Guard News - The National Guard

Army General Meets with National Guard Partner Benin
February 9, 2024 — VICENZA, Italy – The commanding general of the U.S. Army’s Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF) visited Benin Jan. 22-23 to strengthen relationships between the U.S. Army and the Benin... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd R. Wasmund, commanding general of U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa (SETAF-AF), poses for a photo with Benin Chief of Army Staff, Brig. Gen. Abou Issa, in Cotonou, Benin, Jan. 22, 2024. Wasmund and Issa discussed defense cooperation and opportunities for additional partnerships between the U.S. Army and the Benin Armed Forces.

Serbian Military Visits Ohio Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing
February 9, 2024 — RICKENBACKER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ohio – Five Serbian Military Medical Academy members visited the 121st Air Refueling Wing Feb. 4 as part of the National Guard State Partnership Program. The... MORE

Members of the Serbian Military Medical Academy tour a KC-135 Stratotanker during their visit to the 121st Air Refueling Wing at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Ohio, Feb. 4, 2024. As part of the State Partnership Program, the Serbians also toured the 121st Medical Group, the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, the Louis Stokes Cleveland Medical Center and Defense Supply Center Columbus.

Ecuadorian Military Leaders Visit Kentucky Air National Guard
February 2, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - Key leaders from the Ecuadorian military met with Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard on Jan. 31 to tour the 123rd Airlift Wing and learn more about its missions.They also... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Elija Lamastus, center right, a medic assigned to the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group Detachment 1, demonstrates the use of a combat application tourniquet to Ecuadorian Navy Adm. Jaime Patricio Vela Erazo, chief of staff of the Ecuadorian military, at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 31, 2024. Vela Erazo was one of several Ecuadorian military leaders who visited the Kentucky Air Guard to exchange information as part of the State Partnership Program.

Hokanson Explores National Guard Cooperation with Kingdom of Denmark
January 27, 2024 — COPENHAGEN – On the last leg of a four-country trip to strengthen security cooperation between the National Guard and European partners, the Guard’s senior-most officer talked with Danish Armed Forces... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, left, stands for a photo with Gen. Flemming Lentfer, the Danish Chief of Defense, at the Ministry of Defense, Copenhagen, Denmark, Jan. 23, 2024.

Hokanson Sees Nascent Austria-Vermont National Guard Partnership Expanding
January 24, 2024 — VIENNA, Austria – The Republic of Austria and Vermont share historical and cultural roots based on common values, economic collaboration, winter sports, mountaineering, and, more recently, security... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, speaks with Gen. Rudolf Striedinger, Austria’s chief of defense, and joint Austrian Armed Forces leaders at the Federal Ministry of Defence of Austria in Vienna Jan. 19, 2024. Austria and the Vermont National Guard are paired in the 100-nation Defense Department National Guard State Partnership Program.

Guard Chief Hokanson Talks Security Cooperation in Ireland
January 22, 2024 — DUBLIN – The National Guard’s top general met with Irish Defence Forces and government leaders last week to discuss the potential for security cooperation engagements between the Republic of Ireland... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, center, meets with Lt. Gen. Sean Clancy, the Irish Defense Forces chief of staff, Dublin, Ireland, Jan. 16, 2024.

New Hampshire Guard, Partner Cabo Verde Facilitate Book Exchange
January 22, 2024 — BOW, N.H. - New Hampshire National Guard members collected 33 boxes of donated books from Bow High School Jan. 17 to deliver as early as next month to Pedro Gomes High School in Cabo Verde.“They... MORE

Spc. Olivia Palmiter, international support specialist with Joint Force Headquarters, New Hampshire Army National Guard, helps load donated books into a cargo van Jan. 17, 2024, at Bow High School in Bow, New Hampshire. New Hampshire Guardsmen collected 33 boxes of donated books to be delivered to students at Pedro Gomes High School in Cabo Verde as early as next month.

NCO Development a Security Goal of DC Guard, Jamaica Partnership
January 17, 2024 — KINGSTON, Jamaica - District of Columbia National Guard members participated in an NCO career development exchange with the Jamaica Defence Force Dec. 12-14 at the Caribbean Military Academy in... MORE

Sgt. Maj. Esmeralda Vaquerano, right foreground, G-1 (personnel) sergeant major for the D.C. Army National Guard, tours the Caribbean Military Academy with a member of the Jamaica Defence Force during a State Partnership Program expert exchange Dec. 12-14, 2023, in Kingston, Jamaica.

Washington Guard, Thais Share Air Search and Rescue Tips
January 10, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation and a Tactical Air Control Party Airman from the 116th Air Support Operations Squadron shared knowledge with the... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Chris Cuddington and Sgt. Richard Diaz, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation, Washington National Guard, talk with Royal Thai Army Aviation members about aircraft hydraulics during a subject matter expert exchange in December 2023 in Lopburi, Kingdom of Thailand. The Washington National Guard and Thailand are partners in the State Partnership Program.

