Guard News - The National Guard

U.S. law plays important role in Afghanistan COIN strategy
September 21, 2010 — CAMP PHOEINX, Afghanistan - When it comes to winning the hearts and minds of the people of Afghanistan, the U.S. military’s counterinsurgency strategy, or COIN, is not just about demonstrating... MORE

Lt. Col. Donald McCarty, left, deputy staff judge advocate for the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade of the South Dakota Army National Guard listens as Rahim, center, a linguist for the 196th, explains a claim made by Naqeb, right, a local Afghan citizen. McCarty helps local Afghans file claims against the U.S. military when any incident, such as a car accident happens.

National Guard Counterdrug supports ‘Operation Medicine Cabinet’ this week
September 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - On Sept. 25, National Guard troops throughout the nation will participate in “Operation Medicine Cabinet” a one-day collaborative effort with the Drug Enforcement Administration... MORE

Honor guard teams compete to be the best
September 21, 2010 — FORT SNELLING, Minn., - Because honor guard members perform over 120,000 funeral details every year, they must make a significant commitment of time and always remember the importance of their... MORE

Army National Guardsmen taking part in the 2010 Army National Guard honor guard competition perform an "eyes right" to ensure the have the proper distance before conducting a 21-gun salute during the firing detail portion at Fort Snelling, Minn., Sept. 20, 2010.

Illinois Guard participates in earthquake response workshop
September 21, 2010 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill., - The New Madrid Seismic Zone was the subject of a three-day conference here in which movers and shakers from all over the country, and Central and South America, met to plan for... MORE

MEDFLAG 10: A lasting partnership between two countries
September 21, 2010 — KINSHASA, Congo - After four days of humanitarian assistance to Kinshasa residents, MEDFLAG 10 participants conducted a mass casualty exercise on Sept. 16 after a simulated bus crash created about... MORE

Spc. Kerry Thompson of Bismarck, N.D., a combat medic with the North Dakota National Guard's 814th Army Support Medical Company, carries a simulated injured patient to the hands of an Armed Forces of the Democratic Republic of the Congo soldierin Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sept. 17, 2010. A mass casualty exercise simulated a bus crash with about 50 patients that were treated by the FARDC quick reaction force.

Oklahoma, Texas Air Guard activates for Afghanistan Engineering and Installation project
September 21, 2010 — HERAT, Afghanistan, - In the midst of sweltering desert sun and blinding sand storms, you’ll find six men hard at work trudging along the gravel roads and concertina wire-lined berms here in an... MORE

New York Army and Air Guard Members Participate in South African Air Show
September 21, 2010 — LATHAM, N.Y., - More than 70 members of the New York Army and Air National Guard from Long Island, the Hudson Valley and the Capital Region, are in Cape Town, South Africa Sept. 21-25 to participate... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers with Detachment 1, Alpha Co, 1-224 Aviation Security and Support Battalion, unload an OH-58 Kiowa from a New York Air National Guard C-5 Galaxy at Air Force Base Ysterplaat Cape Town, South Africa Sept. 17, 2010. The team will participate in the African Aerospace Defence Exposition 2010.

Twins reunite in Afghanistan
September 21, 2010 — NANGARHAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, - "Congratulations on your promotion, sir," the soldier said as he approached an open truck window and greeted a face he recognized. The captain in the truck had... MORE

Army 1st Lt. Michael Paluczak and his twin brother, Army Capt. John Paluczak, enjoy a reunion on Bagram Airfield in eastern Afghanistan's Kabul province, Sept. 7, 2010.

Craigslist scammer impersonates Illinois Guardsman
September 17, 2010 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill., - For more than a year, there have been multiple advertisements posted on Craigslist from a person claiming to be with the Illinois Army National Guard's 139th Mobile Public... MORE

Guard presence on border deters threats
September 17, 2010 — SAN DIEGO - The presence of National Guard troops along the Southwest border has provided U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents with an additional resource to counter drug smuggling, human... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Peter Aylward, special assistant to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, center, speaks with Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers near Nogales, Ariz., while visitng troops serving along the Southwest border in support of U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents, Sept. 13, 2010. Slightly more than 1,200 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are in training or deployed to the border and will be providing administrative, logistical, engineering and other support to CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents.

