Guard News - The National Guard

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.

National Guard Planning Course Prepares Military for Future Threats
August 14, 2026 — CAMP FOGARTY, R.I. – A five-day planning course helps Soldiers, Airmen and interagency partners learn to build relationships and develop integrated plans that enable military and civilian... MORE

National Guard service members participate in the National Guard Joint Planners Course on Aug. 6, 2026, at Camp Fogarty, R.I. For five days, military and civilian planners learn how to integrate military, state, federal and civilian capabilities to develop whole-of-state solutions for domestic emergencies and homeland defense.

New York Guard Airmen Strengthen Capabilities in Unfamiliar Terrain
August 14, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Security forces Airmen from the New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing conducted land navigation and active shooter training July 13-19 in Alaska,... MORE

New York Air National Guardsmen assigned to 107th Security Forces squadron begin to set coordinates for their next checkpoint during a land navigation exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richarson, Alaska, July 16, 2026.

Oregon Guard Supports Klamath County Wildfire Evacuations
August 14, 2026 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – Seventy-three Airmen from the Oregon National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing have been activated to support the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office with evacuation and wildfire... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Alexander Giden, 173rd Maintenance Group Aircraft Metals Technology Specialist, and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt Richard Chaffin, 173rd Maintenance Support Group, Aerospace Ground Equipment Helper, help an evacuee as the evacuee gathers belongings at Klamath Falls, Oregon, Aug. 11, 2026.

Colorado Guard Assists With Aspen Acres Fire
August 13, 2026 — PUEBLO, Colo. – Destructive wildfires threatened Colorado communities during the summer of 2026, resulting in the activation of the Colorado Army National Guard to provide critical, targeted support... MORE

Members of the Colorado Army National Guard’s 220th Military Police Company support the Pueblo County Sheriff’s office, managing traffic control points for road closures and evacuated areas near the Aspen Acres Fire, Pueblo, Colorado, July 9, 2026.

Arkansas Guard Airmen Strengthen Readiness With Integration Training
August 12, 2026 — EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Seventeen Airmen from the Arkansas National Guard’s 188th Intelligence Support Squadron, or ISS, recently returned from their annual training at Ramstein Air... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tessah Satterfield, an Arkansas National Guard 188th Intelligence Support Squadron aviation resource manager, recently deployed to Germany for a temporary duty, or TDY, assignment to provide support to the 693rd Wing at Ramstein Air Base.

Oklahoma Guard, Royal Brunei Open Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26
August 12, 2026 — TUTONG CAMP, Brunei – Oklahoma National Guard and Royal Brunei Land Force Soldiers marched together to the beat of drums during the Aug. 11 opening ceremony of Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26, marking... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Michael Scanlon, deputy chief of staff for operations, Oklahoma Army National Guard salutes the formation during the opening ceremony for Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26 at Tutong Camp near Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Aug. 11, 2026.

Utah Guard Supports Wildfire Response From Air
August 12, 2026 — DRAPER, Utah – Utah National Guard Soldiers are supporting wildfire response efforts across Utah, putting specialized aviation capabilities to work alongside local and government firefighting agencies... MORE

A Utah National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk collects water in a bucket from East Canyon Reservoir while aerial firefighting operations in support of the Rocky Canyon Fire in Morgan County, Utah, Aug. 9, 2026.

Alaska Guard Rescues Pilot in Plane Crash
August 12, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guardsmen from the 176th Wing rescued the pilot of a Cessna 185 crash Aug. 9 near Trapper Joe Lake, about 25 miles south of Anchorage.A... MORE

An Alaska National Guard 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60W Jolly Green II carrying 212th Rescue Squadron pararescuemen returns to Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson after an Aug. 9, 2026, mission rescuing a pilot of a Cessna 185 that crashed near Trapper Joe Lake about 25 miles south of Anchorage.

Air Guard Communications Units Train at Northern Strike
August 12, 2026 — ALPENA, Mich. – Air National Guard combat communications squadrons from multiple states and territories gathered in northern Michigan Aug. 1-15 to support Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Seth Henning and Senior Airman Shylie Polodna, Missouri National Guard's 239th Combat Communications Squadron, build a radio frequency kit during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 3, 2026.

Washington Guard Provides Aerial Support on Sinlahekin Fire
August 11, 2026 — WENATCHEE, Wash. – A Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota took to the skies above the Sinlahekin Fire Aug. 9, giving firefighters a perspective they had never had before during a National Guard... MORE

Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighters "quarterback" from a Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter about the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, Washington, Aug. 9, 2026.

North Carolina Guard, Botswana Forces Kick Off Southern Accord 2026
August 11, 2026 — GABORONE, Botswana – North Carolina National Guard and Botswana military personnel kicked off Exercise Southern Accord 2026 with an opening ceremony Aug. 10 at Gaborone Technical College, bringing... MORE

Members of the North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defense Force render salutes during the playing of the U.S. and Botswana national anthems during an opening ceremony for Exercise Southern Accord 2026 at Gaborone Technical College in Gaborone, Botswana, August 10, 2026.

North Carolina Guard Mobilizes in Support of Operation Spartan Shield
August 11, 2026 — GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina National Guard’s 30th Mobile Brigade’s Combat Team’s 230th Brigade Support Battalion, Augmentation Company, recognized its mobilization to support U.S. Central... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Ben Wynn, commander of the 30th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, gives U.S. Army 1st Lt. Rebecca Benjamin, executive officer for the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, Augmentation Com., the North Carolina flag in Greensboro, North Carolina, Aug. 7, 2026.

Washington Guard, Malaysia Partners Focus on Logistics Exchange
August 11, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Two Washington Army National Guard Soldiers traveled more than 7,000 miles this summer to share technical expertise with their Malaysian counterparts, strengthening one of the... MORE

Sgt. Stavie Neel, petroleum supply specialist assigned to 181st Light Support Battalion, 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard, talks with Royal Malaysian Air Force members during a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with a refueling team at Labuan Air Base, Malaysia, July 24-31, 2026.

Guard Medical Leaders Boost Readiness
August 11, 2026 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pilot course brought medical professionals and senior enlisted leaders from across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia together at the Personnel and... MORE

Army National Guard medical leaders participate in the pilot State Surgeon and Deputy State Surgeon Orientation Course hosted by the Personnel and Organizational Readiness Battalion at the National Guard Professional Education Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Aug. 4, 2026.

Oregon Guard Engineers Sharpen Deployment Skills
August 11, 2026 — LAJES FIELD, Portugal – Members of the Oregon National Guard’s 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron sharpened their deployment skills during a recent Deployment for Training, or DFT, at Lajes Field,... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Maria Del Carmen Dominguez, right, an engineering assistant with the 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron, observes fellow civil engineers assembling a dynamic cone penetrometer during a Deployment for Training, or DFT, at Lajes Air Base, Portugal, June 23, 2026.

Kentucky Guard, Ecuador Strengthen Partnership With Medical Exchange
August 11, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group shared information about the unit’s Critical Care Air Transport Teams, or CCATT, during a mission to Ecuador,... MORE

Lt. Col. Tim Ori, right, officer in charge of a Kentucky National Guard 123rd Medical Group Critical Care Air Transport Team, meets with members of the Ecuadorian Air Force during a five-day information exchange in Ecuador.

West Virginia Guard Builds Readiness at Northern Strike
August 10, 2026 — GRAYLING, Mich. – The West Virginia Army National Guard built readiness and enhanced interoperability during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2, using Camp Grayling’s expansive training areas and complex... MORE

M109A6 Paladins operated by U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard, prepare to conduct a nighttime live-fire mission during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 6, 2026.