Guard News - The National Guard

EOC provides behind-the-scenes support during Oregon fires
September 23, 2020 — PORTLAND, Ore. – For nearly two weeks, Guardsmen from the Portland Air National Guard Base supported Operation Plan Smokey, an interagency wildfire relief effort. But the Airmen on the front lines are... MORE

Guardsmen from the 142nd Wing work in the Emergency Operation Center in support of Operation Plan Smokey at the Portland Air National Guard Base, Ore., Sept. 18, 2020. The EOC team communicates with the Oregon Joint Operation Center to provide emergency management for scenarios such as wildfires.

Army Guard command CWO reflects on 2 years in the position
September 23, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – For Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teresa Domeier, the command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard, horses are an integral part of what it meant to grow up in rural Nebraska. It... MORE

Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teresa A. Domeier, right, the command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard, receives a briefing on the capabilities of the UH-72 Lakota helicopter from Army Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jeff Caniglia, executive officer of the Nebraska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 376th Aviation Regiment, at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center's Hohenfels Training Area, Hohenfels, Germany. Domeier is the first woman to serve as the command chief warrant officer of the Army Guard.

Kansas, Armenian military leaders join in SPP exchange
September 23, 2020 — TOPEKA, Kan. – The command team from 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, participated in a virtual State Partnership Program exchange Sept. 8-10 with students attending the Senior... MORE

The command team from 2nd Combined Arms Battalion, 137th Infantry Regiment, including Lt. Col. Rodney Seaba, battalion commander, center left, and Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Purdham, battalion command sergeant major, center right, joined Sgt. 1st Class Gabriel Bailey, International Affairs Operations noncommissioned officer, left, and Maj. Marci Solander, Kansas National Guard State Partnership Program director, right, in a virtual SPP exchange Sept. 8-10 with students attending the Senior Leaders Course in the Republic of Armenia. The course was conducted at the Armenian Ministry of Defense’s National Defense Research University, the Armenian equivalent of the U.S. Army War College.

Georgia Guard Soldiers get ‘stick time’ removing foundation
September 23, 2020 — FORT BENNING, Ga. – Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers spent nearly 10 days here as part of a joint project, giving Soldiers “stick time” on the heavy equipment that is part of their trade while... MORE

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers spent nearly 10 days on Fort Benning as part of a joint project, giving Soldiers “stick time” on the heavy equipment that is part of their trade while reducing the installation’s footprint.

2020 National Guard Marathon Team Time Trials held in Omaha
September 23, 2020 — OMAHA, Neb. – National Guard athletes from 34 states and territories competed for spots on the elite All-Guard Marathon Team during the National Guard Marathon Time Trials at the Omaha Marathon Sept... MORE

National Guard and civilian runners stand ready at the starting line of the Omaha Marathon Sept. 20, 2020, in Omaha, Nebraska. National Guard runners from 34 states and territories competed for a spot on the All-Guard Marathon Team at the National Guard Marathon Time Trials at the Omaha Marathon. Traditionally in Lincoln, Nebraska, in May, the time trials were rescheduled to Omaha due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Michigan National Guard helps get food to those in need
September 22, 2020 — ROYAL OAK, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard is helping a charitable food distribution network complete its mission despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.Michigan Citizen-Soldiers and... MORE

Michigan National Guard Spc. Ralph Mitchell of the 1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, and nine other members of his regiment help process and distribute food at the Forgotten Harvest Food Bank of Royal Oak, Mich., Sept. 15, 2020. The Food Bank delivers surplus food to charities in metro Detroit.

NY Guardsman prepares for Brazilian jungle warfare course
September 22, 2020 — SCOTIA, New York – A member of the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing is heading for the Brazilian Army's jungle training center along the Amazon River this week. Senior Airman Caleb... MORE

Senior Airman Caleb Lapinel of the 109th Airlift Wing will represent the New York National Guard and the United States at the Brazilian Army Center for Jungle Warfare instruction course in Manaus, Brazil, beginning Sept. 26, 2020.

Combat arms instructor keeps 176th Wing sharp
September 22, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Carrying a bullhorn and wearing a neon-red hat emblazoned with “Combat Arms,” Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Brian Sears looked like he might have been... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Brian Sears, a combat arms training and maintenance instructor with 176th Security Forces Squadron, coaches Airmen of 176th SFS in M4 carbine marksmanship skills Aug. 27, 2020, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson. CATM instructors are specially trained Security Forces Defenders who train others to ably employ small arms.

Nebraska Guard assumes firefighter training stalled by virus
September 22, 2020 — LINCOLN, Neb. – The COVID-19 pandemic has curtailed or closed formal firefighting schools, making it difficult for the Nebraska Air Guard Base Fire Department to fill openings as members deployed,... MORE

Brent Bergstrom, Offutt Air Force Base Fire Department firefighter, trains new firefighters on Aircraft Rescue Firefighter (ARFF) operations, Aug. 26, 2020, at Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, Neb. Since firefighter schools closed due to COVID-19 concerns, the Nebraska Air National Guard decided to conduct the training on its own.

Western Air Defense Sector helps shape ABMS
September 21, 2020 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – A small Washington Air National Guard unit has become a key player for Air Force acquisitions in the evolution of the Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS)... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, adjutant general, Washington National Guard, second from left, and U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Gent Welsh, commander, Washington Air National Guard, second from right, observe software demonstrations during an Advanced Battle Management System (ABMS) onramp event at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Sept. 2-3, 2020.

