Guard News - The National Guard

Honors for fallen Soldier bring closure decades after war
September 8, 2020 — CORBIN, Ky. – We know it as The Forgotten War. In the shadow of World War I and ending before the controversial Vietnam conflict, the Korean War slipped undercover.Thirty-seven thousand Americans paid... MORE

Members from Kentucky Army National Guard Honor Guard fold the U.S. flag during the repatriation of Cpl. Billie Joe Hash at Worley Cemetery, Corbin, Ky., Aug. 29, 2020. Hash was missing in action for almost 70 years.

Joint promotion ceremony special for Washington Guard family
September 8, 2020 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Life is full of milestones: graduating from college, getting married, the birth of a child, a promotion at work. Having the chance to celebrate these milestones with your family... MORE

The Derda family following a joint promotion ceremony Sept. 2, 2020, at Camp Murray, Wash. Col. Kristin Derda and Lt. Col. Krystian Derda were able to celebrate their promotions on the same day.

North Macedonia, U.S. enhance readiness with exercise
September 8, 2020 — KRIVOLAK, North Macedonia – Approximately 120 military members from the United States and North Macedonia participated in the U.S.-led exercise Reinforced Dam Sept. 1-7 at Krivolak Training Area in... MORE

A soldier from the Army of North Macedonia participates in a combat casualty care training scenario Sept. 1, 2020, at Krivolak Training Area, North Macedonia. The training scenario was led by U.S. troops from the NATO-led Kosovo Force mission, who are organic to the Oregon Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 162nd Infantry Regiment. The two nations participated in a series of training scenarios as part of the multinational training exercise Reinforced Dam Sept. 1-7.

Noble Partner 20 multinational exercise begins
September 8, 2020 — VAZIANI TRAINING AREA, Georgia – Allied and partner nations from around the world gathered at Vaziani Training Area, Georgia, for the opening ceremony of Noble Partner 20 Sept. 7. Noble Partner 20 is... MORE

Georgian Defense Forces Col. Irodi Kadagishvili, deputy commander of East Command, and Georgia Army National Guard Col. Jason Fryman, U.S. exercise director of Noble Partner 20, participate in the opening ceremony at Vaziani Training Area, Georgia, Sept. 7, 2020. The Georgia National Guard and the country of Georgia have participated in the U.S. Army National Guard State Partnership Program for 26 years, ensuring interoperability, functionality, and regional stability.

Alaska Air National Guard rescues hunter near Bird Creek
September 8, 2020 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued a hunter with a lacerated leg Sept. 4 near Bird Creek southwest of Anchorage. Alaska Air National... MORE

A new UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter assigned to the New York Army National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 142nd Aviation Regiment, comes in to land at their flight facility in Ronkonkoma, N.Y., Aug. 18, 2020. The UH-60M is the most current version of the Black Hawk and offers more efficient rotor blades, glass cockpit, improved engines, flight controls and aircraft navigation.

Rescues and wildfires: National Guard responds on West Coast
September 4, 2020 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Rescue missions and support to civil authorities fighting wildfires were the focus of West Coast troop visits by the National Guard's highest-ranking general and his senior... MORE

Rescue missions and support to civil authorities fighting wildfires were the focus of troop visits to Alaska and California this week by Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, and his senior enlisted advisor.

Fresno Guard members help fight California wildfires
September 4, 2020 — RUMSEY, Calif. – The smell of smoke hangs heavy in the air as the Soldiers and Airmen make their way through the burnt and barren landscape. Forcing their way through charred branches and soft dirt,... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Daniel Rincon, a hand crew member with Fresno-based Joint Task Force Rattlesnake Alpha team, on the steep slope of Rumsey Canyon where he and other members of the California State and National Guard help try to contain the LNU Lightning Complex fire near Rumsey, Aug 30, 2020.

Flags for the forgotten
September 4, 2020 — EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J. – Volunteers from the 177th Fighter Wing, the Egg Harbor Township Police Department and the Flags for Forgotten Soldiers organization placed 660 American flags outside the... MORE

Volunteers placed 660 American flags under the New Jersey National Guard177th Fighter Wing's billboard Sept. 1, 2020, to represent the approximate number of veterans that commit suicide every month in the United States. September is Suicide Awareness Month.

NGB chief touts Soldiers and Airmen at virtual Guard event
September 4, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – In a year filled with unprecedented challenges, the National Guard’s mission is as relevant as ever, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told virtual attendees at the 142nd General... MORE

Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, tells virtual attendees at the 142nd General Conference of the National Guard Association of the United States, Aug. 29, 2020, how four Airmen from the District of Columbia Air National Guard’s 113th Wing saved a jogger's life while on duty during civil disturbances in June. The Airmen, in still image on right, are Chief Master Sgt. Mark Nicholas, Tech. Sgt. Emmanuel Morales, Staff Sgt. Jacen Vaughan and Maj. Telisha Johnson.

Michigan Guard conducts free COVID tests on Mackinac Island
September 4, 2020 — MACKINAC ISLAND, Mich. – Mackinac Island is untouched by cars and untouched by COVID-19, and would like to keep it that way.On Aug. 26, the Michigan National Guard was at Mackinac Island providing... MORE

A Michigan National Guard medic tests a Mackinac Island worker for COVID-19. The Guard and the county health department provided free walk-thru testing for all residents and seasonal workers on the island Aug. 26, 2020.

