Guard News - The National Guard

Illinois National Guard, Partners Train in Cyber Exercise
July 25, 2024 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - More than 50 Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, along with civilians from the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology and the Illinois State Board of Elections,... MORE

More than 50 Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, along with civilians from the Illinois Department of Innovation & Technology and the Illinois State Board of Elections, returned recently from a major cyber training exercise sponsored by the National Guard Bureau. Close to 1,000 military and civilian local, state and federal cyber experts from 41 states and territories and 13 international partners participated in Cyber Shield 2024 May 31 to June 15 at the Virginia National Guard State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Va.

29th Infantry Division HQ Heads Exercise Immediate Response
May 31, 2024 — USTKA, Poland – Spc. Shiquies Branch, an administrative specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 29th Infantry Division, Virginia Army National Guard, has a birthday coming up. But... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 43rd Multi-Role Bridge Company, 20th Engineer Battalion, 36th Engineer Brigade conduct a Wet Gap Crossing on May 11, 2024, at the Drawsko Combat Training Center, Poland, in support of Immediate Response 24.

Illinois Army Guard Takes on Exercise Immediate Response
May 31, 2024 — USTKA, Poland – The seaside location couldn’t have been more idyllic. Gentle rolling sand dunes sloped gracefully to the water as the waves rhythmically lapped the coastline. A meandering breeze... MORE

Spc. Megan Cox, with B Battery, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Field Artillery Regiment, Illinois Army National Guard, pulls the lanyard to fire an M777 155mm howitzer while executing a fire mission during exercise Immediate Response in Ustka, Poland, May 10, 2024. More than 10,400 U.S. military members and 12,750 service members from allied and partner nations are participating in the exercise, which includes live-fire exercises, wet gap crossings, and other training to strengthen interoperability among participants.

Illinois Air Guard Supports Partner Poland
April 10, 2024 — POWIDZ, Poland - The 126th Air Refueling Wing completed a two-week deployment to Poland in support of Operation Copper Arrow.The operation enhanced combat readiness among NATO allies and partner... MORE

Members of the 126th Air Refueling Wing stand with Polish Air Force counterparts after touring the 33rd Air Base maintenance facility March 25, 2024, in Powidz, Poland. The Illinois Air National Guard wing visited Poland as a part of the State Partnership Program.

National Guard-led Space Exercise Helps Build Programs for NATO Partners
April 8, 2024 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – About 50 members of the Air National Guard and Romanian and Polish Armed Forces focused on space as a warfighting domain during exercise Vulcan Guard Bolt 6 at NATO’s... MORE

Air Force Staff Sgt. Javin Delgado, an electronic warfare specialist with the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing, prepares to calibrate electronic warfare equipment as Senior Airman Oscar Mendoza, a space systems operator with the 148th Space Operations Squadron, looks on during Vulcan Guard Bolt 6, Ramstein Air Base, Germany, March 27, 2024. Though not part of the mission planning portion of the space-focused exercise, Delgado and Mendoza showcased EW assets to Vulcan Guard participants and distinguished visitors.

Pennsylvania Guard NCO Guides Soldiers on Polish History
March 29, 2024 — POZNAN, Poland - In the corridors of a history museum lie numerous artifacts narrating vivid stories of Poland’s rich history and culture. Native Polish residents routinely navigate these halls,... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Mateja, Pennsylvania National Guard, the religious affairs NCO of U.S. Army Garrison Poland, shows tour guests a visual of the battlefield at the Museum of the Wielkopolska Uprising of 1918-1919 in Poznan, Poland, March 15, 2024. Mateja guided U.S. Army Soldiers through this museum to see the artifacts and historical replicas that represent the Polish history of independence.

Virginia National Guard Takes Over Poland Sustainment Mission
March 15, 2024 — POWIDZ, Poland - The Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion unfurled its organizational colors and took responsibility for logistics, maintenance and supply missions from... MORE

U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. Carlos Maldonado, the commander of the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, and Command Sgt. Maj. David Elliot, the battalion's senior enlisted advisor, uncase their unit colors during a transfer of authority ceremony in Powidz, Poland, March 11, 2024.

