Guard News - The National Guard

Virginia National Guard Conducts Exchange in Tajikistan
February 28, 2025 — DUSHANBE, Tajikistan - Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted an exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan focusing on noncommissioned officer and junior officer development Feb... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen conducted an exchange with the Republic of Tajikistan, focusing on noncommissioned officer and junior officer development Feb. 17-21, 2025, in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. The exchange supported the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership program, in which Virginia and Tajikistan have been partners since 2003.

Alaska Guard Doctor Creates Innovative Casualty Care System
February 28, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Historically, battles are won by the side that carries momentum throughout the fight. Taking casualties can stop that momentum in its tracks. In Alaska, those... MORE

Exercise Special Operations Forces Arctic Medic 2025 participants transport a simulated combat casualty using a CASEVAC Ecosystem sled prototype at Yukon Training Area, Alaska, Feb. 18, 2025. SOFAM 2025 prepares medics to operate in extreme cold.

US Air Force Partners with Saudi Arabia to Train Chiefs
February 27, 2025 — AL UDEID AIR BASE, Qatar - A mobile training team of U.S. Airmen assigned to Air Forces Central led the Royal Saudi Air Force in completing its inaugural Chief Leadership Course Jan. 23 at a training... MORE

A mobile training team of U.S. Airmen assigned to Air Forces Central poses for a photo with Royal Saudi Air Force members during the graduation ceremony of the inaugural Chief Leadership Course in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia Jan. 23, 2025. The 17-day course was modeled after the USAF’s CLC, incorporating lessons from the First Sergeants’ and Noncommissioned Officer academies.

Iowa Wing Joins International Cyber Defense Competition
February 26, 2025 — AMES, Iowa - Airmen of the 168th Cyberspace Operations Squadron assigned to the 132d Wing, Iowa Air National Guard, participated in the International Cyber Defense Competition Feb. 22 at Iowa State... MORE

Maj. Joerge Baack, center, the 168th Cyberspace Operations Squadron director of operations, monitors his team during the International Cyber Defense Competition Feb. 22, 2025, at Iowa State University in Ames, Iowa. Cyber teams from the armed forces of Kosovo, Albania and Northern Macedonia participated with university teams from Iowa State, Kansas, DePaul, Northern Iowa, Drake and several Iowa high schools.

Air Guard, Reserve Medics Help Clear Recruiting Bottleneck
February 26, 2025 — FALLS CHURCH, Va. - Thirty-five Air National Guard and 10 Reserve component Airmen executed a surge initiative to address severe backlogs at military entrance processing stations across the United... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Lt. Col. Kevin Maskell, a dentist assigned to the Arizona Air National Guard 162nd Wing, examines a patient during Kodiac Arctic Care 24 in Kodiak, Alaska, May 9, 2024. U.S. Uniformed Services personnel joined Kodiak Arctic Care under the Innovative Readiness Training program, which partnered with the Kodiak Area Native Association to deliver free medical, dental optometry, and veterinary services on Alaska's remote Kodiak Island.

Colombia, Germany Join South Carolina Best Warrior Events
February 26, 2025 — EASTOVER, S.C. – Twenty competitors from every corner of the Palmetto State, Colombia and Germany are participating in South Carolina’s Best Warrior Competition Feb. 24-28 to determine the next... MORE

A South Carolina National Guard Soldier participates in an Army Combat Fitness Test during the South Carolina Best Warrior Competition at the McCrady Training Center, Eastover, South Carolina, Feb. 24, 2025.

Kendrick is 14th Army National Guard Command Sergeant Major
February 25, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Surrounded by family, friends and National Guard leaders from the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia, Command Sgt. Maj. James Brian Kendrick officially assumed the... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. James Brian Kendrick officially assumed the role of 14th command sergeant major of the Army National Guard at a ceremony at the Herbert R. Temple Center Feb. 18, 2025. Kendrick, whose Army career spans over 35 years, succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. John T. Raines, the seventh senior enlisted advisor to the National Guard Bureau chief.

