Guard News - The National Guard

Alaska National Guard’s Operation Santa Claus Makes Lifesaving Detour
November 17, 2023 — BETHEL, Alaska - The Alaska National Guard’s annual community outreach program, Operation Santa Claus, took an unexpected turn this year as its mission to bring holiday joy to the village of Tuluksak... MORE

Holly Demmert, left, and Clifton Dalton, flight paramedics with LifeMed, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Bryan Kruse, Bethel Army Aviation Operating Facility commander, move a critically ill patient from an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter to an ambulance during a medical evacuation from Napaskiak to Bethel Nov. 15, 2023.

Lousiana Guard Soldier a Proud Native American
November 17, 2023 — PINEVILLE, La. – November is Native American and Alaskan Heritage Month, a time to acknowledge the rich and diverse cultures and histories of native Alaskans and Native Americans.Louisiana Army... MORE

Louisiana Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Bruce A. Phillips Jr., from Port Sulphur, Louisiana, is a proud Native American who has more than 21 years of service.

Washington Guard, Tribal Emergency Managers Test Joint Response
November 16, 2023 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington National Guard, tribal emergency managers and other first responders tested their disaster response capabilities Oct. 8 in an exercise involving the simulated leak... MORE

Multiple agencies take part in a group discussion during the Evergreen Spill Tabletop Exercise in Airway Heights, Wash., Nov. 8, 2023. This exercise tested the response of the Washington National Guard, Tribal emergency managers and state and federal agencies to a hypothetical hazardous waste spill on the Colville Indian Reservation.

New York National Guard, Brazil Army Train Together
November 16, 2023 — MACAPA, Brazil - The New York Army National Guard Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 258th Field Artillery, 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Brazilian Army field artillery... MORE

U.S. and Brazilian Army field artillery Soldiers pose for photo in Ferreira Gomes, Brazil, Nov. 12, 2023. The two State Partnership Program partners trained together during exercise Southern Vanguard 24 to enhance interoperability and shared capabilities.

Native American Promoted to South Dakota Guard Sergeant Major
November 16, 2023 — RAPID CITY, S.D. – Elizabeth “Promise” Crawford was promoted to the rank of sergeant major in the South Dakota Army National Guard during a ceremony on Camp Rapid Nov. 9. “It gives me great pleasure... MORE

Elizabeth “Promise” Crawford was promoted to the rank of sergeant major in the South Dakota Army National Guard by Larry Wetsit during a ceremony at Joint Force Headquarters on Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., Nov. 9, 2023. She is the first female Native American sergeant major in the SDNG.

State Partnership Program NCO Honored for International Efforts
November 15, 2023 — CARSON CITY, Nev. – When she received an out-of-the-blue invitation to the College of Southern Nevada’s Spotlight of Excellence award ceremony, Nevada Air Guard Tech. Sgt. Hannah Kasner was baffled... MORE

Nevada Air Guard Tech. Sgt. Hannah Kasner works the security detail safeguarding Air Force One while it was in Reno, Nevada, in 2020. Kasner was honored by the College of Southern Nevada in October 2023 for her work linking the college and Fiji National University under the State Partnership Program.

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner
November 14, 2023 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen rescued an injured snowmachiner Nov. 6 near Livengood, about 40 miles north of Fairbanks.The uninjured member of the two-member... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 26, 2022. The Rescue Squadron conducts search and rescue missions and provides rescue support in Alaska’s arctic conditions.

New York Guard Airman Honored for Rescuing Car Crash Victim
November 14, 2023 — SYRACUSE, N.Y. – U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joshua Carter, director of the New York Air National Guard’s 174th Operations Support Squadron’s commander’s action group, received the New York State Medal... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Joshua Carter, the director of the 174th Operations Support Squadron's commander's action group, is presented with the New York State Medal for Valor during an award ceremony at Hancock Field Air National Guard Base in Syracuse Nov. 8, 2023. Carter received the award for his lifesaving actions while responding to a car accident last year. Maj. Gen. Raymond Shields, New York adjutant general, and Maj. Gen. Denise Donnell, commander of the New York Air National Guard, presented the award.

Michigan Airmen Conduct Airworthiness Assessments in Africa
November 13, 2023 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Two members of the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron traveled to Lagos and Abuja, Nigeria, for over a week in September to assess the airworthiness of foreign aircraft in... MORE

Maj. Jacob Stommen and Maj. Craig Warn, 217th Air Component Operations Squadron maintenance officers, Michigan Air National Guard, speak to a Nigerian Air Force member Sept. 5, 2023, in Nigeria during an airworthiness assessment.

Virginia National Guard Trains for Firefighting Ground Support
November 13, 2023 — FORT BARFOOT, Va. – Virginia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crews completed aerial firefighting support and Soldiers and Airmen began ground firefighting training Nov. 11.After Virginia... MORE

Two Virginia National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon water buckets help fight fires Nov. 11, 2023, in Patrick County, Virginia. Aviation crews assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, coordinated efforts with the Virginia Department of Forestry.

