Guard News - The National Guard

NC Guard members maintain schoolwork during COVID-19 mission
May 8, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – College students across the country found themselves in situations they never expected during the Spring semester – classes moved online, campuses closed and graduation ceremonies... MORE

North Carolina Army National Guard Cpl. Chase Boozer, a fire direction specialist with 5th Battalion, 113th Field Artillery Regiment, adjusts the tassel on his graduation cap at the Orange County Emergency Operations Center in Hillsborough, North Carolina, May 5, 2020. Boozer was set to participate in his graduation ceremony with North Carolina State University on May 9 but it was canceled due to COVID-19.

Ohio National Guard medical team helps staff at state prison
May 8, 2020 — ORIENT, Ohio – Nearly 30 Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen, part of Joint Task Force Red Med, are supporting the medical staff at Pickaway Correctional Institution during the COVID-19 pandemic.A... MORE

Members of Joint Task Force Red Med at Pickaway Correctional Institution in Orient, Ohio, May 4, 2020. A team of nearly 30 Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen has been on duty since April 13 at PCI, supporting the onsite medical staff during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Kentucky National Guard nurses join the fight
May 8, 2020 — FRANKFORT, Ky. – Nurses across the country have responded to the COVID-19 outbreak, including the Kentucky National Guard’s efforts in the commonwealth. During National Nurses Week, the Guard... MORE

During National Nurses Week, which is every year from May 6-12, the Kentucky National Guard recognizes the nurses of the 1163rd Medical Company. They have been deployed to support COVID-19 efforts at an alternate care facility in Louisville.

Ohio National Guard assists with mass food distribution
May 8, 2020 — FAIRBORN, Ohio – Hundreds of cars snaked through the parking lot outside Wright State University’s Nutter Center, spilling onto the main road for as far as the eye could see. People shouted, “Thank... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Rose Minton, a vehicle operator assigned to the Ohio National Guard's 237th Brigade Support Battalion, unpacks pallets of food April 21, 2020, at Wright State University's Nutter Center in Fairborn, Ohio. More than 400 members of the Ohio National Guard were activated March 18, 2020 to support food distribution efforts at 12 locations across Ohio serving more than 11 million Ohioans in all 88 counties.

Wisconsin aviator’s training innovation gaining attention
May 8, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Army National Guard 1st Lt. Nick Sinopoli, a pilot with the 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment in Madison, has created a training device he believes could help helicopter... MORE

1st Lt. Nick Sinopoli, a pilot with the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 147th Aviation Regiment, wearing a visor he created that can shift from clear to obscured to help pilots learn to transition from visual to instrumental flying when visibility outside the aircraft is suddenly limited.

NC Guard helps distribute more than 30,000 pounds of food
May 8, 2020 — RALEIGH, N.C. – North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 449th Theater Aviation Brigade helped Action Pathways’ Second Harvest Food Bank transport and hand out food at the Crown... MORE

North Carolina Army National Guard Sgt. Melissa Jordan, assigned to 1-130 Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 449th Theater Aviation Brigade, loads a box of food into a vehicle while helping Action Pathways’ Second Harvest Food Bank distribute food in Fayetteville May 7, 2020. More than 900 NCNG Soldiers and Airmen have been activated in response to COVID-19 relief efforts to help support their local communities.

28th ECAB Soldier a nurse for COVID-19 patients
May 8, 2020 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Spc. Kylee Pavlick, a combat medic with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard, is also a nurse on the front lines fighting against... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Kylee Pavlick, combat medic with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, Pennsylvania National Guard, stands in formation. Pavlick works full-time as a nurse at Geisinger Holy Spirit, a hospital near Harrisburg, and is caring for COVID-19 patients.

Air Guard Religious Support Team aids Javits Center mission
May 8, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – From taking part in online video sermons to providing socially distanced religious and spiritual support, creativity and flexibility were key for the New York Air National Guard’s... MORE

Air Force Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Jake Marvel, with the New York Air National Guard, gives Holy Communion to a U.S. Army Soldier at New York City’s Jacob K. Javits Convention Center on Easter Sunday. Marvel was mobilized to the alternate care facility in April as part of a Religious Support Team in response to COVID-19.

Washington National Guard welcomes first RTLI graduate
May 7, 2020 — KENT, Wash. – The first Washington National Guard graduate from the Ranger Team Leader Initiative has been making an impact in 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment.Ranger school is the U.S. Army’s... MORE

Private 1st Class Benjamin Gauthier, Bear Company, 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, in front of the Kent Armory after returning from Ranger School, Kent, Washington.

Arkansas Guard stays in touch with Guatemalan partners
May 7, 2020 — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – COVID-19 has affected the way organizations around the globe operate. The Arkansas National Guard is no different, having to cancel a planned March trip to visit Guatemalan... MORE

The Arkansas National Guard held a videoconference with key military leaders from Guatemala on COVID-19 best practices and other issues May 6, 2020, as part of the State Partnership Program. The meeting was scheduled in March in Guatemala but was changed to a videoconference due to the coronavirus.

