Guard News - The National Guard

Oklahoma Guardsmen Face New Adversary in Best Warrior Competition
May 9, 2024 — OKLAHOMA CITY - Guardsmen faced an emerging and rapidly growing threat in Oklahoma’s 2024 Best Warrior Competition.Participants were given 20 minutes to enter a heavily wooded area and camouflage... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez, right, command sergeant major for Oklahoma, watches as an uncrewed aircraft systems operator pilots a UAS over the 2024 Oklahoma National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center April 26. This was the first time the OKARNG counter-UAS school integrated into the competition.

New Hampshire Airman Saves Man’s Life at Gym
May 9, 2024 — PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. – Moments after stepping into his local gym, a New Hampshire National Guardsman saved the life of a fellow patron on the evening of April 15.“There was a man on the... MORE

Airman 1st Class Sokthearrith Dong, an aircrew flight equipment specialist with the 157th Operations Group, poses on the flight line May 5, 2024, at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire. When a man collapsed at Dong’s gym April 15, he immediately initiated emergency care and saved his life.

Indiana National Guardsmen, Marines Train to Save Lives
May 9, 2024 — LAWRENCE, Ind. -” This is Flintlock requesting a 9-line medevac.”So begins the training for Marines to call for a medical evacuation, training to help save lives.Approximately 120 Marines with the... MORE

Indiana National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Throne Martin, a 38th Combat Aviation Brigade crew chief from Shelbyville, Indiana, briefs Marines during medevac training in Lawrence, Indiana, May 4, 2024.

South Carolina Guard Hosts Joint Medical Training
May 8, 2024 — MCENTIRE JOINT NATIONAL GUARD BASE, S.C. - The 169th Medical Group hosted the skill-based joint medical training initiative MEDFLAG 2024 May 2-3.This event, created out of necessity during the... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 169th Medical Group, Soldiers from Detachment 2, C Company, 2-238th General Support Aviation Battalion (GSAB), and health care professionals from Prisma Health practice decontaminating, triaging, and tactical combat casualty care in a simulated mass casualty incident during MEDFLAG at McEntire Joint National Guard Base, South Carolina, May 2, 2024.

New Hampshire Airmen Train in Medical Center Emergency Room
May 8, 2024 — PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. – Staff Sgt. During a recent training opportunity, Dustin Allison, an aerospace medic with the 157th Medical Group, was a part of the buzz in the Catholic Medical... MORE

Staff Sgt. Dustin Allison, an aerospace medic with the 157th Medical Group, draws blood from Kevin Drew, Catholic Medical Center Emergency Room director, as part of a training affiliation agreement between the New Hampshire Air National Guard and CMC April 17, 2024, in Manchester, New Hampshire. The partnership provides an extra set of hands in the hospital’s emergency department and gives the Airmen real-world training with industry partners on more than 100 critical skill-based responsibilities.

Georgia Army Guard Joins DEFENDER 24 Exercise in Sweden
May 8, 2024 — SKILLINGARYD, Sweden - This year’s DEFENDER 24 exercise emphasizes the significant partnership between the United States and Sweden, NATO’s newest member, with the Georgia Army National Guard putting... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Crandale Jackson, a cannon crewmember assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 214th Field Artillery Regiment, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Georgia Army National Guard, speaks to Swedish Military Police during DEFENDER 24 in Skillingaryd, Sweden, May 5, 2024. DEFENDER 24 is the Dynamic Employment of Forces to Europe for NATO Deterrence and Enhanced Readiness, and is a U.S. European Command scheduled, U.S. Army Europe and Africa conducted exercises that consist of Saber Strike, Immediate Response and Swift Response.

Alaska Air Guard’s 168th Wing Refuels Red Flag Exercise
May 8, 2024 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - Red Flag-Alaska 24-1, a Pacific Air Forces-led exercise, ramped up operations at Eielson Air Force Base, enabling Italian Air Forces and the U.S. Marine Corps and Navy... MORE

A U.S. F-16 Fighting Falcon approaches the boom of a 168th Wing KC-135 Stratotanker during Red Flag Alaska 24-1 aerial refueling operations over Alaska April 24, 2024. The 168th Wing provided air refueling during the exercise.

Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024 Begins in Heart of Mongolian Steppe
May 8, 2024 — CHOIBALSAN, Mongolia - Exercise Gobi Wolf 2024, a multinational civil and military training exercise, commenced with an opening ceremony and expert academic discussion in the Dornod Province capital... MORE

Brig. Gen. B. Uuganbayar, left, deputy director of the Mongolian National Emergency Management Agency, presents a commemorative anniversary plaque to Australian Maj. Gen. Scott Winter, deputy commanding general - strategy and plans for the U.S. Army Pacific, during the Gobi Wolf 2024 opening ceremony at the Governor’s Palace in Choibalsan, Mongolia, May 7, 2024. Gobi Wolf is an annual joint exercise coordinated by the Mongolian National Emergency Management Agency and U.S. Army Pacific that focuses on interagency coordination within Mongolia, as well as foreign humanitarian assistance during a large-scale natural disaster.

Tennessee Guardsmen Win Sullivan Cup as Top Tank Crew
May 7, 2024 — NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Four Soldiers from Ashland City’s Troop B, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, won first place during the prestigious 2024 Sullivan Cup competition at Fort Moore, Georgia,... MORE

Four Tennessee National Guard Soldiers from Ashland City’s Troop B, 1st Squadron, 278th Armored Cavalry Regiment, won first place during the prestigious 2024 Sullivan Cup competition at Fort Moore, Georgia, April 29 to May 3. Staff Sgt. David Riddick, Sgt. Joshua Owen, Spc. Noah Eddings, and Spc. Seth Carter defeated six teams from active-duty Army units and four from allied nations to earn the honor of being the best tank crew.

New York Soldiers Represent Guard at All-Army EOD Competition
May 7, 2024 — FORT LIBERTY, N.C. - Two New York Soldiers represented the Army National Guard at the All-Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal Team of the Year Competition April 21-26.Sgt. 1st Class John Iseman and Sgt... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class John Iseman, left, and Sgt. Jesus Calixto, explosive rrdnance disposal technicians with the 1108th Ordnance Company, discuss their strategy during the 2024 All-Army EOD Team of the Year competition in Fort Liberty, N.C., April 21-26. Iseman and Calixto represented the Army National Guard.

New Hampshire Army National Guard Hosts Norwegian Foot March
May 7, 2024 — CONCORD, N.H. - Sixty-one New Hampshire Guardsmen braved the Scandinavian crucible known as the Norwegian Foot March May 4 in Concord.Soldiers and Airmen clad in camouflage, combat boots and 25-pound... MORE

Master Sgt. Kenneth Boff of Joint Force Headquarters, New Hampshire Army National Guard, laces up before the 18.6-mile Norwegian Foot March May 4, 2024, in Concord, N.H. Boff was one of 39 of 61 competitors to complete the event in the prescribed time, finishing in about 4:24:00 while pushing through cramps, blisters and dehydration.

Wisconsin Guard Soldier Wins Regional Best Warrior Tiebreaker
May 7, 2024 — CAMP DODGE, Iowa - A Wisconsin Army National Guard Soldier from Wausau will compete against the top National Guard Soldiers in the country at the national Best Warrior Competition in Vermont this... MORE

Spc. Tevin Kenton, from the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s Troop C, 1st Squadron, 105th Cavalry Regiment, fires an M-320 grenade launcher May 3 during the 2024 Region IV Best Warrior Competition at Camp Dodge, Iowa. Kenton took first place in the lower enlisted division and will represent Wisconsin at the national Best Warrior Competition this August in Vermont.

Kentucky National Guard Partner Ecuador Receives C-130H
May 6, 2024 — LATACUNGA, Ecuador - The Ecuadorian Air Force welcomed a C-130H Hercules into its inventory during a ceremony attended by Kentucky Air National Guard leaders who were on hand to congratulate their... MORE

Ecuadorian Air Force Lt. Col. Brian Flores, left, liaison to the U.S. Embassy, speaks to Kentucky Air National Guard leaders before a ceremony welcoming the arrival of a C-130H Hercules to the Ecuadorian Air Force in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 25, 2024. The ceremony marked a new milestone in Ecuador’s participation in the National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program, which has paired Ecuador and the Kentucky National Guard for mutual military cooperation.

National Guard Athletes Finish Strong at Lincoln Marathon
May 6, 2024 — LINCOLN, Neb. - Twenty-one of the National Guard’s best athletes from the All Guard Marathon Team, representing 17 states and territories, competed in the 47th annual Lincoln Marathon May 5. The... MORE

Puerto Rico National Guard runner Sgt. Angeles Virella crosses the finish line of the 47th annual Lincoln Marathon and Half Marathon May 5, 2024, in Lincoln, Nebraska. The Nebraska National Guard has a long history of supporting the Lincoln Marathon, which biennially serves as the time trials for the National Guard All Guard Marathon Team.

North Carolina Guard Welcomes New Zambian State Partnership
May 3, 2024 — LIVINGSTONE, Zambia - North Carolina sent a delegation, including the National Guard, over 7,000 miles to the Republic of Zambia in April to officially begin their partnership with the African nation... MORE

Maj. Gen. Todd Hunt, the adjutant general of North Carolina, joins Kristi Jones, chief of staff for the North Carolina governor’s office; the Honorable Ambrose Lwizhi Lufuma, member of Parliament, minister of defence, Republic of Zambia; and Honorable Jack Mwiimbu, SC, member of Parliament, minister of home affairs and internal security for a State Partnership Program signing ceremony in Livingstone, Zambia, April 26, 2024.

Vermont Army Guard Soldiers Attend Brazilian Mountain School
May 3, 2024 — SAO JOAO DEL REI, Brazil - Two Vermont Army National Guard Soldiers completed the challenging Brazilian Basic Mountaineering Course in April in Sao Joao Del Rei. Sgt. 1st Class David Girr and Staff... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class David Girr and Staff Sgt. Cyran Willis, Vermont National Guard, attend the basic mountaineering course in in Sao Joao Del Rei, Brazil, April 26, 2024. The Soldiers graduated from the course, marking an international exchange between two mountainous military organizations.

Idaho Air Guard Conducts Panther Shadow Exercise
May 3, 2024 — MOUNTAIN HOME AIR FORCE BASE, Idaho - In skies and on the ground in Southern Idaho, military aircraft and personnel trained to fight a near-peer enemy March 25-29 during exercise Panther Shadow.The... MORE

F-35A Lightning IIs wait on the ramp to be refueled at historic Wendover Airfield, Utah, March 27, 2024. Airmen from the 34th Fighter Squadron and Fighter Generation Squadron tested their F-35 agile combat employment and readiness capabilities during an exercise in Utah, Nevada and Idaho.

Guard Leaders Stress NCOs Role in State Partnership Program
May 3, 2024 — LAS VEGAS – Developing NCOs has long been a strategy in the U.S. military to build capability and maintain readiness by providing the education and training required to operate in complex... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Mikael Sundin, senior enlisted advisor to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency, talks about security cooperation and NCO development during the State Partnership Program Conference in Las Vegas, Nevada, April 17, 2024.

Massachusetts Guard Helps Host Crisis Leadership Seminar
May 2, 2024 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The Massachusetts National Guard, in collaboration with the National Guard Bureau Homeland Security Institute, hosted the annual General and Flag Officer Seminar designed by Harvard... MORE

General and Flag Officer Seminar participants pose for a group photo during the GFOS commencement dinner at the Loeb House, Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, April 26, 2024. Strategic leaders across the nation’s 54 states and territories, Paraguay, Germany and Canada were invited by the Massachusetts National Guard and the National Guard Bureau Homeland Security Institute to Harvard Kennedy School to participate in a curriculum to prepare for homeland security emergencies.

Massachusetts Air Guard Airmen Test New Air Combat Tactics
May 2, 2024 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – Members of the 104th Fighter Wing attended the U.S. Air Force weapons school integration exercise April 6-20 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. The two-week... MORE

Members of the 104th Fighter Wing attend a U.S. Air Force weapons school integration exercise April 6-20, 2024, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. This exercise combined multiple squadrons to test new air combat tactics through offensive and defensive counterair measures while using fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft.