Guard News - The National Guard

Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Participate in Lithuania Exercise
November 15, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in Exercise Strong Griffin in Lithuania.A total of 71 Soldiers from the 1st... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Ray Ortiz, an infantryman assigned to 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 28th Infantry Division, Pennsylvania Army National Guard, defends his post during exercise Strong Griffin at Pabrade Training Area, Lithuania, Oct. 27, 2024. Soldiers spent their two-week annual training period augmenting the 1st Cavalry Division forces participating in Strong Griffin — a Lithuanian-led NATO field exercise focused on training Lithuanian forces and enhancing interoperability with partner nation units.

Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Strengthen Partnership
June 7, 2024 — SIAULIAI, Lithuania - State Partnership Program partners Pennsylvania and Lithuania shared best practices and capabilities over four days in Lithuania, strengthening their enduring relationship.From... MORE

Two members from the 171st Air Refueling Wing, Pennsylvania Air National Guard, share best practices about hot pit refueling on a KC-135 Stratotanker aircraft with the Lithuanian Air Force during a State Partnership Program engagement May 2, 2024, in Siauliai, Lithuania. Pennsylvania and Lithuania have been partners for over 30 years.

Ohio Guard Air Control Squadron Trains with NATO Partners
April 23, 2024 — BLUE ASH, Ohio - Airmen assigned to the 178th Wing’s 123rd Air Control Squadron concluded a two-week combined training exercise at the Blue Ash Air National Guard Station alongside seven service... MORE

Hungarian Defence Forces 1st Lt. Mate Nagy, a fighter controller assigned to the Common Reporting Center, trains on large force employment tactics during a joint training exercise March 22, 2024 in Blue Ash, Ohio. Success in contested environments depends on how well U.S. forces combine with the broad range of allied and partner capabilities and expertise to secure our common interests and promote our shared values. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Shane Hughes)

Pennsylvania National Guard Hosts Lithuania Foreign Minister
March 25, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Lithuania Minister of Foreign Affairs Gabrielius Landsbergis branded the Pennsylvania National Guard’s cooperation with Lithuania as “exemplary” during a U.S. visit March... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the Pennsylvania National Guard host a delegation that includes Lithuania Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergis and Audra Plepytė, Lithuania ambassador to the United States, during a visit to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, March 23, 2024. Maj. Gen. James McCormack, assistant adjutant general, and Maj. Alex Stewart, State Partnership Program director, gave the delegation a tour that included the Training Support Center, live fire ranges and the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site at Muir Army Heliport.

Lithuanian Soldiers Train Pennsylvania Guard on Weapon System
March 22, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers from the Lithuanian Armed Forces recently trained Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers on the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor/Anti-Personnel Weapon System.Lithuanian... MORE

Soldiers from the Lithuanian Armed Forces conduct training with Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from the 1-110th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, on the M3 Multi-Role Anti-Armor/Anti-Personnel Weapon System March 15, 2024, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa.

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... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 123rd Air Control Squadron in Blue Ash, Ohio, pose alongside service members from NATO nations Estonia, Lithuania, Latvia and Hungary. Eight service members from the NATO allies trained in Ohio Sept. 11-22.

Pennsylvania National Guard, Lithuania Celebrate 30-year Partnership
June 8, 2023 — HARRISBURG, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard celebrated its 30-year military-to-military partnership with the Lithuanian Armed Forces as part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau... MORE

The Pennsylvania National Guard celebrated its 30-year military-to-military partnership with the Lithuanian Armed Forces as part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program during a ceremony June 6, 2023, at the Commonwealth Keystone Building in Harrisburg, Pa.

Pennsylvania Guard, Lithuania Conduct Partnership Exchange
May 16, 2023 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers conducted engagements in Lithuania with their counterparts from the Lithuanian Armed Forces.Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry... MORE

A soldier from Lithuania's Uhlan Battalion guides a Vilkas infantry fighting vehicle during a visit by Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from 1st Squadron, 104th Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, May 4, 2023, in Alytus, Lithuania.

Guard Names State Partnership Program Partnerships of the Year
April 25, 2023 — DENVER – Following a busy year with engagements in Europe, South America and stateside, the Pennsylvania-Lithuania and New York-Brazil partnerships were named the Department of Defense National Guard... MORE

Left to right, Ambassador Dennis Hankins, foreign policy advisor to the National Guard Bureau; Maj. Gen. William Zana, director of Strategic Plans and Policy and International Affairs for NGB; Lt. Col. Christopher Markesino from the Oregon National Guard; Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, SEA to the chief, National Guard Bureau; and Col. Scott Humphrey, chief of the National Guard Bureau International Affairs Division, during an awards presentation at the annual State Partnership Program conference April 20, 2023.

Lithuanian Partners Complete U.S. Army Flight Course
April 17, 2023 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Lithuania air force Capt. Matas Leckas and Capt. Valius Urbonas became the first Lithuanian pilots to graduate from the UH-60M Aviator Qualification Course at the U.S. Army... MORE

Lithuania air force Capt. Matas Leckas and Capt. Valius Urbonas became the first Lithuanian pilots to graduate from the UH-60M Aviator Qualification Course at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence during a ceremony at Fort Novosel, Alabama, April 4, 2023.

Lithuanian Air Force Commander Visits 193rd Special Ops Wing
March 27, 2023 — MIDDLETOWN, Pa. - Col. Antanas Matutis, Lithuanian Air Force commander, toured the 193rd Special Operations Wing March 21 as part of a week-long visit to enhance security cooperation and plan... MORE

Col. Antanas Matutis, Lithuanian Air Force commander, visited with Airmen from the 193rd Special Operations Wing, March 21, 2023, in Middletown, Pennsylvania. The tour was part of a five-day trip for Matutis to strengthen State Partnership Program security cooperation between the Lithuanian Air Force and Pennsylvania National Guard.

Pennsylvania Air Guard Hosts Lithuanian Air Force Leaders
March 21, 2023 — HORSHAM, Pa. - Strategic planning, capability sharing and future cooperation were the focus when leaders of the Lithuanian Air Force and the Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 111th Attack Wing met at... MORE

Lithuanian Air Force Col. Antanas Matutis, left, Lithuanian Air Force commander, is greeted by U.S. Air National Guard Col. Deane E. Thomey, commander, 111th Attack Wing, during a visit to Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, March 20, 2023. Matutis, and his senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Alvydas Tamošiūnas, were visiting as part of a broader Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program tour hosted by Brig. Gen. Michael Regan, the commander of the PAANG.

Lithuania’s Prime Minister Praises Pennsylvania Partnership
December 6, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The prime minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Šimonytė, called the partnership between the Pennsylvania National Guard and the Lithuanian Armed Forces a “true friendship” during... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler, the adjutant general of Pennsylvania, welcomes the prime minister of Lithuania, Ingrida Šimonytė, to Fort Indiantown Gap to tour the base and learn more about the Pennsylvania National Guard’s partnership with the Lithuanian Armed Forces.

Pennsylvania Partnerships Highlighted for Defense Attachés
November 18, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – About 20 foreign military officers who serve as defense attachés for their countries toured Fort Indiantown Gap Nov. 16.The group received an overview of the Pennsylvania... MORE

Defense attachés Brig. Gen. Michael Shapland of New Zealand, Capt. Malick Ndiaye of Senegal, and Rear Adm. Axel Ristau of Germany fire at targets on a range simulator at Fort Indiantown Gap’s Training Support Center Nov. 16, 2022, during the Defense Intelligence Agency’s Fall 2022 Operations Orientation Program tour of Pennsylvania National Guard facilities.

Pennsylvania Guard Hosts Lithuanian Leaders for Cyber Talks
November 1, 2022 — BIDDLE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Pa. - Leaders from the Pennsylvania National Guard and State Partnership Program partner Lithuania discussed cyber defense during a visit to the 111th Attack Wing Oct... MORE

Margiris Abukevičius, Lithuanian vice minister of defense, arrives at Biddle Air National Guard Base in Horsham, Pennsylvania, with his adviser, Tadas Sakunas, and Embassy of Lithuania representatives Monika Koroliovienė, defense counselor, and Master Sgt. Valdas Kačerauskas, deputy defense attaché, to visit the 112th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, a subordinate unit of the 111th Attack Wing. The Lithuanian delegation was accompanied by Col. Donald O’Shell, director of staff, Pennsylvania Air National Guard; Lt. Col. Thomas Love, commander, 112th COS; Army National Guard Maj. Christine Pierce, cyber defense branch chief, Pennsylvania Army National Guard; and Capt. Nathaniel Curtis, State Partnership Program coordinator, PAANG, to discuss strategic planning, cyber defense and areas of future cooperation.

Lithuanian Land Force Commander Visits Pennsylvania Guard
October 13, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Pennsylvania National Guard leaders met with the new commander of Lithuania’s Land Force Oct. 9.Brig. Gen. Arturas Radvilas, who assumed command of the Lithuanian Land Force... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Jon Worley, second from right, senior enlisted leader, Pennsylvania National Guard, points out a feature of Fort Indiantown Gap's training area to Command Sgt. Maj. Darius Masiulis, far right, Lithuanian Land Forces command sergeant major, Oct. 9, 2022. Masiulis and Brig. Gen. Arturas Radvilas, Lithuanian Land Forces commander, and Brig. Gen. Modestas Petrauskas, Lithuanian defense attaché to the United States and Canada, visited Fort Indiantown Gap and attended the 28th Infantry Division departure ceremony in Harrisburg.

Lithuanian Liaison Meets with Pa. Air Guard Engineers
August 25, 2022 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - The Lithuanian Armed Forces liaison officer to the Pennsylvania National Guard met with Pennsylvania Air National Guard engineers and senior leaders Aug. 24 at Fort... MORE

Maj. Mantas Kazakevičius, right, Lithuanian Armed Forces liaison officer to the Pennsylvania National Guard, met with Pennsylvania Air National Guard engineers and senior leaders Aug. 24, 2022, at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. The Pennsylvania Guard and Lithuania have been partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 1993.

Pennsylvania Guard, SPP Partner Lithuania Join NATO Exercise
July 22, 2022 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – The Pennsylvania Air National Guard’s 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron attended the multinational joint Defender Europe 22 exercise with NATO and other military partners.The... MORE

From left, Pennsylvania Air National Guard Lt. Col. Frank Shoaf, Chief Master Sgt. Jason Everetts, Capt. Matthew Reed, Master Sgt. Frankie Perez, Chief Master Sgt. Andrew Mowry and Capt. Benjamin Kaufman with the 171st Air Refueling Wing’s 258th Air Traffic Control Squadron at Siauliai Air Base, Lithuania, during the Defender Europe 22 exercise, June 2022. The Pennsylvania Guard and Lithuania are partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Leaders of Pennsylvania Guard, SPP Partner Lithuania Meet
July 6, 2022 — PHILADELPHIA – Pennsylvania’s adjutant general met with the president of Lithuania July 2 to continue to develop a partnership of almost three decades.Maj. Gen. Mark Schindler met with President... MORE

Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda and Maj. Gen. Mark J. Schindler, the adjutant general of Pennsylvania, visit the First Troop Philadelphia City Calvary Armory in Philadelphia July 2, 2022. The Pennsylvania National Guard and Lithuania have been partners for 29 years under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

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.

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts