Guard News - The National Guard

Kentucky National Guard Hosts State Partner Djibouti
September 6, 2024 — BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion while in Kentucky Aug. 19-22.The visit was part of the Department... MORE

Maj. Joshua Mitchell, battalion executive officer, speaks to logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces who visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion in Bowling Green, Ky., Aug. 22, 2024. The visit was part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Supports Antarctic Research
September 6, 2024 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. - Four firefighters from the 171st Air Refueling Wing recently returned from Operation Deep Freeze, a longstanding mission supporting the National Science Foundation's McMurdo Research... MORE

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Robbie Gregor from the 171st Air Refueling Wing gently encourages an emperor penguin to leave an active runway while supporting Operation Deep Freeze at the National Science Foundation's McMurdo Research Center, Antarctica, in January 2024. Operation Deep Freeze involves logistical support for scientific research.

Louisiana National Guard Supports Belize Wellness Exchange
September 6, 2024 — PINEVILLE, La. – “Nobody can take care of you better than you. You can’t pour from an empty cup; you need to think of ways to fill your cup. Keep in mind, sometimes your cup will go down before it... MORE

Louisiana Army National Guard Chaplain Col. David Yellott reviews training and evaluations with the Belize Defence Force Wellness Team and Coast Guard leadership during a State Partnership Program wellness exchange at Price Barracks in Ladyville, Belize, Aug. 20, 2024.

Guard Partnership Exchange Strengthens Security at Thai Port
September 6, 2024 — LAEM CHABANG, Thailand - Eight Washington National Guard members recently visited the Port of Laem Chabang in the longest-running exchange in the 22-year State Partnership Program relationship between... MORE

Group photo at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2024.

Louisiana Guard’s Cavalry Squadron Hosts Annual Spur Ride
September 5, 2024 — PINEVILLE, La. - Twenty-nine Soldiers from the Louisiana National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, competed in the unit’s annual spur ride at Camp... MORE

Soldiers with the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 2nd Squadron, 108th Cavalry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, conduct standard warrior tasks, such as weapons assembly and disassembly and hand and arm signals, during the unit’s annual spur ride at Camp Minden, Louisiana, Aug. 24, 2024.

PACAF Joins Allies, Partners in Indian Air Force-led Exercise
September 5, 2024 — JODHPUR AIR FORCE STATION, INDIA - Pacific Air Force units were among 28 nations participating in or observing India’s largest multinational exercise, Tarang Shakti 24 Phase II.The Indian Air... MORE

U.S. Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Bangladesh Air Force, Hellenic Air Force, Republic of Singapore Air Force, Indian Air Force, and United Arab Emirates Air Force members pose for a photo with cultural performers from India concluding the Tarang Shakti 24 phase II opening ceremony at Jodhpur Air Force Station, Rajasthan, India, Aug. 30, 2024. Throughout TS24 Phase II, the Indian Air Force hosted 28 countries for the multinational exercise to build partnerships.

Wisconsin Guard Civil Support Team Hones Readiness
September 4, 2024 — MADISON, Wis. - The Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team faced a realistic training scenario Aug. 28, responding to the discovery of a makeshift laboratory in a home renovation company... MORE

Survey team members with the Wisconsin National Guard’s 54th Civil Support Team decontaminate during an annual exercise Aug. 28, 2024, at a warehouse in Madison, Wis. The 54th CST is a specialized unit of full-time Army and Air National Guard members trained to respond to chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear emergencies.

National Guard Leaders Tout Professional Development
September 3, 2024 — DETROIT - National Guard leaders helped facilitate professional development for Soldiers and Airmen during the 53rd Annual Enlisted Association of the National Guard of the United States Conference... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead, SEA to the chief, National Guard Bureau, and other Guard leaders attended the 53rd annual conference of the Enlisted Association National Guard of the United States in Detroit, Michigan, Aug. 19-22, 2024. The agenda included speed mentoring sessions, service-specific discussions, and panels led by senior enlisted leaders.

Northern Lightning Exercise Concludes at Volk Field
September 3, 2024 — VOLK FIELD, Wis. - More than 1,000 service members from nearly 25 units nationwide conducted Northern Lightning, a two-week joint-training exercise held annually at the Volk Field Combat Readiness... MORE

An F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing flies Aug. 9, 2024, during the Northern Lightning exercise at Volk Field, Wisconsin. Training between fourth- and fifth-generation aircraft ensures the Air Force meets near-peer warfighting needs.

Oregon National Guard Hones Skills for Large-Scale Combat
September 3, 2024 — SALEM, Ore. - The Oregon Army National Guard's 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team conducted an extended annual training at Fort Johnson, Louisiana's Joint Readiness Training Center. This intensive... MORE

Pfc. Braden Whitlock, an M249 SAW gunner with Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, scans his sector of fire from a newly constructed fighting position during the Joint Readiness Training Center rotation 24-09 at Fort Johnson, La., July 28, 2024. The training exercise focused on large-scale combat operations as part of the 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team's Annual Training.

