Guard News - The National Guard

Airmen honor Vermont’s oldest living veteran
December 31, 2020 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Honor is a word ingrained into the ethos of men and women who have ever served in the U.S. military. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that when Airmen of the 158th Fighter... MORE

Col. Adam Rice, vice wing commander of the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, presents a flag flown in the F-35A Lightning II to WWII veteran Lenny Roberge, Vermont’s oldest living veteran, outside his nursing home in South Burlington, Vt., Dec. 22, 2020. To honor Roberge, Airmen from the 158th Fighter Wing had a flag flown in an F-35 during a combat training sortie over the mountains of Vermont and New York.

Battling COVID-19 was among WVNG's many missions in 2020
December 31, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard accomplished a lot in 2020, including homeland and disaster response missions, deployments around the globe, and sustained support of the state's... MORE

A West Virginia National Guard Airman provides a COVID-19 test to a citizen on May 22, 2020, in Charleston, W.Va.

New Hampshire Guardsmen activated at 13 vaccination sites
December 31, 2020 — EXETER, N.H. – Thirteen vaccination sites officially opened for New Hampshire first responders and high-risk ambulatory care providers Dec. 29.Teams of New Hampshire Guardsmen were assigned to each... MORE

Spc. Madalyn Stella, combat medic, 197th Field Artillery Brigade, New Hampshire Army National Guard, emerges from a medical tent with a COVID-19 vaccine for a waiting patient Dec. 29, 2020, in Exeter, N.H. Stella is one of 11 members of the Guard assigned to the vaccination station, one of 13 across the state.

Deployed 28th ECAB gets through holidays together
December 30, 2020 — KUWAIT – Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade leaned on each other and used their creativity to get through the holiday season half a world away from their families and loved... MORE

U.S. Army Spcs. Bailey Apodaca Weaver and Luke Welch and Cpl. James Bradley, air traffic controllers with Fox Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, show a gingerbread house they made for their commander's office.

Wisconsin Guard answered the call in 2020
December 30, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – This was the "Year of the Guard" across the nation, as Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen answered the call in an unprecedented way – from traditional overseas deployments to civil... MORE

Sgt. Douglas King, of the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 829th Engineer Company assesses a road repair project in Afghanistan with a Romanian soldier in April 2020.

Maryland Airman finds family in 175th Wing
December 29, 2020 — MIDDLE RIVER, Md. – A little past 6 a.m, just before the start of the duty day, Senior Airman Jayme Bradley arrives at the 175th Maintenance Squadron phase hanger. Typically among the first to arrive... MORE

Senior Airman Jayme Bradley, an electrical and environmental specialist for the 175th Maintenance Squadron, Maryland National Guard, poses in front of an A-10C Thunderbolt II aircraft Dec. 18, 2020, at the Warfield Air National Guard Base at Martin State Airport, Middle River, Md. Bradley is the only full-time female Airman in her shop in the male-dominated career field of aircraft maintenance.

Syracuse-based Airmen hit 60,000 hours of MQ-9 flight time
December 29, 2020 — HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The Airmen of the 138th Attack Squadron, part of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Attack Wing, hit the milestone of 60,000 hours flying unmanned... MORE

Members of the 174th Maintenance Group prepare to taxi the first Block 5 MQ-9 Reaper on Feb., 12, 2019, at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse, N.Y. A Block 5 is an updated version of the MQ-9 that allows upgraded communication and electrical systems.

COVID-19 response has involved over 5,000 NYNG members
December 29, 2020 — LATHAM, New York – The New York National Guard was among the first states to call up Soldiers and Airmen for the COVID-19 pandemic on March 10. Nine months later, on Dec. 17, it was one of two Guard... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nigel Chen, assigned to Joint Task Force COVID-19, New York National Guard, administers the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine at the Camp Smith Training Site Medical Readiness Clinic, N.Y., on Dec. 18, 2020. The New York National Guard is participating in a Department of Defense vaccine pilot program in which 44,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine are being administered to front line medical personnel at 16 locations around the world.

Michigan National Guard supports COVID-19 vaccination effort
December 29, 2020 — GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard, on the front lines of the fight against COVID-19 since March, is now helping the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) get... MORE

U.S. Army 2nd Lt. Brianna Russell, right, a medical team reconnaissance liaison, and U.S. Army Spc. Bryan Coker, a medic serving with the Michigan National Guard’s (MING) COVID-19 Task Force Spartan, prepare a COVID-19 vaccination at Spectrum Health Butterworth Hospital Grand Rapids, Michigan, Dec. 16, 2020. The MING and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services have been working together throughout the pandemic.

Ohio National Guard members begin getting COVID-19 vaccine
December 29, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Ohio National Guard members on the front line of the state's pandemic response began receiving the COVID-19 vaccination just before Christmas. The Department of Defense is allocating... MORE

Sgt. Yen Nguyen, a combat medic with the Ohio Army National Guard Medical Detachment, administers the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine Dec. 22, 2020, at the Defense Supply Center Columbus in Columbus, Ohio. The Department of Defense is allocating the vaccine to the Ohio National Guard as part of a pilot program for Soldiers and Airmen performing full-time National Guard duty in support of the state’s COVID-19 response.

