Guard News - The National Guard

Guard builds relations, capacity with nations around globe
January 31, 2020 — WASHINGTON – Military-to-military contacts are crucial to maintaining peace and stability throughout the world as part of the National Defense Strategy, and a gathering in Washington put that notion... MORE

Bangladeshi officials and Oregon National Guard members gather at the home of Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, center, with his wife, Kelly, to strengthen military-to-military ties forged under the Guard’s State Partnership Program Jan. 28, 2020.

NY Army Guard unit recognized for 2012 Afghanistan mission
January 31, 2020 — LATHAM, N.Y. – Seven years after returning from Afghanistan, New York Army National Guard Soldiers of Headquarters Company and Bravo Company of the 427th Brigade Support Battalion have been recognized... MORE

New York Army National Guard Pfc. Stephanie Luis of Bravo Company, 427th Brigade Support Battalion, at the German marksmanship range Nov. 17, 2012, in Mazar-e-Sharif, Afghanistan. Soldiers of the battalion who deployed to Afghanistan to help ship home U.S. military equipment were recently recognized for their service in Afghanistan with the Meritorious Unit Commendation.

AZ Airman earns black belts, articulates discipline concepts
January 31, 2020 — GOLDWATER AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ariz. – For Senior Master Sgt. Scott Newberger, a dedication to mastering martial arts put him on a path for success, where discipline became a principle that... MORE

Senior Master Sgt. Scott Newberger, 161st Air Refueling Wing human resource adviser and committee member on the Diversity and Inclusion Council, practices martial arts techniques with his daughter, Jeanette, in Gilbert Ariz., December 2019.

McEntire JNGB supports Seymour Johnson AFB exercise
January 31, 2020 — MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, South Carolina – F-15E Strike Eagle fighter jets from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, North Carolina, and C-130J Hercules military transport aircraft from Little... MORE

McEntire Joint National Guard Base, home of the South Carolina Air National Guard’s 169th Fighter Wing, co-hosts nighttime arming and refueling training during Exercise Agile Lion Jan. 14, 2020.

Cold climate creates joint exercise training opportunities
January 30, 2020 — GRAYLING, Mich. – Camp Grayling, northern Michigan’s joint military training complex, offered a cold-weather joint training exercise called Northern Strike 20-2/“Winter Strike” in January. Soldiers... MORE

Soldiers from C Battery, 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment, Wisconsin Army National Guard, fire M777A2 155 mm howitzers to provide integrated fire support during Northern Strike 20-2/Winter Strike, a cold weather joint training exercise, Camp Grayling, Mich., Jan. 24, 2020.

Communications key for post-disaster command and control
January 30, 2020 — LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. – Disasters occur throughout the world, often with little or no warning. In Arkansas, the 189th Airlift Wing’s Rapid Augmentation Team and Mobile Emergency Operations... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Keith Schalk, Arkansas Air National Guard, raises the top of the antenna that utilizes satellite systems to increase communications during responses to natural disasters in the state.

Master fitness trainers learn teaching techniques
January 30, 2020 — SAN LUIS OBISPO, Calif. – The early morning dew was still fresh, the air crisp and the sun slowly rising as 32 Soldiers rushed to climb, jump, run and scramble over barriers high and low. The Soldiers... MORE

Cal Guard Master Fitness Trainer (MFT) students from around California conduct Physical Readiness Training (PRT) as part of the two-week MFT course, Camp San Luis Obispo, December 2019. The PRT's three-part guerrilla drill includes the lunge walk, shoulder roll and Soldier carry.

University experience strengthens Mideast military ties
January 30, 2020 — AMMAN, Jordan – U.S. Army Col. Kirk White is a gregarious man.He is also the officer in charge of Task Force Spartan - Jordan, a forward command post of Task Force Spartan in Southwest Asia, where he... MORE

Col. Kirk White, officer in charge of Task Force Spartan-Jordan, draws on his extensive experience building partnerships at Indiana University to strengthen military ties with Jordan.

Michigan-Latvia partnership supports Emerald Warrior exercise
January 30, 2020 — ALPENA, Mich. – Two men stand at the main desk inside Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center’s base operations facility. Together, they review the flying schedule, weather forecast and airfield... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Jerome Torres, airfield manager of Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Alpena, Mich., reviews airfield status with Latvian Lt. Liba Mikova, from Lielvārde Air Base, Latvia, as part of the Emerald Warrior 20 exercise at the CRTC Jan. 23, 2020. The two nations have been linked since 1993 under the State Partnership Program.

Airmen urged to be catalysts for innovation
January 29, 2020 — FORT WORTH, Texas – Technology is shaping the modern civilian world. But as innovation evolves, so does the mission of Air Force warfighters.The Air Force has taken steps to encourage Airmen,... MORE

Capt. Jennifer Marrs, 136th Airlift Wing force support services officer, guides public affairs members through AFWERX while explaining how it encourages Airmen and start-up companies to innovate and solve problems Sept. 5, 2019, in Austin, Texas.

SC National Guard enhances cyber initiatives with new facility
January 29, 2020 — COLUMBIA, S.C. – Development of a new South Carolina National Guard facility to enhance cybersecurity initiatives for the state will begin in the fall in Aiken, with construction to start in... MORE

The 228th Theater Tactical Signal Brigade conducted a change of command ceremony for the 125th Cyber Protection Battalion at McEntire Joint National Guard Base in Eastover, South Carolina, June 1, 2019, to recognize the outgoing commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Linda Riedel, and welcome the incoming commander, U.S. Army Lt. Col. William Medlin.

