Guard News - The National Guard

California Guard Team Trains for Hazmat Event
July 26, 2022 — ANAHEIM, Calif. - The California National Guard’s 9th Civil Support Team conducted a training exercise July 14 to prepare for an evaluation next March.The simulated hazmat event covered different... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Tiffany Zumaya and Sgt. Thomas Brown from the 9th Civil Support Team examine evidence during a training exercise at Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, Calif., July 14, 2022.

National Guard Demonstrates Capabilities During African Lion
July 7, 2022 — TAN-TAN, Morocco – As the multinational training exercise African Lion ’22 ended, leaders from the Idaho National Guard and other U.S. states joined partner nations in Morocco June 30 to observe... MORE

Key leadership from the Idaho National Guard and several other U.S. states joined partner nations in Morocco June 30, 2022, to see the capabilities of multinational armies working together in a combined arms live-fire mission. During the exercise, Soldiers from Idaho's 1st Battalion of the 148th Field Artillery Regiment fired M795 high explosive rounds from the M109A6 howitzers as Soldiers with the Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin Army National Guard, a Marine Corps Reserve unit based in California and active-duty Soldiers from Fort Hood, Texas, provided ground cover.

National Guard SEA Visits Colorado Guard Space, Missile Defense Units
July 1, 2022 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Colorado is at the hub of Department of Defense space and missile defense operations, and the state’s National Guard members are supporting these expanding domains here... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, center right, the SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, stands with Command Chief Master Sgt. Lisa Perry, the Colorado National Guard’s command senior enlisted leader, and members of the Colorado Guard’s 138th Space Control Squadron on Schriever Space Force Base, Colorado, June 28, 2022. Whitehead visited Colorado Guard space and missile defense units in Colorado Springs to see how National Guard members are contributing to these expanding domains.

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... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, talks with multinational troops supporting a NATO mission, Ādaži Military Base, Latvia, June 16, 2022.

Hokanson Visits Guardsmen Training With Ukraine Troops
June 23, 2022 — GRAFENWOEHR, Germany – For some Florida National Guardsmen, leaving the troops they were training with in Yavoriv, Ukraine, last fall was one of the toughest moments of their military careers.“Walking... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, talks with a formation of Soldiers with the 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Florida National Guard, in Grafenwoehr, Germany, June 12, 2022. Germany was Hokanson’s second stop on a five-nation trip to recognize and strengthen National Guard relationships with European allies and partners.

Hawaii Air Guard Cyber Team Honored for Cyber Defense Work
June 17, 2022 — HONOLULU – Three Hawaii National Guard Airmen received achievement medals at Fort DeRussy May 14 for enhancing the Guard’s cyber-response capabilities.The team of cyber analysts and operators was... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Elijah Lincoln, center, is awarded an achievement medal May 14, 2022, at Fort DeRussy, Hawaii, for standing up the Hawaii National Guard’s first Cyber Mission Assurance Team. With him are U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Moses Kaoiwi Jr., Hawaii Army National Guard commander, and U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Glen Hayase.

Utah Field Artillery Brigade Leads XCTC Exercise in Idaho
June 15, 2022 — ORCHARD COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Idaho – The Utah National Guard’s 65th Field Artillery Brigade, “America’s Thunder,” is participating in Western Strike 22, a large-scale, multistate field artillery... MORE

Two M109 Paladins move into firing position during exercise Western Strike 22 at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, June 6, 2022. Several artillery units will certify themselves during the exercise, ensuring they are ready to be called up to support operations worldwide.

National Guard Supports Armed Forces of Ukraine
June 8, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Pinned down by a Russian tank and armed with only a failed anti-tank missile, a Ukrainian soldier recently turned to an unlikely source as the most effective weapon available — his... MORE

Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis watch a demonstration of tactical equipment during a visit to the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, California, Sept. 2, 2021. The California National Guard and Ukraine have been partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 1993.

National Guard Leaders Emphasize Value of State Partnership Program
June 3, 2022 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The adjutants general from California, Florida, Nebraska and Vermont discussed the value of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program during a media... MORE

U.S. Airmen with the Indiana Air National Guard, and Slovak armed forces personnel trained together Feb. 22, 2022, at the 122nd Fighter Wing, Fort Wayne, Indiana. The joint training built on a more than 25-year partnership under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Utah National Guardsman is Regional Soldier of the Year
June 3, 2022 — GUAM – Seven states and the territory of Guam sent their strongest, fittest and most capable Soldiers to compete in the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on Guam, May 23-26. The competition crowned... MORE

Blindfolded competitors are taken on a boat to an island during the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on Guam May 26, 2022. The annual competition featured the best noncommissioned officer and Soldier from Arizona, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico and Utah. The winners move on to the national competition in July.

