Guard News - The National Guard

Arizona, Kazakhstan Soldiers exchange vehicle maintenance ideas
May 22, 2014 — PHOENIX - Arizona Army National Guard members and Soldiers from the Republic of Kazakhstan participated in a light utility vehicle maintenance information exchange here May 12 - 16 - part of their... MORE

Army Sgt 1st Class James Akers, left, and Kazakhstan Army Staff Sgt. Dumon Moldrakhman, discuss high mobility multipurpose wheeled vehicle, or Humvee, maintenance information at Papago Park Military Reservation in Phoenix May 12 - 16. Since 1994 the Arizona National Guard has partnered with Kazakhstan as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program.

Behavioral health: Army, Air Guard resources you should know about
May 22, 2014 — JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. - The area of behavioral health in the National Guard has changed significantly in the years since 9/11, according to the Army Guard's top behavioral health officer, and... MORE

Wisconsin street dedicated in honor of fallen Guard member
May 21, 2014 — RHINELANDER, Wis. - Almost five years ago, near midnight, on Oct. 1, 2009, Sgt. Ryan Adams and fellow Soldiers were conducting a convoy mission in Logar Province, Afghanistan. As they pushed on, two... MORE

A shadow box dedicated to Sgt. Ryan Adams hangs on a wall in the Army National Guard armory in Rhinelander, Wis., with Adams’ picture and awards. The display serves as a remembrance of his service and sacrifice for fellow Soldiers.

Cyber warriors flex digital muscle at 2014 Cyber Shield exercise
May 20, 2014 — CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. - With cyber attacks occurring more frequently and becoming more complex, the National Guard is stepping up its efforts to defend critical infrastructure networks and... MORE

Ken Foster, a computer network analyst with the California Army National Guard Computer Network Defense Team, assists one of his fellow analysts to defend against a simulated virus attack during the 2014 Cyber Shield exercise at the National Guard Professional Education Center in North Little Rock, Ark., April 30, 2014.

Pennsylvania Guard members place among top four teams at Sullivan Cup armor competition
May 20, 2014 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Four members of the Pennsylvania National Guard placed among the top four teams in the Sullivan Cup armor completion May 11-15 in Fort Benning, Georgia.Sgt. 1st Class Bryan... MORE

Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard perform repairs on an Abrams tank track as part of qualifying round of the Sullivan Cup armor competition at Fort Benning, Georgia, May 7, 2014.

Missouri Guard member keeps the troops laughing
May 20, 2014 — ZACAPA, Guatemala – Laughter rang out from the group of Soldiers as they donned white hard hats. The bright Central American sun was already beating down relentlessly. The assembly had just arrived to... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class John Snider, the project site noncommissioned officer in charge of the Las Carretas site and member of Missouri's 35th Engineer Brigade, begins each work day with a joke. "I like to get everyone laughing before we work," Snider said. "It lightens the mood, gives your mind a release, and gives everyone a good laugh before we get to work."

Lithuanian partners join Pennsylvania Airmen and Soldiers in Vigilant Guard
May 20, 2014 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Vigilant Guard 2014 exercised the relationship between the military and civilian first responders from around the country, but also integrated several Lithuanian military... MORE

Capt. Vilius Berzanskas of the Lithuanian Army briefs Maj. Gen. Wesley Craig, Pennsylvania State adjutant general, during the morning update briefing for the Vigilant Guard training exercise in May, 2014.

Michigan National Guard hosts suicide intervention workshop
May 19, 2014 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Depending on which national news source one listens to or reads, a person may obtain a varying understanding of the rate of suicides across the military community.A November 2013... MORE

Army Capt. Paul Lepley, 126th Cavalry Squadron, Michigan National Guard, facilitates an Applied Suicide Intervention Skills Training course at Fort Custer Training Center, Battle Creek, Mich., on April 29, 2014. The course is part of the Army National Guard Ready and Resilient Campaign and is the first of three classes held this year to train Michigan Guard Soldiers and Airmen to recognize and intervene with members who are at risk for suicide.

Illinois National Guard rehearses earthquake response with Polish Land Forces
May 16, 2014 — SPRINGFIELD, Ill.- The Illinois National Guard hosted a delegation of officers with the Polish Land Forces for a week-long study of military support in domestic operations May 12 to 16 at the Joint... MORE

Illinois Army National Guard Spc. Slawomir Latka, with Company C, 341st Military Intelligence, 65th Troop Command (standing center) explains earthquake response operations to Lt. Col. Piotr Lisowski (left) and Maj. Zbgniew Smykovski (right) of the Polish Land Forces.

Pennsylvania Vigilant Guard enhances military-civilian response to multiple disasters
May 16, 2014 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa.- Hurricanes, train derailments, hospital collapses, cyber attacks and biological events were some of the challenges to overcome in this week's statewide Vigilant Guard... MORE

Airmen of the 193rd Special Operations Medical Group, 193rd Special Operations Wing evaluate a casualty during a simulated emergency disaster in a contaminated environment May 14, 2014, during the exercise Vigilant Guard at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. Lt. Col. Richard Lorraine, a flight surgeon, left, and Maj. Ruthann Murphy, a critical care nurse, right, are part of a specialized chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear Enhanced Response Force Package that respond to mass casualty events.