Virginia National Guard Soldiers Validated for Poland Mission
March 1, 2024 — FORT CAVAZOS, Texas – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion have been validated for their upcoming federal active duty mission to Poland after... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducted a collective training exercise Feb. 13, 2024, at Fort Cavazos, Texas, to prepare for their upcoming federal active duty deployment to Poland. During the exercise, 529th Soldiers worked through different potential scenarios simulating the operations they are scheduled to conduct in Poland.

Virginia Guard Begins Federal Duty Before Poland Deployment
January 31, 2024 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Approximately 70 Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to Headquarters, 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, began a federal... MORE

Approximately 70 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Headquarters, 329th Regional Support Group, begin federal active duty with a departure ceremony Jan. 28, 2024, in Virginia Beach. The troops will deploy to Poland and serve under the command of U.S. Army’s 3rd Division Sustainment Brigade to provide sustainment command and control and support to forward-stationed U.S. and allied forces in the region.

Maryland Air Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense
October 18, 2023 — AMARI AIR BASE, Estonia - The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command Sept. 17-20 to host the cybersecurity exercise Baltic Blitz 23. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing,... MORE

The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host exercise Baltic Blitz 23 Sept. 17-20, 2023, at Ämari Air Base, Harijumaa, Estonia. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two soldiers from the Illinois Army National Guard, 12 service members from Poland, and 30 Estonians participated in the cyber exercise.

Maryland Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense
September 21, 2023 — ÄMARI AIR BASE, Estonia - The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command Sept. 17-20 to host the cybersecurity exercise Baltic Blitz 23. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing,... MORE

The Maryland Air National Guard partnered with Estonia’s Cyber Command to host exercise Baltic Blitz 23 from Sept. 17-20, 2023, at Ämari Air Base, Harijumaa, Estonia. About 30 Airmen from the 175th Wing, two Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers, 12 service members from Poland, and 30 Estonians participated in the exercise to secure simulated rail transportation systems from cyber attacks.

Illinois Guard Soldiers Receive Polish Armed Forces Medal
March 27, 2023 — MARSEILLES, Ill. - Polish Army Col. Edward Chyla presented the bronze Polish Armed Forces Medal to four Illinois National Guard members March 25.The Illinois National Guard Soldiers received the medal... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Capt. Drew Weaver discusses the firing of the M-4 with Maj. Andrew Majcherek of the Polish Territorial Defense Force on the range at the Illinois Army National Guard's Marseilles Training Area. Weaver was one of four Illinois National Guard Soldiers awarded the bronze Polish Armed Forces Medal on March 25, 2023, for their work training Polish Territorial Defense Force Soldiers in Poland in May and June 2022.

West Virginia Guard Hosts Irregular Warfare Planning Conference
December 16, 2022 — KINGWOOD, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard’s Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare program hosted an exercise planning conference Dec. 5-7 with representatives of U.S. Army special operations forces,... MORE

The West Virginia National Guard’s Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare program hosted an exercise planning conference at Camp Dawson Dec. 5-7, 2022, with representatives of U.S. Army special operations forces, psychological operations, civil affairs, U.S. Marine Corps Advisor Company A, and the Polish Territorial Defense Forces. The exercise is scheduled in June.

Cal Guard’s 746 CSSB Hands off Mission to Colorado’s 68 DSSB
November 25, 2022 — POWIDZ, Poland - The 746th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion furled their colors during a transfer of authority ceremony with the 68th Division Sustainment Support Battalion Nov. 22. The 746 CSSB,... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Samuel Ryder and Lt. Col. Nathan Wall, command team for the 746th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, case the unit colors during a transfer of authority ceremony with 68th Division Sustainment Support Battalion at Forward Operating Site Powidz, Poland, Nov. 22, 2022. The casing of the colors is an Army tradition symbolizing proper relief of the outgoing unit.