Texas Guard, Chilean Medics Train Together at Southern Fenix
September 3, 2024 — POZO ALMONTE, Chile – In the hot sun of the Atacama Desert in the Tacapacá region, Texas Army National Guard and Chilean combat medics are working together as part of the State Partnership Program to... MORE

Texas Army National Guard and Chilean army soldiers carry a litter off a U.S. UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter while conducting medical evacuation training during Southern Fenix 24 at Campo Militar Pozo Almonte, Chile, Aug. 29, 2024.

DC Guard Helps Care for Native Americans in Montana
August 30, 2024 — FORT BELKNAP AGENCY, Mont. – Under the vast Montana sky, where horses and buffalo graze on tall prairie grass, 17 members of the District of Columbia Army National Guard Medical Detachment... MORE

Members of the District of Columbia Army National Guard Medical Detachment perform medical, dental and optometry clinic services during Innovative Readiness Training - Operation Walking Shield 2024 at the Fort Belknap Reservation, Mont., Aug. 2-17, 2024.

North Carolina Guard Delivers Books to Botswana Children
August 30, 2024 — RALEIGH, N.C. - Airmen from the North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing worked with the North Carolina Army National Guard, the Botswanan Ministry of Education, Go Global NC, and the... MORE

North Carolina National Guard Soldiers unload books to be distributed to Botswana schools Aug. 16, 2024. The Guard flew 2,000 books more than 8,000 miles to Botswana for elementary, lower secondary and upper secondary schools.

Louisiana Guard Supports 101st Airborne Division Exercise
August 29, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS - The Louisiana National Guard supported the Fort Campbell, Kentucky-based 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) refueling at Camp Minden, Louisiana, Aug 14.The exercise evaluated the... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard supported the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) refueling at Camp Minden, Louisiana, Aug. 14, 2024. The exercise evaluated the division’s effectiveness in executing large-scale, long-range air assault operations while testing its communication, logistical resupply and tactical skills.

Air Guard Hosts Junior Officer Leadership Development Course
August 29, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. - The Air National Guard hosted 60 company-grade officers from nine countries for the annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development Course at McGhee Tyson Air National... MORE

Participants in the 30th Annual International Junior Officer Leadership Development course pose for a photo in front of a KC-135R Stratotanker assigned to the 134th Air Refueling Wing, Aug.14, 2024, at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. IJOLD is an annual event designed to expand International Air Reserve junior officers to leadership concepts while collaborating with other NATO nations to better understand differing military cultures.

US, Indonesia Begin Multinational Super Garuda Shield 2024
August 29, 2024 — SURABAYA, Indonesia - The United States and the Indonesian National Armed Forces officially launched the 2024 Super Garuda Shield exercise Aug. 26 with an opening ceremony at Juanda Naval Air Base... MORE

Multinational service members pose for a group photo following the opening ceremony of Super Garuda Shield 2024 at Juanda International Airport, East Java, Indonesia, Aug. 26, 2024. The annual exercise has grown into a combined and joint event focused on commitment to partnership and a free and open Indo-Pacific.

Tennessee Guardsmen Help Battle East Tennessee Wildfires
August 29, 2024 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard battled wildfires from the air in Great Smoky Mountains National Park this week.At the request of the Tennessee Emergency Management Agency, the... MORE

A Tennessee National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief from Knoxville’s 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion monitors wildfires in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Aug. 27, 2024. The Guard dropped thousands of gallons of water on the fires from the air.

Idaho Air National Guard Trains with German Allies
August 29, 2024 — GOWEN FIELD, Idaho - German armed forces joint terminal attack controllers visited Idaho for the second time this year to train with their counterparts from the 124th Fighter Wing, Air Support... MORE

Tactical Air Control Party Airmen with the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, and members of the German Bundeswehr practice medevac procedures at the Orchard Combat Training Center, Boise, Idaho, Aug. 28, 2024.

Kentucky Guard Connects Regions in Natural Disaster Prep
August 28, 2024 — CLINTON, Ky. – Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s communication/IT support section’s Mission Command shop mobilized to western Kentucky to conduct an emergency deployment readiness... MORE

Master Sgt. Clinton Ragsdale inspects radio equipment in the Mobile Command Unit. Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Communication/Information Technology Mission Command mobilized through parts of western Kentucky Aug. 12-16, 2024, for a natural disaster response exercise.

National Guard Uses Partnerships to Build Interoperability
August 28, 2024 — FORT RILEY, Kansas – The 35th Infantry Division conducted a combined command post exercise with the 1st Infantry Division at the Mission Training Center at Fort Riley Aug. 9-23. Key components to a... MORE

Maj. Kade Garst, 35th Infantry Division staff member, discusses the tenets of military decision-making with Ancel Nunn, a subject matter expert from the Mission Command Training Support Program, Aug. 11, 2024, at the Mission Training Complex at Fort Riley, Kansas.