Minnesota Guard Soldier honors family’s military history
January 28, 2020 — CHAMPLIN, Minn. – Sgt. Maj. Katie Blackwell’s brother, uncles, grandfather and great grandfather served in the military. Her family’s military legacy goes back to the American Revolution.On Jan. 12,... MORE

Minnesota National Guard Soldier Katie Blackwell honored her family's legacy of military service dating back to the American Revolution by having her grandfather, Ford Elliott, help to promote her to the rank of sergeant major on his 90th birthday at a January 2020 ceremony in Champlin, Minn.

International military friendship extends to 2nd generation
January 28, 2020 — GEILENKIRCHEN, Germany – They say history has a way of repeating itself, and for the Smith and Radke families, that is certainly true.In 1984, U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Lee Smith, a navigator with the... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Troy Smith poses with German Air Force Capt. Wolf-Soren Radke Nov. 19, 2019, at NATO Air Base Geilenkirchen. Smith and Radke are continuing a friendship their fathers, who were also military members, started years ago.

F-16 maintenance discovery changes Air Force training standard
January 28, 2020 — AURORA, Colo. – The Colorado Air National Guard's 140th Wing Aircraft Structural Maintenance and Non-Destructive Inspection section made a significant finding on the F-16C Fighting Falcon aircraft... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Rosa Valdes and Staff Sgt. Rebecca Toland, non-destructive inspection technicians from the 140th Maintenance Squadron, perform an inspection of the 446 bulkhead on a block-30 F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft. The 446 bulkhead is aft fuselage structure of the F-16 aircraft that supports the tail structure and recent tests have indicated an increased amount of stress cracks in this area.

10th CST showcases disaster recovery communications equipment
January 27, 2020 — OLYMPIA, Wash. – The ability to communicate is critical during and after a disaster. Emergency responders have to know the needs of a community to provide efficient, effective help. "In the wake of a... MORE

Tech Sgt. Ian Crocker, information systems analyst with the 10th Civil Support Team, Washington National Guard, briefs visitors on the capabilities of the CST's communications truck during the AT&T FirstNet Disaster Recovery Showcase at the State Capitol in Olympia, Wash., Jan. 22, 2020. The display showcased network and communications equipment that would be utilized during and after a disaster.

103rd SFS builds resilience through jujitsu
January 27, 2020 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – A red mat hits the floor, and a large area that typically serves as Bradley Air National Guard Base’s emergency management classroom becomes a makeshift gym for Airmen of the... MORE

Master Sgt. Ian McMahon, top, 103rd Security Forces Squadron flight chief and combatives instructor, grapples with Tech. Sgt. Brian Davies, 103rd Security Forces Squadron, during an informal jujitsu session at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Conn. Jan. 23, 2020.

30th ABCT Soldiers attend Basic Leader Course in Middle East
January 27, 2020 — KUWAIT – The first line of the Army noncommissioned officer's creed states: "No one is more professional than I. I am a noncommissioned officer, a leader of Soldiers." To attain the rank of a... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Emilee Austin, 1-150th Cavalry Regiment, West Virginia National Guard, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, leads Basic Leader Course 20-703 in the reciting of the noncommissioned officer's creed at their graduation ceremony in the Middle East, Jan. 24, 2020. Austin was the honor graduate from her class of over 200 students.

158th Fighter Wing trains in Florida
January 27, 2020 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – Women and men of the 158th Fighter Wing of the Vermont Air National Guard are training at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, until late March for the Southern Lightning event. More... MORE

A crew chief assigned to the 158th Maintenance Group prepares an F-35 for departure to Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, from the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vt., Jan. 23, 2020, for Southern Lightning training. More than 100 Airmen will fly and maintain F-35 operations at Eglin.

Puerto Rico Airmen process relief support from Ohio, NM ANG
January 27, 2020 — CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – Puerto Rico Air National Guard's 156th Mission Support Group Airmen are providing the gateway to support efforts for units that traveled to Puerto Rico after a magnitude 6.4... MORE

U.S. Airmen with the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Mission Support Group work with Ohio and New Mexico Air National Guard Airmen at Muñiz Air National Guard Base Jan. 17, 18 and 22, 2020, to maximize the effectiveness of their assistance to people displaced by the Jan. 7 earthquake and aftershocks in the southwest region of the island.

Traffic Management Office keeps Air Force moving
January 24, 2020 — SWANTON, Ohio – It won’t go without TMO, a motto the Airmen at the 180th Fighter Wing Traffic Management Office, Ohio National Guard, prove to be true every day.“Everything that comes to this unit... MORE

Airmen assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing Traffic Management Office (TMO) fill a box with packing peanuts Jan. 12, 2020. The TMO processes and manages moving cargo, shipments and Airmen around the world and receives supplies for the base, ensuring the Air Force can fulfill its mission.

Air Guard Director, Command Chief Visit Enduring Partners 2023

Mississippi Air Guard Demonstrates Multicapable Airman Concept

Virginia Guardsmen Compete in Finnish Sniper Championship

Maine National Guard Rescues Injured Hiker

Maryland Guard, Estonian Partners Focus on Cyber Defense