Guard News - The National Guard

Ingenuity and strength: Foundation of partnership between South Carolina and Colombia
November 21, 2013 — COLUMBIA, S.C. - The mission of the State Partnership Program is to establish enduring civil-military relationships in order to improve long-term international security. This mission is particularly... MORE

South Carolina National Guard members visit the Colombia emergency services (UNGRD) office to see their programs in action, Sept. 13, 2013, in Bogota.

Operation Santa Claus 2013 takes flight in Alaska
November 20, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - The holidays are quickly approaching and Operation Santa Claus is gearing up to take flight in celebration.Hundreds of children living in Alaska villages will soon be celebrating... MORE

Operation Santa Claus visited Kake Nov. 14, 2013, in the 57th year of the event. Monte Doyle as Santa and Leslie Richards as Mrs. Claus meet with Kake High School students as Salvation Army volunteer Michael Evans stands by.

National Guard, ROTC cadets partner for security cooperation missions
November 20, 2013 — FORT KNOX, Ky. - In the early 1990s, as the old Soviet Union was in its final stages of collapse, the United States saw an opportunity to promote peace, minimize regional instability and encourage... MORE

The U.S Embassy's Youth Action Network teamed up with U.S. Army ROTC cadets for a community service event in Linden, Guyana.

Government: Donating money is best to help people affected by Typhoon Haiyan
November 20, 2013 — WASHINGTON - The most effective way to support people affected by disasters, including Typhoon Yolanda/Haiyan in the Philippines, is to provide monetary donations to relief and charitable... MORE

Philippines Navy Capt. Vincent Trinidad, right, and U.S. Marine Lt. Col. Travis T. Gaines speak Nov. 18, 2013, at Tacloban, Republic of the Philippines. At the request of the Government of the Philippines, U.S. military members have been providing support to the Armed Forces of the Philippines as part of Operation Damayan following Typhoon Haiyan.

Training pays off as New York Guard sergeant aids building collapse victims
November 19, 2013 — CAMP SMITH, N.Y. - A New York Army National Guard Soldier and police officer credits his military training for helping him save the victim of a building collapse in 2011."Being in the military, being... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Martin Gonzalez received the New York State Medal of Valor in a ceremony at Camp Smith, N.Y., on Nov. 17. The Medal of Valor is presented for acts of valor, heroism, courage or gallantry in either a civilian or a military capacity, and is the highest state award a member of the National Guard can receive.

Six Illinois babies wait for dads’ return from Afghanistan
November 19, 2013 — PEORIA, Ill. - Five little girls and one boy were recently born while their dads were away serving their country. In December, those six babies will finally get their dads back from Afghanistan."We... MORE

Gynger Hert with son Maverick, Tabatha Medina with daughters Delilah and Emmie, Sarah Willey with daughter Ariea and Stephanie Joy with daughter Ainsley during a National Guard family reunion event in Peoria, Ill., Nov. 16, 2013. These are four of six babies born while their dads were deployed to Afghanistan.

Kentucky MPs provide warm winter clothing to Afghan children
November 18, 2013 — BALKH PROVINCE, Afghanistan - Soldiers of the 1103rd Military Police Detachment out of Brandenburg, Ky., paid a visit last month to an orphanage in northern Afghanistan with some much-needed items of... MORE

Soldiers of the 1103rd Military Police Detachment hand out coats, gloves, hats and candy to Afghan children at an orphanage in the Balkh Province, Afghanistan, Oct. 22, 2013.

Army Chief of Staff Odierno visits Massachusetts to discuss defense initiatives
November 18, 2013 — NATICK, Mass. - Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, 38th chief of staff for the U.S. Army, visited Massachusetts to tour the U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center.During his Nov. 15 visit, Ordierno met with... MORE

Gen. Raymond T. Odierno speaks to reporters during a press conference at the U.S. Army Natick Soldier System Center, here Nov. 15, 2013.

Illinois National Guard firefighters assist authorities after deadly tornado strikes
November 18, 2013 — PEORIA, Ill. - Ten firefighters and three vehicles assigned to the 182nd Airlift Wing responded to Washington, Ill., to help with search and recovery operations in the tornado damaged area.The... MORE

Deployment is a family affair for Guam National Guard members
November 18, 2013 — KABUL, Afghanistan - Deployment to Afghanistan is a family business for Guam National Guardsman Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Flores Sr., who is based at Camp Phoenix in Kabul."My son, two nephews, two first... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Patrick J. Flores Sr., left, the platoon sergeant for Echo Company, 1st Battalion, 249th Infantry Regiment, Task Force Guam, discusses maintenance issues with his soldiers at Camp Phoenix in Kabul.

