Guard News - The National Guard

Deployed son carries on father’s legacy, commands same unit
November 30, 2021 — UNDISCLOSED LOCATION - Many fathers can only dream that their children will follow in their footsteps. Col. Robert J. Kincaid Jr. turned this dream into a reality for his dad.Kincaid Jr., the... MORE

Col. Robert J. Kincaid Jr., the commander of the 111th Theater Engineer Brigade, is in the same spot his father was 18 years ago – commanding the 111th while deployed to the Central Command Area of Operations. Col. (Ret.) Robert J. Kincaid Sr. was the commander of the then 111th Engineer Group during a deployment to the Middle East in 2003.

NY National Guard volunteers support Trees for Troops
November 30, 2021 — BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – Fifteen New York National Guard volunteers joined veterans at Ellms Tree Farm Nov. 29 to load 110 Christmas trees as part of the Trees for Troops program.New York National Guard... MORE

New York Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Jason Wells, assigned to the Recruiting and Retention Battalion, passes a tree up to Sgt. Hunter Bates, another volunteer assigned to Bravo Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Aviation Regiment, as they load 110 donated Christmas Trees at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, N.Y., Nov. 29, 2021, for delivery to military bases around the country to support troops and military families this holiday season. More than 15 volunteers from the New York Army and Air National Guard joined Capital District area veterans to help load trees.

Planning conferences for Northern Strike 22 completed
November 29, 2021 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Since 2012, Michigan’s Northern Strike (NS) exercise series has grown into one of the largest multi-domain, joint readiness producing exercises for the National Guard and other... MORE

Soldiers with the 294th Quartermaster Company, 338th Quartermaster Company, Texas Army National Guard, the 3rd Special Forces Group, soldiers with the Latvian Army’s Special Forces Group and British Army’s 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment (4 PARA), jump out of a C-130 Hercules aircraft over Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center, Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 13, 2021. The service members conducted joint airborne training during Northern Strike 21.

Virginia Guard task force begins federal active duty for Africa mission
November 29, 2021 — BEDFORD, Va. - State and federal officials and senior military leaders joined families, friends and fellow Soldiers to mark the start of federal active duty for more than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky... MORE

State and federal elected officials and senior military leaders join families, friends and fellow Soldiers to mark the official start of federal active duty for Task Force Red Dragon Nov. 27, 2021, at the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Virginia. More than 1,000 Virginia and Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers are mobilizing as Task Force Red Dragon to provide security in support of Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa.

Polish Land Forces attend Idaho National Guard tank training
November 24, 2021 — BOISE, Idaho – Polish soldiers attended Idaho National Guard M1 Abrams tank training in October and November to observe best practices as Polish Land Forces seek to develop their own training... MORE

Polish soldiers attended Idaho National Guard M1 Abrams tank training in October and November to observe best practices as Polish Land Forces seek to develop their own training capability.

104th Fighter Wing supports COVID-19 testing task force
November 24, 2021 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Fourteen members of the 104th Fighter Wing were activated to support Task Force Maher and help test students and school staff for COVID-19.Task Force Maher is a... MORE

Airman 1st Class Tenzin Dakar, an aerospace medical technician with the 104th Medical Group, and Spc. Michael Major, a unit supply specialist with the 125th Quartermaster Company, examine a pool testing tube before conducting COVID-19 testing Nov. 17, 2021, in the Northampton, Massachusetts, school district. The Massachusetts National Guard was activated in mid-October to augment COVID-19 testing personnel in school districts across Massachusetts.

Oklahoma National Guard exercises mission sustainment teams
November 24, 2021 — WILL ROGERS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Okla. – The 137th Special Operations Wing (SOW) conducted Mission Sustainment Team (MST) training Nov. 5-7.Fifty-five Airmen from five squadrons in the 137th... MORE

Master Sgt. Joshua Freeman, electrical systems specialist with the 137th Special Operations Civil Engineer Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, pulls a fuel hose out to simulate refueling an aircraft during Mission Sustainment Team (MST) training at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Nov. 7, 2021. The MST concept brings individuals with a variety of skill sets together to create a sustained livable environment to independently support short-term operations in austere locations.

US, Malaysia conclude exercise interrupted by pandemic
November 23, 2021 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – In March 2020, members of the Washington National Guard were deep into the Bersama Warrior staff exercise with their counterparts in the Malaysian Armed Forces in... MORE

Washington Army National Guard Lt. Cols. Scott Fieldman and Reena Emme work virtually with their counterparts from the Malaysian Armed Forces during Exercise Bersama Warrior '21 from Joint Base Lewis McChord, Washington, Nov. 14, 2021.

Minnesota National Guard to support health care facilities
November 23, 2021 — ST. PAUL, Minn. – Gov. Tim Walz has activated the Minnesota National Guard to serve as skilled-nursing “rapid response teams” to support health care facilities experiencing severe staffing... MORE

Members of the Minnesota National Guard, activated by Gov. Tim Walz Nov. 18, 2021, to support health care facilities experiencing severe staffing shortages, train as certified nursing assistants and temporary nursing aides.

Sisters serve together at 144th Fighter Wing
November 23, 2021 — FRESNO AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. – Each November, Month of the Military Family usually recognizes families for supporting a parent or child serving in the Armed Forces. For the Foster sisters at... MORE

From left, U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Lindsay Foster, 144th Maintenance Squadron unit deployment manager, Chief Master Sgt. Diana Foster, 144th Force Support Squadron superintendent, and Master Sgt. Elida Foster, 144th Medical Group dental assistant, at the Fresno Air National Guard Base, Calif., Nov. 5, 2021. The Foster sisters have served at the 144th Fighter Wing since 2008.

West Virginia Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy hits milestone
November 22, 2021 — KINGWOOD, W.Va. – The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy program graduated its 5,000th cadet Nov. 19, as 106 members of Class 2-2021 completed the program at Camp... MORE

Class 2-2021 of the West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy completed the program Nov. 19 at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. The 106 cadets are now among more than 5,000 who have graduated from the program since it began in 1993.

Air Force graduates all-domain operational planners for air components
November 22, 2021 — The 505th Command and Control Wing graduated the fifth class of Multi-Domain Warfare Officers, also known by their Air Force Specialty Code-designator “Thirteen Oscar,” during a livestreamed ceremony at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Nov. 19... MORE

photo of U.S. Air Force and U.S. Army graduates

Nez Perce Tribe, Idaho Guard work together during pandemic
November 19, 2021 — NEZ PERCE RESERVATION, Idaho – The Idaho National Guard and Nez Perce dental personnel teamed up Nov. 10–13 as part of a broader effort to recover from the summer’s surge of COVID-19 cases plaguing... MORE

Idaho National Guard medical and dental Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen teamed with Nez Perce health care personnel as part of a broader effort to recover from the summer’s surge of COVID-19 cases plaguing northern Idaho.

Minnesota National Guard, Croatia strengthen 25-year ties
November 19, 2021 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. – Six leaders of the Croatian Army visited Camp Ripley and the Regional Training Institute – Maintenance Oct. 25-29 as part of its 25-year partnership with the Minnesota National... MORE

Croatian service members visit the Regional Training Site-Maintenance at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, Oct. 24, 2021, to continue a 25-year partnership with the Minnesota National Guard under the State Partnership Program. During the week-long trip, Minnesota National Guard instructors trained the Croatians on equipment and maintenance on the mine-resistant, ambush-protected vehicle and Bradley Fighting Vehicle.

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.

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