Guard News - The National Guard

29th ID Soldiers' resilience proves useful in escort mission
November 19, 2021 — CAMP ARIFJAN, Kuwait – With just a bit more information than the fictitious Rangers who boarded a plane with "mission undetermined, destination unknown," a handful of Soldiers from Task Force Freedom... MORE

29th Infantry Division Soldiers who escorted vulnerable Afghans during Operation Allies Refuge pose for a photo shortly after the mission ended. The team drove more than 7,500 miles in 160 trips in support of the mission.

116th Infantry Regiment holds 53rd annual muster
November 19, 2021 — STAUNTON, Va. – Veterans of the 116th Infantry Regiment and Soldiers of the Virginia Army National Guard’s 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team gathered to remember the unit’s history and enjoy... MORE

Retired Brig. Gen. Charles B. Faulconer Jr., honorary colonel of the 116th Infantry Regiment, announces the Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 116th Infantry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, as the recipient of the 116th Regiment Superior Unit Award during the 116th's 53rd annual regimental muster Nov. 13, 2021, in Staunton, Virginia. Col. Christopher J. Samulski and Command Sgt. Maj. Irving N. Reed Jr., the 116th IBCT command team, presented the award to Capt. Daniel K. Fida and 1st Sgt. Thomas E. Barrett, the Alpha Company command team.

UH-60V Black Hawk a major upgrade over previous variants
November 19, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – On the outside, the new UH-60V Black Hawk helicopters look nearly identical to previous variants of the UH-60.It’s what’s on the inside that sets them apart.The UH-60V –... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Frank Madeira, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 4 Justin Meyer, both instructor pilots at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site, pose in front of a UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter on Muir Army Airfield at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Nov. 10, 2021.

After mission ends, Guardsmen find work at food bank
November 19, 2021 — SEDRO-WOOLLEY, Wash. – Members of the Washington National Guard are now permanent employees at a food bank after offering a helping hand during the COVID-19 pandemic."Seeing the fear that some of them... MORE

Spc. Hunter Clatterbuck, a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 898th Brigade Engineer Battalion, drives the Helping Hands food bank delivery truck Nov. 9, 2021, in Sedro-Woolley, Wash. The food bank hired some Washington National Guard members after their mission there came to an end.

Washington Guard, Malaysia renew face-to-face partnership
November 18, 2021 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – When building relationships with a new partner, body language and casual conversations are just as important as the information shared. That’s why there was added excitement about... MORE

Washington Air National Guard Brig. Gen. Johan Deutscher presents a custom football to Maj. Gen. Dato Zulkifli, assistant chief of staff for operations and strategy for the Royal Malaysian Air Force and lead Malaysian delegate, during closing ceremonies of the fourth Airmen-to-Airmen talks at Camp Murray, Washington, Nov. 17, 2021. Washington and Malaysia have been partners through the State Partnership Program since 2017.

Tennessee National Guard unit prepares to deploy
November 18, 2021 — SMYRNA, Tenn. – Members of the 208th Area Support Medical Company have responded to natural disasters, played a major role in the state’s COVID-19 response, and are now preparing for a year-long... MORE

Members of the Tennessee National Guard’s 208th Area Support Medical Company move through a hand grenade qualification course Nov. 3, 2021, at Smyrna’s volunteer training site. The unit is deploying to five countries in December.

Vermont National Guard helping vaccinate young people
November 18, 2021 — COLCHESTER, Vt. – The Vermont National Guard now supports the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic with vaccinations for youth in the 5 to 11 age group and booster clinics for the general adult... MORE

Air Force Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Nardo, 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, injects James Bordeaux with a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Camp Johnson, Vermont, March 18, 2021.

US, South African Soldiers strengthen partnership
November 18, 2021 — PRETORIA, South Africa – Army Soldiers and civilians from U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa and the New York National Guard met with their South African counterparts Oct. 11-21 in... MORE

Col. Doug Merritt, the U.S. Army Southern European Task Force, Africa command inspector general, discusses the IG inspection process and functions with South African National Defense Force counterparts Oct. 15, 2021. Merrit and other SETAF-AF IG staff joined with South African counterparts to discuss roles and responsibilities of the office of the inspector general. Representatives from the New York National Guard, State Partnership Program partner to South Africa, also attended the weeklong set of meetings.

190th Medical Group gets hands-on medical facility training
November 17, 2021 — SAN DIEGO – More than 30 members of the 190th Medical Group traveled to the Naval Medical Center San Diego for their annual medical facility training."Our experience was exceptional in the way of... MORE

190th ARW member trains with Sailor during annual tour in San Diego, California.

