Guard News - The National Guard

New York Army National Guard cavalrymen and aviators team up for combined training
February 24, 2016 — YOUNGSTOWN, N.Y. -- Aircrews from the New York Army National Guard's Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation teamed up for combined training with cavalrymen from Troop C, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers from C Troop 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry, from Buffalo, N.Y. simulate being inserted at a landing zone from a U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to Company B, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation at the Youngstown Local Training Area in Youngstown, N.Y., Feb. 20, 2016. The Soldiers are training in preparation for larger scale exercises to be held throughout the year.

Retired Army nurse praised for stellar military service
February 23, 2016 — WASHINGTON — After nearly three decades of medical military service in the District of Columbia Army National Guard (DCNG), Lt. Col. Monika R. Graham closed the chapter on a long, storied career of... MORE

District of Columbia Army National Guard (DCNG), Lt. Col. Monika R. Graham, medical detachment commander is presented a certificate of retirement by the DCNG Chief of Staff, Col. Aaron R. Dean during her retirement ceremony, DC Armory, Washington, Feb. 21. Graham received several awards for 27 years of distinguished service and countless achievements through her career to include the Legion of Merit and the DCNG Meritorious Service Medal.

Iowa National Guard develops future Total Army technicians
February 23, 2016 — JOHNSTON, Iowa - For today’s Army to grow their next generation of skilled mechanics and diagnosticians, it takes proper training, knowledgeable instructors, certifiable skill sets and a basic... MORE

Maj. Gen. Flem B. Walker, Jr., the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics (G-4) for U.S. Army Forces Command, observes students training at the Sustainment Training Center, located in Johnston, Iowa. Walker toured the Iowa National Guard facility during a recent visit to Camp Dodge.

New Jersey Air Guard revolutionizing intelligence
February 22, 2016 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. - Closed off from all non-essential personnel in a secured, vault-like work environment known as a Sensitive Compartmentalized Information Facility, the 204th... MORE

Graphic representation of Tech. Sgt. Jason Valleley, 204th intelligence analyst, as he simulates manipulating data in Google Earth. Valleley headed the development for a way to use classified Google Earth with integrated intelligence gathered from multiple sources to aid United States' military units throughout the world. The images employed in this illustration are purely representational and do not reflect any current or past intelligence operatons. (U.S. Air National Guard illustration by Senior Airman Kellyann Novak/Released)

Alliance, endurance on display at Exercise Allied Spirit IV
February 22, 2016 — HOHENFELS, Germany -- More than 2,400 service members from seven nations are conducting tactical training in the cold and snowy conditions of Bavaria, Germany, during Exercise Allied Spirit IV. This... MORE

During Allied Spirit IV, a Soldier from the U.S. Army’s 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, playing a forward observer, uses snow-covered brush for concealment while scanning a nearby road Jan. 22 at the U.S. Army’s Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels Training Area (JMRC HTA), Germany. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Eddie Siguenza)

Army Mountain Warfare students take a walk on the wild side at Smugglers' Notch
February 19, 2016 — JEFFERSONVILLE, Vt. - Soldiers from the basic and advanced courses at the Army Mountain Warfare School climbed Smugglers' Notch as the culminating event of two weeks of training in Jeffersonville,... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kim Siner, the command chief warrant officer of Vermont, rappels a cliff face during the Mountain Walk at Smugglers' Notch in Jeffersonville, Vermont, Feb. 18, 2016. Vermont National Guard leadership performed the Mountain Walk with basic and advanced mountain warfare students to gain a better understanding of the Mountain Warfare School and to refresh their mountaineering skills.

Connecticut National Guard Soldiers operate to complete retrograde mission in Afghanistan
February 19, 2016 — BAGRAM, Afghanistan – Six Soldiers from the 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group, an Army National Guard unit from Groton, Connecticut, are serving at Bagram Air Field in Afghanistan... MORE

Staff Sgt. William Leuck works to maintain warehouse operations at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan, as part of a nine-month duty tour. Leuck and five other members of the 1109th Theater Aviation Sustainment Maintenance Group from Groton, Connecticut, are there to focus on a large aviation retrograde mission involving aviation material and equipment in theater to a destination in the United States.