Pennsylvania Militia member, first to be interred at Arlington National Cemetery, honored in ceremony marking Arlington’s 150th anniversary
May 15, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Army Pvt. William Christman-part of the Pennsylvania Militia, which is now the Pennsylvania National Guard-carries the distinction of being the first Soldier interred at Arlington... MORE

As other family members look on, Barbara Christman Page, center, Lauren Christman, left in red, and Jim Christman lay a wreath at the grave of Army Pvt. William Christman, of the 67th Pennsylvania Infantry Regiment and the first Soldier interred at Arlington National Cemetery, during a ceremony at the cemetery marking the 150th anniversary of Pvt. Christman's burial and the start of Arlington as a burial ground.

Pennsylvania National Guard: Planning equals successful training in Operation Vigilant Guard
May 15, 2014 — HARRISBURG, Pa. - A unique training event took place Monday at Harrisburg Area Community College when Soldiers, Airmen and civilian responders came together to react to a fictitious train derailment... MORE

First responders from West Virginia National Guard 35th Civil Support Team help each other gear up for a practice exercise held at Harrisburg Area Community College on May 12, 2014, as part of Vigilant Guard 2014. Members of civilian and military first responder teams came together for this event which is held in different states four times a year.

Arizona Black Hawk pilot flies to make a difference
May 14, 2014 — PHOENIX - When 17 year-old Amanda Birch told her mother she wanted to be a pilot, her mom had a practical question, "How do you even know you like to fly?"Her answer was to go to the local airport... MORE

Army 1st Lt. Amanda Birch, a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot with the Arizona Army National Guard’s 2/285th Air Assault Helicopter Battalion, Alpha Company, prepares for a night mission during Operation Angel Thunder 2014 at Papago Military Reservation in Phoenix, May 12, 2014.

Wife of Maryland Army Guard Soldier named 2014 National Guard Military Spouse of the Year
May 14, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The spouse of a Soldier with the Maryland Army National Guard's 29th Combat Aviation Brigade was recently recognized as the 2014 National Guard Spouse of the Year in a ceremony at... MORE

Ingrid Herrera-Yee, center, is awarded the 2014 National Guard Military Spouse of the Year award from Sally Lengyel, left, wife of Air Force Lt. Gen. Joseph Lengyel, the vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, as Blaire Brush, wife of Chief Master Sgt. Mitchell Brush, the senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the NGB, looks on during the MIlitary Spouse of the Year awards luncheo at Fort Myer, Virginia, May 9, 2014.

Senior enlisted Air National Guard leaders gather for Chief's Huddle
May 14, 2014 — VOLK FIELD COMBAT READINESS TRAINING CENTER, Wis.- Air National Guard Command chief master sergeants and other senior enlisted leaders met to discuss issues and challenges facing the ANG during the... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. James B. Hotaling, the command chief of the Air National Guard, addresses senior enlisted leaders during the annual Command Chief’s Huddle at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Wis., May 11, 2014. The Command Chief’s Huddle brought together more than 150 Command Chief Master Sergeants and other senior enlisted leaders from 89 Air National Guard wings and units, representing 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia to openly discuss a wide range of issues and challenges facing the ANG.

New York Air National Guard member receives heroism award for second time
May 13, 2014 — WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Matthew Zimmer, a veteran of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, has received the Bronze Star with Valor for heroism for the second time... MORE

Staff Sgt. Matthew F. Zimmer is awarded the Bronze Star with Oak Leaf Cluster and "V" device for his actions in Afghanistan on May 1st, 2014.

Arlington National Cemetery, 150 years old today, linked to National Guard Soldiers
May 13, 2014 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Arlington National Cemetery was established 150 years ago today with the burial of two Soldiers, both members of what would become the Pennsylvania National Guard. During some of the... MORE

Arlington National Cemetery, shown May 17, 2013, is commemorating its 150th anniversary.

Joint Chiefs: Pay and benefits must remain competitive
May 12, 2014 — WASHINGTON - Budgetary pressures mean military compensation must be scrutinized but service members must get the best support the nation can afford, military leaders told senators May 6."If we do not... MORE

Army Gen. Frank Grass, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, testifies at a Senate Armed Services Committee on the Department of Defense military compensation proposals, May 6, 2014.

Oklahoma air support unit trains on advanced combat simulator
May 9, 2014 — OKLAHOMA CITY- Members of the Oklahoma Air National Guard's 146th Air Support Operations Squadron at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base here recently started training on the first simulator designed... MORE

A member of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS), participates in training utilizing the Air National Guard Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training System (AAJTS) during an unveiling of the first operational AAJTS in the nation at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City. The AAJTS is a high-fidelity, fully immersive, simulator designed to support Air National Guard (ANG) Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) and Combat Controller squadron level continuation, qualification and mission rehearsal training.

National Guard troops show their mettle for disaster response
May 8, 2014 — ORISKANY, N.Y. - More than 600 National Guard members from three states completed a five-day disaster exercise at the New York State Preparedness Training Center here May 2, and now serve as the new... 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