Louisiana Guard provides water to Hurricane Laura volunteers
September 4, 2020 — BATON ROUGE, La. – Louisiana National Guard members with the 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, are providing clean, potable water to volunteers in Lake Charles who... MORE

Louisiana National Guard members with A Company, 199th Brigade Support Battalion, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, are providing and maintaining clean, potable water Sept. 2, 2020, to volunteers in Lake Charles, Louisiana, who are helping clean up damage caused by Hurricane Laura.

Mattis swears in new Guard member in Marine2Guard program
September 4, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – "A leader must be willing to change, and make change," retired Marine Gen. Jim Mattis, former secretary of defense, once said. For Cpl. Eduardo Bello-Resendiz, that willingness... MORE

Cpl. Eduardo Bello-Resendiz is enlisted in the U.S. Army National Guard as retired Gen. Jim Mattis, former defense secretary, administers his oath of enlistment Aug. 18, 2020. He transitioned services through the National Guard’s Marine2Guard program, which helps Marines ending their active duty enlistments transition into the Army National Guard.

W.Va. Guardsman graduates Arabic course in Qatar
September 3, 2020 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – Capt. Allen Paul Jordan, bilateral affairs officer of the West Virginia National Guard’s State Partnership Program with Qatar, recently graduated a three-week basic Arabic course... MORE

Capt. Allen Paul Jordan, the West Virginia National Guard’s State Partnership Program – Qatar bilateral affairs officer, with Qatari Brig. Gen. Sultan Mohammed Sultan Al Shawani, multilingual school commander, following his completion of a three-week basic Arabic course offered at the Qatar Armed Forces Language Institute in Al Sheehaniya, Qatar.

Nebraska hosts 1st All Guard Endurance Team time trials
September 3, 2020 — HASTINGS, Neb. – Sixty-three of the National Guard's best athletes descended on the Nebraska National Guard's Greenlief Training Site near Hastings Aug. 29-30 to compete in the inaugural All Guard... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Wittig, Kansas Army National Guard, runs after tunneling through a wet culvert, Aug. 30, 2020, at the Greenlief Training Site, near Hastings, Nebraska, during the inaugural All Guard Endurance Team time trials.

High school student follows father into Idaho National Guard
September 3, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – Idaho Army National Guard Pvt. Ashlynn Amoruso grew up wanting to be a surgeon. Over the summer, she took a big step toward accomplishing that goal by completing basic combat training... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Pvt. Ashlynn Amoruso with her father, 1st Sgt. Dan Amoruso, at Boise Airport Aug. 20 upon returning from basic combat training.

Guard Soldiers succeed in ‘toughest places'
September 3, 2020 — WASHINGTON – During a late July visit to the National Training Center in California, the Army's chief of staff said he met a Soldier who embodied what the National Guard is all about. Assigned to the... MORE

Gen. James C. McConville, the Army's chief of staff, praises the National Guard during a speech to the U.S. National Guard Association's annual conference Aug. 28, 2020.

Vermont Guard distributes test kits, PPE before school starts
September 2, 2020 — COLCHESTER, Vt. - Vermont National Guard Airmen have assembled and distributed thousands of COVID-19 test kits and personal protective equipment to schools across the state before they reopen Sept... MORE

Airman 1st Class Brett Woods from the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, maneuvers a forklift at the Strategic National Stockpile Warehouse, Aug. 27, 2020. Airmen are helping distribute personal protective equipment and COVID-19 test kits to schools throughout the state.

Idaho Guard uses electric bike at Gowen Field
September 2, 2020 — BOISE, Idaho – The 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron is using an Elf Solo solar bicycle to make small deliveries to other organizations at Gowen Field.The bike, purchased with innovation funds,... MORE

Idaho National Guard Staff Sgt. Daniel Walters, chief dispatcher of ground transportation with the 124th Logistics Readiness Squadron, drives an Elf Solo electric bicycle, Aug. 13, 2020, Gowen Field, Boise, Idaho. The solar-powered bike was purchased to make small deliveries at Gowen Field.

At-risk young people get 2nd chance with Texas Guard's help
September 2, 2020 — EAGLE LAKE, Texas – Broken homes. Limited Opportunities. Marginal education. Drugs. Gangs. Violence. For some children, this is everyday life with no way to escape. Their reality is something many... MORE

Pfc. Luis Lopez of the Texas National Guard Joint Counterdrug Task Force instructs cadets on drill and ceremony at the Texas ChalleNGe Academy in Eagle Lake, Texas. Service members, staff and students took precautions and measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 while giving at-risk young people opportunities not afforded to them previously.

California National Guard prepares to go green
September 2, 2020 — SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Imagine a 238,000 square-foot building with some of the most advanced sustainable features available, including a two-megawatt solar panel array covering 700 parking spaces... MORE

Concept drawing of the new California Military Department's energy efficient Consolidated Headquarters Complex in Rancho Cordova, California, which is on track for completion in the summer of 2021.

Maryland National Guard conducts rescue hoist training with Maryland Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team

New York Air Guard Launches Greenland Support Mission

Wyoming Guard Airmen Make First Antarctic Cardiac Evacuation in 35 Years

Maryland Airmen Enhance Combat Readiness with Training Exercise

Michigan Guard Cyber Protection Team Completes First Cyber Certification Test