New Jersey Airmen support homes for veterans
December 28, 2020 — VINELAND, N.J. – Ten New Jersey Air National Guard Airmen from the 108th Wing and 177th Fighter Wing are activated and helping out at the Veterans Memorial Home as the staff continues to battle... MORE

U.S. Air Force Capt. Sara Kucharski, a physician assistant with the New Jersey Air National Guard’s 177th Medical Group, at the Veterans Memorial Home in Vineland, N.J., Dec. 23, 2020. The Airmen are assisting the veterans' home staff with COVID-19 rapid testing, N95 mask fit tests, and life enrichment for residents.

Massachusetts National Guard Soldier aids man struck by car
December 28, 2020 — LEXINGTON, Mass. – On his evening commute home from work, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Wilkinson, a flight paramedic with Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 3rd of the 126th Aviation, Westfield, was alarmed to... MORE

While on his way home from work, Massachusetts National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Charles Wilkinson, a flight paramedic with Detachment 1, Charlie Company, 3rd of the 126th Aviation, Westfield, Mass., came to the aid of a man struck by a car. After multiple surgeries, the man is doing well.

Oklahoma National Guard supports homeless
December 28, 2020 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahomans helping Oklahomans. For the Oklahoma National Guard, it’s more than just a saying – it’s a way of life. That mantra is what leads Guard members to serve our state and... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard members and their families, led by the Guard's Family Program Office, collected more than 1,200 packages of new socks and underwear for homeless shelters across the state in November and December 2020.

Louisiana National Guard responded at home, abroad in 2020
December 28, 2020 — NEW ORLEANS – The year 2020 has been an unprecedented year for the Louisiana National Guard. Between COVID response efforts, the busiest hurricane season since 2005 and a series of deployments, the... MORE

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen evacuate people in southwest Louisiana before the landfall of Hurricane Laura at the Burton Coliseum in Lake Charles, Louisiana, Aug. 26, 2020. Burton Coliseum was used as a transition location to process evacuees and move them to safe locations outside the path of Laura.

NC Soldier part of National Guard's championship cyber team
December 23, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – A North Carolina National Guard (NCNG) Soldier earned top national honors at the 5th Annual SANS Institute NetWars DoD Services Cup Championship, a virtual cyber problem-solving... MORE

Sgt. Micheal Gibbs, a cybersecurity analyst with the North Carolina Army National Guard's 883rd Combat Engineer Company, monitors networks Nov. 2, 2020, while assisting the Cyber Security Response Force in their support of the State Board of Elections before Election Day. Gibbs was on a National Guard team that earned top national honors at the 5th Annual SANS Institute NetWars DoD Services Cup Championship Dec. 17-18.

Michigan ANG helps keep deploying Airmen safe from COVID-19
December 23, 2020 — ALPENA, Mich. – On Dec. 15, the first Airmen arrived at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center from around the country as part of the facility’s support for the Headquarters Air Force-led... MORE

Deploying Airmen arrive at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Michigan Dec. 16, 2020. The Michigan Air National Guard facility was selected by the Air Force’s active-duty component to serve as a site for Airmen to spend two weeks in a controlled environment to ensure they do not have COVID-19 before traveling to their overseas assignments.

Idaho National Guard assists with COVID-19 response again
December 23, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard has partnered with agencies and organizations across Idaho in a renewed push against the COVID-19 pandemic.On Nov. 13, Gov. Brad Little activated 100 members... MORE

The Idaho National Guard has partnered with agencies and organizations across Idaho as the battle against COVID-19 continues. Gov. Brad Little has activated 250 members of the Idaho National Guard as COVID-19 cases elevated throughout the state.

Iowa ANG KC-135 painted with 75th anniversary art
December 23, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – The blank space on the nose or tail of an aircraft beckons to be filled. For as long as there have been airplanes, aircrew and aircraft maintainers have felt compelled to paint... MORE

168th Wing keeps the holiday spirit alive in 2020
December 22, 2020 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska – The 168th Wing's holiday celebration was a little different this year, with masks and social distancing due to COVID-19, but it still brought joy to families... MORE

The Alaska Air National Guard's 168th Wing didn't let the COVID-19 pandemic interrupt the annual holiday celebration at Eielson Air Force Base on Dec. 12, 2020.Volunteers from different squadrons built holiday scenes families could viewed in a drive-thru viewing.

New York National Guard supports NORAD Santa tracking
December 22, 2020 — ROME, N.Y. – Members of the New York Air National Guard and the Royal Canadian Air Force at the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome, New York, will be hard at work Christmas Eve as the North American... MORE

New York Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Megan Mills, left, and Tech. Sgt. Kriston Brown participate in a Santa tracking exercise at the Eastern Air Defense Sector on Dec. 16, 2020. Mills and Brown were prepping for Christmas Eve, when EADS will support the North American Aerospace Defense Command's (NORAD) Santa tracking operation. Tracking operations start at 4 a.m. EST on Dec. 24 on the www.noradsanta.org website. At 6 a.m. EST, children and parents can call toll-free to inquire about Santa at 1-877-Hi-NORAD (1-877-446-6723).

Ohio Airmen Provide Free Readiness Training Health Care

New York Air Guard Ends Greenland Science Support Season

Maryland Airmen Test Cyber Skills in Virginia Exercise

Alaska Guard Joins Polar Dagger Special Ops Exercise

Alabama Air Guard Showcases Communications Capabilities