Alaska Air National Guard rescue choppers train in Nevada desert for first time
February 19, 2016 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - About 50 Alaska Air Guard members from the 176th Operations Group and 176th Maintenance Group returned Feb. 16 from Red Flag 16-1 hosted on Nellis Air Force... MORE

First Lt. Seth Peterson, left, a pilot with the 210th Airlift Squadron, and Senior Master Sgt. Thomas Dietrich, a special mission aviator with the 176th Operations Group, prepare for take off in an HH-60 Pave Hawk on Nellis AFB, Nev., during Red Flag 16-1 on Feb. 11, 2016. The two were a part of approximately 50 Air Guardsmen from the 176th Operations Group and 176th Maintenance Group participating in the combat training exercise.

New York Guard ordnance experts train local police in avoiding IEDs
February 17, 2016 — CAIRO, N.Y. – "Move, move, move!" was shouted. Then, "go, go, go!" was echoed in response. Then four police officers dressed in green jumpsuits and body armor - watched by bomb disposal experts from... MORE

New York Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Evan Putman, a Soldier in the 1108th Ordnance Company (Explosive Ordnance Disposal), places a bomb disposal tool in position while wearing a protective bomb suit during a training tactical operation with the Columbia-Greene County Shared Services Response Team at the 911 Call Center in Cairo, New York, Feb. 2, 2016. Four Soldiers from the 1108th conducted training for the law enforcement agencies.

Michigan National Guard Soldier saved Flint resident's life during water crisis
February 17, 2016 — FLINT, Mich. - While helping to hand out water to the citizens of Flint, a National Guard Soldier helped save a Flint resident's life. "This is why I joined the military, to help people," said Spc... MORE

Spc. Charles Colwell stands outside his assigned distribution site, Fire Station 1, Flint, Michigan, Feb. 12, 2016. Colwell played an instrumental role in providing assistance to a Flint resident last week.

Father and son deploy with West Virginia aviation regiment
February 16, 2016 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Some Soldiers join the Army National Guard as a way to better their lives. Others join to learn a trade. Still others join to continue a family tradition of military service... MORE

West Virginia Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 4 Lawrence Copley (far right) and his son Chief Warrant Officer 2 Joseph Copley (far left), get together with some of their fellow Soldiers from 2nd Battalion, 104th Aviation Regiment, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, get some quality time together shortly after Joseph’s promotion at Camp Buehring Kuwait, Jan. 30. The Copleys deployed with the 40th CAB to Kuwait in December. (Courtesy Photo)

Arizona Guard aviation unit controls skies in Kuwait
February 16, 2016 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Imagine for a moment you're in the cockpit of a $30 million helicopter. You're monitoring gauges, and controlling the aircraft as you fly back to home base the morning flight... MORE

Nashville, Tenn., resident Sgt. Brian Bertram, Glendale, Ariz., resident Sgt. Nicholas Robinson, San Tan Valley, Ariz., resident Cpt. Sherri Gregoire, Tucson, Ariz., resident 1st Sgt. Trevor Varney, and Phoenix resident Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Stockard gather outside their company headquarters for Company F, 1st Battalion, 168th Air Traffic Services, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade, at Camp Buehring Kuwait, Feb. 8. Capt. Gregoire and 1st Sgt. Varney are the command team for Company F, which provides Air Traffic Services for all friendly aviation assets. (Photo by 1st Lt. Aaron DeCapua, 40th Combat Aviation Brigade Public Affairs)

Promotion brings Guard member full circle in 101st Airborne Division
February 12, 2016 — FORT CAMPBELL, Ky. – An officer with the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the division's headquarters Feb. 11, bringing the Soldier full circle... MORE

Lt. Col. Cory Mulhern, a liaison officer for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), smiles at his daughter, Sierra, as she pins on his rank during his promotion ceremony in the division headquarters, Fort Campbell, Kentucky, Feb. 11, 2016. Mulhern, a guardsman with the Wisconsin National Guard, is part of the 101st’s multi-component unit, a pilot program where Guard and active duty Soldiers train and deploy together.