Future New York Guard leaders learn lessons at Ticonderoga
September 21, 2020 — TICONDEROGA, NY – New York Army National Guard Soldiers selected as company commanders and first sergeants visited one of America’s most historic sites Sept. 16 to learn lessons from the past to apply... MORE

Re-enactors wearing 18th century uniforms demonstrate the firing of a cannon at Fort Ticonderoga in New York Sept. 16, 2020, for members of the New York Army National Guard. The visit was part of the Company Commander and First Sergeant Pre-Command Course of instruction Sept. 14-18. Three dozen Soldiers toured the historic battlefield of the American Revolution and French and Indian War to discover leadership lessons to prepare for their upcoming command tours.

Wisconsin Guard to surpass half-million COVID-19 tests
September 21, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin National Guard specimen collection teams will hit a milestone this week, topping 500,000 cumulative total COVID-19 tests gathered across the state.Mobile specimen collection... MORE

Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen from the Wisconsin National Guard collect specimens for COVID-19 testing Sept. 1, 2020, at the Waukesha County Expo Center in Waukesha, Wis. The Wisconsin National Guard has multiple COVID-19 specimen collection teams operating throughout the state.

Sexual assault prevention training continues virtually amid COVID-19
September 21, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard Bureau’s Sexual Assault and Prevention Response office is holding its annual training for sexual assault response and victim advocate coordinators Sept. 21-23... MORE

The National Guard Bureau’s Sexual Assault and Prevention Response office will hold its annual training for sexual assault response and victim advocate coordinators in a virtual environment Sept. 21-23, 2020.

Arizona, Mississippi Soldiers are Best Warriors
September 21, 2020 — HATTIESBURG, Miss. – Soldiers from the Mississippi and Arizona National Guard won this year's premier Army National Guard Competition, known as the National Best Warrior Competition. Staff Sgt... MORE

Army Staff Sgt. Mitchell Scofield, front right, a cavalry scout with the Mississippi Army National Guard’s Regional Training Institute, and Cpl. Daniel D’lppolito, an infantryman with the Arizona Army National Guard’s Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment, front left, hoist their pistols during the closing ceremony of the Army National Guard’s 2020 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Shelby, Mississippi, Sept. 16. Scofield and D’lppolito earned the titles of Army National Guard Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively. Command Sgt. Maj. John F. Sampa, middle, the command sergeant major of the Army National Guard, joins Scofield and D’lppolito in celebrating their new titles. The two Soldiers will go on to compete in the 2020 all-Army Best Warrior Competition, to be held virtually later in the year.

US, Malaysia conduct virtual Airman-to-Airman talks
September 18, 2020 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – Pacific Air Forces and Washington Air National Guard Airmen met with their Royal Malaysian air force counterparts in virtual Airman-to-Airman talks (A2AT)... MORE

Royal Malaysian air force Maj. Gen. Mohd Shahada bin Ismail, assistant chief of staff for operation and strategy department at RMAF Headquarters, Kuala Lumpur, delivers closing remarks during a virtual Airman-to-Airman talks engagement Sept. 14, 2020. The Malaysian military is a partner with the Washington National Guard under the Guard's State Partnership Program.

Idaho National Guard Soldier spent 309 days as a POW
September 18, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – Ray Servatius has a lot to think about at night. Mostly he thinks about that day in Korea when his plane was shot down. The pilot was likely dead before the plane hit the ground... MORE

Sgt. Ray Servatius, far right, spent 309 days as a prisoner of war in 1953 during the Korean conflict. The Idaho National Guard Soldier was captured after his plane was shot down.

Wyoming Air Guard 153rd AW activated again for firefighting
September 17, 2020 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Air National Guard's 153rd Airlift Wing has once again been activated by extension to support fire suppression efforts in California.One C-130 Modular Airborne... MORE

The 153rd Airlift Wing tested the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) at the Wyoming Air National Guard, Cheyenne, Wyo., Sept. 15, 2020. The unit was activated to assist fighting wildfires on the West Coast of the U.S.

159th Fighter Wing provides critical Hurricane Laura support
September 17, 2020 — KINDER, La. – The Louisiana Air National Guard provided critical supplies to residents affected by the devastation caused by Hurricane Laura in central and west Louisiana. Airmen from the 159th... MORE

Airmen from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, load supplies in vehicles of residents affected by Hurricane Laura in Kinder, La., Aug 29, 2020.

Geospatial engineer fills key role in Kosovo deployment
September 17, 2020 — PRISTINHA/PRISTINA, Kosovo – At only 5 years old, Spc. Caleb Kaufmann rode beside his father in his semitruck traveling the westernmost states reading complex maps and topography books. He never... MORE

Spc. Caleb Kaufmann, a geospatial engineer Soldier with the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oregon National Guard, deployed to the KFOR Regional Command East mission sits on a stack of maps in the map depot Sept. 1, 2020, at Camp Film City, Pristina/Prishtina Kosovo. Kaufmann was the sole continuity between the outgoing Czech Republic NATO partners and incoming Austrian NATO partners in a warehouse with over 100,000 maps.

28th ECAB hurdles challenges, completes training
September 17, 2020 — FORT HOOD, Texas – Despite COVID-19 challenges, Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade completed training at Fort Hood to prepare for Operation Spartan Shield and Operation... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brad Whitt, crew chief with Bravo Company, 2-104th General Support Aviation Battalion, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, sits on a ramp and looks at the sunset out the back of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter as it flies over the 28th ECAB's mobilization station at Fort Hood, Texas.

Puerto Rico Air Guard Conducts Deployment for Training at Aviano

Alaska Air Guard 168th Medical Group Trains for High-Stakes Missions

Civic Leaders Fly With Alaska Air Guard During Red Flag Alaska 25-2

Washington Army Guard Trains in Water Bucket Operations

Alaska Army Guard Rescues Family Stranded on River During Storm