Guard News - The National Guard

Paraguayan President Awards Top Honor to Massachusetts National Guard General
April 29, 2025 — ASUNCION, Paraguay – U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, has been awarded the distinguished Order of Merit “Gral Div Bernardino Caballero” in... MORE

President Santiago Peña, the President of the Republic of Paraguay, left, presents the Order of Merit "Gral Div Bernardino Caballero" in the grade of “Gran Cross” to U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, The Adjutant General, Massachusetts National Guard, in the Independence Hall of the Government Palace, Asunción, Paraguay, April 24, 2025.

North Carolina Guard Welcomes SPP Partners to Hurricane Response Exercise
April 25, 2025 — RALEIGH, N.C. – Senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard are hosting representatives from Moldova, Botswana, Malawi and Zambia this week for a hurricane response exercise. The six-day... MORE

The Republic of Zambia's Brig. Gen. Choonga Mutandalike speaks to senior leaders from the North Carolina National Guard, representatives from the Republics of Moldova, Botswana, Malawi, and Zambia at a hurricane response symposium in Raleigh, N.C. April 22, 2025.

Virginia Army Guard Soldiers, Tajikistan Conduct Battle Exchange Training
April 23, 2025 — DUSHANBE, Tajikistan – Four Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers recently conducted a close-quarters battle exchange training with members of the Tajik military. The engagement was conducted April... MORE

VNG Soldiers conduct close-quarters battle exchange in Tajikistan

New York Guard Hosts Swedish Air Force Leader
April 17, 2025 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. – The head of the Swedish air force got a first hand look at New York Air National Guard MQ-9 Reaper operations during his recent visit to Hancock Field Air National Guard Base. Maj... MORE

United States Air Force Maj. Gen. Michael Bank, the commander of the New York Air National Guard and Swedish air force Maj. Gen. Jonas Wikman, chief of the Swedish air force, pose for a photo during a visit to Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, NY, Apr. 7.

Swedish Soldiers Compete in NY Guard Competition
April 15, 2025 — CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, N.Y. — Two soldiers from the Swedish Armed Forces competed with New York Army National Guard troops during the 2025 Best Warrior Competition last week. Swedish Cpl. Simon... MORE

Swedish Army Corporal Simon Drie Runnander, receives an award from New York Army National Guard Command Sgt. Major Edwin Garris, to mark his participation in the New York National Guard Best Warrior Competition, during a dinner at the United States Military Academy at West Point on April 10, 2025.

Museum Opens Exhibit Commemorating U.S. and Latvian Military Partnership
April 14, 2025 — RIGA, Latvia — U.S. and Latvian service members, diplomats and other guests gathered last week at the Latvian War Museum’s opening of a new exhibit commemorating the 32-year history of the U.S.-Latvia... MORE

U.S. and Latvian service members listen as speakers address the audience during the opening of a new exhibit commemorating 32 years of U.S.-Latvian military partnership at the Latvian War Museum in Riga, Latvia, April 11, 2025.

Wisconsin Airmen Host Training for NATO Counterparts
April 11, 2025 — CAMP DOUGLAS, WIS. – Airmen assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 128th Air Control Squadron recently conducted airspace control training for members of four NATO partner nations.The training... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the Wisconsin Air National Guard's 128th Air Control Squadron, fascilitate a training mission for airspace control and surveillance specialists from multiple NATO countries March 31, 2025, at Volk Field Air National Guard Base in Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.

Maryland Guard Strengthens Ties With Bosnia and Herzegovina
April 8, 2025 — SARAJEVO, Bosnia and Herzegovina – The Maryland National Guard and the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AFBiH) conducted a joint logistics exchange as part of the National Guard Bureau’s State... MORE

Airmen and Soldiers of the Maryland National Guard and members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina pose for a group photo after scenario injects of changing a tire and engine repair during a convoy operation from Zenica to Visoko, in Kakanj, Bosnia and Herzegovina, April 7, 2025.

National Guard Bureau Chief Sees Promising Partnership in Timor-Leste
April 6, 2025 — DILI, Timor Leste — The chief of the National Guard Bureau visited Timor-Leste last week to underscore the Rhode Island National Guard’s budding security cooperation ties with the island nation... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, joins Maj. Gen. Calisto dos Santos Coliati, Timor-Leste’s vice chief of defense and Air Force Brig. Gen. Thomas Hannon, assistant adjutant general, Rhode Island Air National Guard, in a ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark the handover of a humanitarian aid and disaster relief warehouse, and an aircraft hangar, Baucau, Timor-Leste, April 4, 2025.

Hawaii, Guam National Guard Strengthen U.S.- Philippines Ties
March 31, 2025 — CAMP AGUINALDO, PHILIPPINES– Hawaii and Guam National Guard Airmen and Soldiers joined their Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) partners for the annual Standing Committee Meeting (SCM) held March... MORE

Military leaders from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command conduct the first day of the 2026 Mutual Defense Board (MDB) and Security Engagement Board (SEB) Standing Committee Meeting, March 11, 2025, Camp Aguinaldo, Quezon City, Philippines.

