Guard News - The National Guard

Troops dive into training to earn FEMA Level 1 certification
June 25, 2018 — KINGWOOD, W. Va - Soldiers from the West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) and the West Virginia Swift Water Rescue Team (WVSWRT) recently attained the necessary training and certification to... MORE

West Virginia National Guard Soldiers with Company C 2/104th General Support Aviation Battalion (Medevac) fly the West Virginia Swift Water Rescue Team as they complete Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Level 1 training June 11, 2018, at Camp Dawson, W.Va. The WVSWRT was developed after the devastating floods of 2016 that impacted all 55 counties of the state of West Virginia to assist citizens in a time of need.

N.Y. Guard MPs train with Vermont Guard troops at Fort Drum
June 25, 2018 — FORT DRUM, N.Y. — A 36-hour base security exercise was the highlight for Soldiers of the 206th Military Police Company during their June 3-21 annual training at Fort Drum. The Soldiers from the 206th... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to 1st Platoon, 206th Military Police Company conduct Cordon and Search training on Fort Drum, June 15, 2018. The Soldiers were conducting their annual training with the 10th Mountain Division.

Ohio Guard Soldiers tackle worst case, real-world scenarios
June 25, 2018 — CAMP GRAYLING JOINT MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Mich. - "All vehicles, be advised, contact right, contact right," bursts a voice over the radio. "All elements, push out of the kill zone." Stuck in a... MORE

A Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Truck (HEMTT) A4 wrecker with the 211th Maintenance Company out of Newark, Ohio, tows a M915A5 truck tractor with the 1487th Transporation Company out of Piqua, Ohio, while completing tactical convoy operations training June 21, 2018, at the Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Grayling, Michigan.

Fort Indiantown Gap hosts exchange with Lithuanian partners
June 22, 2018 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Soldiers assigned to Fort Indiantown Gap range control hosted Lithuanian range experts here June 7-15 to discuss sustainable range operations and training site management... MORE

Members of Fort Indiantown Gap’s billeting and logistics team met with Lithuanian training center Soldiers during a range exchange visit June 10. (

South Carolina National Guard conducts new instructor course
June 22, 2018 — EASTOVER, S.C. - Experienced instructors know the more engaged and confident students feel in the classroom, the greater their chances will be in understanding the material and having success. To... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers work a problem-solving exercise while attending the Common Faculty Development Instructor Course hosted by 4th Battalion, 218th Regiment (Leadership), South Carolina National Guard, at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina, June 6, 2018.

Sky's the limit for kids in STARBASE Camp
June 22, 2018 — CHARLOTTE, N.C. - What do you get when you mix a handful of knowledgeable volunteers, some principles, theories and laws, rocket materials, and a group of bright-eyed, young students?The annual... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Ryan Thompson, loadmaster for the 145th Operations Group, briefs children of North Carolina Air National Guard members as they enter a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft at the N.C. Air National Guard Base, Charlotte-Douglas International Airport, June 18, 2018. The children are part of the annual Department of Defense STARBASE summer camp program and learn various applications of science, technology, engineering and math.

N.Y. Army Guard Soldiers mentor and learn in Ukraine
June 22, 2018 — YAVORIV COMBINED ARMS TRAINING CENTER, Ukraine – Overseas deployments for Soldiers of the New York National Guard have usually meant Iraq, Afghanistan, and Kuwait.But deployment for 220 New York Army... MORE

Officers and senior enlisted Soldiers from the 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team assigned to the Joint Multinational Training Group – Ukraine prepare for a battalion field training exercise at the Yavoriv Combat Training Center here Mar. 15, 2018. Currently more than 220 New York National Guard Soldiers are assigned to the CTC where they are mentoring Ukrainian Army Soldiers as they strive toward obtaining NATO interoperability.

New York Air Guard takes on 'Kool' mission in Greenland
June 21, 2018 — RAVEN CAMP, Greenland. – Twenty-five Airmen of the New York National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing spent three days learning to survive in the at the wing's annual "Kool School" at Raven Camp on the... MORE

Students build a shelter during barren land arctic survival training, commonly known as “Kool School” on June 9, 2018 at Raven Camp, Greenland. This year, 25 Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing in Scotia, New York, completed the training, learning basic arctic survival skills.

Kentucky Guard maintenance team visits Ecuadorian military
June 20, 2018 — QUITO, Ecuador – The Ecuadorian military hosted a team of Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard recently during a military-to-military event through the State Partnership Program. The event... MORE

Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard inspect and assess HMMWVs along with the Ecuadorian army in Quito, Ecuador, on June 4, 2018. This visit was part of the State Partnership Program between Kentucky National Guard and Ecuadorian Military, which is focused on conducting exchanges in military and civilian best practices.

Ohio Soldier experiences first overseas deployment in Serbia
June 19, 2018 — SOUTH BASE, Serbia - Military service is a tradition in her family, so it was no surprise when Ohio Army National Guard Spc. Cheyanna Porter enlisted in the spring of 2015 and completed basic training... MORE

Spc. Cheyanna Porter, left, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 838th Military Police Company, is deployed to Serbia for Exercise Platinum Wolf 2018, being conducted June 11-22, 2018. Porter has shared a tent with nearly 50 women from around the world, including Serbia, Romania and Bulgaria. Her bunk mate, Bulgarian Armed Forces Jr. Sgt. Smilena Volnova has been teaching Porter Bulgarian words and phrases throughout the exercise.

