Guard News - The National Guard

NY Air Guard gears up to support Antarctic science research
October 6, 2021 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing is beginning its annual support for National Science Foundation research in Antarctica by sending three... MORE

Airmen prepare for the launch of an LC-130 "skibird" assigned to the New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing in Antarctica Feb. 8, 2021, during a mission to support National Science Foundation research. The 109th Airlift Wing flies the largest ski-equipped aircraft in the world and will once again support science missions in Antarctica beginning in December 2021.

177th Fighter Wing leaders qualify with new service pistol
October 6, 2021 — ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. – 177th Fighter Wing leaders fired the new SIG Sauer P320-M18 service pistol Sept. 24 at the Transportation Security Administration range at the FAA William... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Justin Kelley, 177th Operations Squadron C2 operations senior enlisted leader, fires a Sig Sauer P320-M18 handgun Sep. 24, 2021, at the FAA William J. Hughes Technical Center, Egg Harbor Township, N.J. Members of the 177th FW went to the range to qualify for the M18.

COVID response prompts 1st Idaho Guard dual-status commander
October 5, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – In September, after a second wave of COVID-19 cases spread across Idaho, Gov. Brad Little authorized the mobilization of up to 150 Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen. He also... MORE

Brig. Gen. Russ Johnson, Idaho National Guard director of joint staff, visits Idaho National Guard Soldiers and Airmen at medical facilities in Idaho, Oct. 1, 2021, after being appointed the state's first dual-status commander of its COVID-19 response.

New York Air Guard honors former President Chester Arthur
October 5, 2021 — MENANDS, N.Y. – The commander of the New York Air National Guard marked the 192nd birthday of President Chester Arthur Oct. 5 by placing a wreath from President Joseph Biden at his grave.Maj. Gen... MORE

Maj. Gen. Timothy LaBarge, the commander of the New York Air National Guard, and Command Chief Master Sgt. Jeffrey Trottier, the senior enlisted leader for the 109th Airlift Wing, salute after placing a wreath from President Joseph Biden at the grave pf President Chester Arthur, the 21st president of the United States, at Albany Rural Cemetery in Menands, New York Oct. 5, 2021.Each year, former presidents are honored on their birthday with the presentation of a wreath from the current president at their gravesite by military leaders.

Missouri Air Guard joins partners in earthquake exercise
October 5, 2021 — ST. LOUIS – To survive a natural disaster and then later be injured or killed in a building collapse is an avoidable situation. The Missouri Air National Guard and state and local partners... MORE

A Civil Air Patrol drone pilot captures aerial views of "damaged" buildings while other team members evaluate potential structural instability during an earthquake exercise involving the Missouri Air National Guard and state and local partners in St. Louis Oct. 2, 2021.

Wisconsin National Guard builds partnership with Nicaragua
October 5, 2021 — MADISON, Wis. – Wisconsin Army National Guard 2nd Lt. Michelle Tadych had a very important mission to conduct when she was assigned to Nicaragua for three months this summer through the National... MORE

A donated firetruck is offloaded for use by the Boberos de Esteli, a firefighting organization from the mountainous area of northern Nicaragua. The Wisconsin National Guard helps support Denton Flights, an aid program that uses U.S. military aircraft as space is available to transport relief supplies, as part of its State Partnership Program relationship with Nicaragua.

Operation Allies Welcome cultivates multicultural calling
October 5, 2021 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N. J. - It would be easy to overlook Air Force Staff Sgt. Sharon Queenie, inconspicuous in her OCP uniform, N-95 mask and orange safety vest, blending in with nearly... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Staff Sgts. Sharon Queenie, left, and Judy Phommathep, assigned to the 176th Air Defense Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, during a break as public safety team members at TF Liberty Village 3, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Sept. 19, 2021.

Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue distressed woman
October 5, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued a woman in medical distress at Sockeye Lake northeast of Talkeetna.Alaska Air National Guard Senior... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter, assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, takes off from Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 23, 2015. The 210th Rescue Squadron provides emergency rescue services for the citizens of Alaska in addition to training for wartime combat search and rescue missions.

Service members earn German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge
October 4, 2021 — HANSCOM AIR FORCE BASE, Mass. – Eight Airmen with the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing tested their military proficiency to try to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge... MORE

Staff Sgt. Sara Kolinski, 104th Fighter Wing public affairs specialist, swims during the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge event Sept. 9, 2021, at Hanscom Air Force Base, Massachusetts. Participants were tested over a three-day period on swimming, a ruck march, marksmanship, a fitness assessment, and more.

Indiana Guard hosts Jaded Thunder joint exercise
October 4, 2021 — HULMAN FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – Airmen assigned to the 181st Intelligence Wing went into overtime to host the Jaded Thunder joint exercise at Hulman Field Air National Guard Base Aug... MORE

U.S. Air Force pilots and maintainers assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron prepare F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft on the flightline at Terre Haute Regional Airport in preparation for exercise Jaded Thunder at Hulman Field Air National Guard Base, Ind., Aug. 15, 2021. Hulman Field, which is a dual-purpose, military and civilian airfield, is home to the Indiana National Guard’s 181st Intelligence Wing.

New York National Guard Airman helps deliver Afghan baby
October 4, 2021 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – The woman’s foot pressed into the top of the Airman’s collarbone where it connected at her right shoulder.In the Airman’s other hand was a cell phone hoisted... MORE

New York Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Scarlett Yates, assigned to the 106th Air Rescue Wing, sorts through donated books for Afghan children at the temporary medical isolation dormitory at Liberty Village, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Sept. 27, 2021.  Yates helped deliver an Afghan baby at the base Sept. 7.

