Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard aids Afghan evacuees in Operation Allies Welcome
October 8, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. - National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from throughout the nation continue to support Operation Allies Welcome, assisting Afghans as they safely resettle in the United States.Operation... MORE

U.S. Army Cpl. Sean Jackett, left, and Spc. Zackary Jensen, Wisconsin Army National Guard linguists, create signs in Dari and Pashto, Aug. 25, 2021, to place in a welcome area for Afghan people arriving at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center near Camp Douglas, Wisconsin.

Alaska Army National Guard rescues 3 hunters from avalanche
October 8, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew evacuated three hunters endangered by an early-season avalanche near a glacier above Hunter... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter crew with the 1st Battalion, 207th Aviation Regiment, rescued three hunters after an avalanche injured two of them at a glacier near Hunter Creek Airstrip Oct. 6, 2021.

Guam National Guard, Navy conduct joint training at sea
October 8, 2021 — BARRIGADA, Guam - An unusual meeting took place a few miles off the coast of Guam Sept. 28, as a U.S. Army UH-72 Lakota Helicopter approached a U.S. Navy Mark VI Patrol Boat. It was the first such... MORE

Electronics Technician 3rd Class Paul Shaffer of the Navy's Maritime Expeditionary Security Squadron 4 trains with Sgt. Keoni Wong, flight medic with the Guam Army National Guard, aboard a Mark VI Patrol Boat during a joint exercise in Guam, Sept. 28, 2021.

Innovation nothing new to Fabrication Flight Arctic Guardian
October 7, 2021 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Before he ever put on a uniform, Alaska Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Shawn McDermott, an aircraft metals technician with the 176th Maintenance Squadron... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Shawn McDermott, an aircraft metals technician with the 176th Maintenance Squadron Fabrication Flight, operates a consumer-grade 3D printer Sept. 28, 2021, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson’s Arctic Spark Innovation Lab. In the course of his regular duties, McDermott operates industrial-grade 3D printers to fabricate parts for 176th Wing’s aircraft.

Titan of Air Force history honored in Pennsylvania hometown
October 7, 2021 — BOYERTOWN, Pa. - Pennsylvania’s prominence in U.S. Army history and its role in today’s force is well known - from watershed events at Valley Forge and Gettysburg to being the home of the U.S. Army... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michael Regan, Pennsylvania deputy adjutant general-air, right, with Gen. Carl Spaatz re-enactor Chris Boswell following a road dedication ceremony in Boyertown, Pa., June 28, 2018. Spaatz, the first chief of staff of the newly formed Air Force following the enactment of the National Security Act of 1947, grew up in Boyertown and is touted as one of its greatest citizens.

Warfighter exercise preps 34th Red Bull Infantry Division
October 7, 2021 — FORT RILEY, Kansas – “How can I get any experience until I get a job that gives me experience?” This is the question written by Joseph Heller that exemplifies a catch-22, a concept derived from the... MORE

Battle desk noncommissioned officers from the 34th Red Bull Infantry Division continue their work in spite of a simulated chemical threat during a Warfighter Exercise at Fort Riley, Kansas, Sept. 30, 2021. The 34th ID participated in the three-week exercise with units from across Active, Reserve, and National Guard components stationed around the United States and Germany.

Army unveils new Black Hawk variant at Fort Indiantown Gap
October 7, 2021 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The U.S. Army unveiled the newest variant of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, the UH-60V, during a ceremony Oct. 6 at the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Eastern Army National... MORE

A UH-60V Black Hawk helicopter is parked on Muir Army Airfield for a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new variant Oct. 6, 2021, at the Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa. EAATS was the first unit in the Army – active-duty, National Guard or Army Reserve – to receive the new variant.

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.

Louisiana Guard, Active Component Airmen Complete Air-to-Air Integration Training

Air National Guard Leaders Host 2025 Wing Leader Fly-In

Colorado Army National Guard Conducts Aviation Training for Wildfire Season

Lt. Gen. Jon Stubbs Highlights Virginia National Guard Excellence at Military Ball

Oregon Air Guard Participates in Sentry Aloha Exercise