Guard News - The National Guard

ANG units train in advanced vehicle maintenance and repair
July 29, 2021 — FARGO, N.D. –Thirteen students from six Air National Guard units in five states attended an advanced truck air brake system course hosted by the 119th Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron and taught... MORE

Air brake systems instructor Jim Bainer, red shirt, directs Airman 1st Class Mason Heimkes, of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, as he provides instruction for Air National Guard students in the ‘lab’ training at Minnesota State Community College (M State), Moorhead, Minn., July 22, 2021.

Georgia Guard partnership brings swift-water rescue to country of Georgia
July 29, 2021 — BORJOMI, GEORGIA – The Marietta, Ga. Fire Department traveled to the country of Georgia, located in the Black Sea Region, to partner and train Georgian Emergency Management Services in Swift-Water... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Daniel Sekula, a Georgia Army National Guardsman serving as a bilateral affairs officer with the United States Embassy in Tbilisi, Georgia, observes trainees during the Swift Water Rescue Training in Borjomi, Georgia, July 28, 2021.

Minnesota Guard modernizes training communications
July 29, 2021 — LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Airmen from all over the country were at Camp Ripley earlier this summer conducting site surveys of the down-range training areas. This year-long project aims to install an... MORE

Airmen from five different Engineering Installation Squadrons, including the 205th EIS from Oklahoma, 272nd EIS from Houston, 130th from Utah, and the 223rd EIS from New York, work together to install fiber optics cables across Minnesota's Camp Ripley Training Center's training areas on July 15, 2021.

EAATS receives new Black Hawk variant
July 28, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard's Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site (EAATS) received the first fielding of UH-60V Black Hawks from the Utility Helicopter... MORE

A UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter is secured after being flown to Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., on July 27, 2021.

Alaska Army Guard sharpens skills at annual training
July 28, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Approximately 280 Alaska Army National Guardsmen from 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, conducted their two-week annual training July 10-25 at Donnelly... MORE

Indirect fire infantrymen with the Alaska Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment conducted live-fire training on various weapon systems at Donnelly Training Center, near Fort Greely, Alaska, July 19, during their annual training event.

Challenge accepted: from Youth ChalleNGe to Soldier
July 28, 2021 — PIERCE, Idaho – The Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy’s newest class of candidates is currently going through a two-week acclimation phase. During this phase, candidates are challenged to adapt to the... MORE

Idaho Army National Guard Pfc. Riley Ward directs candidates at the Idaho Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Pierce, Idaho, July 21, 2021.

Aviation exchange marks return of in-person SPP engagement
July 27, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard welcomed six members of the Royal Thai Army Aviation Division back to Washington State to conduct a week-long aviation subject matter exchange at... MORE

Members of the 9th Aviation Battalion from the Royal Thai Army Aviation Center traveled to Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., on July 20, 2021.

Army Guard finds its best warriors in the Grand Canyon State
July 27, 2021 — By late morning of the second day of the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, Spc. Addison Smith, assigned to the Texas Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 112th Cavalry Regiment,... MORE

Army Staff Sgt Stephen Southerlin II, an infantryman with the Texas Army National Guard’s C Troop, 1st Battalion, 124th Regiment, fires an M4 Carbine rifle during the rifle challenge portion of the 2021 Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Navajo, Arizona, July 20, 2021.
The competition spans three physically and mentally demanding days where competitors are tested on a variety of tactical and technical skills as they vie to be named the Army Guard’s Soldier and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The winners then represent the Army Guard in the Department of the Army Best Warrior Competition later this year.

South Dakota National Guard trains in Minnesota
July 26, 2021 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – The 1-147 Field Artillery Battalion from South Dakota conducted a two-week annual training at Camp Ripley Training Center.The goal of the unit, which uses the M270A1 Multiple... MORE

HIMARS crew members in the 1-147th Field Artillery Battalion, South Dakota National Guard, conduct annual training, waiting for orders inside their M270A1 MLRS at Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota July 15, 2021. The main mission of the 1-147th FA is to deliver precision fire on enemies.

Air National Guard director hosts senior leader conference
July 26, 2021 — ST. LOUIS – Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, Air National Guard director, hosted senior leaders and commanders from around the country for the ANG Senior Leader Conference July 19-22.The annual event brings... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Mark Schneider II, right, of the 179th Airlift Wing, Ohio National Guard, salutes Lt. Gen. Michael A. Loh, director, Air National Guard, upon receiving a coin at the Air National Guard Senior Leader Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, July 20, 2021. Schneider, the ANG’s outstanding senior noncommissioned officer of the year, was recognized for superior leadership, job performance and achievements.

National Guard units across the nation complete Cyber Shield
July 26, 2021 — CAMP WILLIAMS, Utah - The National Guard completed its annual cyber defense training exercise July 23, with more than 750 top cyber defense professionals from Soldiers and Airmen to industry partners... MORE

Washington National Guard cyber experts and civilian partners who participated in the Cyber Shield 2021 exercise, shown July 21, 2021, at Camp Murray, Wash.