COVID-19 Vaccine Refusal Reinstatement
February 24, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. - Former Army National Guard Soldiers: You can continue your service in the Army National Guard.If you are a Soldier who separated solely due to refusing the COVID-19 vaccine... MORE

2nd Lt. Kyle Funk, military police officer, 323rd Military Police Company, conducts fast rope insertion and extraction system training out of a CH-53K King Stallion helicopter during Exercise Northern Strike at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Alpena, Mich., Aug. 5, 2024. Fast-roping is a technique for descending a thick rope, allowing troops to deploy from a helicopter in places where the aircraft cannot touch down.

172nd Airlift Wing Opens State-of-the-Art Small Arms Range
February 24, 2025 — JACKSON, Miss. - Members of the 172nd Airlift Wing celebrated the opening of a state-of-the-art small arms range in Jackson Jan. 24.The fourteen-lane, fully enclosed facility is rated for munitions up... MORE

Staff Sgt. Marcus Johnson, combat arms lead instructor with the 172nd Security Forces Squadron, engages his target at the inaugural test fire at the new 172nd Airlift Wing small arms range in Jackson, Mississippi. The Mississippi National Guard and the 172nd Airlift Wing celebrated the opening of the state-of-the-art small arms range Jan. 24, 2025.

Hawaii Air Guard, Indonesian Air Force Advance Partnership
February 24, 2025 — DENPASAR, Indonesia – Hawaii Air National Guard personnel from the 154th Wing participated in air-to-air refueling with the Indonesian Air Force to support F-16 recertification requirements identified... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Capt. Sophie Bargiel and 1st Lt. Alison Bowman, 203rd Air Refueling Squadron pilots, conduct an air-to-air refueling training mission over Indonesia Feb. 19, 2025. This bilateral training, supported by the 154th Wing, enables Indonesian Air Force pilots to recertify their F-16 air refueling qualifications while strengthening interoperability and regional security.

Guardsmen Display Hand-to-Hand Combat Skills
February 24, 2025 — CAMP SMITH, N.Y. - In a display of strength, agility and technical prowess, 21 New York and Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen competed in the Minutemen Combative Competition Feb. 2-3... MORE

Massachusetts Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Gerald Meuse, assigned to 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, and New York National Guard Maj. Joshua Bennet, assigned to the 42nd Infantry Higher Headquarters Battalion, are awarded lightweight and heavyweight awards in the Minutemen competition at Camp Smith Training Site, N.Y., Feb.2, 2025. The two-day event tested military members' combat training in martial arts disciplines.

140th Medical Group Trains on Combat Casualty Care
February 24, 2025 — BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – Members of the 140th Medical Group, Colorado Air National Guard, participated in tactical combat casualty care training Jan. 28-31.TCCC replaced Self-Aid and Buddy... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Charles Guthrie, right, instructs U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. William Shimel as he provides care to U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Spencer Parmelee during total combat casualty care training at Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, Jan. 29, 2025. The Airmen are 140th Medical Group aerospace medical technicians.

North Carolina Guard Soldier Completes Dozens of Missions
February 24, 2025 — GREENSBORO, N.C. – For many, serving in the North Carolina National Guard means answering the call when their state and nation need them most. Few exemplify this commitment more than Sgt. 1st Class... MORE

All-Hazards Response Teams conduct preventative maintenance checks and services on their vehicles to stay ready for on-call missions during Winter Storm Kingston in Greensboro, North Carolina., Feb. 19, 2025. The North Carolina National Guard supports North Carolina Emergency Management in responding to and mitigating the effects of severe winter weather in North Carolina.

Indiana National Guard Aids Kentucky Flood Response
February 21, 2025 — INDIANAPOLIS - Four Indiana National Guard Soldiers with the 38th Infantry Division’s combat aviation brigade helped their southern neighbors in Kentucky with flood relief efforts.With Indiana’s... MORE

An Indiana National Guard Soldier conducts a hoist operation while searching for flood victims in eastern Kentucky Feb. 17, 2025. Indiana Gov. Mike Braun activated four Hoosier Guard members to help with search and rescue efforts in Kentucky following record-breaking floods.

Guardsman Surmounts Combat Trauma to Command Infantry Battalion
February 21, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - “I wasn’t going to leave that fight unless it was in a body bag.”Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, 297th Regional Support Group operations... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard Lt. Col. Luke Bushatz, right, outgoing commander for the 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, was rewarded the Meritorious Service Medal by Col. Michele Edwards, the commander of the 297th Regional Support Group, Oct. 20, 2024, at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska. Bushatz was recognized for his commitment to improving his battalion’s readiness in the two years he served as commander.

Air National Guard Medics Keep Airmen in the Fight
February 21, 2025 — CAMP RIPLEY, Minn. - When 70 Airmen from 37 Air National Guard wings participated in a Cold Weather Operations Course, three aerospace medical technicians, or medics, and a physician assistant... MORE

Airmen conduct a long-distance ruck during the Air National Guard’s Cold Weather Operations Course at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minn., followed by two aerospace medical specialists wearing red hats, assigned to the 148th Fighter Wing, Minnesota Air National Guard, Feb. 6, 2025. Three aerospace medical specialists provided medical education and response to 70 students from 37 Air National Guard Wings attending the course designed to prepare service members for deployments to cold weather regions.

Wyoming, California Air Guard Conduct MAFFS Training
February 21, 2025 — FORT HUACHUCA, Ariz. – Airmen from the Wyoming and California Air National Guard participated in Modular Airborne Firefighting System training Feb. 13-15.The annual training exercise ensured aircrews... MORE

Airmen assigned to the Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing clean the windshield of a C-130 Hercules aircraft during Modular Airborne Firefighting System training at Fort Huachuca, Arizona, Feb. 13, 2025. The training prepares aircrews for the upcoming fire season.

From Frozen Foxholes to Lasting Bonds: Nebraska Guard in Bastogne
February 20, 2025 — BASTOGNE, Belgium – Five Nebraska National Guard members traveled to Europe to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge and honor the legacy of their predecessors who fought there... MORE

Five members of the Nebraska National Guard traveled to Bastogne, Belgium, Jan. 9-14, 2025, to commemorate the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the city by Soldiers of the Nebraska National Guard’s 134th Infantry Regiment under the 35th Infantry Division during World War II.

Minnesota National Guard, Norway Strengthen Training Ties
February 20, 2025 — STJØRDAL, Norway - The Minnesota National Guard and the Heimevernet, the Norwegian Home Guard, joined forces for the 52nd Annual Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange Feb. 5-19, continuing a tradition... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Trevor Dufault of the Minnesota National Guard takes a break during a field training exercise on a mountaintop near Haltdalen, Norway, Feb. 11, 2025. During the exercise, service members built snow caves where they slept at night.

DC Guardsman Credits Lifesaving Action to Military Training
February 20, 2025 — WASHINGTON - A District of Columbia National Guard Soldier’s quick thinking and training proved lifesaving when she rescued a teenage driver trapped in a car after a devastating crash near Annapolis,... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Ruth Arias, a military police officer with the 273rd Military Police Company, District of Columbia National Guard, was recognized by Senior Enlisted Advisor John T. Raines III, Senior Enlisted Advisor to the chief, National Guard Bureau, for using Army Combat Lifesaver Course training to save a teenager's life after a vehicle accident near Annapolis, Md., Jan. 27, 2025.

Arizona and Pennsylvania Air Guards Train Together in Montana

South Carolina Air Guard Widens Taxiway

Alabama Air Guard Participates in Checkered Flag 25-2

Alaska Army National Guard Conducts Medevac Mission

Tennessee Army Guard Members Recognized at Gala Event for Actions During Hurricane Response Efforts