Guard News - The National Guard - Tag Iowa National Guard

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.

Army Guard husband, wife promoted to chief warrant officer 5
December 22, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Only about 3% of those in the Army are warrant officers, and rarer still are those who have reached the top warrant officer rank – chief warrant officer 5. So, it was even more... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Brooks looks on as Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teresa Domeier, the command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard, and his son, Noah, pin his rank to his uniform while his wife, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelly Brooks, has her rank pinned on by their daughter, Amber, during a ceremony at the Herbert R. Temple Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall Station in Arlington, Virginia, Dec. 21, 2021. The ceremony represented a rare moment where a married couple were together promoted to chief warrant officer 5 – the top warrant officer rank.

Iowa National Guard, Kosovo celebrate long partnership
December 1, 2021 — DES MOINES, Iowa – It was a red carpet affair that resembled a family reunion. Kosovo Security Force members, Iowa National Guard leaders, dignitaries, and government officials gathered the evening of... MORE

Capt. Albert Aslani of the Kosovo Security Force and retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Matthew Schultz of the Iowa National Guard share a moment at a dinner at the Des Moines Area Community College in Ankeny, Iowa, Nov. 8, 2021. Iowa and Kosovo commemorated their 10-year formal partnership under the State Partnership Program.

National Guard leader to Croatia president: 'Thank you for quarter-century partnership'
November 12, 2021 — ZAGREB, Croatia – Increased readiness, improved capabilities and enhanced interoperability between American and Croatian military forces.Those are just three of the benefits the National Guard's most... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, right, and Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic, Zagreb, Croatia, Nov. 5, 2021.

Iowa National Guard to mark long partnership with Kosovo
November 3, 2021 — CAMP DODGE, Iowa – The Iowa National Guard will hold a series of events celebrating a decade-long partnership through the State Partnership Program with the Republic of Kosovo from Nov. 5-6 at Camp... MORE

Maj. Gen. Ben Corell observes maintenance training conducted by Kosovo Security Force members Sept. 20, 2021, at Camp Dodge in Johnston, Iowa. This training was part of the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program and the ongoing relationship between the Iowa National Guard and the Republic of Kosovo.

Texas National Guard conducts validation exercise during NS
September 14, 2021 — GRAYLING, Mich. – Soldiers with the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Sustainment Brigade seized an opportunity during Northern Strike 21 to get battle-ready, conducting their validation exercise.NS 21... MORE

Soldiers with the 294th Quartermaster Company, 338th Quartermaster Company, Texas Army National Guard, the 3rd Special Forces Group, soldiers with the Latvian Army’s Special Forces Group and British Army’s 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (4 PARA), jump out of a C-130 Hercules aircraft over Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 13, 2021. The service members conducted joint airborne training during Northern Strike 21.

From Afghan interpreter to service in the National Guard
August 25, 2021 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – When Fahim Masoud was born in Kabul, Afghanistan, in 1988, the country was at war with the Soviet Union. Fast forward 17 years, Masoud graduated from high school and faced one of... MORE

2nd Lt. Fahim Masoud, center, briefs Maj. Gen. Rich Neely, left, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Dena Ballowe, senior enlisted leader of the Illinois National Guard, during a visit to a COVID-19 mass vaccination site in Chicago Feb. 1, 2021.

National Guard support critical to U.S. European Command
July 22, 2021 — STUTTGART, Germany – From Poland to Kosovo, Lithuania to Ukraine, Soldiers and Airmen from the U.S. National Guard operate alongside allies and partners throughout Europe. They train in all domains,... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Justin Sachariason, left, a Soldier assigned to the Florida Army National Guard's 2nd Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, instructs 1st Lt. Almir Sarac, a soldier with the Armed Forces of Bosnia and Herzegovina, how to shoot the M4A1 carbine rifle at Manjaca Training Area, Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 19, 2021.

Iowa, Virginia, W.Va. aviation Soldiers train in Pennsylvania
June 21, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Approximately 145 aviation maintenance Soldiers from the Iowa, Virginia and West Virginia National Guard honed their skills repairing helicopters at Muir Army Airfield June... MORE

Approximately 145 aviation maintenance Soldiers with B Company, 248th Aviation Support Battalion, 29th Combat Aviation Brigade, 29th Infantry Division, Iowa, Virginia, and West Virginia National Guard, honed their skills repairing helicopters at Muir Army Airfield June 1-15 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

A first of its kind, Adriatic Thunder
June 18, 2021 — ZAGREB, Croatia – Soldiers and Airmen from the Minnesota and Iowa National Guard conducted the Midwest Croatia Kosovo Exercise Adriatic Thunder with the Kosovo Security Forces and Croatian Armed... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gene Harrigan, the defensive cyber operations team chief of the information with Minnesota National Guard Joint Force Headquarters Defensive Cyber Operations Element, explains information to Capt. Genti Koqinaj of the Kosovo Security Forces during a joint cyber training exercise, Midwest Croatia Kosovo Exercise Adriatic Thunder at Dr. Franjo Tudman Croatian Military Academy, Zagreb, Croatia, on June 15, 2021.

