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Archive: December, 2016

National Guard looks back on busy 2016, prepares for 2017
December 30, 2016
Soldiers from the Louisiana Army National Guard navigate a flooded road while responding to severe flooding in the southern part of the state in March. This year saw thousands of Guard members respond to floods in Louisiana, as well as the East Coast, parts of Wisconsin and West Virginia. Guard members also responded to a variety of other natural disasters, deployed overseas, continued to train for additional missions and wrapped up a busy 2016 with preparations for taking part in the 58th presidential inauguration.
Michigan professor-Airman serves with pride
December 29, 2016
Air Force Master Sgt. Shaun West, a flight chief with the 127th Security Forces Squadron at Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Mich., holds a doctorate degree in behavioral health. In addition to his duties at Selfridge, he is an adjunct professor with Arizona State University’s online graduate studies program.
Guard and Reserve members receive ‘Veteran’ status
December 28, 2016
Soldiers with the Idaho Army National Guard's Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 116th Cavalry Regiment - many of them combat veterans - move their M2 Bradley Cavalry Fighting Vehicles into attack position during a training exercise in July. A recently signed law gives official veteran status to Soldiers and Airmen in the Guard who serve at least 20 years. Under previous law, Guard members were only considered veterans if they served 180 days or more in a federal status outside of training.  
Missouri Guard Airman goes extra mile on and off the court
December 28, 2016
Senior Airman Allanesha Smith, 131st Medical Group aerospace medical technician, takes on the role of social worker to help students she works with as a school nurse for an inner-city middle school in Missouri. Smith works at Northeast Middle School where many students suffer from autism; some have epilepsy or diabetes, and one experienced brain cancer. To help counter the illnesses and lifestyles that the children deal with, Smith revamped the school’s sports program and after the school day ends, she coaches basketball, track and volleyball.
New York Army, Air National Guard expected to conduct 12,271 military funerals by year's end
December 27, 2016
New York Army National Guard Spc. Ramon Rodriquez presents a U.S. Flag to Tammy Haynes, daughter of Army veteran Osborne Haynes, during his burial at Evergreen Memorial Park in Schenectady, N.Y., on Dec. 20, 2016. Haynes served in the U.S. Army from 1966-68.
Fort Indiantown Gap is No. 1 once again in 2016
December 22, 2016
The Fort Indiantown Gap sign welcoming visitors to post.
Georgia Guard members bring Christmas spirit to the community
December 21, 2016
Georgia Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Maurika Flores brings joy to a resident of Azalea Manor Assisted Living Facility in Marietta. The Guardsmen visited with residents, presented gifts, played Bingo and chatted with residents.
Flying the skies with the South Carolina National Guard
December 21, 2016
A South Carolina Army National Guard C-26 asset with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 641st Aviation Regiment, sits in the hangar stationed near the Columbia Metropolitan Airport in West Columbia, South Carolina.
National Guard Airmen gear up to track Santa Claus
December 21, 2016
Eastern Air Defense Sector personnel conduct training in preparation for Santa tracking operations. Pictured from front to back, are: Sgt. Thomas Vance of the Royal Canadian Air Force, a member of EADS Canadian Detachment; and Master Sgt. Michelle Gagnon, Master Sgt. Lena Kryczkowski (standing) and Master Sgt. Shane Reid, all members of the New York Air National Guard's 224th Air Defense Squadron. NORAD begins tracking Santa on Christmas Eve.
8,000 Guard troops will help support Inauguration Day
December 20, 2016
U.S. Army Master Sgt. Aaron Lovely, senior enlisted planner, Joint Task Force-National Capital Region, introduces the subject matter experts involved in inaugural planning and execution during the ceremonial rehearsal of concept drill at the D.C. National Guard Armory in Washington, D.C., Dec. 14, 2016. This final planning symposium showcased the culmination of months of preparation between military and civilian entities for the 58th presidential inauguration.
