Guard News - The National Guard

Indiana National Guard activates cyber battalion
October 6, 2020 — INDIANAPOLIS – The Indiana National Guard hosted an activation ceremony for the 127th Cyber Protection Battalion Oct. 3 at the Indiana War Memorial. The battalion of nearly 100 Citizen-Soldiers... MORE

1st Sgt. John Stickler uncases one of Indiana National Guard’s new 127th Cyber Protection Battalion guidons at the Indiana War Memorial Oct. 3, 2020. The battalion of nearly 100 Citizen-Soldiers protects military networks and service members from internet-based and online attacks.

New York National Guard honors 21st president
October 5, 2020 — MENANDS, New York – New York Army National Guard Maj. Gen. Michel Natali marked the 191st birthday of President Chester Arthur, the 21st president, during a ceremony at his grave at Albany Rural... MORE

New York Army National Guard Soldiers forming a color guard move into position during a ceremony saluting President Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, at his burial site in Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York, on Oct. 5, 2020. The current occupant of the White House sends a wreath to mark the gravesites of former presidents on their birthdays. The wreath is presented by a military leader. Maj. Gen. Michel Natali, the assistant adjutant general, Army, of the New York National Guard, presented the wreath.

117th Space Battalion shifts to 100th Missile Defense Brigade
October 5, 2020 — COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. – Two of the more unique Army National Guard units aligned Oct. 1. The 100th Missile Defense Brigade was assigned administrative and operational command and control of the... MORE

Army Col. Mike Hatfield, the commander of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade, right, and Lt. Col. Michael Lane, the commander of the 117th Space Battalion, unfurl the colors of the 117th Space Battalion during a ceremony at Fort Carson, Colorado, to signify a command relationship change. The 117th is now assigned to the 100th for administrative and operational command and control as part of a larger Colorado Army National Guard realignment.

Exercise Northern Strike 21 planning underway in Michigan
October 5, 2020 — GRAYLING, Mich. – For nearly a decade, Northern Strike (NS) has brought thousands of military members from multiple service branches, states and countries together, all in the name of building joint... MORE

Camp Grayling hosts a pre-deployment site survey, attended by more than 30 representatives from multiple services and states, to demonstrate the base’s training capabilities. Maj. Quinn Rodgers, director of operations for Camp Grayling, showcased the base’s 148,000 acres of training space.

Alaska Air National Guard assists Mat-Su Valley kitchen
October 5, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — Since mid-August, Alaska Air National Guardsmen assigned to the 176th Force Support Flight Sustainment Services have volunteered their time to assist the Five... MORE

From left to right, Alaska Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Brayden Van Bevera, Airman 1st Class Fionna Kelty, Tech Sgt. Allen Wilson and Senior Airman Alex Choi, all members of the 176th Force Support Flight Sustainment Services, cut fresh produce at the Five Loaves, Two Fish Kitchen in Wasilla, Alaska, Sept. 25, 2020. The Airmen have been volunteering at the kitchen since mid-August, preparing an average of 150 meals per week for non-profit organizations.

New York National Guard, Brazil share COVID-19 experiences
October 2, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York was one of the states impacted the most by the COVID-19 pandemic, so New York National Guard members passed on lessons learned in mitigating the virus to their Brazilian... MORE

Maj. Amy Crounse, New York National Guard State Partnership Program officer, begins a videoconference with representatives from Brazil to discuss how the two sides responded to COVID-19, New York National Guard Headquarters, Latham, N.Y., Sept. 29, 2020. The New York Guard and Brazil's military work together under the State Partnership Program.

Wisconsin Guard 'Badgers' help fight California fires
October 2, 2020 — FRESNO, Calif. – It took almost four days for two flight teams from the Wisconsin Army National Guard's 1st Battalion (Assault), 147th Aviation Regiment, 64th Troop Command, to fly their UH-60 Black... MORE

Members of 1st Battalion (Assault), 147th Aviation Regiment, 64th Troop Command, Wisconsin Army National Guard, at the Exeter helicopter bases Sept. 30, 2020, before a mission during the SQF Complex Fire in Tulare County, California. Left to right: Sgt. Jake Baranczyk, crew chief; Chief Warrant Officer 2 Trevor Clock, pilot; Sgt. Bryson Kamps, crew chief; and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Andrew Wickland, pilot in command.

Nevada Air Guard continues firefighting mission
October 2, 2020 — RENO, Nevada – Military aerial firefighting units, including the "High Rollers" of the Nevada Air National Guard, have dropped more than 1 million gallons of fire retardant so far this fire... MORE

Maj. Gen. Ondra L. Berry, adjutant general for Nevada, visited Airmen assigned to the 152nd Airlift Wing performing MAFFS missions supporting California firefighters at Sacramento McClellan Airport, California Aug. 31, 2020. Berry was accompanied by leadership from the Nevada Air National Guard and Nevada Army National Guard.

Alaska Army Guard aviator conducts first real-world rescue
October 1, 2020 — ANCHORAGE, Alaska – Chief Warrant Officer 2 Paul Gillquist woke up for his weekend training Sept. 13, expecting to perform a routine training mission aboard his UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. For three... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 2 Paul Gillquist, an Alaska Army National Guard pilot assigned to the 207th Aviation Regiment, in front of UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, Aug. 22, 2020, at the Bryant Army Airfield on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. Gillquist’s call sign is "Icy 13," and he happened to perform his first real-world rescue mission on Sept. 13, 2020.

Guard suicides drop but outreach programs continue, expand
October 1, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The suicide rate in the National Guard declined last year, according to the Department of Defense’s 2019 Annual Suicide Report, but Air Force Maj. Gen. Dawne Deskins said more work... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. John Bigham, a Missouri Air National Guard maintenance superintendent with the 139th Airlift Wing, listens to a speaker during a “Resilience Tactical Pause” day at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Missouri. The event was focused on personal resiliency and suicide prevention.