115th Fighter Wing team assists with mortuary operations
May 7, 2020 — MADISON, Wis. – Members of the Wisconsin Air National Guard’s 115th Fighter Wing Fatality Search and Recovery Team (FSRT) mobilized last month to assist the state’s medical examiners with mortuary... MORE

Master Sgt. Steven Ulrich instructs Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen on mortuary affairs support in Whitewater, Wisconsin, April 8, 2020. Approximately 20 members of the Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers were trained to assist civilian mortuaries in response to COVID-19.

Indiana Guard Soldiers trade parachutes for sewing machines
May 7, 2020 — COLUMBUS, Ind. – Indiana National Guard parachute riggers with the 338th Quartermaster Company executed a unique mission making protective face masks for fellow members of the Guard.Members of the... MORE

Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 338th Quartermaster Company make face masks in Columbus, Indiana, May 1, 2020. This unique mission is part of the Indiana National Guard’s ongoing COVID-19 response.

New Mexico National Guard delivers water by the truckload
May 7, 2020 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard Joint Task Force are supplying food and water to New Mexico communities during the COVID-19 response mission.Around the state... MORE

A member of the New Mexico National Guard checks the purity of a truckload of water. Airmen and Soldiers of the New Mexico National Guard Joint Task Force are supplying food and water to New Mexico communities during the COVID-19 response mission.

Nurses Week Spotlight: Capt. Eve Tanas, 30th ABCT, NC Guard
May 7, 2020 — UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – National Nurses Week began May 6 and ends May 12 – Florence Nightingale’s birthday. To recognize the work of nurses, the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team spotlights U.S. Army... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Eve Tanas, an Army nurse supporting Operation Spartan Shield in the Central Command area of responsibility, April 28, 2020. Tanas, assigned to the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, is recognized as a Soldier spotlight during National Nurses Week May 6-12, 2020.

Chinook helicopter unit set to deploy to Middle East
May 7, 2020 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – While more than 900 Washington National Guard members are supporting the COVID-19 response, one unit is training for a different kind of fight. Deploying isn’t new... MORE

After a rainy morning a rainbow appears over the CH-47 Chinook helicopters during Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation deployment ceremony at the Washington Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington, May 6, 2020. Bravo Company is set to deploy to the Middle East for the third time in 10 years.

Michigan Soldier invents Black Hawk door-gunnery simulator
May 7, 2020 — AUGUSTA, Mich. – Even as COVID-19 creates additional challenges for training and readiness, a Black Hawk door gunner from the Michigan National Guard figured out an innovative way to meet mission... MORE

Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers from the 3rd Battalion, 238th General Support Aviation Regiment, conduct M240 machine gun familiarization fire, using a Black Hawk crew chief door-gunnery simulator, Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, Michigan, May 1, 2020.

Nursing and the National Guard run in this family
May 7, 2020 — LAURENS, Iowa – John Fansega, Mikenzy Fansega and Noah Anderson, a father and two siblings from Laurens, have the unique opportunity to serve their community as a family. All three are in the Iowa... MORE

Capt. John Fansega, his daughter, Spc. Mikenzy Fansega, and his son, Spc. Noah Anderson, serve together in the Iowa National Guard. John is a civilian nurse and Mikenzy and Noah are in nursing school.

Hokanson nominated as next National Guard Bureau chief
May 6, 2020 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Army Lt. Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson was nominated to serve as the next chief of the National Guard Bureau by President Donald J. Trump May 4. If confirmed by the Senate, Hokanson would... MORE

Lt. Gen. Daniel Hokanson, nominated May 4, 2020, to be the next chief of the National Guard Bureau, accompanies Gen. James C. McConville, vice chief of staff of the Army, to Fort Pickett, Virginia, July 19, 2019, to see Soldiers of the Virginia National Guard’s 116th IBCT training in preparation for their Joint Readiness Training Center rotation.

Iowa National Guard transports COVID-19 tests by air
May 6, 2020 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Iowa Army National Guard pilots helped transport COVID-19 tests from a Test Iowa site in Sioux City to the State Hygienic Lab in Coralville May 4.The pilots, Chief Warrant Officer 4... MORE

An Iowa Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter departs the Iowa National Guard Readiness Center in Iowa City, Iowa, after transferring COVID-19 test kits May 4, 2020. The helicopter transported the test kits from a Test Iowa site in Sioux City to the State Hygienic Laboratory in Coralville, Iowa.

Wisconsin National Guard helps expand COVID-19 testing
May 6, 2020 — ALMA, Wis. – Approximately 30 Citizen-Soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard helped the Wisconsin Department of Health Services at a drive-through COVID-19 testing site May 1, working with local... MORE

Three Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers and Airmen and one local medical professional help facilitate mobile testing in Buffalo County, Wisconsin, May 1, 2020.

Alaska Guard Works to Contain Fires

Air Guard Engineers Build Roads, Skills in Assateague Island Project

Maine Army Guard Engineers Build Communities, Readiness

Iowa Army Guard Soldiers Train at Tigerland

Idaho Guard Engineers Aid Redwood Park Restoration