Guard News - The National Guard

Air National Guard Airmen Train for Mass Casualty Response
March 28, 2025 — SAVANNAH, Ga. - When disaster strikes on American soil, the National Guard is the nation’s first line of defense. Patriot 25 enhanced that readiness by equipping troops with the skills needed to... MORE

U.S. Airmen and Soldiers transport a simulated casualty to an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the 1-111th General Support Aviation Battalion, Charlie Company, during Patriot 25 at Guardian Centers in Perry, Georgia, March 25, 2025. Approximately 700 participants from the National Guard and federal, state and local agencies participated in Patriot 25, a National Guard-sponsored exercise to enhance domestic response readiness and interagency coordination.

South Carolina Army Guard Aviators Help Battle Wildfires
March 10, 2025 — CONWAY, S.C. - The South Carolina Army National Guard helped fight wildfires in Horry County for a week, dropping water from helicopters 975 times. U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1-111th General Support... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers with Company A, 111th General Support Aviation Battalion, 59 Aviation Troop Command, South Carolina National Guard, dropped water from helicopters March 2, 2025, to help the South Carolina Forestry Commission and the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources contain wildfire in Horry County. Guard members assisted for a week, handing off to the Georgia Army National Guard.

FEBEX 25 Prepares Air National Guard for Global Challenges
February 6, 2025 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. - Approximately 250 Air National Guard and active-duty Airmen participated in a rigorous three-day exercise to test their readiness for global contingencies... MORE

Airmen from the Florida Air National Guard's 125th Fighter Wing don protective gear as part of a training inject during February Exercise 2025 at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Florida, Jan. 31, 2025. FEBEX 25 is a comprehensive, multi-faceted annual training event planned and executed by the 202nd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineer (RED HORSE) Squadron.

Oregon Guard Battalion Trains for Peacekeeping Mission
December 16, 2024 — MCGREGOR RANGE, N.M. - The desert stretches endlessly along U.S. Highway 54 as it leaves El Paso, Texas, cutting through the New Mexico border. After 25 miles of stark Chihuahuan Desert landscape, a... MORE

Spc. Jack Clark, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, Oregon Army National Guard, moves through a wall opening while Staff Sgt. Arturo Veloz supervises during urban operations training at Camp McGregor, New Mexico, Dec. 15, 2024. The unit is preparing to deploy to the Multinational Force and Observers mission in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula.

Virginia National Guard Winds Down Poland Mission
November 22, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. - Approximately 40 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, returned to the United States Nov. 19... MORE

The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducts a transfer of authority ceremony with the Georgia National Guard’s 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Nov. 6, 2024, in Zagan Palace in Zagan, Poland.

41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team Assumes KFOR East Command
October 23, 2024 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - U.S. Army Col. Jason Baker, the NATO-led Kosovo Force Regional Command East commander, relinquished command to U.S. Army Col. Peter Helzer during a transfer of authority... MORE

Brig. Gen. Cahit Irican , deputy commander of the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, presided over the transfer of authority ceremony of KFOR Regional Command East at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, Oct. 22, 2024. Col. Jason Baker, commander of the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, relinquished command of KFOR RC-E to Col. Peter D. Helzer, commander of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard.

Oregon Guard Infantry Regiment Mobilized for Egypt Mission
October 22, 2024 — ASHLAND, Ore. – Nearly 200 Oregon National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, were formally mobilized Oct. 20 as part of a Multinational Force and Observers Mission... MORE

Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, take part in their formal mobilization ceremony Oct. 20, 2024, at Southern Oregon University in Ashland. The 1-168th Infantry Regiment is deploying to the Sinai Peninsula of Egypt for a peacekeeping mission.

National Guard Rescues Hundreds of People in Wake of Hurricane
October 3, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - More than 6,300 National Guard members from a dozen states rescued hundreds of people and cleared roads across the Southeast in the wake of Hurricane Helene.As of Sunday, Guardsmen in... MORE

Soldiers with the Florida Army National Guard’s 1-111th General Support Aviation Regiment worked alongside members of the Texas A&M Task Force 1 Search and Rescue Team to conduct emergency response operations after Hurricane Helene made landfall in Florida.

Georgia National Guard Soldiers Deploying to Central Europe
September 23, 2024 — TIFTON, Ga. - A Georgia National Guard unit is heading to Central Europe to provide combat sustainment and support.The Tifton-based Headquarters Company of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Jennifer Green and U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Regina Stone, commander and senior enlisted leader of the 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, case the battalion's colors during the unit's departure ceremony Sept. 20, 2024, in Tifton, Georgia. The ceremony was held in honor of the unit's upcoming mobilization to the U.S. Army European Command area of responsibility.

Georgia 165th Medical Group Conducts Joint Training in Japan
August 9, 2024 — OKINAWA, Japan - The 165th Medical Group stationed at the 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, deployed to a U.S. Naval Hospital in Japan to train on basic medical procedures in a joint... MORE

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 165th Medical Group, 165th Airlift Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, pose for a photo at the U.S. Naval Hospital in Okinawa, Japan, June 18, 2024. The 165th MDG trained on basic medical procedures in a joint operations environment June 9-24, 2024.

National Guard Leader Visits Georgia, Iowa Troops in Kosovo
July 24, 2024 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - The National Guard’s top enlisted leader discussed readiness, the importance of continuous improvement and the impact the enlisted force has on defense strategy during an... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, visits deployed Guard Soldiers in Kosovo, June 21-25, 2024. Whitehead visited Georgia and Iowa National Guard Soldiers stationed at Camp Bondsteel, Camp Film City, and installations across Kosovo.

Senior Enlisted Leader Officiates at Deployed Niece’s Promotion
June 28, 2024 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - Deployments typically require a service member to leave their home, family and friends for an extended period, missing birthdays, holidays and significant occasions to serve... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, SEA to the chief, National Guard Bureau, promotes his niece to the rank of sergeant first class at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, June 24, 2024. Sgt. 1st Class Jasmine Promise, paralegal NCO in charge of the Regional Command East legal office, is deployed to Kosovo with the Georgia National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade, supporting the Kosovo Force.

Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise
June 17, 2024 — SAVANNAH, Ga. - Approximately 775 participants and 40 aircraft from six flying units participated in the 10th year of exercise Sentry Savannah hosted by the Air Dominance Center May 6-18.Sentry... MORE

A U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to the 1st Fighter Wing, Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia, is fueled by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 185th Air Refueling Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, during exercise Sentry Savannah hosted by the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia, May 9, 2024. Sentry Savannah is the Air National Guard’s premier 4th- and 5th-gen fighter integration exercise, involving more than 775 participants and 40 aircraft from six flying units.

Georgia 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Conducts Annual Training
June 11, 2024 — FORT STEWART, Ga. - For the Soldiers of the Georgia Army National Guard’s 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the early June movement to Fort Stewart for annual training was a different experience. In... MORE

A Georgia Army National Guard Soldier assigned to Headquarters Company, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, fires an M4 carbine rifle for annual qualification on a training range in Fort Stewart, Ga., June 5, 2024.

Connecticut Guard Deploys Cloud-Based Radar/Radio Connection
May 17, 2024 — SAVANNAH, Ga. - Airmen from the 103rd Air Control Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, became the first National Guard unit to deploy and execute a cloud-based radar and radio connection of the... MORE

U.S. Air Force cyber operators and maintainers with the 103rd Air Control Squadron, Connecticut Air National Guard, unload a Tactical Operations System-Lite kit from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook assigned to Company B, 1st Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, Georgia Army National Guard, at Townsend Bombing Range, Georgia, May 15, 2024. As part of exercise Sentry Savannah, the 103rd ACS was the first National Guard unit to deploy and establish a cloud-based radar and radio connection from an austere, remote location using the TOC-L.

Georgia Army Guard Joins DEFENDER 24 Exercise in Sweden
May 8, 2024 — SKILLINGARYD, Sweden - This year’s DEFENDER 24 exercise emphasizes the significant partnership between the United States and Sweden, NATO’s newest member, with the Georgia Army National Guard putting... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Crandale Jackson, a cannon crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, speaks to Swedish Military Police during DEFENDER 24 in Skillingaryd, Sweden, May 5, 2024. DEFENDER 24 is the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercises that consist of Saber Strike, Immediate Response and Swift Response.

New York Army Guard Soldiers Heading to North Africa
April 30, 2024 — LATHAM, N.Y. - Seven hundred New York Army National Guard Soldiers will take part in the multinational African Lion training exercise in Tunisia and Morocco in May.Most of the New York National Guard... MORE

African Lion provides an opportunity to conduct realistic, dynamic and collaborative readiness training in an austere environment that intersects multiple geographic and functional combatant commands, including U.S. Africa Command, U.S. European Command, and U.S. Central Command, and strategic maritime choke points and global shipping lanes.

Georgia Guard Provides Airborne Safety Training
April 29, 2024 — SAVANNAH, Ga. –The Georgia Army National Guard Safety Office hosted its 10th annual Joint Parachute Operations Mishap Preventative Orientation Course Enhanced (POMPOC-E) April 17 - 26 at the Air... MORE

A U.S. Army Soldier conducts a free fall airborne jump out of a C-130 Hercules cargo plane during the Joint Parachute Operational Mishap Preventative Orientation Course Enhanced (POMPOC-E) April 25, 2024, at the Plantation Airpark, Sylvania, Georgia.

Kentucky, Tennessee Win Regional Best Warrior Competition
April 23, 2024 — GREENVILLE, Ky. – Soldiers from Kentucky and Tennessee earned top honors in the 2024 Army National Guard Region III Best Warrior Competition April 14-19.Hosted by the Kentucky National Guard, the... MORE

Tennessee National Guard Spc. Noah Green, left, and U.S. Army Sgt. Robert Buck with the Kentucky National Guard won the 2024 Region III Best Warrior Competition at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, April 19, 2024. Nineteen competitors from 10 states and territories competed for the titles of Soldier and NCO of the Year for Region III.

Georgian Defense Force Joins Georgia Best Warrior Competition
March 14, 2024 — RINGGOLD, Ga. - The annual Georgia Army National Guard State Best Warrior Competition offered a twist this year, with Georgian Defense Force soldiers competing against Georgia Army National Guardsmen... MORE

Georgia Defense Force Junior Sergeant Paata Sabiashvili, front left, an infantryman representing the 1st Infantry Brigade; Georgia Defense Force Corporal-Specialist Irakli Nozadze, front right, a cannon crewmember representing the 5th Artillery Brigade; 1st Sgt. Sergo Kandelaki, back left, executive assistant to the Georgia Defense Force Command Sergeant Major, Georgia Defense Force General Staff; and Staff Sgt. Michael Tenoshcok, back right, Joint Operation Center noncommissioned officer, Joint Force Headquarters, Georgia National Guard; pose for a photo during the 2024 Georgia Army National Guard State Best Warrior Competition at the Catoosa Volunteer Training Site, Ringgold, Georgia, March 12, 2024.

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