Oklahoma Guard cybersecurity team wins national competition
October 1, 2020 — OKLAHOMA CITY – The Oklahoma National Guard cybersecurity team took top honors Sept. 18-19 at the online 2020 NetWars Cyber Shield competition with National Guard and Reserve teams from 22 states.The... MORE

From left to right with the Oklahoma National Guard defensive cyber operations element, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Tyson Joachims, Capt. Danny Slusarchuck, Sgt. Sean Singley, Staff Sgt. Rick Raper, Sgt. Brandon Dixon, and Tech Sgt. Craig Brown, mission defense team noncommissioned officer in charge with the 137th Special Operations Communications Flight, won the online 2020 NetWars Cyber Shield competition Sept. 18-19, 2020.

West Virginia Guard aircrew helps fight California fires
October 1, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Four members of the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion, are flying aerial wildland firefighting missions to help combat massive northern California... MORE

Maj. Evan Dale, Chief Warrant Officer 3 James Kearns, Staff Sgt. Ed Dillon, and Spc. Jack DeAngelo of the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion, deployed to California in September 2020 to perform aerial woodland firefighting missions and will remain through at least Oct. 15, 2020.

Wyoming National Guard hosts Tunisian Air Force in SPP event
October 1, 2020 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming National Guard hosted an Aviation Familiarization (FAM) with the Tunisian Air Force Sept. 13-25 as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program (SPP). The... MORE

Members from the Tunisian Air Force and Wyoming National Guard in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter at the Army Aviation Support Facility on F. E. Warren Air Force Base, Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. 16, 2020. The Tunisians attended the Aviation Familiarization Event hosted by the Wyoming National Guard under the State Partnership Program. =

103rd Defenders named ANG Security Forces Unit of the Year
September 30, 2020 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – The 103rd Security Forces Squadron at Bradley Air National Guard Base received the award for 2019 Air National Guard Outstanding Security Forces Unit of the Year during a ceremony... MORE

Senior Airman Alexis Maher, left of lectern, receives the 103rd Airlift Wing First Sergeant Council’s 2019 Diamond Award. Airmen through the rank of Technical Sergeant are eligible for nomination, and candidates appear before a board for evaluation.

Connecticut National Guard helps distribute masks to schools
September 30, 2020 — WEST HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut National Guard is helping both the Connecticut State Department of Education and Division of Emergency Management and Homeland Security distribute masks to... MORE

Soldiers and Airmen from the Connecticut National Guard load boxes of face masks into a vehicle at West Hartford Public Works, West Hartford, Connecticut, Sept. 30, 2020. The Connecticut National Guard is helping distribute 600,000 masks to school districts throughout the state.

Kansas Guard officer candidates learn teamwork, communication
September 30, 2020 — SALINA, Kan. – Instead of spending a beautiful Sunday morning in the classroom, candidates of class 65 Officer Candidate School, 1st Battalion, 235th Regiment, sharpened their communication and... MORE

Officer Candidate School candidates link arm to arm for stability as they navigate a balance beam obstacle in Salina, Kansas, Sept. 13, 2020.

Flying in their father's footsteps
September 30, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ohio – Cody Notestine's phone rang. It was the call he had been waiting for: he had been selected to become a KC-135 pilot at the 121st Air Refueling Wing. Before he got off the phone, he... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Lt. Col. Scott Notestine, a pilot with the 166th Air Refueling Squadron, 121st Air Refueling Wing, and Staff Sgt. Cody Notestine and Staff Sgt. Nick Notestine, aircraft metals technology specialists with the 121st Maintenance Squadron, 121st ARW, in front of a KC-135 Stratotanker on the flight line at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base, Columbus, Ohio, Sep. 28, 2020. Lt. Col. Notestine retires Sep. 30 after 35 years of service, and his sons were recently selected to become pilots in the 121st ARW.

28th ECAB digging in for Mideast mission
September 30, 2020 — KUWAIT – Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade have arrived in the U.S. Central Command region and are settling into their respective roles. They are in the Middle East, within... MORE

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter, operated by Soldiers with Bravo Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, takes off from an airfield for a local area orientation flight in the 28th ECAB's area of operations after arriving in the Middle East. These flights ensure 28th ECAB aircrews are properly acclimated and can conduct missions safely during the deployment.

Task Force Spartan podcast communicates intel in new way
September 30, 2020 — KUWAIT – Soldiers from Task Force Spartan's intelligence section created a podcast to enhance skill sets and communicate important information to a broader audience.Soldiers deployed to Kuwait under... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Jonathon Molik, Task Force Spartan-42nd Infantry Division, Intelligence Analyst Control Element officer in charge, and Staff Sgt. William Simone, Task Force Spartan-42nd Infantry Division, Military Intelligence Fusion noncommissioned officer in charge, record their weekly podcast.

Idaho senior enlisted leader is a horseman and a Guardsman
September 30, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – Chief Master Sgt. Harold Bongiovi sees a lot of similarities between working with horses and working with the Soldiers and Airmen he oversees as the Idaho National Guard’s senior... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Harold Bongiovi sees a lot of similarities between working with horses and working with the Soldiers and Airmen he oversees as the Idaho National Guard’s senior enlisted leader.

Maine Guard Airmen Exercise Rapid-Response Communications Skills

Louisiana Guard Hosts International Interrogation Competition to Build Readiness

Air Reserve Component Test Center Marks Milestone With F-35 Test Force at Eglin AFB

Texas Guard Members Bolster Border Patrol Efforts along Rio Grande

Washington Army Guard Soldiers Participate in Norwegian Foot March