Task Force Phoenix trains at North Fort Hood for deployment
March 29, 2021 — NORTH FORT HOOD, Texas – Flexibility and adaptability have been key for the 40th Combat Aviation Brigade in the lead-up to a 9-month deployment to the Middle East.The brigade is poised to deploy to... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jose Bulow, a flight medic with Golf Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), is hoisted into a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, March 26, 2021, at North Fort Hood, Texas, as part of training before a 9-month mission to the Middle East. Golf Company is attached to Task Force Phoenix, led by the California Army National Guard's 40th Combat Aviation Brigade.

Iowa National Guard expands COVID-19 vaccinations
March 8, 2021 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Active-duty service members were vaccinated at the Iowa Air National Guard clinic in Sioux City during the March training weekend.Two months after the initial rollout of the... MORE

U.S. Marine Corps recruiter Staff Sgt. Jason Homard receives a COVID-19 vaccination at the Iowa Air National Guard clinic in Sioux City, Iowa, March 6, 2021. The National Guard clinic was given permission to expand COVID-19 vaccinations to active-duty members during March training weekend.

KFOR conducts radio tower maintenance
February 3, 2021 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo – U.S. Soldiers assigned to Regional Command-East, Kosovo Force 28, and radio systems contractors conducted radio tower maintenance visits in Kosovo Jan. 28.Sgt. 1st Class Rod... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 2 John Finken, a contracting officer representative with Regional Command-East, Kosovo Force, inspects contractors performing maintenance during a radio systems inspection at Mount Golesh in Kosovo Jan. 28, 2021. During the inspection, the contractors check voltage on batteries, test transmitting power and perform other maintenance checks to ensure radio communication can be maintained.

Iowa National Guard members receive COVID-19 vaccine
January 11, 2021 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The first round of COVID-19 vaccines have been distributed to National Guard units around the nation. Initial inoculations were given to unit members of the Iowa National Guard’s... MORE

Technical Sgt. Perla Solis, 185th Air Refueling Wing medical technician, administers the first of two COVID-19 vaccines to an Airman from the Iowa Air National Guard at the Sioux City, Iowa, clinic on Jan. 9, 2021.

Iowa National Guard trains with Ukrainian forces
December 21, 2020 — CAMP MARECHAL DE LATTRE DE TASSIGNY, Kosovo – Soldiers with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, conducted obstacle and barrier removal training with the Ukrainian... MORE

Soldiers with Troop B, 1st Squadron, 113th Cavalry Regiment, Iowa Army National Guard, prepare to conduct obstacle and barrier removal training at Camp Marechal de Lattre De Tassigny in Kosovo on Dec. 16, 2020. U.S. forces serving in support of NATO’s Kosovo Force provided crowd and riot control support as their Ukrainian counterparts removed barriers. KFOR ensures a safe and secure environment in Kosovo through regular preparation and training with multinational forces.

Colorado, California National Guard win sniper championships
December 14, 2020 — BARLING, Ark. – Twenty-three two-person sniper teams from across the National Guard and 12 interservice teams competed in the 50th Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship and the 30th Annual Armed... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jared Ramey, Ohio National Guard, prepares his equipment during the Stalk event Dec. 9, 2020 at the 50th Winston P. Wilson and 30th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Championships hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, with the help of the U.S. National Guard Sniper School. The competition was held at the Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center Dec. 4-10, 2020.

Task Force Bayonet Soldiers train in electronic warfare
September 24, 2020 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Soldiers with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment from Minnesota, conducted Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems training Aug... MORE

A Soldier with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 135th Infantry Regiment, looks through the optic device of the Drone Defender V2 during Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems training at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, Aug. 19, 2020. The Drone Defender V2 is an electronic warfare weapon capable of downing and disabling a small unmanned aircraft system, also known as a drone.

185th ARW exercise held despite COVID-19, Hurricane Sally
September 16, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing is conducting a mobility exercise this week after making a last-minute decision to move the event away from the Gulf Coast... MORE

Iowa Air National Guard members from the 185th Air Refueling Wing board a U.S. Air Force C-130 Hercules from the Illinois Air National Guard’s 182nd Airlift Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, Sept. 14, 2020, for a mobility training exercise.

Iowa National Guard members clear debris in wake of derecho
August 19, 2020 — CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Iowa National Guard Airmen and Soldiers are assisting with cleanup operations in eastern Iowa this week following a severe windstorm that caused widespread damage. Airmen from the... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jerad Keegan, 185th Air Refueling Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, Iowa Air National Guard, uses a chain saw to clear downed trees in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, Aug. 18, 2020. Extremely high winds uprooted trees and caused widespread structural damage and power outages throughout Southeast Iowa.

Iowa National Guard helps with derecho cleanup
August 18, 2020 — CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa – Nearly 200 Soldiers and Airmen have been mobilized to eastern Iowa to help emergency management crews clear and remove debris from the devastating Aug. 10 derecho. Since beginning... MORE

Iowa National Guard Soldiers with the 831st Engineer Company
worked Aug. 15-16, 2020, to clear downed trees to reach a substation that supplies power to parts of Cedar Rapids. An Aug. 10 derecho caused widespread damage in the area.

Oregon Guard Engineers Test Drone-Delivered Breach Capability

Washington Guardsmen Sharpen Warrior Skills, Wildfire Response

Massachusetts Guard Proves Combat Readiness in Patriots Resolve Exercise

Utah Guard Leads Expanded Master Leader Course

Idaho Guard Builds Cyber Defense Capacity