Guard News - The National Guard

War zone surrounds Guard engineers
April 22, 2010 — FOB SHARANA, Afghanistan - No matter where you are in Afghanistan, the war is never far away.The sound of an explosion or small arms fire; the crashing boom of outbound artillery fire in the middle of... MORE

Guard air defense units protect nation’s capital
April 21, 2010 — WASHINGTON - Although you don’t see them, Soldiers from the 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade of the Ohio National Guard see you anytime you fly into the nation’s capital.“What we bring to the... MORE

Pfc. Trevor Gaston, a Soldier with the 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery, demonstrates an FIM-92 Stinger MANPADS (Man-Portable Air-Defense System) at Bolling Air Force Base April 14, 2010. Air Defense units from South Carolina and Ohio have been on rotating deployments to the National Capitol Region to support homeland defense as part of Operation Noble Eagle. This continued operation began in 2001, just days after--and in response to--the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Florida Guard upholds federal readiness in Qatar
April 21, 2010 — CAMP AS SAYLIYAH, Qatar - Florida Army National Guard soldiers recently exercised an ability to quickly reinforce active forces by abruptly separating from their main movement, while deploying to... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Dewitt Revels, from Jacksonville, Fla., meets with a Qatari soldier at Camp As Sayliyah, Qatar, April 19. The 53rd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, the largest Army National Guard unit in Florida, reported for duty at Camp Buehring, Kuwait, in early March. Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 153rd Cavalry Regiment, 53rd IBCT soldiers quickly departed the following week to take over force protection from contracting firms at Camp As Sayliyah. "Everyone is going to be enriched by this experience," said Dewitt, Bravo Troop commander.

Indiana Guardsmen meet with ANA to discuss NCO development
April 21, 2010 — PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Indiana National Guard Soldiers stationed here at Forward Operating Base Lightning, along with senior leaders from the Afghan National Army's 203rd Thunder Corps... MORE

Army Command Sgt. Maj. Jim Brown, the command sergeant major for the Indiana National Guard's Regional Core Training Team 2, speaks with Afghan National Army Sgt. Maj. Zar M. Sherzad, sergeant major for the ANA's 203rd Thunder Corps, 3rd Brigade, at Forward Operating Base Vulcan, Ghazni province, Afghanistan, April 14, 2010. Brown and Sherzad both spoke at a conference on the development of the ANA's non-commissioned officer program on FOB Vulcan earlier in the day.

Pilots recount how training paid off in combat
April 21, 2010 — BALTIMORE, Md., - The Maryland Air National Guard aircrew had been flying in Afghanistan for just under two months in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, when they got a call from their drop... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Kelly retrieves static lines after his second airdrop of the day over Afghanistan March 2, 2010. Kelly is deployed from the Maryland Air National Guard's 135th Airlift Squadron, based in Baltimore, Md.

Ghana continues partnership with tour of North Dakota
April 21, 2010 — BISMARCK, N.D., - A group of top ranking officials from the Ghanaian Armed Forces in Ghana, Africa, explored North Dakota last week as part of the North Dakota National Guard's State Partnership... MORE

Col. Rick Gibney points out features of an MQ-1 ground control station simulator to Lt. Gen. Peter Blay, the chief of Defense Staff for the Ghana Armed Forces, in Fargo, N.D., April 16, 2010. Officials from the Ghanaian Armed Forces (GAF) visited North Dakota to learn about the capabilities of the North Dakota National Guard, and to continue building the bilateral relationship that they have through the State Partnership Program. The North Dakota Air Guard flies the MQ-1 remotely piloted aircraft in Fargo, and uses the simulator to train pilots and sensor operators at the unit.

A view on life and war
April 20, 2010 — Tucked away atop a hill near Bailey, Colo., resides 90-year-old Bill Eugene Myers. His house, perched on a knoll, offers a spectacular view of the Front Range foothills. Spectacular too is this... MORE

Guardsman reflects on her incredible journey
April 20, 2010 — Senior Airman Theta Olson is the exception.“I deployed to Kuwait in May. It was about my second or third week there, and I rubbed my shoulder and felt a large lump. At first I thought it must be... MORE

Pennsylvania Guard experiences construction boom
April 20, 2010 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa., - If the Pennsylvania National Guard sold shares in the stock market it would definitely be a great buy for the wise investor. The state is witnessing a construction boom... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Jessica Wright, the adjutant general of the Pennsylvania National Guard, and others cut the ribbon at the Chambersburg Readiness Center on March 11, 2010. Although many of the centers were complete before then, Chambersburg was the first to celebrate its opening after the return of the 56th Stryker Brigade from its deployment to Iraq.

Iowa Air Guardsman takes care of Airmen as deployed first sergeant
April 20, 2010 — SOUTHWEST ASIA - Currently deployed as the first sergeant for the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, Senior Master Sgt. Mark Miller takes the core value of "service before self" very... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Mark Miller, first sergeant for the 380th Expeditionary Force Support Squadron, participates in a retreat ceremony at a non-disclosed base in Southwest Asia on April 2, 2010. Miller is deployed from the 133rd Test Squadron at Fort Dodge, Iowa, which is a geographically-separated unit of the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa.