Virginia National Guard Conducts Medevac Exchange in Tajikistan
January 8, 2024 — DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Virginia National Guard Soldiers conducted a medical evacuation tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 4-9 in support of the Department of Defense National Guard... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers conduct a medical evacuation tactics exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan Dec. 4-9, 2023, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The training supported the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

107th Attack Wing Hosts Brazil for Space Development Workshop
December 18, 2023 — NIAGARA FALLS AIR RESERVE STATION, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 222nd Command and Control Squadron, charged with helping to control and monitor U.S. military satellites, hosted four... MORE

Delegates from the Brazilian Navy and Air Force brave the winter weather at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station Dec. 6, 2023. Representatives spent the week learning from 222nd Command and Control Squadron members how to enhance and develop space operations.

Oregon Guard Helps Vietnam with Trauma Care Requirements
December 11, 2023 — SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon National Guard is helping its State Partnership program partner, Vietnam, develop the country's first International Trauma Life Support training chapter. The goal of ITLS is... MORE

Oregon Air National Guard Lt. Col. Chris Webb demonstrates airway management skills during an International Trauma Life Support course in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, in February 2023. The Oregon National Guard and Vietnam are partners through the State Partnership Program.

Arkansas Air Guard Medics Provide Free Medical Care in Guatemala
December 5, 2023 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. - Thirty-six Arkansas National Guardsmen from the 188th Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith and the 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in... MORE

Arkansas National Guardsmen from the 188th Wing at Ebbing Air National Guard base in Fort Smith and the 189th Airlift Wing at Little Rock Air Force Base in Jacksonville departed Dec. 1 for a seven-day mission providing free medical care in Guatemala City.

New York Guardsmen Conclude Southern Vanguard 24 in Brazil
December 4, 2023 — MACAPA, Brazil - Forty-four New York National Guard Soldiers, working alongside active-duty Army and Brazilian Army Soldiers, conducted three weeks of training in Northern Brazil Nov. 1-16.Exercise... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers stand at attention during a promotion ceremony in Macapa, Brazil, Nov. 16, 2023. Forty-four New York National Guard Soldiers working alongside active-duty Army and Brazilian Army Soldiers conducted three weeks of training in Northern Brazil Nov. 1-16.

USEUCOM, Austrian Defense Leaders Explore Expanded Cooperation
December 1, 2023 — STUTTGART, Germany - U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, U.S. European Command deputy commander, hosted Arnold Kammel, secretary general of the Austrian Ministry of Defense, and his staff at the... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven Basham, second from right, U.S. European Command deputy commander; and Ambassador Kate Marie Byrnes, third from left, civilian deputy and foreign policy advisor to U.S. European Command; host Arnold Kammel, center, secretary general of the Austrian Ministry of Defense, and members of Kammel’s staff at the command’s headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany, Nov. 30, 2023. The meeting was aimed at identifying areas for future military cooperation and builds on a the State Partnership Program relationship between Austria and the Vermont National Guard.

New York National Guard, Brazil Army Train Together
November 16, 2023 — MACAPA, Brazil - The New York Army National Guard Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Brazilian Army field artillery... MORE

U.S. and Brazilian Army field artillery Soldiers pose for photo in Ferreira Gomes, Brazil, Nov. 12, 2023. The two State Partnership Program partners trained together during exercise Southern Vanguard 24 to enhance interoperability and shared capabilities.

State Partnership Program NCO Honored for International Efforts
November 15, 2023 — CARSON CITY, Nev. – When she received an out-of-the-blue invitation to the College of Southern Nevada’s Spotlight of Excellence award ceremony, Nevada Air Guard Tech. Sgt. Hannah Kasner was baffled... MORE

Nevada Air Guard Tech. Sgt. Hannah Kasner works the security detail safeguarding Air Force One while it was in Reno, Nevada, in 2020. Kasner was honored by the College of Southern Nevada in October 2023 for her work linking the college and Fiji National University under the State Partnership Program.

Michigan Airmen Conduct Airworthiness Assessments in Africa
November 13, 2023 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Two members of the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron traveled to Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, for over a week in September to assess the airworthiness of foreign aircraft in... MORE

Maj. Jacob Stommen and Maj. Craig Warn, 217th Air Component Operations Squadron maintenance officers, Michigan Air National Guard, speak to a Nigerian Air Force member Sept. 5, 2023, in Nigeria during an airworthiness assessment.

National Guard Joins Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit
November 13, 2023 — ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire - Senior enlisted leaders from the United States, including the State Partnership Program, and 20 African nations attended the African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit Nov. 7-9.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa command chief, speaks at the first Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Nov. 7, 2023. The three-day summit was hosted by U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and Côte d'Ivoire air force senior enlisted leaders.

New York National Guard Medics Attend Brazilian Jungle Course
November 6, 2023 — BELEM, BRAZIL – Four New York Army National Guard combat medics assigned to the 466th Medical Company, Area Support (MCAS), completed a Brazilian jungle familiarization and academics course with U.S... MORE

New York National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Brian Pasquale, combat medic assigned to the 466th Medical Company Area Support, discusses creating a modified shotgun shell with a Brazilian Army jungle trainer at the night portion of the jungle familiarization and academics portion of Southern Vanguard 24 in Belem, Brazil, Nov. 4, 2023. Southern Vanguard, an annual bilateral exercise that rotates between partner nations in the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility, enhances interoperability between the United States and partner nation forces.

NASA Apollo, Artemis Missions Cross Paths at Colorado Guard Site

South Carolina Air Guard Showcases ACE Concepts

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training