for a group photo during the Stryker Maintainer and Maintenance Manager Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Chon Buri Province, Thailand, Dec. 1–19, 2025.

Michigan National Guard Hosts Sierra Leone to Strengthen New Partnership
December 19, 2025 — LANSING, Mich.— The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and Sierra Leone recently marked another significant step forward in the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Engel, Warrant Officer 1 Courtney Topper, Warrant Officer 1 Jacob Shumway, Warrant Officer 1 Alex G. Sama, chief of logistics for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and Maj. Edward K. John pose for a photo during a Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program engagement in Michigan, December 2024.

Guam and Hawaii Guards Strengthen Ties at Philippine Reservist Convention
December 17, 2025 — MAKATI CITY, Philippines — Senior leaders from the Guam and Hawaii National Guards joined more than 4,500 Filipino reservists and administrators for the 2nd National Convention of the Association of... MORE

Leaders from the Guam and Hawaii National Guards stand alongside Reserve Commanders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines during the 2nd ARRAPI National Convention in Makati City, Dec. 8, 2025.

Fiji Military Forces and Nevada Army Guard Conduct Multinational Training
December 10, 2025 — SUVA, Fiji – It was hard to overlook the timing of Veterans Day this year for many attending Exercise Cartwheel, the annual training exercise that brought together military participants from... MORE

Lt. Lakoenavuli, Fiji Royal Military Forces, company commander, briefs the "culminating raid" during Exercise Cartwheel, Nov. 6, 2025.

California Guard Enters State Partnership Program with Mexico's Secretariat of National Defense
December 8, 2025 — MEXICO CITY – The California National Guard and Mexico’s Secretariat of National Defense (Secretaría de la Defensa Nacional) held a signing ceremony Oct. 28 to formalize their partnership in the... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew P. Beevers and Maj. Gen. Javier Sandoval Duenas, deputy chief of military doctrine of the National Defense Joint Headquarters Staff, or EMCDN, sign a letter of intent formalizing the agreement for Mexico to join the Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program with the California National Guard.

Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Selected for International Best Squad Competition
December 1, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Seven Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers recently completed tryouts and earned their place in a best squad competition scheduled for March 2026 in Lithuania.The... MORE

Seven Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers completed tryouts at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Oct. 22, 2025, earning their place in a best squad competition scheduled for March 2026 in Lithuania.

Nebraska, Guam Guards Partner with Marshall Islands
November 18, 2025 — LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Gov. Jim Pillen announced Nov. 17 that the Nebraska National Guard, alongside the Guam National Guard, has been selected to partner with the Republic of the Marshall Islands... MORE

Nebraska and Guam National Guards partner with the Republic of the Marshall Islands through the Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.

Philippine, University of Guam Cadets Train Together
November 18, 2025 — MANGILAO, Guam – Members of the Armed Forces of the Philippines, or AFP, Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, cadets recently conducted training with University of Guam ROTC cadets under the... MORE

Philippine Reserve Officers' Training Corps, or ROTC, cadets conduct bounding overwatch with University of Guam ROTC cadets at the University of Guam campus, Nov. 14, 2025, under the Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.

Texas Army Guard Hosts Safety Leaders on Readiness

Army National Guard Director Visits With Alaska Guard Soldiers

Pennsylvania Guard Trains Future Combat Medics

Arkansas Guard Strengthens Readiness During Sentry South

Georgia Air National Guard Wing Executes Swift Fire Mission