Guard News - The National Guard

Community Working Together Leads to Recovery of Guard Soldier's Dog
November 29, 2013 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - When Spc. Jacob Montgomery moved to Washington, Ill., from Champaign six months ago to accept a promotion in his civilian job, he got a pit bull puppy as a companion. But the pup,... MORE

Dexter, a six-month-old pit bull, and his owner, Spc. Jacob Montgomery of the Illinois Army National Guard were re-united 9 days after their apartment was destroyed by the Washington, Ill. tornado.

Eagle Vision 6 site is rededicated at Alabama’s Redstone Arsenal
November 27, 2013 — HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Air Force Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, director of the Air National Guard, recently visited the Alabama Air National Guard's 226th Combat Communications Group as part of a rededication... MORE

Air Force Lt. Gen. Sid Clarke, left, joins with officials from the Alabama National Guard in cutting the ribbon on the new Next Generation Data Acquisition Segment at the Alabama Air National Guard’s Eagle Vision 6 site at Redstone Arsenal, Ala. The new equipment allows for faster acquisition of unclassified satellite imagery to aid in the response to natural and manmade disasters as well as to provide worldwide support to contingency operations.

Two Army National Guard members test Soldier skills against peers
November 27, 2013 — FORT LEE, Va. - Two members of the Army National Guard were among those competing to be named the Army's Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year during the Department of the Army's Best... MORE

Army Sgt. Anthony Calvi, an infantryman with the Florida Army National Guard's Company A, 1st Battalion, 124th Infantry Regiment, makes notes prior to calling in an unexploded ordnance report during the Department of the Army's Best Warrior Competition at Fort Lee, Va., Nov. 20, 2013.

Alaska Guard Airmen aid in Philippines relief operation
November 26, 2013 — CAMP DENALI, Alaska - Nine Alaska Air National Guard members from the 176th Wing’s 249th Airlift Squadron are currently deployed in support of Operation Damayan, the relief effort in the Philippines... MORE

Active-duty Airmen from the 517th Airlift Squadron and Alaska Air Guard members from the 249th Squadron are currently serving in Operation Damayan, storm relief work in the Philippines. Photo shows some of the refugees transported to safety.

New York National Guard on duty to assist travelers in NYC
November 26, 2013 — NEW YORK - Thanksgiving week is no holiday for the New York National Guard's Joint Task Force Empire Shield, which will have all hands on deck during the busiest travel days of the year.The task force... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. Wayne Stevens, at right, and Senior Airman Steven Jones walk the concourse of Grand Central Terminal here on Thanksgiving Day 2012 as a presence patrol in support of the Metropolitan Transportation Authority Police. The troops are serving with the New York National Guard's standing security force in the city, Joint Task Force Empire Shield. Members of the National Guad's Joint Task Force Empire Shield regularly augment and support law enforcement agencies across New York City at transportation hubs. (U.S. Army photo by Ubon Mendie)

Committee strives to strengthen employer support of Guard, reserve
November 26, 2013 — WASHINGTON - After repeatedly releasing their workers who also serve in the reserve and National Guard for more than 900,000 deployments since 9/11, one might expect employers to be growing weary of... MORE

Retired Marine praises Illinois Guard members for their post-tornado actions
November 25, 2013 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill. - A retired Marine said two Illinois National Guard members are heroes because of their immediate actions to help victims of a tornado that ripped through Washington, Ill., Nov... MORE

Staff Sgt. Joshua Slocum of Roscoe, Ill., with the 1/178th Infantry Battalion, took immediate action to help victims of a tornado that ripped through Washington, Ill., Nov. 17.

U.S., China conduct disaster management exchange
November 22, 2013 — BELLOWS, Hawaii - Soldiers from United States Army Pacific, Hawaii Army National Guard and Army Corps of Engineers along with representatives from the Federal Emergency Management Agency participated... MORE

High ranking officials from participating parties observe the Practical Field Exchange during the 9th annual Disaster Management Exchange, an opportunity for both armies to demonstrate and discuss their different approaches to a humanitarian assistance and disaster relief scenario.

Silver Scimitar drill is more than playing post office for Soldiers
November 22, 2013 — FORT DEVENS, Mass. - Soldiers stand in line at a mock post office waiting to mail packages and letters home to their families, friends and loved ones. The slow steady hum of conversation fills the... MORE

Soldiers from the U.S. Army, Army Reserves and the National Guard work together to set up and run a mobile post office during a postal class exercise at Silver Scimitar at Fort Devens, Mass., Nov. 13, 2013. Silver Scimitar is the U.S. Army Forces Command's bi-annual, multi-echelon training exercise designed to train Human Resources units scheduled for deployment on core competencies for operations within a deployed area of responsibility.

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.

Army Guard Soldiers Train for Kosovo Deployment

Alaska Air Guard’s 168th Wing Sharpens Readiness with CBRN Training

Air National Guard Drone Training Bridges Gap for First Responders

Massachusetts Air Guard’s 102nd Mission Support Group Conducts Readiness Training

New Hampshire Army National Guard Hosts 2025 Cyber Yankee Training Exercise