Guard News - The National Guard

Michigan National Guard and Latvia Have Built an Enduring State Partnership
January 12, 2026 — LANSING, Mich. — The Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program began as a cautious post-Cold War experiment and has evolved into one of the most enduring and cost-effective...

Michigan Guard, Latvia Commemorate Latvia’s Independence
November 21, 2024 — RIGA, Latvia – Latvia marked its 106th Independence Day Nov. 18 with a heartfelt celebration, uniting military personnel, dignitaries and citizens in a display of national pride and unity. The event...

Michigan Guard, Sierra Leone Establish State Partnership
September 30, 2024 — FREETOWN, Sierra Leone - “You never get a second chance to make a first impression,” the adage goes. However, since the announcement in May that Sierra Leone would partner with the Michigan National...

Michigan Guard, Latvia Collaborate on Airfield Capabilities
July 8, 2024 — LIELFVARDE, Latvia - Airmen from the Michigan Air National Guard are on a critical mission in Latvia during the first two weeks of June, collaborating to bolster the capabilities of Lielvarde Airfield...

Sierra Leone to Partner with Michigan National Guard, Liberia
May 16, 2024 — LANSING, Mich. - The Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces (RSLAF) is joining the State Partnership Program as an additional member of the existing partnership between the Michigan National Guard and...

Ohio’s 123rd Air Control Squadron Trains with NATO Allies
October 26, 2023 — BLUE ASH, Ohio - Airmen assigned to the 178th Wing’s 123rd Air Control Squadron hosted a two-week combined training exercise with eight service members from NATO allies Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia and...

Senate Recognizes 30-year State Partnership Program
September 28, 2023 — WASHINGTON - After a summer marked by anniversary celebrations, the U.S. Senate formally recognized 30 years of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program Sept. 27. In a...

‘During Soviet Occupations, Latvia Has Felt All the Consequences’
July 18, 2023 — NATIONAL HARBOR, Maryland – On Nov. 15, 1992 – the day Air Force Lt. Gen. John Conaway touched down in Riga, Latvia, hoping to establish partnerships between National Guard elements and nations newly...

Michigan Airmen Practice Combat Turns in Latvia
June 21, 2023 — LIELVāRDE AIR BASE, Latvia - Over four days, approximately 30 Michigan Air National Guard Airmen traveled from Michigan to Germany and then Latvia, practicing deploying for future fights.Simulating a...

Michigan Guard Brings HIMARS Capability to Swift Response 23
May 31, 2023 — CAMP ĀDAŽI, Latvia - For most of the year, National Guard members have civilian occupations — some are firefighters, police officers, teachers, mechanics and electricians. But when military duty...

Latvia Honors Michigan Guard Partnership with Postage Stamp
May 8, 2023 — RIGA, Latvia - A national postage stamp was unveiled May 3 by Latvia Post, honoring the 30th anniversary of Latvia’s defense cooperation with the Michigan National Guard under the State Partnership...

Michigan National Guard, Latvia Celebrate Partnership
July 18, 2022 — LANSING, Mich. - For nearly 30 years, the Michigan National Guard and the National Armed Forces of Latvia have collaborated under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership...

Three Nations, One Goal: Continued Freedom
June 24, 2022 — VILNIUS, Lithuania – Three Baltic nations are laser-focused on one goal: defending their independence and territorial integrity.The chief of the National Guard Bureau heard the same message in visits...

Michigan Guard Conducts Public Affairs Workshop With Latvia, Liberia
May 12, 2022 — LANSING, Mich. – More than 25 public affairs specialists from the Michigan National Guard, Latvian National Armed Forces, and the Armed Forces of Liberia teamed up April 12-22 to hold a virtual...

Hokanson: State Partnership Program critical to national security
April 12, 2022 — DENVER – A three-decade security cooperation program with almost half the world’s nations is critical to America’s national security, the National Guard’s most senior general said last week.Army Gen...

Common goals strengthen Michigan National Guard-Latvia-Liberia relationship
March 29, 2022 — MONROVIA, Liberia – Situated 700 miles south of Africa’s Sahara Desert and 435 miles north of the equator, Monrovia rarely dips below 70 degrees Fahrenheit. It’s a sub-Saharan beachside paradise...

Latvia-Michigan SPP partnership on display at Winter Strike
January 28, 2022 — GRAYLING, Mich. – As ice, snow and wind blow across the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in northern Michigan, hundreds of military personnel from across the Department of Defense and allied...

Michigan Guard trains 1st Latvian UH-60 Black Hawk maintainer
December 16, 2021 — LANSING, Mich. – When the Latvian Air Force recently purchased new UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, the call went out for a potential UH-60 maintenance training location in the United States. The...

Michigan National Guard, Latvia strengthen partnership
June 15, 2021 — GRAND LEDGE, Mich. – Leaders of the Latvian National Armed Forces toured Michigan National Guard facilities throughout the state last month in the latest engagement in their 28-year partnership under...

Michigan, Latvia strengthen partnership in virtual workshop
April 2, 2021 — LANSING, Mich. – U.S. military public affairs professionals from Michigan, Illinois, New Jersey and Washington joined with counterparts from the Republic of Latvia to sharpen their skills as media...

Massachusetts Guard Welcomes Fifth‑Generation Fighter

Alabama Guard Helps De-Escalate Metro Station Confrontation

Alaska Guard Rescues Pilots From Two Plane Crashes

Retired Texas Air National Guard Pilot Recalls Protecting Air Force One on 9/11

Nebraska Guard Strengthens Disaster Response Readiness