Indiana National Guard Soldiers will lead Pacific Pathways
June 19, 2018 — INDIANAPOLIS - Approximately 1,400 Indiana Citizen-Soldiers from across the state and with the National Guard's 76th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, headquartered in Lawrence, will train overseas this... MORE

Soldiers with the 17th Field Artillery Brigade fire a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Feb. 28, 2017. The brigade is expected to serve as the foundation of the Multi-Domain Task Force, which will lead its first Pacific Pathways rotation next year to test future warfare capabilities.

N.H. Soldiers practice swift water rescues in El Salvador
June 19, 2018 — SAN JUAN OPICO, La Libertad, El Salvador – New Hampshire Army National Guard members teamed with Salvadoran soldiers and firefighters to conduct swift water rescue training in the swollen, muddied... MORE

NHARNG 1st Lt. Katrina Simpson, an infantry officer with Mountain Company, works with Salvadoran soldiers and firefighters to complete a rope system spanning the Lempa River in El Salvador June 7, 2018. The swift water rescue training, led by Maj. Brian Fernandes, deputy commander, 12th Civil Support Team, brought N.H. Guardsmen, Salvadoran soldiers and firefighters together to focus on sharing ideas and best practices for rescue techniques to improve interoperability between civilian and military personnel.

Kansas Guard provides humanitarian support during Golden Coyote
June 18, 2018 — RED SHIRT, S.D. – Soldiers from the Kansas Army National Guard and Army Reserve units worked with Task Force 38, Canadian Army, to provide humanitarian support to Native American reservations... MORE

Soldiers from the 137th Transportation Company, Kansas Army National Guard, loosen straps on a load of timber at Red Shirt, S.D., June 15, 2018.

Kentucky Guard strengthens partnership with Djibouti
June 18, 2018 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – As part of the State Partnership Program (SPP), Kentucky National Guard Chaplain Col. Yong K. Cho, state command chaplain and Chaplain Lt. Col. Bill Draper, senior state... MORE

Lt. Col. (Chaplain) Bill Draper and Col. (Chaplain) Yong Cho visit with two KBR employees attending the Iftar on Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, Africa May 21, 2018.

Alaska Army Guardsmen train in Mongolia to save lives
June 18, 2018 — FIVE HILLS TRAINING AREA, Mongolia - The typical adult human body contains five liters of blood. Responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to the cells and removing waste on its return trip... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Spc. Dana Haddox and Spc. Jahmoi Hodge, both members of the platoon representing the 297th Regional Support Group, evacuate simulated casualty U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman 3rd Class John Bustamonte, III Marine Expeditionary Force, June 17, 2018, during Tactical Combat Casualty Care training at Five Hills Training Area, Mongolia, as part of Khaan Quest 2018.

Idaho National Guard snipers get in and out, unseen
June 15, 2018 — ORCHARD COMBAT TRAINING CENTER, Idaho – Hidden beneath twigs and weeds, three snipers’ stomachs are flat on the ground, dirt and grime on their faces. It’s a 90-degree day. A drip of sweat rolls down... MORE

Hidden beneath twigs and weeds, a sniper’s stomach is flat on the ground, dirt and grime on his face. All that can be seen in the bundles of cheatgrass is a pair of steady, intense eyes.

S.D. Guard builds road during Golden Coyote exercise
June 15, 2018 — WIND CAVE NATIONAL PARK, S.D. – Members of the South Dakota National Guard’s 842nd Engineer Company are participating in the Golden Coyote training exercise by building a road at Wind Cave National... MORE

A heavy equipment operator in South Dakota Army National Guard’s 842nd Engineer Company, grades a road in Wind Cave National Park, S.D., June 12, 2018.

Idaho Guard engineers train with Reserve counterparts
June 14, 2018 — BOISE, Idaho - Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Brigade Engineer Battalion and the Army Reserve's 321st Engineer Battalion conducted a live-fire M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge... MORE

Soldiers from the Idaho Army National Guard's 116th Engineer Battalion and the U.S. Army Reserve's 321st Engineer Battalion conducted a live-fire M58 Mine Clearing Line Charge (MICLIC) range June 13, 2018, at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Boise, Idaho.

Everything to know about your military retirement choices
June 14, 2018 — WASHINGTON - Let's chat retirement for a quick minute. You took the Blended Retirement System training last year, right? Probably because your boss told you to get it done so she could report 100... MORE

Army Soldiers prepare to execute a rehearsal of a night mission for live fire operations during Decisive Action Rotation 15-02 at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, Calif., Nov. 11, 2014.

N.Y. Guard Civil Support Team gets wet to prep for missions
June 13, 2018 — BROOKLYN, N.Y. - Once a year, members of the New York National Guard's 24th Civil Support Team jump out of a perfectly good helicopter and into the waters of Gravesend Bay off the southern tip of... MORE

A member of the New York National Guard's 24th Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team exists a hovering HH-60 Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing during helocasting training off Fort Hamilton, Brooklyn in Gravesends Bay on June 6, 2018.

Pennsylvania Guard Prepares to Train Ukrainian Forces

Tennessee National Guard Soldiers Join Multinational Exercise

National Guard Expands Pilot Child Care Program

California Air Guard Rescues Man at Sea on Cruise Ship

Oklahoma National Guard Helps with Sulphur Tornado Relief