Guard News - The National Guard

SCNG conducts 'Band-Aids not bullets diplomacy' in Colombia
September 9, 2021 — RIONEGRO, Colombia – South Carolina Army and Air National Guard medical personnel conducted a humanitarian medical mission in the remote town of Tamana, Colombia, during the regional Ángel de los... MORE

South Carolina Air National Guard Maj. Sean Pitale, a doctor with the 169th Medical Group, examines a Colombian patient Sept. 4, 2021. SCNG medical personnel provided medical care to more than 300 people in the remote town of Tamana, Colombia, as part of exercises with its State Partnership Program partner Colombia Aug. 30 to Sept. 10, 2021.

Kentucky Guard engineers conduct Djibouti SPP training
September 8, 2021 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Kentucky National Guard engineers with the 577th Sapper Company and 123rd Airlift Wing traveled more than 15,000 miles to train with the Djiboutian military demining company... MORE

Capt. Le Mohamed Louaita, commander for Djiboutian Demining Co., expresses gratitude to Tech. Sgt. Dylan Wagner, explosive ordnance disposal technician, 123rd Airlift Wing, Aug. 22, 2021, in Djibouti City, Djibouti. Kentucky National Guard Engineers with the 577th Sapper Company and 123rd Airlift Wing traveled more than 15,000 miles to Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, to train with the Djiboutian military demining company as a part of the State Partnership Program.

Nebraska, Czech Republic firefighters strengthen partnership
September 3, 2021 — LINCOLN AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - Fourteen firefighters from the Army of the Czech Republic trained alongside their U.S. counterparts with the 155th Air Refueling Wing Aug. 16-19 at Lincoln Air Force... MORE

Firefighters from the Army of the Czech Republic perform car extrication tactics, Aug. 16, 2021, during a training exercise with the 155th Air Refueling Wing fire department at Lincoln Air Force Base, Neb. This Nebraska National Guard and Czech Republic armed forces training exchange is one of many facilitated by the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

37th IBCT, Hungarian Defence Forces train together
August 6, 2021 — FORT POLK, La. – Soldiers of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team partnered with Hungarian Defence Forces during their monthlong training at the Joint Readiness Training... MORE

Cpl. Jacob East, right, a signal support system specialist radio operator with the 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, positions himself alongside the Hungarian Defence Forces during bilateral training in June 2021 at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, La. The HDF contingent joined the 37th IBCT, along with units from several other National Guard states, to train on large-scale combat operations on the battlefield.

Texas, Egypt, Israel commemorate 40 years of peace
August 4, 2021 — AUSTIN, Texas - After four decades of peace, Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, the Texas adjutant general; Rep. Michael McCaul; Barakat Elleithy, the minister plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Arab Republic of... MORE

Left to right, Jordan Hale, deputy chief of staff, Office of Texas Gov. Greg Abbott; Barakat Elleithy, minister plenipotentiary, Embassy of the Arab Republic of Egypt; Livia Link-Raviv, consul general of Israel; Rep. Michael McCaul; Maj. Gen. Tracy R. Norris, Texas adjutant general; and Jose A Esparza, the Texas deputy secretary of state, at a ceremony in Austin, Texas, Aug. 3, 2021, commemorating the 40-year anniversary of the Multinational Force Observers (MFO). After the signing of the Egypt-Israeli Peace Agreement, the MFO was created to supervise the implementation of the security provisions of the treaty and prevent any violation of its terms.

Michigan National Guard, Liberia strengthen SPP partnership
July 30, 2021 — GRAYLING, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard is solidifying its relationship with the Armed Forces of the Republic of Liberia under the State Partnership Program during the Northern Strike 21... MORE

Soldiers with the Michigan National Guard train members of the Armed Forces of Liberia on weapons systems using the engagement skills trainer at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Grayling, Michigan, July 27, 2021. Through the State Partnership Program, Michigan has teamed with Latvia and Liberia.

Aviation exchange marks return of in-person SPP engagement
July 27, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard welcomed six members of the Royal Thai Army Aviation Division back to Washington State to conduct a week-long aviation subject matter exchange at... MORE

Members of the 9th Aviation Battalion from the Royal Thai Army Aviation Center traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 20, 2021.

Alaska Guard ends 18-year mission with state partner Mongolia
July 26, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Although they didn’t know it when they left their home state in the heat of the pandemic seven months ago, Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Jessica Miller, a... MORE

Lt. Col. Steve Wilson, 3rd from left, with his Mongolian counterparts in Iraq in 2004. Wilson was the first liaison to accompany the Mongolian Armed Forces on a deployment during the global war on terrorism as part of the State Partnership Program.

Vermont hosts SPP partner Senegal's national fire brigade
July 22, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Delegates from Senegal's National Fire Brigade, Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers, visited Vermont July 11-21 as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program."The... MORE

Two members of Senegal's National Fire Brigade examine a Vermont National Guard fire response vehicle July 12, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Colchester. Delegates from Senegal’s fire brigade visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Tennessee Guard joins national cybersecurity exercise
July 20, 2021 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Members of the Tennessee National Guard are participating in the nationwide cybersecurity exercise, Cyber Shield, July 10-24 at Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville.The annual... MORE

Tennessee National Guard Capt. Curtis Crossman, Det. 2, 175th Cyber Protection Team commander, participates in Cyber Shield 2021, July 14, 2021, at Joint Force Headquarters in Nashville. Cyber Shield 2021 is a national cybersecurity exercise to increase response capabilities of cyber professionals across the country.