Missing Civil War cannon returns Illinois Guard after 30 years
September 17, 2010 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill., - A long-lost Civil War cannon has found itsway back to the Illinois State Military Museum in Springfield after more than30 years."I feel a sense of victory," said Army Lt. Col... MORE

Iowa ADT members donate blood to save Soldier’s life
September 17, 2010 — KUNAR PROVINCE, Afghanistan, - Members of three units stationed at Forward Operating Base Wright here came together Sept. 15 to donate 13 units of a specific blood type necessary to save a badly... MORE

U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 1st. Class Mark Chase, who is assigned to the Kunar Provincial Reconstruction Team Field Surgical Team at Forward Operating Base Wright, prepares to take blood from U.S. Army Master Sgt. John Storey, noncommissioned officer in charge of operations for the 734th Iowa National Guard's Agribusiness Development Team. The blood was needed for immediate infusion into a seriously wounded Soldier, who needed whole blood of a particular type.

National Guard reaches 1,200 mark on border
September 17, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - Slightly more than 1,200 National Guard membersfrom the four Southwest border states are in training or already deployed insupport of the border mission, a Guard official announced... MORE

Members of the California National Guard stand in formation before undertaking operations on California's Southern border. Slightly more than 1,200 National Guard members from the four Southwest border states are in training or already deployed in support of the border mission

Louisiana Guard conducts marriage enrichment retreat
September 16, 2010 — NEW ORLEANS - Guardsmen are trained year round to complete their missions and protect the rights of Americans. Now they are being offered training to protect their cornerstones - marriage and... MORE

Coins were given to Louisiana National Guardsmen and their spouses to remind them of the three important parts of a marriage: faith, hope and love. The marriage enrichment retreat was hosted by the Louisiana National Guard Chaplains Corps to help couples with relationship building in New Orleans, Sept. 10-12, 2010.

South Dakota Guardsmen plan new security measure for Afghanistan elections
September 16, 2010 — CAMP PHOEINX, Afghanistan - While the world will be watching Afghanistan's parliamentary elections on Saturday, Afghan National Security Forces (ANSF) and International Security Assistance Force... MORE

A new Persistent Surveillance System (PSS) begins its assent above Camp Julien Sept. 14, 2010, to provide the Afghan National Security Forces and International Security Assistance Force officials with an extra level of surveillance capability for security operations around Kabul, Afghanistan. The PSS, a floating aerostat (or blimp), has high-tech camera equipment able to provide 360 degree views of the city.

Air Guard dedicates Shepperd Hall at Andrews
September 16, 2010 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md., - The Air National Guard unveiled the newest addition to its readiness center during a ribbon-cutting and dedication ceremony here today.The new addition is named “Shepperd... MORE

From left to right: Chief Master Sgt. Denise Jelinski-Hall, the National Guard Bureau senior enlisted advisor; Gen. Craig R. McKinley, the chief of the NGB; retired Maj. Gen. Donald W. Sheppard, former director of the ANG; retired Lt. Gen. John Conaway, former chief of the NGB; Lt. Gen. Harry M. Wyatt III, director of the ANG; and Command Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Muncy, the ANG command chief, cut a ceremonial ribbon on the new addition to the ANG Readiness Center named “Shepperd Hall.”

Mullen: 'It's your money; come and get it'
September 16, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - Time is running out for those who qualify to receive their Stop Loss Special Pay. The deadline to claim it is Oct. 21st, but less than half of the more than 145,000 people eligible... MORE

Ohio National Guard and Hungary: ‘Graduate-level’ state partnership
September 16, 2010 — BUDAPEST, Hungary, - Back in 1993, Hungary was emerging from behind the Iron Curtain. The National Guard’s new State Partnership Program was announcing a third pairing of a state with a nation. And... MORE

Army. Maj. Gen. Gregory Wayt, the adjutant general of the Ohio National Guard, awards the Ohio Commendation Medal to Hungarian Defense Forces soldiers who served in a joint unit with Ohio National Guard members in Afghanistan at Tata, Hungary, on Sept. 15, 2010. A delegation of Ohio National Guard leaders was in Hungary for National Guard State Partnership Program activities.

Vermont brigade in ‘third quarter’ of Afghan mission
September 16, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - Measuring success in Afghanistan varies by unit and by location, but Vermont National Guard troops continue to make gains in their areas of operation, their brigade commander told... MORE

Army Col. Will Roy, left, commander of the Vermont National Guard's 86th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, poses with “Lashkar,” an Afghan army officer, and Vermont National Guard Sgt. Erik K. Morrill in Afghanistan.

COMMENTARY: A chaplain's view on a day off
September 16, 2010 — DOVER AIR FORCE BASE, Del., - A day off is a cherished and holy time when you are deployed to the Air Force Mortuary Operations Center here. Every military death overseas, from Alpha to Omega, comes... MORE

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

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