Cal Guard Unit Ends Year-long Deployment to Poland
October 21, 2022 — BEMOWO PISKIE, Poland – NATO enhanced Forward Presence Battlegroup Poland held a transfer of authority ceremony from Cal Guard’s 1st Battalion, 185th Infantry Regiment, to the incoming 1st Cavalry... MORE

Soldiers from the California National Guard’s San Bernardino-based 1-185th Infantry Regiment arrived home at Los Angeles International Airport Oct. 15, 2022, after a one-year deployment to Poland. The 1-185th was part of Battlegroup Poland, a NATO operation that enforces NATO and a multinational military presence in Northeastern Europe.

Illinois National Guard, Polish Partners Remember the Fallen
September 27, 2022 — GREAT LAKES, Ill. – For 17 years, Polish and Illinois National Guard Soldiers fought together in Iraq and then Afghanistan. Last week, they rode more than 500 miles together to honor warriors killed... MORE

Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard; Polish Gen. Cezary Wisniewski, deputy commander of the Polish Armed Forces, and Neely's spouse, Tammy, cheer on Gold Star 500 bicycle riders near North Chicago, Illinois, as they finish a 520-mile ride to raise awareness of the approximately 300 Illinois service members, including 34 in the Illinois National Guard, who have fallen since the 9/11 terrorist attacks. Illinois and Poland are partners under the State Partnership Program.

Illinois Guard Boosts Interoperability for V Corps, Polish Army
June 1, 2022 — KRAKOW, Poland – The 244th Digital Liaison Detachment, Illinois National Guard, provided a valuable information bridge between V Corps and the Polish army during the DEFENDER-Europe 22 exercise. The... MORE

Soldiers of the 224th Digital Liaison Detachment of the Illinois National Guard stand in formation in Krakow, Poland, May 25, 2022. The 244th provided a valuable information bridge between V Corps and the Polish army during the DEFENDER-Europe 22 exercise.

183d Wing cuts ribbon on joint cyber range
April 7, 2022 — ABRAHAM LINCOLN CAPITAL AIRPORT, Ill. – During drill weekends, Illinois National Guard Soldiers and Airmen often go to the range for training. A typical day at the range might include training in... MORE

Illinois Air National Guard 1st Lt. Paul Murley, cyber range project officer, left, and Illinois Air Army National Guard 1st. Lt. Christopher Muenster, right, explain the uses of the new 183d Joint Cyber Center of Excellence Cyber Range at the 183d Wing, Springfield, Illinois, April 2, 2022.

Swamp Fox maintenance hosts Bulgarian air force officers
March 18, 2022 — MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. – Six Bulgarian air force maintenance officers spent two days with the 169th Maintenance Group discussing maintenance best practices as a part of a subject... MORE

Staff Sgt. Michael Fisher, aircraft structural maintenance craftsman with the 169th Maintenance Squadron, South Carolina Air National Guard, demonstrates an industrial tube bender to Bulgarian air force officers at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina March 5, 2022. Bulgaria, a NATO partner and partner with the Tennessee National Guard under the State Partnership Program, is scheduled to receive F-16 fighter jets. South Carolina assisted with the SPP engagement by hosting maintenance officers from the Bulgarian air force.

Washington National Guardsmen prepare to deploy to Poland
January 13, 2022 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – Just as the Washington National Guard welcomed home nearly 100 members of the 81st Stryker Brigade Combat Team after a nine-month deployment to Ukraine, 100 members... MORE

Lt. Col. Matt Braddock, commander of the 2nd Battalion, 146th Field Artillery Regiment, talks with his Soldiers before they depart Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Jan. 5, 2022. More than 100 Guard members are deploying to Poland in support of the NATO-enhanced Forward Presence mission.

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training

Oregon National Guard Trains for Peacekeeping Deployments

Medical Training Brings New Opportunities to Blackfeet Tribe