Alaska Guard ends 18-year mission with state partner Mongolia
July 26, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Although they didn’t know it when they left their home state in the heat of the pandemic seven months ago, Alaska Army National Guard Capt. Jessica Miller, a... MORE

Lt. Col. Steve Wilson, 3rd from left, with his Mongolian counterparts in Iraq in 2004. Wilson was the first liaison to accompany the Mongolian Armed Forces on a deployment during the global war on terrorism as part of the State Partnership Program.

Updated electronic warfare course resumes at Camp Buehring
July 26, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait – Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) were a deadly threat during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, causing most casualties in both conflicts. IEDs remain a... MORE

Sgt. Ismael Pulido, electronic warfare NCO, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Anthony Meneely, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Douglas Montgomery discuss Counter Radio-Controlled Improvised Explosive Device Warfare system training at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. Pulido, Meneely and Montgomery are the Task Force Phoenix Cyberspace Electromagnetic Activities cell.

Alaska Air National Guard Airmen rescue injured hunter
July 23, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hunter on Wood River near Fairbanks July 22.The hunter suffered multiple injuries in a fall... MORE

HH-60G Pave Hawk aircrew of 210th Rescue Squadron simulate combat search-and-rescue tactics by locating and evacuating a simulated downed pilot in southcentral Alaska Jan. 21, 2021, as part of Operation Noble Defender. The exercise is a North American Air Defense Command Arctic air defense operation.

Senegal soldiers observe JRTC training in Louisiana
July 23, 2021 — FORT POLK, La. – Senegalese soldiers visited the Joint Readiness Training Center (JRTC) July 22 to observe training conducted by the Arkansas Army National Guard’s 39th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Jamie Vincent explains the use of Multiple Integrated Laser Engagement System gear to visiting Senegalese soldiers at the Joint Readiness Training Center in Fort Polk, Louisiana, July 22, 2021.

Disasters, COVID fail to stop Guard unit from deployment
July 23, 2021 — WASHINGTON – Soldiers with the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team overcame "several challenges of biblical proportions" to prepare and complete an 11-month deployment to the Middle East to support... MORE

South Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Alpha Company, 4-118th Infantry Regiment, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, conduct tank gunnery training while deployed in the Middle East, Feb. 4, 2020.

Hokanson thanks Guard members supporting wildfire fight
July 22, 2021 — LAKEVIEW, Ore. – The general’s eyes scanned the 40 or so National Guard troops assembled in a horseshoe around him in a field Thursday and he felt pride.“Whatever the mission – fighting America’s... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, thanks National Guard members for their ongoing support to local, state and federal agencies fighting the Bootleg Fire, Lakeview, Oregon, July 22, 2021.

Vermont hosts SPP partner Senegal's national fire brigade
July 22, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – Delegates from Senegal's National Fire Brigade, Brigade Nationale des Sapeurs-Pompiers, visited Vermont July 11-21 as part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program."The... MORE

Two members of Senegal's National Fire Brigade examine a Vermont National Guard fire response vehicle July 12, 2021, at Camp Johnson, Vermont National Guard Joint Force Headquarters in Colchester. Delegates from Senegal’s fire brigade visited Vermont as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program.

Kentucky Airmen sharpen maintenance skills in Puerto Rico
July 22, 2021 — CAROLINA, Puerto Rico – More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard completed a week of intensive aircraft maintenance training at Muñiz Air National Guard Base June 12-18, honing... MORE

Master Sgt. Chuck Rodgers, right, a propulsion elements supervisor from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Maintenance Squadron, and Staff Sgt. Mike Hasson, an aerospace maintenance craftsman from the same unit, install engine panels on a C-130 Hercules at Muñiz Air National Guard Base in Carolina, Puerto Rico, June 13, 2021, as part of Maintenance University. More than 130 Airmen from the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing trained on career-specific proficiencies during the intensive week-long course.

Army National Guard CSM visits South Dakota Soldiers
July 22, 2021 — RAPID CITY, S.D. – The senior enlisted advisor of the Army National Guard visited South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers at Camp Rapid July 11. Command Sgt. Maj. John Sampa met with the Soldiers in... MORE

Army National Guard Command Sgt. Maj. John Sampa addresses South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers at Camp Rapid in Rapid City, S.D., July 11, 2021. Sampa’s talked about his initiative to have open conversations about suicide, sexual harassment and sexual assault in the National Guard.

Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Emerge as Region II’s Best Warriors

National Guard Spouse Highlights Strength of Family Support During Maine Visit

Virginia National Guard Team Trains for Disaster Response

D.C. Air Guard Makes Improvements at Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy

Maine Guard Airmen Exercise Rapid-Response Communications Skills