A Georgia Guardsman’s journey from Kyrgyzstan to citizenship
November 17, 2021 — ROBINS AIR FORCE BASE, Ga. – Senior Airman Asylbek Dzhapashov, a personnel specialist with the Georgia Air National Guard's 116th Mission Support Group, was born and raised in Kyrgyzstan, a small... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Asylbek Dzhapashov, personnelist with the 116th Air Control Wing, Georgia Air National Guard, at

WING demonstrates rapid deployment to Baltic region
November 16, 2021 — GOTLAND, Sweden – A Wisconsin Army National Guard field artillery unit became the first high-mobility rocket artillery system (HIMARS) to launch in Sweden as part of a special operations training... MORE

A U.S. Air Force loadmaster with the 352d Special Operations Wing guides a U.S. Army Soldier with 1st Battalion, 121st Field Artillery Regiment, while off-loading an M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during a bilateral exercise at a highway landing zone in Gotland, Sweden, Oct. 23, 2021. This bilateral demonstration underscores, for the first time, the ability of Swedish and U.S. Forces to quickly employ long-range precision fires across the theater in a time and place of our choosing, while developing the ability to employ flexible capabilities with partners and allies in the Baltic Sea region.

Michigan National Guard provides emergency medicine mentoring
November 16, 2021 — MONROVIA, Liberia – In October, the U.S. Army National Guard members from Michigan provided emergency medicine mentorship at 14 Military Hospital. This exchange is part of the U.S. Embassy’s... MORE

U.S. Soldier Capt. Matthew Gomberg, assigned to the Michigan National Guard, provides emergency medicine mentorship to members of the Armed Forces of Liberia (AFL) at 14 Military Hospital in Latvia.

28th ECAB one of TRANSCOM's best in 2020
November 16, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – US Transportation Command recently awarded the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade a Deployment Excellence Award for their performance in the fiscal year 2020 during... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the 28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade and 40th Combat Aviation Brigade receive trucks and other equipment belonging to the 40th CAB as they arrive in the Middle East.

110th Wing member links data for EUCOM, AFRICOM air components
November 16, 2021 — RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany – When military assets from land, air, sea, space and cyberspace converge to support one cohesive mission, the Department of Defense applies the term “Joint All-Domain... MORE

Michigan Air National Guard Lt. Col. Colin Alexander, an air battle manager with the 603d Air Operations Center, is a member of the Joint Interface Control Cell (JICC) at U.S. Air Forces Europe-Air Forces Africa, Ramstein Air Base, Germany.

Guard partnership program adapts, continues to grow
November 15, 2021 — WASHINGTON – A National Guard program formed in the wake of the fall of the Soviet Union has adapted and continues to provide benefits to partnerships around the world, Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson,... MORE

West Virginia National Guardsmen show members of the Peruvian military how to do field maintenance of Humvees. The Peruvian soldiers deployed as part of an international peacekeeping mission in the Central African Republic.

Cal Guard pilots honored in London for Creek Fire rescue
November 15, 2021 — CAMP BUEHRING, Kuwait - Two California Army National Guard flight crews were awarded the prestigious Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award by the Honourable Company of Air Pilots in London Oct. 21... MORE

From left, Falicia Ramos, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Irvin Hernandez, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Bradley Hlebain, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Joe Rosamond, Jill Goding, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kipp Goding, Warrant Officer 1 Ge Xiong and Pangia Xiong in front of Guildhall in London Oct. 21, 2021. The California National Guard members received the Prince Philip Helicopter Rescue Award from the Honourable Company of Air Pilots for their actions rescuing campers and hikers from the Creek Fire in California on Labor Day weekend in 2020.

106th Rescue Wing conducts joint winter storm exercise
November 15, 2021 — F.S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – The New York National Guard conducted a joint winter storm exercise at the 106th Rescue Wing in Westhampton Beach in November to maximize readiness in the... MORE

Members of the 106th Rescue Wing’s Communication Squadron set up a Mobile Emergency Response Center (MERC) at Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Nov. 6, 2021. The MERC allows disaster responders to establish reliable broadcast and reception in areas where communication infrastructure has been damaged.

Louisiana Guard’s Funeral Honors Team serves higher calling
November 12, 2021 — NEW ORLEANS – Soldiers in the Louisiana Army National Guard Military Funeral Honors (MFH) Team answer an even higher call to serve their country by spending countless hours training to ensure they... MORE

A Louisiana National Guard Military Funeral Honors Team escorts a fallen Soldier during his internment ceremony, March 13, 2021. Over the last year alone, the team proudly rendered honors at more than 1,500 veterans’ funerals, honoring them for their service.

National Guard leader to Croatia president: 'Thank you for quarter-century partnership'
November 12, 2021 — ZAGREB, Croatia – Increased readiness, improved capabilities and enhanced interoperability between American and Croatian military forces.Those are just three of the benefits the National Guard's most... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, right, and Croatia's President Zoran Milanovic, Zagreb, Croatia, Nov. 5, 2021.

Thriving: Tennessee, Bulgaria partnership nears 30th anniversary
November 12, 2021 — SOFIA, Bulgaria – Common values, shared purpose and a commitment to peace and security have guided a 28-year partnership between the Tennessee National Guard and Bulgaria.One of the original 13... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau, right, with Adm. Emil Eftimov, Bulgaria's chief of defense, Sofia, Bulgaria, Nov. 4, 2021.

Maine Guard Airmen Exercise Rapid-Response Communications Skills

Louisiana Guard Hosts International Interrogation Competition to Build Readiness

Air Reserve Component Test Center Marks Milestone With F-35 Test Force at Eglin AFB

Texas Guard Members Bolster Border Patrol Efforts along Rio Grande

Washington Army Guard Soldiers Participate in Norwegian Foot March