167th Airlift Wing Conducts Multicapable Airmen Training
November 13, 2023 — MARTINSBURG, W.Va. - A multicapable Airmen proof-of-concept training event was conducted at the 167th Airlift Wing at Shepherd Field Nov. 5.Approximately 50 Airmen representing maintenance,... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Kenneth Casey, an aircraft maintainer with the 167th Maintenance Group, directs a pallet while being observed by Master Sgt. Corbin Householder, left, 167th Operations Group loadmaster, during multicapable Airmen training at the 167th Airlift Wing, Martinsburg, West Virginia, Nov. 5, 2023. The training focused on developing competencies outside of the Airman’s primary Air Force specialty code. (

National Guard Joins Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit
November 13, 2023 — ABIDJAN, Côte d’Ivoire - Senior enlisted leaders from the United States, including the State Partnership Program, and 20 African nations attended the African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit Nov. 7-9.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Randy Kwiatkowski, U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa command chief, speaks at the first Air Force African Senior Enlisted Leader Summit in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Nov. 7, 2023. The three-day summit was hosted by U.S. Air Forces in Europe - Air Forces Africa and Côte d'Ivoire air force senior enlisted leaders.

Arkansas National Guard Competes in Cyber Challenge
November 13, 2023 — FORT SMITH, Ark. - Four members of the 188th Intelligence Support Squadron at Ebbing Air National Guard Base competed against 27 teams in a two-day cybersecurity event in Fayetteville Nov. 3-5.The... MORE

Four members of the 188th Intelligence Support Squadron at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, competed against 27 teams in a two-day cybersecurity challenge in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Nov. 3-5. Tech. Sgts. Donald McKellip and Brandon Wheeler, Staff Sgt. Tommy Patton and Senior Airman Dalton Landrum were selected for their expertise, interest in the event, and the needs of the squadron.

STARBASE: Enriching Lives Through STEM
November 8, 2023 — LOS ALAMITOS, Calif. – A transformative journey unfolds for the young minds that venture through the doors of STARBASE. From building award-winning rockets to programming their very own robotic... MORE

STARBASE students interact on the robotics table, exploring STEM concepts with tangible applications in Los Alamitos, California, Oct. 30, 2023. STARBASE is the Department of Defense’s premier youth outreach program and a beacon of enrichment for underserved, underrepresented and underestimated youth across the United States.

DEVCOM Soldier Center Participates in Rhode Island National Guard STEM Event
November 8, 2023 — NATICK, Mass. – The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, recently participated in a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Exploration Open... MORE

The U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Soldier Center, or DEVCOM SC, recently participated in a STEM Exploration Open House hosted by the Rhode Island National Guard at the Quonset National Guard Base in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. DEVCOM SC’s Christina Caruso looks on as a STEM event participant tries out Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality capabilities.

Southern Vanguard 24 Exercise Begins in Brazil
November 8, 2023 — MACAPA, Brazil - Standing under the Brazilian sun, Soldiers assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 26th Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), stood at close interval in... MORE

New York Army National Guard Brig. Gen. Isabel Smith, center, director, Joint Staff, New York National Guard, stands with Brazilian Army officers during the opening ceremony for Exercise Southern Vanguard 24 in Macapa, Brazil, Nov. 6, 2023. The exercise is designed for U.S. Army Soldiers to conduct pre-deployment activities, deploy and conduct air assault operations while enhancing interoperability with Brazilian army forces.

Virginia Army National Guard Battles Wildfires From the Air
November 8, 2023 — MADISON COUNTY, Va. - Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry Division, are helping fight wildfires in Madison County. In... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Sandston-based 2nd Battalion 224th Aviation Regiment, 29th Infantry, Division provide aerial fire suppression support Nov. 6, 2023, in Madison County. After Virginia Governor Glenn Youngkin declared a state of emergency, the VNG deployed two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660-gallon water buckets at the request of the Virginia Department of Forestry.

National Guard’s Heritage Honored at Storied Army Base
November 7, 2023 — ARLINGTON, Va. – In a hallowed corner of Patton Hall at Northern Virginia’s Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, a journey through the annals of American military history awaits. An officer’s saber from... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, left, chief of the National Guard Bureau, chats with Air Force Maj. Gen. John P. Hronek, the adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, during the opening ceremony at The 1636 Room at Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall’s Patton Hall in Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 1, 2023. Named in recognition of the first organized militia in the Massachusetts Bay Colony in 1636 – the predecessor of today’s National Guard – the exhibit space runs the gamut of strategically placed artifacts, framed flags, panel displays, photographs, visual arts and replicated items.

SERE, Nebraska National Guard Team up for Hoist Training
November 7, 2023 — OFFUTT AIR FORCE BASE, Neb. - The 55th Operations Support Squadron’s survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialists, better known as SERE, joined with the Nebraska Army National Guard to conduct... MORE

Airman 1st Class Bridger Michaud, 55th Operations Support Squadron survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist, is hoisted into a Nebraska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter along with a medic during hoist training Nov. 4, 2023. Company G, 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 104th Regiment flew the helicopter from Lincoln to Offutt, enabling personnel from both units to carry out mandatory training.

Kentucky Honor Guard Helps Recognize Medal of Honor Recipient
November 6, 2023 — FORT MITCHELL, Ky. – Honor Guard Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard on Nov. 4 helped honor a Medal of Honor recipient whose grave had gone unmarked and almost forgotten for 148 years.U.S. Army... MORE

Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s Honor Guard stand ready for the 21-gun salute during the ceremony of a Medal of Honor recipient who was buried at Highland Cemetery in Fort Mitchell, Kentucky, Nov. 4, 2023. U.S. Army Sgt. John F. Rowalt of Bellville, Ohio, served during the Indian Wars and was in a grave that had gone unmarked and almost forgotten for 148 years.

NASA Apollo, Artemis Missions Cross Paths at Colorado Guard Site

South Carolina Air Guard Showcases ACE Concepts

Florida Army Guard Makes Major Training Exercise Possible

Pennsylvania Guard’s 213th RSG Trains on Heavy Vehicles

Indiana National Guard Conducts Intensive Mortar Training