Guard News - The National Guard

Georgia Guard Soldiers Endure Jungle Operations Training
August 21, 2026 — MARIETTA, Ga. — High heat, constant humidity, heavy rainfall, dense vegetation, dangerous animals and countless insects are what Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade... MORE

U.S. Soldiers and their Panamanian partners conduct medical training during Jungle Operations Training in Panama June 13.

Illinois Guard Medics Aid Injured Motorcyclist During Northern Strike
August 21, 2026 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Four Illinois Army National Guard medics showed what it means to be “Always Ready, Always There” when they assisted an injured motorcyclist Aug. 10 while conducting annual... MORE

From left, Sgt. Summer Flores, Spc. Melissa Gomez, Spc. Joel Ocon and Spc. Simon Rupniewski assisted a man involved in a serious motorcycle accident Aug. 10 while the Illinois Army National Guard’s North Riverside-based 708th Medical Company (Ground Ambulance) was training during Northern Strike at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center in Michigan. Courtesy photo.

National Guard, Sweden Celebrate 100 Years of Swedish Air Force
August 21, 2026 — LINKÖPING, Sweden — U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the New York and South Dakota National Guard prepared for Sweden Jubilee events Aug. 20, joining Swedish and international partners in celebrating 100... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jack Heintz, a crew chief with the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Maintenance Squadron, describes the capabilities of an HC-130J Combat King II to Swedish Air Force Cpl. Wincent Enhörning, a helicopter mechanic, at Malmen Air Base in Linköping, Sweden, Aug. 20, 2026.

Massachusetts Guard, Paraguay Prepare Sites for Fuerzas Comando 2026
August 21, 2026 — ASUNCIÓN, Paraguay — More than 50 Soldiers and Airmen from the Massachusetts National Guard conducted a joint engineering mission with the Paraguayan Armed Forces to renovate critical infrastructure... MORE

Members of the Massachusetts National Guard move floor tiles during construction and renovation work at Centro de Entrenamiento Conjunto de Operaciones de Paz (CECOPAZ), the Joint Peace Operations Training Center, in Asunción, Paraguay, July 16, 2026.

National Guard, Civilian Partners Synchronize Disaster Response in Workshop
August 20, 2026 — INDIANAPOLIS — When disaster strikes, states often depend on National Guard forces from beyond their borders to move quickly with aircraft, personnel and equipment. That response begins long before an... MORE

An EMAC coordinator and an Indiana National Guard representative work together during an exercise at the EMAC Coordinator and National Guard Workshop in Indianapolis Aug. 12-13.

Indiana Guard’s 76th Mobile Brigade Builds Lethal Readiness in Exercise
August 20, 2026 — CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. — The Indiana Army National Guard’s 76th Mobile Brigade tested new capabilities, strengthened combat readiness and trained for large-scale combat operations alongside more than... MORE

An Indiana National Guardsman assigned to the 1st Battalion, 151st Infantry Regiment, and Slovak Armed Forces soldiers run toward an objective during an assault at a Combat Readiness Exercise at Muscatatuck Training Center near Butlerville, Ind., July 26.

Virginia Guard Tests Cyberattack Scenarios at Cyber Fortress 26
August 20, 2026 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade hosted Cyber Fortress 26, a joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational exercise, July 25 - Aug. 8 at the State... MORE

Cyber Fortress 26 tests military, civilian experts on domestic cyber-attack scenarios

Air Guard Builds Combat Readiness at Patriot Forge II
August 20, 2026 — FORT DEVENS, Mass. – Nearly 200 Air National Guard civil engineers moved through dense terrain carrying weapons and combat equipment, navigated without relying on Global Positioning System, operated... MORE

Airmen establish a defensive perimeter in the forest.

Georgia Army Guard Streamlines Medical Readiness
August 20, 2026 — MARIETTA, Ga. – The Georgia Army National Guard achieved the second-highest medical and dental readiness rating among the 54 states and territories after more than 6,600 Soldiers completed Soldier... MORE

Image of the Georgia Army National Guard conducting Soldier Readiness Processing training.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass
August 20, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, flies over Southcentral Alaska.