Two Army Guard division headquarters deployed simultaneously; first time since Korean War 
December 19, 2016
Virginia Army National Guard Spc. Sharon Minor, a radio operator with the 29th Infantry Division’s Signal Intelligence Sustainment Company, monitors radio transmissions in a Mission Rehearsal Exercise with First Army’s Division West at Fort Hood, Texas, Nov. 27, 2016. The 29th Infantry Division worked with First Army observer controller/trainers to be fully prepared for an upcoming deployment to the Middle East.
National Guard Bureau chief Lengyel issues holiday greeting
December 19, 2016
Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Mrs. Sally Lengyel at commemorative ceremonies on Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia, Sept. 25, 2016. Lengyel, the chief of the National Guard Bureau, has released a holiday message to National Guard members and their families.
Virginia Air Guard members assist accident victim
December 19, 2016
Maj. Zach Hoffman and Maj. Kelly Niedzwiecki, Virginia Air National Guard, 192nd Medical Group, helped with a rescue in a motor vehicle rollover in Hampton, Virginia, Nov. 19, 2016.
New York National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing and 206th Military Police Company ramp up air load training
December 16, 2016
Civilian-type vehicles assigned to the New York National Guard's Homeland Response Force and operated by the 206th Military Police Company of the New York Army National Guard, are guided onto a C-17 Globemaster III, operated by the New York Air National Guard's 105th Airlift Wing, during joint air load training conducted at Stewart Air National Guard Base on Dec. 3, 2016.
Innovation and agility are in National Guard’s DNA, Lengyel says
December 16, 2016
Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief, National Guard Bureau, addresses the North American International Cyber Summit 2016, Detroit, Oct. 17, 2016. The need to be innovative and agile was a key message Lengyel stressed in his remarks during a recent technological seminar near Wright-Patterson AFB, Ohio.
New Jersey Airmen and fourth graders bring holidays to veterans
December 15, 2016
Master Sgt. Jamie Ludy, 177th Maintenance Squadron, gives Air Force Vietnam veteran Ed Taylor a card during the 16th Annual Holiday "Songfest" at the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home at Vineland, N.J., Dec. 13, 2016. More than 80 fourth graders from the Seaview Elementary School in Linwood, N.J., and 18 Airmen sang holiday songs and handed out cards to the Home’s residents during the event.
Service becomes a family affair for these Ohio Air Guard members
December 15, 2016
Lt. Col. Philip M. Brown, the 179th Force Support Squadron commander, administers the oath of enlistment Dec. 2, 2016, at the 179th Airlift Wing, Mansfield, Ohio. Cooper Burton is enlisting as his father, Senior Master Sgt. Roger Burton, the fire chief at the 179th AW, is reenlisting.
New York's oldest and youngest National Guard members mark Guard birthday with cake cutting
December 14, 2016
Brig. Gen. Raymond Shields, assistant adjutant general, Army, far right, joins the oldest and newest members of the New York National Guard to cut a cake in celebration of the National Guard’s 380th birthday at New York National Guard headquarters on Dec. 13, 2016. The new and old members are, from left, Airman Kevin Gabay, of the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing;Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Wold, one of the New York Army National Guard’s oldest serving Soldier; and Pvt. Private Cameron Thompson, New York Army National Guard.
Vermont Air National Guard unit joins fight against ISIL
December 12, 2016
A crew chief with the 407th Expeditionary Aircraft Maintenance Squadron marshals an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot with the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron onto the ramp after arriving at the 407th Air Expeditionary Group, Southwest Asia, Dec. 10, 2016. About 300 Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard arrived in the past few days to support the F-16 mission here.
Utah Air National Guard medical unit conducts joint search, rescue training
December 9, 2016
Airman 1st Class Brooks Anderton, an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 151st Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) treats a simulated casualty inside a tunnel during search and recovery training on April 24, 2016, at the Davis County Unified Fire rubble pile in Layton, Utah.