Guard News - The National Guard

McKinley: National Guard must take domestic operations to new level
March 23, 2010 — NATIONAL HARBOR, Md. - The National Guard must squeeze the most from limited resources; structure its manpower and equipment so that it can give the most effective domestic response possible; and... MORE

Air Force Gen. Craig McKinley, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, stresses domestic readiness, squeezing the most from resources and operating jointly at the National Guard's domestic operations conference at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center in National Harbor, Md., on March 22, 2010.

Official details new recuperation leave policy
March 23, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - Some deployed servicemembers will not be charged for rest and recuperation leave under a new Defense Department policy.The new policy allows servicemembers in designated areas to go on... MORE

Kosovo Soldiers participate in Bataan memorial march
March 22, 2010 — CAMP BONDSTEEL, Kosovo - More than 120 people, including many NorthDakota National Guardsmen from Multi-National Battle Group-East, challengedthemselves in the inaugural Bataan Memorial March here... MORE

Maj. Terry Belter, 1st Lt. Kevin Marshall, Capt. Jeff
Rosenberg, Sgt. Christina Sung and 1st Lt. Edward Simangan, all of the
California National Guard, display the U.S. and Philippine flags as they
complete the 15-mile Bataan Memorial March at Camp Bondsteel, Kosovo, March 22, 2010.

Guardsmen brave elements during 12-Hour dike patrol shifts
March 22, 2010 — FARGO, N.D., - North Dakota National Guardsmen throughout potential flood areas are braving the cold weather to walk along the dikes in 12-hour shifts as a part the ongoing flood prevention... MORE

Staff Sgt. Wayne Baumbach, of the 119th Communications Flight, points out a possible problem area in a clay dike to Kevin Ressie, of the Army Corp of Engineers (St. Paul office), March 19, Fargo, N.D. Baumbach is a North Dakota Air National Guard flood dike walker, who is tasked with watching the flood dikes for possible problems and also to keep people from climbing up on the dikes. Ressie is responsible for construction and maintenance of the flood dikes.

Association pledges support for Guard and reserve
March 22, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - The world's largest association for human resource management today affirmed its commitment to bettering employment opportunities and benefits for citizen servicemembers by signing a... MORE

Gates, Mullen to join U.S. delegation to Mexico
March 22, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates and Navy Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, will travel to Mexico City next week as part of a U.S. delegation focused on helping... MORE

North Dakota QRF saves house near Kindred
March 22, 2010 — KINDRED, N.D. - One of the North Dakota National Guard's quick reaction force (QRF) teams responded to a call here today, where floodwaters threatened a home.The team, comprised of Soldiers from... MORE

Trailblazing National Guard attorney retires
March 22, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - A pioneering National Guard Bureau attorney who was instrumental in founding the life-changing National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program retired here recently.Joseph Monachino served... MORE

Joseph Monachino retired March 12, 2010, in a ceremony at the Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall, Arlington, Va., after more than 35 years of service as an attorney for the National Guard Bureau. Monachino's numerous accomplishments included writing thousands of legal opinions for dozens of offices in support of the chief of the National Guard Bureau, the directors of the Army and Air National Guards, and the adjutants general on behalf of the Bureau's chief counsel. He also played an instrumental role in establishing the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program, which gives at-risk youth a second chance at a better life and is now nearing its 100,000th graduate.

Patriot Academy student-soldiers earn diplomas
March 22, 2010 — MUSCATATUCK URBAN TRAINING CENTER, Ind., - Patriot Academy, the military's first accredited high school, graduated its first class here yesterday.The program provides youth with an opportunity to earn... MORE

Private 1st Class Scott Wayne proudly holds his newly earned high school diploma while posing for photos with his family members at the Patriot Academy's first graduation ceremony at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind., March 18, 2010. The Army National Guard's Patriot Academy is the U.S. military's first accredited high school.