Southern Accord 2026 Concludes With Renewed Commitment to Partnership
August 19, 2026 — BOTSWANA — Exercise Southern Accord 2026 concluded with North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening military partnerships and... MORE

U.S. and Botswana military personnel pose for a photo following the closing ceremony for Exercise Southern Accord 2026 at Gaborone Technical College in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 15.

Nordhaus, Raines highlight global impact of State Partnership Program
August 18, 2026 — SAVANNAH, Ga. — Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the chief, highlighted the State Partnership... MORE

Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks at the 2026 State Partnership Program Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in August.

National Guard Recognizes Top State Partnership Program Achievements
August 18, 2026 — SAVANNAH, Ga. — The National Guard Bureau announced the recipients of the 2025 State Partnership Program (SPP) Awards during a recent conference, recognizing individuals, teams and partnerships whose... MORE

2026 State Partnership Program Conference graphic

Montana National Guard Soldier Awarded Soldier’s Medal for Heroic Rescue
August 18, 2026 — BELGRADE, Mont. — U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee received the Soldier’s Medal during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory Aug. 16 for heroic actions that saved the lives of two critically injured hikers in... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, presents the Soldier’s Medal to U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory in Belgrade, Mont., Aug. 16.

Washington Guard, Malaysia Strengthen Expeditionary Capabilities
August 17, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. — Two Washington Army National Guard Soldiers joined Malaysian and active-duty U.S. Army counterparts for a weeklong working group, Aug. 3-7, at Camp Terendek in Melaka, Malaysia,... MORE

Group Photo during the Rapid Deployment Force working group, Aug. 3-7, 2026, at Camp Terendek, Melaka, Malaysia. Courtesy photo.

Washington Guardsman Supports Wildfire Recovery at Home
August 17, 2026 — SPOKANE, Wash. – As wildfires spread across Spokane and Stevens counties Aug. 1, threatening homes and forcing residents to evacuate, Washington Army National Guard Sgt. Keegan Tarbell watched the... MORE

Washington Army National Guard Sgt. Keegan Tarbell, assigned to the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, carries an emergency relief package alongside an American Red Cross volunteer during the Spokane-area wildfire response in Spokane, Wash., Aug. 11.

Alabama Air Guard Tests Combat Readiness During Tuskegee Thunder
August 17, 2026 — DANNELLY FIELD, Ala. — Airmen assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing trained to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat airpower under pressure during Operation Tuskegee Thunder, Aug. 12-14.The... MORE

An Alabama Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducts nighttime medical evacuation training during Operation Tuskegee Thunder at Dannelly Field, Alabama, Aug. 13, 2026.

Oregon Guard Assists With Hagen Fire Response
August 14, 2026 — PENDLETON, Ore. – Inside the cabin of an HH-60M Black Hawk, Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders leans out over the open door, eyes locked on a water bucket swinging 100 feet below the aircraft. The pilots up... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders, a crew chief with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, watches as water releases from an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter's bucket onto the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County, Oregon, Aug. 10, 2026.

Michigan Guard Proves Command and Control Capability at Northern Strike
August 14, 2026 — ALPENA, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard’s 110th Wing conducted an air component forward experiment during exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Aug 3-14,... MORE

U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron collaborate in support of Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 4, 2026.

Pennsylvania Guard Strengthens Partnership With Lithuania
August 14, 2026 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – A team from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing Communications Squadron traveled to Lithuania July 12-25, completing the unit’s fifth rotation supporting the... MORE

From left, Staff Sgt. Adan Mancera, cybersecurity journeyman, 171st Air Refueling Wing; Senior Master Sgt. Robert Beveridge, warfighter communications superintendent, 171st Air Refueling Wing; and Maj. Aivaras Ramanauskar, chief of cyber operations, Lithuanian Cyber Command, pose for a photo at the Lithuanian Cyber Command in Vilnius July 14, 2026.