VNG builds partnerships at Regional Cooperation 21
July 19, 2021 — FORT HARRISON, Mont. - Fifteen Virginia National Guard Soldiers participated in Regional Cooperation 2021, a U.S. Central Command exercise to promote cooperation and joint combined capabilities with... MORE

Brig. Gen. James Ring, Virginia National Guard director of the joint staff, and Col. Todd Hubbard, VNG operations chief, visit Regional Cooperation 2021, a U.S. Central Command exercise to promote cooperation with partner nations in Central and South Asia, June 14, 2021, in Helena, Montana. Fifteen Virginia Soldiers participated in the event and strengthened their relationship with their state partners from Tajikistan.

NYNG strengthens relationship with Israel's Home Front Command
July 1, 2021 — LATHAM, New York – Major General Ori Gordin, the head of Israel's Home Front Command, shared lessons learned from the COIVID-19 pandemic and Israel's 11-day fight with Hamas during a day-long visit... MORE

New York Army National Guard Maj. Del Gustave, assigned to the 24th Civil Support Team, briefs Israeli Maj. Gen. Ori Gordin, commander of the Israeli Defense Force Home Front Command, center, and Lt. Col. Hal Rekah, the Home Front Command liaison officer for the National Guard Bureau, during a capability brief of the CST for Home Front Command at Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn, N.Y. on June 28, 2021.

Humanitarian efforts strengthen Utah-Morocco partnership
June 29, 2021 — TAFAROUTE, Morocco – Gen. Belkhir El Farouk, the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces Southern Zone commander, welcomed Utah National Guard leaders to the humanitarian civic assistance portion of Exercise... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Michael Turley, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, salutes U.S. and Moroccan Armed Forces members during a key leader engagement as part of African Lion 2021 June 16, 2021, at the Military Medical Surgical Field Hospital in Tafraoute, Morocco. Utah and Morocco are partners under the State Partnership Program.

Colorado Air Guard medics, Slovenia exchange best practices
June 28, 2021 — FALLS CHURCH, Va. - The Colorado Air National Guard reinforced its longstanding relationship with Slovenian counterparts during Adriatic Strike 2021, enhancing interoperability and trust.Each year,... MORE

Colorado Air National Guard, Tech. Sgt. Susanna Wohlford, 140th Medical Group medic, trains with a defibrillator during exercise Adriatic Strike 21 in Ljubljana, Slovenia, May 17, 2021. The exercise is part of Defender-Europe 21.

MDNG TAG renews in-person SPP ties to Bosnia and Herzegovina
June 28, 2021 — SARAJEVO, BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA – After 16 months of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Maryland National Guard can rejuvenate its nearly 18-year, enduring partnership with the Armed Forces of... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Timothy E. Gowen, adjutant general for Maryland, meets with Lt. Gen. Senad Mašović, Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina chief of joint staff, June 23, 2021, for the first time in BiH. The Maryland National Guard and AFBiH have been partners for about 18 years under the State Partnership Program.

Connecticut Guard, Uruguay continue 21-year partnership
June 24, 2021 — HARTFORD, Conn. – Members of the Armed Forces Mission of Uruguay visited Connecticut June 14-17 as part of a 21-year relationship with the Connecticut National Guard under the State Partnership... MORE

The flag of the Oriental Republic of Uruguay is displayed over the State Capitol Building in Hartford, Conn., June 15, 2021. The flag was flown as a gesture of solidarity between the Armed Forces of Uruguay and the Connecticut National Guard during a bilateral visit for the State Partnership Program.

West Virginia, Qatar formalize military partnership
June 21, 2021 — DOHA, Qatar – Brig. Gen. William Crane, the adjutant general of the West Virginia National Guard, and Staff Brigadier Khalid Al-Khayareen, director of the International Forces Affairs Directory for... MORE

Members of the West Virginia National Guard and the Qatar Emiri Land Forces at QELF headquarters in Doha, Qatar, June 21, 2021. West Virginia and Qatar formalized their partnership during the visit with Qatari Armed Forces as a part of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program.

African Lion: National Guard supports continent’s largest military exercise
June 20, 2021 — TANTAN, Morocco – F-16 Falcon fighter jets streaked by low and fast, while plumes of black smoke from steady artillery fire and dust thrown up by advancing M1A1 Abrams tanks drifted across the desert... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, at Camp Tifnit Training Area, Morocco, June 17, 2021. This image was acquired with a cellular device.

Republic of Tunisia, Wyoming National Guard: More than a partnership
June 19, 2021 — CARTHAGE, Tunisia – The National Guard's most senior general walked among the rows of headstones, pausing to reflect on the sacrifices made by some of the 2,833 service members buried here and the... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, talks with Brig. Gen. Mohamed El Ghoul, army chief of staff, Tunisian Land Forces, Carthage, Tunisia, June 16, 2021. Tunisia is paired with the Wyoming National Guard in the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program.

Wisconsin Guard, Papua New Guinea hold virtual workshop
June 17, 2021 — MADISON, Wis. – Though 8,327 miles separate Madison, Wisconsin, and Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, the Wisconsin National Guard and the Papua New Guinea Defense Force moved closer toward building an... MORE

Lt. Col. Brion Aderman, Wisconsin National Guard director of domestic operations, talks about disaster response practices with members of the Papua New Guinea Defense Force May 26, 2021, during a virtual, three-day State Partnership Program workshop with Papua New Guinea in Witmer Hall at Joint Force Headquarters in Madison, Wis. The State Partnership Program links individual states with armed forces of partner nations around the world to forge mutually beneficial relationships.

Idaho Guard Conducts Two Rescues in Nine Days

Connecticut Guard Soldier Aids Rollover Crash Victim in Dramatic Highway Rescue

Arkansas Air Guard Participates in REFORPAC 25 Exercise

Fox EMBER Sharpens Airmen’s Skills in Joint Environment

Puerto Rico Air Guard Conducts Deployment for Training at Aviano