Guard News - The National Guard

Washington Guard Continues Strengthening Relationship at Thailand’s Port of Laem Chabang
September 30, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Four members of the Washington National Guard partnered recently with more than 170 employees from the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, to continue improving the port’s all-hazard... MORE

Photo of medical training during a Port Subject Matter Expert Exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, August 20, 2025.

25 Years Strong: Hawai‘i Guard and Philippines Celebrate Enduring Partnership
September 30, 2025 — CLARK AIR BASE, Philippines — Cheers, handshakes and shared stories filled the air Sept. 23–25 as the Hawai‘i National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines celebrated 25 years of partnership — a... MORE

Leaders and attendees from the Hawai‘i National Guard, Guam National Guard and Armed Forces of the Philippines gather for a group photo during the 25th anniversary celebration of the State Partnership Program between the Hawai‘i National Guard and the AFP at Clark Air Base, Philippines, Sept. 25, 2025.

National Guard, Nordic Partnerships Bolster European Defenses
September 29, 2025 — OSLO, Norway — The National Guard Bureau’s top leaders traveled to Finland, Sweden and Norway last week as part of a series of visits to Northern European countries to strengthen the Guard’s security... MORE

U.S. Air Force Gen. Steve S. Nordhaus, center right, chief, National Guard Bureau, shakes hands with a member of the Swedish Armed Forces during a static presentation of Swedish naval capabilities in Stockholm, Sweden, Sep. 16, 2025.

West Virginia Guard, Qatar Military Leaders Elevate Partnership
September 26, 2025 — DOHA, Qatar - West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General James “Jim” Seward traveled to Doha, Qatar, this week to meet with Qatar Armed Forces counterparts as part of a series of key leader... MORE

At the invitation of Qatar Emiri Land Force Commander Maj. Gen. Jassim Al Attiya, West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. James “Jim” Seward visits QELF headquarters in Doha, Qatar, Sept. 17, 2025.

Lithuanian Defense Delegation Visits Pennsylvania Guard Drone Facility
September 25, 2025 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – A delegation of more than 20 Lithuanian defense, diplomatic and business officials visited the Unmanned Aircraft Systems, or UAS, facility Sept. 23, as part of a five-day... MORE

A delegation of more than 20 Lithuanian defense, diplomatic and business officials visited the Unmanned Aircraft Systems facility at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Sept. 23, 2025, as part of a five-day mission in the United States.

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Hosts State Partnership Program Senior Leader Forum
September 22, 2025 — CAMP H.M. SMITH, Hawaii - U.S. Indo-Pacific Command hosted the 2025 State Partnership Program Senior Leader Forum at its headquarters Sept. 15-19.U.S. Air Force Major General Joel Carey, chief of... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Joel Carey, chief of staff for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, joins the 2025 State Partnership Program Senior Leader Forum for a group photo at USINDOPACOM headquarters on Camp H.M. Smith, Hawaii, Sept. 19, 2025. SPP is a Department of War security cooperation program managed by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau and executed by U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, directing the National Guard of the States and Territories to maintain 17 partnerships with nine states and one territory, supported by 12 Guardsmen serving as bilateral affairs officers in regional embassies. USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, prevailing in conflict. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Austin Riel)

New Jersey Guard Pilots SPP Equipment Transfer to Generate Cost Savings
September 19, 2025 — LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. – New Jersey National Guard members recently supported a key Defense Security Cooperation Agency and National Guard Bureau initiative in coordination with the state’s longtime... MORE

Members of the Albanian Armed Forces receive military equipment from Airmen and Soldiers of the New Jersey National Guard in Tirana, Republic of Albania, September 14, 2025, as part of a key Defense Security Cooperation Agency and National Guard Bureau initiative to use Air National Guard flights for transport of Building Partner Capacity materials to State Partnership Program participants.

Hawaii Guard Strengthens Ties with Indonesia During Super Garuda Shield 25
September 18, 2025 — PEARL CITY, Hawaii - The Hawaii National Guard played a key role in Super Garuda Shield 25, the largest bilateral exercise between Indonesia and the United States and one of the Indo-Pacific’s most... MORE

Joint and multilateral personnel pose for a group photo at a Staff Exercise during Super Garuda Shield 25 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Sept. 1, 2025.

Washington Guard Hosts Visit From Royal Malaysian Air Force Deputy Chief
September 16, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington National Guard welcomed a senior delegation from Malaysia as part of its long-standing partnership Sept. 11 – 13 at Camp Murray and Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash... MORE

Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard, and Lt. Gen. Nur Hafis bin Abdul Karim, deputy chief of the Royal Malaysian Air Force, exchange gifts during an office visit Sept. 12, 2025, at Camp Murray, Wash.