Virginia Guard, Finnish Counterparts Train at Arctic Forge 25
March 28, 2025 — KOUVOLA, Finland - A platoon of Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, participated in cold-weather... MORE

Virginia National Soldiers assigned to the 237th Engineer Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, stand together in front of the ‘Eleven Row’ anti-vehicle obstacle they constructed to demonstrate U.S. counter-mobility tactics for Finland’s Kymi Engineer Battalion.

Nebraska Guard, Czechs Share Recruiting and Retention Tips
March 27, 2025 — LINCOLN, Neb. – Nebraska Army and Air National Guard recruiting and retention specialists exchanged ideas and best practices with their counterparts from the Czech Armed Forces during a February State... MORE

Nebraska Army and Air National Guard recruiting and retention specialists exchanged ideas and best practices with their counterparts from the Czech Armed Forces during a State Partnership Program engagement Feb. 25, 2025. The exchange focused on maintaining strength in their respective military departments.

Washington Guard, Thai Partners Focus on Hazard Response
March 21, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington National Guard concluded an all-hazards-response exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, March 1-11 as part of the 23-year partnership between Washington... MORE

Washington National Guard Soldiers and Port of Laem Chabang firefighters.

Illinois Air Guard Refuels State Partner Poland’s F-35 in Air
March 20, 2025 — SCOTT AIR FORCE BASE, Illinois - A 126th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker refueled Poland’s F-35A Lightning II March 6.The aerial rendezvous over northern Arkansas marked the first time a Polish... MORE

A Polish F-35A Lighting II is refueled by an Illinois Air National Guard 126th Air Refueling Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during a training mission over northern Arkansas, March 6, 2025. The Illinois National Guard and Poland have been partners in the State Partnership Program since its inception in 1993.

Wisconsin Guard Rehabilitates Papua New Guinea Base Housing
March 18, 2025 — PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea - Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers worked with Australian Defence Force and Papua New Guinea service members to rehabilitate base housing at the Air Transport... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Austin Welk, assigned to the 829th Engineer Vertical Construction Company, 724th Engineer Battalion, 157th Mobilization Enhancement Brigade, Wisconsin Army National Guard, cuts boards with Royal Australian Air Force Leading Aircraftman Daniel Shaw, assigned to the 65th Air Base Recovery Squadron, to create new kitchen cabinets for base housing at the Air Transport Wing in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, March 13, 2025.

Tennessee Guard, Bulgarian Partners Vie to be Best Warriors
March 17, 2025 — TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – The Tennessee Army National Guard and two Bulgarian Armed Forces soldiers participated in the State Best Warrior Competition March 13-16. Ten competitors represented Tennessee’s... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Brian Hayes watches as his weapon is zeroed during the 2025 Tennessee Best Warrior Competition March 13, 2025. Hayes won Soldier of the Year in the state competition.

Air Guard Surgeon Supports Cobra Gold 2025 Exercise
March 14, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Military members and first responders from seven nations gathered at the Disaster Relief Training Center in Cha Choeng Sao, Thailand, for Exercise Cobra Gold Feb... MORE

Lt. Col. Khadidja Harrell, flight surgeon with 194th Medical Group, Washington Air National Guard, poses with other medics during the disaster relief and humanitarian assistance exercise Cobra Gold 2025 Feb. 26 – 27 in Chachoengsao Province, Thailand.

Washington National Guard, Thai Air Force Strengthen Ties
March 13, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington National Guard and the Royal Thai Air Force deepened their longstanding State Partnership Program partnership during the RTAF’s 88th-anniversary celebration at Don... MORE

Royal Thai Air Force Group Captain Nat Kamintra hugs a member of the 116th Air Refueling Sqaudron, 141st Air Refueling Wing, before departing Don Muang Air Base, Bangkok, Thailand, March 10, 2025.

Mississippi Guard Honors Partner Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces
March 13, 2025 — WASHINGTON – Senior Mississippi National Guard leaders and Soldiers of the 41st Army Band participated in the 33rd anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces Day celebration at the Embassy of... MORE

Musicians of the 41st Army Band, Mississippi Army National Guard, perform during the 33rd anniversary of Uzbekistan’s Armed Forces Day Celebration at the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Washington Jan. 31, 2025. U.S. and Uzbekistan officials recognized their state partnership and cooperation in defense and security.

WADS Participates in SPP Engagements in Thailand
March 12, 2025 — BANGKOK, Thailand - The Western Air Defense Sector participated in two simultaneous State Partnership Program events in Bangkok as part of the planning conference for Enduring Partners 2025 and U.S... MORE

Attendees of the USA-THAI Command and Control Interoperability Board in Bangkok, Thailand, pose for a picture Feb. 6, 2025. U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s CCIB focused on communication security, equipment modernization and datalink and cyber requirements to build a common operating picture and digital interoperability with the U.S. and other partners.

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise

Air Guard Units Join Forces for Aerial Wildfire Suppression Training

Forging Partnerships: The National Guard in the Indo-Pacific

Kentucky Guard MEDEVAC Prepares for Deployment to Europe