Guard News - The National Guard

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

North Carolina Guard Creating Shared Experiences
July 14, 2025 — RALEIGH, N.C. – What does the Republic of Botswana, a landlocked country in Southern Africa, have in common with North Carolina, an American state bordered by the Atlantic Ocean? Initially, one may... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, the Adjutant General of North Carolina and His Excellency Mpho Churchill O. Mophuting, the Republic of Botswana’s Ambassador to the United States, greet each other during an official state visit to the Joint Force Headquarters in Raleigh, North Carolina, May 22, 2025.

District of Columbia Guard, Jamaican Defence Force Partner at Cyber Exercise
July 10, 2025 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Members of the District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 113th Communications Squadron joined more than 900 participants from across the U.S. military and allied nations for... MORE

Brig. Gen. Leland D. Blanchard II, the Adjutant General (TAG) for the D.C. National Guard, recognizes members of the 113th Wing D.C. Air National Guard and members of the Jamaica Defence Force (JDF) during Cyber Shield 2025 at the Virginia National Guard's State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, VA, on June 11, 2025.

Ohio Guard Attends Exercise Platinum Wolf in Serbia
July 3, 2025 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – Several high-ranking officials from U.S. Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, or USAFE-AFAFRICA, and the Ohio National Guard participated in the June 26 Distinguished... MORE

Tennessee Guard Participates in Bulgaria’s Best Warrior Competition
June 30, 2025 — VELIKO TARNOVO, Bulgaria – Members of the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard competed in the Bulgaria Armed Forces’ first multinational Best Warrior Competition at the National Military... MORE

Members of the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard competed in the Bulgaria Armed Forces’ first multinational Best Warrior Competition, at the National Military University, June 23-26.

State Partnership Program Enables Global, Shared ‘Peace through Strength’
June 27, 2025 — WASHINGTON, D.C. – For more than 30 years, the National Guard has helped bolster the capabilities of foreign militaries, effectively broadening the pool of partners who are willing and able to... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Soloff, an infantryman with Charlie Company, 1st Brigade, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, observes Polish Territorial Defence soldiers as they prepare range cards necessary for Javelin deployment during Javelin anti-armor ambush training at the TDF Training Center in Toruń, Poland, June 11, 2025.

Massachusetts National Guard, Kenya Strengthen Partnership
June 27, 2025 — NAIROBI, Kenya - In 2025, the Massachusetts National Guard and the Kenya Defence Forces commemorate a decade of collaboration through the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard (MANG), observes the progress of the ongoing M1117 Armored Support Vehicle refurbishment initiative at the Kahawa Barracks in Nairobi, Kenya, May 30, 2025.

Michigan Guard, Liberia Mark 15 Years of Partnership
June 27, 2025 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich.—The Michigan National Guard and the Armed Forces of Liberia celebrated the 15th anniversary of their partnership in the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau’s State... MORE

Michigan Army National Guard, stand for a photo in front of a white pine – Michigan’s state tree – dedicated near the Camp Grayling chapel to symbolize the strength of the Michigan-Liberia partnership

2025 African Senior Enlisted Leader Conference Highlights National Guard Role in Africa
June 20, 2025 — RABAT, Morocco – National Guard senior leaders reaffirmed their commitment to counter terrorism, strengthen national security abroad and bolster alliances and partnerships, particularly with countries... MORE

SEA John Raines, the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, attended the African Senior Enlisted Leader Conference in Rabat, Morocco, on June 12 as the keynote speaker, reaffirming commitment to counter terrorism, strengthening national security abroad, and bolstering alliances and partnerships.

Illinois Army National Guard Trains with Polish Territorial Defence Force
June 20, 2025 — TORUŃ, Poland – Soldiers with the 33rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Illinois Army National Guard, recently spent two weeks in Torún, Poland, training alongside members of the Polish Territorial... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Joseline Sosa, a forward observer with 1st Battalion, 178th Infantry Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, relays information to her Polish counterparts during training in remote observation techniques in Toruń, Poland, June 6, 2025.

Army Updates Standards for Appearance, Grooming, Uniform Wear in New Directive

Pennsylvania Guard Hosts Helicopter Orientation for Emergency Responders

Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's Unmanned Aerial System Capabilities

Four Indiana National Guard Soldiers Awarded Indiana Distinguished Service Cross

Pennsylvania Air Guard Commemorates Patriot Day With Formation Training Flight