Guard News - The National Guard

Kentucky Guard, Ecuador Share Disaster Response Tactics
April 16, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Seven members of the Ecuadorian armed services visited Kentucky recently to learn more about how the Kentucky National Guard responds to emergencies and to share their own disaster... MORE

A U.S. Army Soldier from the Kentucky National Guard’s 41st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team demonstrates equipment used to test for hazardous airborne isotopes for members of the Ecuadorian military at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky., March 9, 2026.

Washington Air Guard Strengthens Ties During Thai Leadership Visit
April 15, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington Air National Guard hosted Royal Thai Air Force commander-in-chief Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha April 13, advancing a more than two-decade partnership focused on... MORE

Brig. Gen. Ken Borchers, Commander, Washington Air National Guard and Assistant Adjutant General, Washington National Guard, presents gifts to Air Chief Marshal Sakesan Kantha, Commander-in-Chief, Royal Thai Air Force, during a visit to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., April 13, 2026.

Texas Guard, Chile Strengthen Partnership at FIDAE Air and Space Show
April 13, 2026 — SANTIAGO, Chile - The Texas Air National Guard joined more than 100 airmen from across the globe to showcase its capabilities April 7-12 at the Feria Internacional del Aire y Espacio, or FIDAE,... MORE

Chilean Defense Minister Fernando Barros arrives for the opening ceremony at the Feria Internacional del Aire y del Espacio, or FIDAE, 2026 in Santiago, Chile, April 7, 2026.

Washington Guard, Thai Partners Expand Disaster Response Capabilities
April 9, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard joined Thai partners for a week-long subject matter expert exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang and Sri Racha Hospital, March 2-9,... MORE

Firefighters from the Port of Laem Chabang participate in subject matter expert exchange with Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard at the Port of Laem Chabang and Sri Racha Hospital, Thailand, March 7, 2026.

Florida National Guard Partners with Greece in State Partnership Program
April 8, 2026 — SAINT AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The Florida National Guard has been designated as Greece’s partner in the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, or SPP, establishing a long-term... MORE

Polish Soldier Wins Illinois National Guard Best Warrior Competition
April 6, 2026 — MARSEILLES, Ill. – Polish Territorial Defense Forces Soldier Mateusz, whose rank and surname have been omitted to comply with the Polish Territorial Defense Forces policy, traveled across the Atlantic... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Michael R. Kelly, the senior enlisted leader of the Illinois Army National Guard, presents the Illinois Army National Guard’s 2026 Soldier of the Year award to Polish Territorial Defense Forces Soldier Mateusz. Competitors from the Illinois National Guard and the Polish Territorial Defense Force, partnered through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, participated in the 2026 Illinois Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition held March 26-29, 2026, at the Marseilles Training Area. Photo by Sgt. Haesi Fanizzo.

Indiana Guard, Slovak Partners Strengthen Ties, Conduct Air Training
March 31, 2026 — TUCSON, Ariz. – The 122nd Fighter Wing with the Indiana Air National Guard and Slovak Air Force took part in an air-to-air joint training Exchange of Experience exercise Feb. 12-17, at Davis-Monthan... MORE

A F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft pilot assigned to the Slovak Armed Forces shakes hands with a U.S. Air Force crew chief after a joint training flight at Morris Air National Guard Base, Tucson, Arizona, Feb. 15, 2026.

Massachusetts Guard Leaders Join Kenyan Partners at African Land Forces Summit
March 31, 2026 — ROME – Senior leaders from the Massachusetts National Guard attended the African Land Forces Summit, or ALFS, in Rome, Italy, March 23-24, alongside senior leaders of the Kenya Defence Forces, marking... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, right, and Kenyan Defence Forces, or KDF, Lt. Gen. David Ketter, the commander of the Kenyan Army, shake hands during the African Land Forces Summit in Rome, Italy, March 23, 2026.

Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania Formalize State Partnership
March 27, 2026 — DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – In a move that significantly expands U.S. security cooperation in East Africa, military leaders from the Nebraska National Guard and the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Craig Strong, left, Nebraska’s adjutant general, and Gen. Jacob John Mkunda, chief of defense forces for the Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces, sign a formal letter of intent in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, March 12, 2026.

Nebraska Guard, Tanzania Test Medical Readiness During Justified Accord 2026
March 27, 2026 — DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania – Nebraska Air National Guard personnel and U.S. Army military medical professionals tested the Medical Currency Application for Readiness Tracking 2.0, a digital,... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Daniel Cybulski, an infectious disease physician with the Center for Sustainment of Trauma and Readiness Skills Omaha, U.S. Air Force School of Aerospace Medicine, consults with Tanzania People’s Defence Force medical personnel during patient consultations as part of a medical readiness exercise during Justified Accord 2026 at Msata Military Training Base in Msata, Tanzania, March 9, 2026.

Washington Guard, Royal Thai Army Strengthen Ties With Stryker Leader Exchange
March 10, 2026 — CHON BURI PROVINCE, Thailand – Six soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard partnered with members of the Royal Thai Army to conduct a Stryker Leader Course subject matter expert exchange Jan... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Mattern, 205th Regimental Training Institute, Washington Army National Guard discusses the rigging techniques of the Winch (Self) Recovery method with soldiers from the Royal Thai Army during a Stryker Leader Exchange on Feb. 2, 2026, in Chon Buri Province, Thailand.

Exercise Cobra Gold Ends for US, Thailand Partners
March 6, 2026 — RAYONG, Thailand – The joint multinational military Exercise Cobra Gold 2026, held annually in Thailand, has successfully concluded after two weeks of intensive training, humanitarian efforts and... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Taihei Hongo, chief of staff, 10th Homeland Response Force and deputy Command and Control, conducts the Combined Forces Land Component Commanders Update Brief with Thai and Singaporean service members during Exercise Cobra Gold 2026 at Camp Red Horse, Rayong province, Thailand, March 2, 2026.

Minnesota Guard Strengthens Partnership, Trains in Norway’s Arctic Environment
March 5, 2026 — TRØNDELAG, Norway – One hundred Soldiers and Airmen from the Minnesota National Guard traveled to Norway for the 53rd Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange, or NOREX, an annual exchange that strengthens... MORE

After spending three nights at base camps near Haltdalen, Norway, members of NOREX 53 complete the ski march up the mountain on Feb. 9, 2026.

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.

Nordhaus Underscores National Guard’s Indispensable Role

Nevada Guard Unit Transitions to Mobile Infantry Battalion

Tennessee Guardsmen Provide Aid, Secure Evidence in Shooting

Wisconsin Guard Conducts Drone Training

Tennessee Guard Airmen Broaden Communication Skills