Face of Defense: Leading the D.C. National Guard
October 4, 2021 — WASHINGTON – Flying fascinated Air Force Maj. Gen. Sherrie McCandless when she was a child, so it was no big surprise that in 1991 she joined the military after college to pursue her dream of being a... MORE

Air Force Maj. Gen. Sherrie McCandless, commanding general of the District of Columbia National Guard, waves to the crowd after throwing the ceremonial first pitch during National Guard Day at Nationals Park in Washington, Aug. 13, 2021. The Washington Nationals dedicate a special game each season to honor and celebrate each branch of the military.

163d Airmen train on readiness in Exercise Grizzly Lightning
October 4, 2021 — MORENO VALLEY, Calif. – Airmen with the 163d Attack Wing participated in a readiness training exercise at March Air Reserve Base Oct. 2-3. The two-day event, dubbed Grizzly Lightning 21-1, was phase... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Christopher Thompson, 163d Logistics Readiness Squadron material management specialist, grabs a helmet for a service member during a deployment training exercise at March Air Reserve Base, California, Oct. 2, 2021. The training exercise, dubbed Grizzly Lightning, is phase one of a three-phase process.

Task Force Phoenix halfway through Middle East mission
October 4, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – The Soldiers of Task Force Phoenix have endured intense heat with highs reaching above 120 degrees for nearly four months while conducting operations in five Middle Eastern... MORE

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache attack helicopter from Task Force Wolfpack, 1st Attack Battalion, 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, flies over northern Iraq. Wolfpack's highly lethal Apaches serve as air weapons teams on 24-hour alert. They also provide overwatch during ground operations, convoy escort and reconnaissance in support of base defense.

National Guard's interstate cooperation enhances air defense
October 1, 2021 — WHEELER ARMY AIRFIELD, Hawaii – In an operations center on the slopes of the Waianae mountain range, teams of Air National Guard Airmen monitor pods of brightly colored computer screens. From their... MORE

Hawaii and Oregon Air National Guard Airmen monitor pods of computer screens displaying the airspace above the Hawaiian islands during exercise Sentry Aloha 2021, Aug. 24, 2021. Hawaii Air National Guard air defense experts teamed with the Oregon Air National Guard’s 116th Air Control Squadron to control F-22 Raptors and F-15 Eagles participating in Sentry Aloha 2021.

National Guard neighbors help Louisiana rebuild after Ida
October 1, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – Every military service member understands sacrifice and selfless service are part of the big picture before taking an oath to defend the United States. After Hurricane Ida ripped through... MORE

Mississippi National Guard 2nd Lt. Austin Riels, assigned to the 113th Military Police Company, 112th Military Police Battalion, waves vehicles through a traffic control point after Hurricane Ida, Grand Isle, Louisiana, Sept. 17, 2021.

Sword fighting as 'strategy in blink of an eye'
September 30, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The metallic clash and clang of two swords striking each other echoed throughout the small room. Tension and anticipation filled the air as the opponents moved swiftly back and forth,... MORE

Lt. Col. Robert G. Childs, 234th Intelligence Squadron commander, poses for a competitor portrait Feb. 18, 2018, at Huntington Beach, California. Childs competes as a martial arts sword fighter throughout the world, and became a world champion in the open rapier and dagger category at Swordfish XIV, Gothenburg, Sweden.

New York Air Guard's Skibirds wrap up 2021 Greenland mission
September 30, 2021 — SCOTIA, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard's 109th Airlift Wing wrapped up its annual support to the National Science Foundation in Greenland as Airmen and LC-130 "Skibirds" returned to Stratton... MORE

An LC-130 Skibird assigned to the 109th Airlift Wing, New York Air National Guard, gets ready to take off from Raven Camp on the Greenland ice cap. Raven Camp is used to train members on landing on ice runways, polar airdrops and operating in the snow and ice.

Army Guard director awarded Croatian Duke of Trpimir medal
September 30, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The director of the Army National Guard was awarded the Duke of Trpimir medal by Croatian President Zoran Milanović during a ceremony Sept. 27 in Split, Croatia, honoring the 25-year... MORE

Croatian President Zoran Milanović, left, presents the Duke of Trpimir medal to Army Lt. Gen. Jon Jensen, the director of the Army National Guard, during a ceremony in Split, Croatia, Sept. 27, 2021, in honor of the 25-year partnership between the Minnesota National Guard and Croatia as part of the State Partnership Program. The Department of Defense's State Partnership Program pairs National Guard elements with partner nations worldwide and currently consists of 85 partnerships with 92 nations.

Washington Air Guard command chiefs serve Afghan guests
September 29, 2021 — JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. – Two command chiefs from the Washington Air National Guard volunteered to support Operation Allies Welcome by leading a temporary community at Joint Base... MORE

Washington Air National Guard Chief Master Sgt. Marvin Boyd, center, assigned to Washington Air National Guard Headquarters, Camp Murray, Wash., and the senior enlisted leader overseeing Liberty Village 3, helps unload donated items from New Jersey residents, Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, New Jersey, Sept. 20, 2021.  The Department of Defense, through U.S. Northern Command, and in support of the Department of Homeland Security, is providing transportation, temporary housing, medical screening, and general support for at least 50,000 Afghan evacuees at facilities across the nation.

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

lowa Airmen Take Training to New Heights

West Virginia Guard Continues Flood Cleanup Efforts