Transportation Security Administration expands expedited screening program
November 14, 2013 — WASHINGTON, D.C. - As part of the ongoing effort to move away from a one size fits all security approach and provide more of the traveling public the ability to participate in expedited screening, the... MORE

Airman 1st Class Wade Helms calls the names of travelers to board a bus that will take them to an awaiting C-5 Galaxy bound for Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, on April 17. The TSA is expanding expedited screening for military members.

Alaska Air National Guard members rescue four at lake
November 14, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Airmen with the Alaska Air National Guard's 210th and 212th Rescue Squadrons rescued three adults and one child who had broken through ice and become hypothermic while... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter from the 101st Rescue Squadron conducts a nighttime live fire exercise at Warren Grove Gunnery Range in Ocean County, N.J., Aug. 29, 2013. Alaska Airmen used night vision gear and a similar helicopter to rescue four hypothermic people from a lake.

NGB Chief Frank Grass talks of 'tough issues' on troop visit in Afghanistan
November 13, 2013 — KANDAHAR AIRFIELD, Afghanistan - Gen. Frank Grass, chief of the National Guard Bureau, visited Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2013, during an overseas trip to meet with deployed Guard members... MORE

Gen. Frank Grass answers a question asked by a Guard member during a town hall at Kandahar Airfield, Afghanistan, Nov. 7, 2013. Grass visited KAF to meet with deployed Guard members and Regional Command (South) leadership.

Georgia teacher commands convoy in Afghanistan
November 13, 2013 — CAMP MARMAL, Afghanistan - Army National Guard members bring unique skill sets from their civilian lives to the frontline of operations in Afghanistan; for 1st Lt. Monicia Porter her ability to lead... MORE

Army 1st Lt. Monicia Porter gives the signal to stop as she guides one of her platoon's vehicles out of their motor pool in preparation to conduct a sustainment and retrograde support mission to a remote location in Northern Afghanistan on Nov 4, 2013. Porter is a platoon leader and convoy commander for the Georgia Army National Guard and is a high school teacher at Central Gwinnett High School in Lawrenceville, Ga.

Mail early to ensure packages reach loved ones over holidays
November 12, 2013 — WASHINGTON - With the holidays coming up fast, now is the time to consider mailing early, especially to loved ones overseas, said Peter Graeve, a retired Soldier who is now with the Military Postal... MORE

Soldiers at Forward Operating Base Gamberi, Afghanistan, process holiday mail last December.

States focus on deployment health to improve readiness and resilience
November 12, 2013 — ARLINGTON, Va. - For 376 years, the National Guard has proudly served both our local communities and our nation at home and around the world. In 2012/2013 alone, states mobilized and responded to... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the New York Army National Guard's Detachment 20, Operation Support Airlift Agency stand in formation Oct. 25, 2013, during their deployment ceremony.

Veterans Day discounts abound across USA for those who served
November 8, 2013 — WASHINGTON - On Nov. 11, 2013, America will pay tribute to the men and women who served the nation. For Veterans Day, as a way to say thanks, many businesses across the nation will be giving discounts... MORE

For Veterans Day, as a way to say thanks, many restaurants will be giving discounts and running promotions for veterans.

New York Air National Guard opens MQ-9 hangar at Fort Drum
November 8, 2013 — FORT DRUM, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 174th Attack Wing has a new base for its MQ-9 "Reaper" operations at Fort Drum's Wheeler Sack Army Airfield.The wing's $5.19 million Launch and... MORE

New York Air National Guard Commander Maj. Gen. Verle Johnston speaks during the ribbon cutting officially opening the MQ-9 Launch and Recovery Element Hangar on Nov. 5, 2013.

Caregiving: What I wish I would have known before starting
November 8, 2013 — MOBILE, Ala. - I was incredibly excited when the folks here at Soldiers asked me to write a post for caregivers. Of course I'm honored to be "here" (as a proud former Army wife, it's sort of a big... MORE

Caleb and Brannan Vines pose at Fort Benning, Ga., in 2002, after Caleb graduated from basic training. He left the Army as a sergeant after a series of blasts he experienced during two deployments to Iraq left him with a traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder. Frustrated by their three-year search for a diagnosis and the isolation that came with Caleb's injuries, Brannan founded an online support organization for other caregivers, Family of a Vet.

Pennsylvania Soldiers and Airmen engineer joint training
November 8, 2013 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Cost-savings and joint training happened here during a two-week heavy equipment operator course hosted by the Pennsylvania Air National Guard's Regional Equipment Operators... MORE

Georgia's 165th Airlift Wing Hosts Response Exercise TOXIC PEACH 2025

Puerto Rico Air Guard Tests Flexible Communications in Evaluation

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