Alabama National Guard, Romania Strengthen SPP Ties
May 27, 2022 — CAMP SHELBY, Miss. – Romania’s 72nd Chemical Biological Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) Defense Battalion trained with the Alabama National Guard’s 31st CBRN Brigade at Camp Shelby in April,... MORE

Soldiers from the Alabama National Guard's 31st CBRN Brigade and Romania's 72nd NBC Defense Battalion cross-train on at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, April 24-30, 2022. Alabama and Romania have been partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program for almost three decades.

Solar project begins on Los Alamitos joint base
May 24, 2022 — LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – A 100-acre solar project that will bolster the power grid in Southern California and provide two weeks of emergency power for Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos, broke... MORE

A ceremonial groundbreaking is held May 19, 2022, for an energy resilience project at Joint Forces Training Base in Los Alamitos, California. From left: Stephanie Kline, project director, and Robert Hughes, executive director, both with the U.S. Army Office of Energy Initiatives; Robert Smith, president of Bright Canyon Energy; Paul Farnan, principal deputy, assistant Secretary of the Army for installations, energy and environment; U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Refugio Rosas, from the 40th Infantry Division, California Army National Guard; Anthony Marasa, project manager with Bright Canyon Energy; and Lt. Col. Manju Vig, garrison commander of Joint Forces Training Base, Los Alamitos.

Army and Air Guard members compete in fitness contest
April 13, 2022 — CONCORD, N.C. – The National Guard’s All Guard Endurance Team sent more than 40 service members to the Spartan Sprint 5k with over 20 obstacles at a 600-acre farm April 9-10.From California, Maj... MORE

Maj. Robert Killian, left, from California finished first in the men’s elite category and Utah National Guard 2nd Lt. Dayde Collins came in second at the Spartan Sprint 5k with over 20 obstacles in Concord, North Carolina, April 9-10. The National Guard’s All Guard Endurance Team sent more than 40 members to the competition.

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... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Christopher Lane, director of operations for the 137th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron, speaks to doctors with the Azerbaijan Operational Capabilities Concept Battalion about aeromedical evacuation roles during a medical knowledge exchange event in Oklahoma City March 30, 2022. The knowledge exchange involved the participation and support of Guardsmen with both the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard in support of the State Partnership Program.

Ukraine-California ties show worth of National Guard program
March 21, 2022 — WASHINGTON – When Russia invaded Ukraine with more than 150,000 troops Feb. 24, most people — especially Russian President Vladimir Putin — expected a Russian cakewalk.The men and women of the... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. David Baldwin, adjutant general of the California National Guard, left, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, president of Ukraine, and California Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis visit the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing at Moffett Air National Guard Base, California, Sept. 2, 2021. The California National Guard and Ukraine State Partnership Program was established in 1993 through the Department of Defense to develop and strengthen the strategic partnership between the United States and Ukraine.

Cal Guard Soldier helps family evacuated from Ukraine
March 11, 2022 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anastasia Maynich was overcome with emotion when she saw her cousin, Tetiana, and Tetiana’s 11-year old daughter, Sofiia, at Henri Coandă International... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Anastasia Maynich, right, with cousin Tetiana and 11-year-old Sofiia, March 10, 2022, in Bucharest, Romania. Tetiana and Sofiia fled their home in Odessa, Ukraine, for the safe haven of Romania where Maynich flew to meet them.

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.

Task Force Phoenix ends 9-month mission in Middle East
January 10, 2022 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – With the casing of the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade’s red and blue colors, Task Force Phoenix’s nine-month mission in the Middle East formally came to an end.On Jan. 6, Col... MORE

Task Force Phoenix Over the Horizon (OTH) force CH-47 Chinook helicopters arrive at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2021. The helicopters are flown by crews from Task Force Phoenix's 1st Battalion, 171st Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), from the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard.

Year in Review: National Guard delivered at home and abroad
December 22, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – When a series of tornadoes slashed across parts of eight Midwest states late in the evening of Dec. 10, Spc. Zach Neisz sprang into action. He grabbed an ax, flashlight and medical... MORE

New Jersey National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from 1st Battalion, 114th Infantry Regiment, 508th Military Police Company, 108th Wing, and 177th Fighter Wing, arrive near the U.S. Capitol Jan. 12, 2021. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from every state, territory and the District of Columbia traveled to Washington to support federal and district authorities for the 59th Presidential Inauguration.

Cal Guard CSTs boost teamwork in multi-agency exercise
December 16, 2021 — ATWATER, Calif. – A Merced County Police explosive ordnance disposal specialist walks toward a dilapidated building in his green, heavily armored blast suit. His face is hidden by an oxygen mask. An... MORE

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

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