Guard units in Kuwait train for chemical attacks and more
February 12, 2016 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – A line of up-armored trucks rumbled onto the airfield. The vehicles surrounded a landed CH-47 Chinook helicopter. Dozens of Soldiers in full protective gear and protective masks... MORE

Pennsylvania Guard's Lithuanian partners visit Fort Indiantown Gap training facilities
February 12, 2016 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Representatives from Lithuania's Army Training Center visited the installation during early February 2016 to get an in-depth look at the operation of some of the training... MORE

Representatives from Lithuania's Army Training Center visited the installation Feb. 2, 2016, to get an in-depth look at the operation of some of the training facilities located here‬ and gauge best practices and lessons learned in operating them as they develop similar live-fire and combined-arms training resources to train their soldiers. The Pennsylvania National Guard established a relationship with Lithuania in 1993 as part of the ‪National Guard‬'s State Partnership Program.

Vermont Soldiers conduct biathlon exercise during mountain skills training
February 11, 2016 — JERICHO, Vt. - Gliding quickly across the snow, a skier pushes off with his poles, tossing snow behind him. The skier is followed by another and then another; all of them wear Army uniforms. The... MORE

Soldiers with Alpha Company, 3rd Battalion, 172nd Infantry Regiment (Mountan), Vermont National Guard, cross-country ski at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont, Feb. 6, 2016.

Black History Month: Highlighting the 93rd Division in World War I
February 10, 2016 — ARLINGTON, Va.—Each February, during Black History Month, the nation remembers the important contributions African-Americans have made throughout U.S. history. The National Guard's history is also... MORE

372nd: Soldiers of the 372nd Infantry preparing to board ship in France for their return home and discharge in March 1919. Note they are wearing their 93rd Division "Blue Helmet" shoulder patches. One man has a souvenir German helmet hanging from his belt.

Black New York Army National Guard Officer overcame discrimination in 1964
February 10, 2016 — BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Col. Otho van Exel fought in World War II, commanded four times and was one of the first African-Americans to attend the Army War College. But it was his character in the face of... MORE

Col. Otho van Exel is photographed during a Civil War Centennial event on May 20, 1961, in Port Green, New York. Van Exel was the commander of the 187th Field Artillery Group, a descendant of the 14th New York National Guard Regiment which fought at the Battle of Bull Run. To Van Exel’s right is noted Civil War historian Bruce Catton, the chairman of New York’s Civil War Centennial Commission and to his left is Brig. Gen. Charles Stevenson, the adjutant general of New York at the time.

Chilean forces compete in Texas Guard Best Warrior Competition
February 9, 2016 — BASTROP, Texas – Troops from the Chilean Marine Corps and Chilean Army reinforced their continuing partnership with the Texas Army and Air National Guard during the state's Best Warrior Competition... MORE

Pfc. Marcial Ortiz, Chilean navy, competes in the obstacle course portion of the Texas Military Department's 2016 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Swift in Bastrop, Texas, Feb. 6, 2016. Traditionally a joint competition with competitors from the Texas Army and Air National Guards, this year's event invited service members from the U.S. Army Reserves component and the Chilean military to compete in the three-day grueling competition, testing the aptitude of each competitor in several mentally and physically challenging events relevant in today's operational environment.

New video series will help Soldiers get and stay in shape
February 9, 2016 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Guard Your Health recently launched its #WarriorReady Workout video series to help Soldiers amp up their PT routine and stay mission ready. The 15-second videos show Soldiers how to... MORE

Guard Your Health recently launched its #WarriorReady Workout Video series, which includes 15-second videos that demonstrate how to do quick, high-intensity workouts. The workouts are customizable and can be done anywhere. There are 14 different workout videos and each one focuses on a full-body workout.

Guard Bureau Chief Promotes Partnerships at Defense Services Asia Exhibition

Virginia Guard Takes Holistic Approach to Health, Readiness

West Virginia’s 167th Wing Conducts Readiness Exercise

New York Army Guard Hosts Regional Best Warrior Competition

Alaska Guard Helps Provide Free Health Care to Kodiak Residents