Louisiana Guard to take over Haiti mission
April 20, 2010 — WASHINGTON, - The U.S. military's role in Haiti is slated to further decrease by June, with the 2,200-strong U.S. force currently there expected to drop to about 500 members, the former top American... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Simeon Trombitas, deputy commanding general of JTF-Haiti, walks off the landing zone at Fob White Falcon with Army Maj. Gen. Bennett Landreneau, the adjutant general of the Louisiana National Guard, during Landreneau's visit to Haiti, April 14, 2010. Landreneau will be in charge of New Horizon projects beginning this month, Army Lt. Gen. Ken Keen, the deputy commander of U.S. Southern Command, announced April 19, 2010.

Guardsmen conducts nonlethal weapons training in Iraq
April 20, 2010 — CAMP LIBERTY, Iraq - Even here, citizen Soldiers still emphasize responsibilities to the state of California thousands of miles away.As the 49th Military Police Brigade continues its Operation Iraqi... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jonathan McDonald (far left), nonlethal weapons instructor for the 49th Military Police Brigade, eyes Sgt. Robert Black of the 217th Military Police Company load a shotgun with nonlethal rounds during range training at Camp Liberty.

Vermont Guard unit adjusts to changing mission
April 20, 2010 — PAKTYA PROVINCE, Afghanistan - The Vermont National Guard’s 172nd Infantry Division, 3rd Battalion, Echo Company, Distribution Platoon hasn’t had much time to settle in to its mission since arriving... MORE

Members of A Company, 86th Engineers from 1st Battalion, 172nd Calvary of the Vermont National Guard conduct a convoy briefing before moving to the town of Charkar, Parwan province, Afghanistan, April 13, 2010.

New deadline set to claim joint-service experience
April 20, 2010 — WASHINGTON - Beginning Oct. 1, active-duty officers wanting to get self-nominated credit for serving in a joint-service environment will need to do it quickly -- the Joint Qualification System is... MORE

DoD recognizes best reserve component family programs
April 19, 2010 — WASHINGTON - Defense Department officials today recognized the best in National Guard and reserve family programs saying such efforts are critical to combat readiness."If we lose the support of our... MORE

From left to right: Air Force Maj. Gen. Buddy Titshaw, special assistant to the director of the Air National Guard; Air Force Col. Penny Dieryck, the commander of the 148th Mission Support Group; Jennifer Kuhlman, the wing's Family Program manager; Minnesota Rep. Jim Oberstar; Dennis M. McCarthy, assistant secretary of defense For Reserve Affairs, and retired Vice Adm. Norb Ryan, Jr.

Guardmembers remember Oklahoma City bombing
April 19, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Some describe April 19 as "the day the world began to look at terrorism differently." Hundreds of Oklahoma National Guard members will remember today's date by how they responded 15... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. David Humphries of the 745th Military Police Company, Oklahoma National Guard, stands watch while rescue operations at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building continue April 20, 1995, the day after the Oklahoma City bombing.

Army names Minnesota as 2010 COE winner
April 19, 2010 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Army chief of staff has selected U.S. Army Garrison Fort Bragg, N.C., as the Gold winner in the 2010 Army Communities of Excellence awards competition. The installation will... MORE

NASCAR driver suits up with National Guard special forces
April 19, 2010 — MAXWELL, Texas - NASCAR racer Jeff Gordon made a special visit to a select group of National Guardsmen at the Advanced Law Enforcement Rapid Response Training (ALERRT) facility here in central Texas... MORE

NASCAR driver Jeff Gordon takes aim with a sniper's rifle, with the help of a spotter, during a visit with National Guard Special Forces Soldiers in Maxwell, Texas, April 15, 2010.

Air Force Team of the Year includes Texas Air Guardsman
April 19, 2010 — WASHINGTON - Air Force officials and Air Force Association representatives have named Air Force remotely piloted aircraft sensor operators as the 2010 Team of the Year, and it includes an Air... MORE

Flying in the shadow of the 'Valley of Death:' Delaware Guard assists in Korengal Valley
April 19, 2010 — BAGRAM AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - The sound of rotor blades broke the silence of night as air crews descended on a combat outpost blanketed in darkness. Staring through their night vision goggles, crew... MORE

U.S. Army General Stanley A. McChrystal, commander of International Security Assistance Forces, exits a UH-60 Blackhawk from Company A, 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment of the Delaware National Guard to greet an Afghan National Army commander during his visit to the Korengal outpost as part of Operation Mountain Decent II, April 8, 2010. During Operation Mountain Descent II, more than 500 Soldiers and nearly half a million pounds of equipment were airlifted out of the Korengal valley; this was the largest-scale movement of U.S. forces out of the valley. The Delaware unit is part of Task Force Knighthawk, a subordinate battalion of the 3rd Combat Aviation Brigade's Task Force Falcon.

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