Deployed North Dakota spouse shares in promotion during flood
March 22, 2010 — FARGO, N.D., - A visit by Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk to the Emergency Operations Center set up for flood response at the North Dakota Air National Guard base came with a surprise for one... MORE

Tricare meets health care bill's standards, Gates says
March 22, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - The Tricare military health plan meets the standards set by the health care reform bill the House of Representatives passed last night, Defense Secretary Robert M. Gates said in a... MORE

JOSAC recognizes three Guard flying units
March 19, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - Three Army and Air National Guard flying unitswere named "Unit of the Year" by the Joint Operational Support AirliftCenter (JOSAC) for 2009.The 177th Airlift Squadron of the North... MORE

Lt. Col. Rick Omang, commander of the 178th Airlift Squadron of the North
Dakota Air National Guard, performs a preflight inspection before conducting combat operations while deployed in Southwest Asia July 26, 2009.

Guard quick response force helps in Lidgerwood
March 19, 2010 — LIDGERWOOD, N.D., - Nine National Guardsmen were called out as a part of a quick reaction force to assist in expanding the dike in Lidgerwood March 18.The Soldiers, who serve with the 188th Engineer... MORE

Staff Sgt. Benji Boll directs a quick response force dump truck into place so that it can unload dike building material in Lidgerwood, N.D., March 18, 2010. The North Dakota Army National Guard truck is being driven by Sgt. Tracy K. Muller. The QRF personnel and equipment from the 188th Engineer Company in Wahpeton, N.D., quickly responded to the emergency request for help in Lidgerwood.

National Guard must maintain readiness, McKinley tells panel
March 19, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - A new threat environment means a transformed National Guard should maintain its force following drawdowns in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Guard's highest-ranking general said here... MORE

NASCAR honors Air Guard at Bristol this weekend
March 19, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - NASCAR Sprint Cup series owner Bill Jenkins recently announced that his Latitude 43 Motorsports team and his number 26 Ford Fusion will honor the Air National Guard at the Food City... MORE

The new Number 26 Air National Guard car takes some practice laps at the Bristol Motor Speedway in preparation for the Food City 500 in Bristol, Tenn., this weekend. The car will be driven by David Stremme.

'Extreme Home' for Mississippi Guardsman airs March 21
March 18, 2010 — "Heathcock family — Extreme Makeover: Home Edition" travels to Hattiesburg, Miss., to meet Sherman Heathcock, a devoted husband and father who re-enlisted in the Army National Guard following 9/11.In... MORE

Staff Sgt. Sherman Heathcock of the Mississippi National Guard and his family were recently selected as the recipients of the new house from the ABC television show, "Extreme Makeover - Home Edition." The house was built Dec. 3-10. Heathcock is currently deployed to Iraq with the 155th Brigade Combat Team which is scheduled to return home in February.

Guardsmen volunteer to help a deployed Soldier's family
March 18, 2010 — LISBON, N.D., - "I've been deployed before. I know what it's like to worry about back home."With those words, Sgt. 1st Class Larry Jacobson and his crew of seven set to work. They've been here in... MORE

Konny Zins stands in the backyard of her home March 17, 2010 as North Dakota Army National Guard members rally to her aid by building a sandbag flood barrier to hold back the rising water of the Sheyenne River. Her husband, Sgt. Darin Zins, is a North Dakota Army National Guard member, who is currently deployed to Kosovo as part of the NATO peacekeeping forces in Kosovo Force 12.

Stavridis discusses 'smart power' with Florida Guardsmen, students
March 18, 2010 — ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. - Although the U.S. military and its NATO allies are a capable and lethal force, "hard power" or military might isn't the only option in today's environment, the commander of... MORE

Guard completes munitions site inventory
March 18, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va., - The National Guard Bureau and the Army NationalGuard completed the Non-Department of Defense Owned, Non-Operational DefenseSite Inventory in December 2009.Release of the inventory... MORE

Illinois Guard helps prepare Polish army for Afghanistan
March 18, 2010 — KIELCE, Poland - The phrase "train as we fight" is applicableacross the Army and around the world, and it was the standard during therecent training exercise here at Bukowka Barracks March 4-10.Bagram... MORE

Pennsylvania Guard Medical Unit Gains Vital Experience During Field Exercise

California Air National Guard Hosts Reaper Smoke 2025

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