Colorado Guard, Switzerland Become Partners in Program
September 15, 2025 — CENTENNIAL, Colo. – The Swiss Confederation and Colorado National Guard have officially become state partners under the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program or SPP.A... MORE

Kentucky Guard, Ecuador Conduct Air Assault Training Exchange
September 12, 2025 — LATACUNGA, Ecuador - Members of the Kentucky National Guard took part in a four-day air assault training exchange with the Ecuadorian 9th Special Forces Brigade as part of the Department of War... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Mitchell Hagen teaches Ecuadorian servicemembers of the 9th Special Forces Brigade how to approximate the height of trees as part of a class on landing zone designation in Latacunga, Ecuador, Aug. 21, 2025.

New Hampshire Guard, El Salvador Celebrate 25th Anniversary of State Partnership Program
September 8, 2025 — NEWINGTON, N.H. - The New Hampshire National Guard and El Salvador celebrated the 25th anniversary of its Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, or SPP, Sept. 6 at Pease... MORE

From left, Col. Pablo Soriano, chief of the Salvadoran Air Force, presents NH Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities with a gift and plaque at the Thunder Over New Hampshire Air Show on Sept. 6, 2025, at Pease Air National Guard Base in Newington, N.H.

New York Guard to Help Sweden With Division-Level Command Post Exercise
September 5, 2025 — LATHAM, New York - Six New York Army National Guard officers and an Air Guard master sergeant are heading to Sweden to help the Swedish Army’s 1st Division conduct its first-ever division staff... MORE

Swedish Army Lt. Col. Fredrik Mansson, the chief of operations for the Swedish 1st Division Headquarters, speaks with an officer of the New York National Guard's 42nd Infantry Division during the division’s Warfighter exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, on Feb. 3, 2025.

Nordhaus Joins Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference to Strengthen State Partnership Program
September 2, 2025 — HUA HIN, Thailand – Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, attended the 2025 Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference to strengthen the National Guard’s partnerships in... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, joins Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine and Navy Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, at the 27th Indo-Pacific Chiefs of Defense Conference, Hua Hin, Thailand, Aug. 27-28, 2025.

Ohio Guard Hosts Serbian Firefighters in Collaborative Exchange
August 25, 2025 — SPRINGFIELD, Ohio - A delegation of four professional and volunteer firefighters from the Serbian Volunteer Fire Department concluded a four-day visit to the Springfield area Aug. 21, spending time... MORE

Chris Wysong, chief of Wayne Township Fire Department, gives a tour Aug. 22 to a delegation of four firefighters from the Serbian Volunteer Fire Department.

National Guard State Partnership Program: A Cornerstone of Global Security
August 20, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. – In a mostly virtual gathering, National Guard members and security cooperation leaders convened earlier this month for a Defense Department National Guard Bureau State Partnership... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the West Point-based 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group train on multiple techniques for both the hasty and deliberate emplacement of anti-tank mines with trainers from the Finnish Army’s Karelia Brigade during Exercise Arctic Forge 25, Feb. 22, 2025, near Kouvola, Finland.

South Carolina Guard, Colombian Medics Strengthen Life-Saving Skills at Exercise
August 11, 2025 — PALANQUERO AIR BASE, Colombia — Backed by a 13-year alliance through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, South Carolina National Guard Airmen and Soldiers joined... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Hunter Vaught, combat medic program manager for the South Carolina Army National Guard, and Colombia Aerospace Force medical personnel practice a Level 2 Tactical Combat Casualty Care procedure during Relámpago de los Andes, a multinational exercise held at Palanquero Air Base, Colombia, Aug 2, 2025.

South Dakota Guard, Suriname Armed Forces Strengthen Partnership
July 31, 2025 — PARAMARIBO, Suriname – The South Dakota National Guard and Suriname Armed Forces, or SAF, strengthened their partnership during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July... MORE

South Dakota National Guard Soldiers with members of the Surinamese Armed Forces during a first-of-its-kind jungle warfare exchange that concluded July 18, 2025.

Nebraska Guard Strengthens Ties with Tanzania During Visit
July 28, 2025 — DAR ES SALAAM, Tanzania - A Nebraska National Guard delegation traveled to Tanzania in June to commemorate the 250th birthday of the United States Army and advance the newly established Department of... MORE

A Nebraska National Guard delegation traveled to Tanzania in June to celebrate the 250th birthday of the United States Army and promote the newly established State Partnership Program between Nebraska and Tanzania.

Illinois National Guard to Partner with Portugal in State Partnership Program
July 21, 2025 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - The National Guard Bureau and the U.S. Department of Defense have announced the establishment of a State Partnership Program, or SPP, between the Illinois National Guard and the... MORE

Iowa Air Guard’s 132nd Security Forces Squadron Conducts Annual Training in Hawaii

Wisconsin Air Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Partners With UW Health for Medical Airmen Training

Connecticut Army Guard Partners With Coast Guard to Dislodge Beached Buoy

Minnesota Guard Among First to Field Army’s Newest M250 Automatic Rifle

Soldier’s Medal Awarded to Georgia Guardsman Who Pulled Driver From Burning SUV