Guard News - The National Guard

Tennessee Guard Airmen Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross
December 9, 2024 — KNOXVILLE, Tenn. - Eleven 134th Air Refueling Wing Airmen were awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross Dec. 7 for their heroic actions during a critical mission defending Israel from a barrage of... MORE

Eleven Airmen from the 134th Air Refueling Wing receive the Distinguished Flying Cross on Dec. 7, 2024, at McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Knoxville, Tennessee, for helping defend Israel from a massive missile and drone attack from Iran.

New York Airmen Bring Holiday Cheer to Hurricane Victims While Training
December 6, 2024 — STEWART AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – Airmen from the New York Air National Guard’s 105th Airlift Wing helped out Santa Claus by delivering over 4,000 toys earmarked for North Carolina kids whose... MORE

U.S. service members pose for a group photo after offloading toys on Marine Corps Air Station New River, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, Dec. 3, 2024.

New York Air National Guard Honors President Martin Van Buren
December 6, 2024 — KINDERHOOK, New York—New York Air Guardsmen saluted the nation’s eighth president on Thursday, Dec. 5, as Brigadier General Gary Charlton, the assistant adjutant general, Air, placed a wreath from... MORE

New York Air National Guard Brigadier General Gary Charlton and Command Chief Master Sergeant Michael Hewson salute after the placing a wreath from the White House during the annual wreath laying ceremony marking the birthday of President Martin Van Buren in Kinderhook, New York, on Dec. 5, 2024.

Wisconsin Guard ’Maverick’ Battalion Mobilizes to Deploy
December 5, 2024 — TOMAH, Wis. - More than 60 Wisconsin National Guard Soldiers with the 732nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company were mobilized to active duty Nov. 30 during a... MORE

Wisconsin National Guard senior leaders join Wisconsin Gov. Tony Evers at a deployment sendoff ceremony for the 732nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company Nov. 30, 2024, at Tomah High School in Tomah, Wisconsin. Following pre-mobilization training, the Guardsmen will deploy to the U.S. Central Command area of operations to synchronize and control logistics operations supporting Operation Inherent Resolve.

Robot Boosts Louisiana Guard Civil Support Team Readiness
December 4, 2024 — NEW ORLEANS – The Louisiana National Guard’s 62nd Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team has a new robot system, enhancing its ability to gather vital information from potentially hazardous... MORE

Sgt. Nicolas Cullop, 62nd Weapons of Mass Destruction-Civil Support Team, Louisiana National Guard, operates the Man Transportable Robotic System Increment II, an advanced unmanned ground vehicle equipped with specialized chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear equipment. The robotic system can gather information from potentially hazardous environments.

Guard Members Bring Unique Capabilities to Cybersecurity
December 4, 2024 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard brings unique capabilities to the cyber domain and has helped develop new applications that allow greater network connectivity while maintaining cybersecurity,... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the National Guard Bureau take part in a Cybersecurity Awareness Month event at the Herbert R. Temple Army National Guard Readiness Center, Arlington Hall Station, in Arlington, Virginia, in October. The Guard brings a variety of skill sets to the cyber field and developed the Bring Your Own Device application, which allows Soldiers and Airmen to connect personal phones, tablets and other devices to the Defense Department network. The app was approved Army- and Air Force-wide earlier this year after more than two years of development and testing.

New York National Guardsmen Help Get Holiday Trees to Troops
December 3, 2024 — BALLSTON SPA, N.Y. – Seven New York Army National Guard Soldiers joined local veterans to load up 125 Christmas trees donated to military bases around the country at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa... MORE

New York Army National Guard Spc. Matt Clark lifts a donated Christmas tree from retired Command Sgt. Maj. Bob Van Pelt during the annual Trees for Troops loadout at Ellms Tree Farm in Ballston Spa, New York, Dec. 2, 2024. Tree farmers from New York’s capital and Saratoga regions donated 125 trees to be sent to military bases for the holidays.

NORAD and USNORTHCOM Leaders Visit Western Air Defense Sector
December 3, 2024 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. - Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and Chief Master Sgt. John Storms, NORAD and USNORTHCOM Command... MORE

Gen. Gregory Guillot, commander, North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command, and Chief Master Sgt. John Storms, NORAD and USNORTHCOM Command senior enlisted leader, are briefed on the Western Air Defense Sector’s Agile Operations Center air picture management section by Royal Canadian Air Force Sgt. Guillaume Thibault at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Nov. 18, 2024.

California Army Guard Delivers Supplies to Wilderness Site
December 3, 2024 — SONORA, Calif. - When venturing out in the Sierra Nevada wilderness, the hum of a helicopter is the last sound you expect to hear while navigating the pristine, yet rugged, terrain.But when supplies... MORE

California Army National Guard Soldiers prepare to fly after sling-loading timber that will be used to conserve a cultural site in the Stanislaus National Forest Oct. 30, 2024. The Stanislaus collaborated with the 1-126th Aviation Regiment, Cal Guard, to deliver critical supplies to remote forest areas near Cooper Meadow in the Emigrant Wilderness.

NGB Leaders Visit ’Top-notch’ Guardsmen in New Hampshire
November 29, 2024 — PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – The National Guard Bureau’s top leaders visited the New Hampshire National Guard Nov. 26 to better understand its people, missions and capabilities.Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus,... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, visit New Hampshire National Guardsmen at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Nov. 26, 2024.

Kansas National Guard Airman Recognized for Saving a Life
November 29, 2024 — TOPEKA, Kan. - One of the benefits of joining the Kansas National Guard is the skills learned may be useful in the civilian world. While Tech. Sgt. Ryan Ewing’s skills as a boom operator in a KC-135... MORE

On Sept. 26, 2024, Maj. Gen. Michael Venerdi, Kansas adjutant general, presented the Kansas Medal of Excellence to Tech. Sgt. Ryan Ewing for resuscitating a man at a Milwaukee hotel.

Alaska Guard’s Operation Santa Claus Brings Holiday Cheer
November 29, 2024 — CIRCLE, Alaska - Alaska Army and Air National Guard members and Salvation Army volunteers boarded a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with Santa Claus Nov. 6 to deliver gifts to the remote village of Circle... MORE

Santa Claus smiles after arriving in Circle, Alaska, on board an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk to deliver gifts to children during Operation Santa Claus, Nov. 6, 2024. The Alaska National Guard's annual community outreach program has provided toys, backpacks and books to children in remote Alaskan communities since 1956.

Embracing Heritage: Spc. Brianna Hunter’s Choctaw Journey
November 29, 2024 — MURRAY, Ky. - Learning about self-identity and heritage is a struggle for many young Americans. Sometimes, it takes a special push from family, friends or your community to figure out who you are.Spc... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Hunter poses in front of the Murray State University newsroom wearing a hand-beaded necklace from the Mississippi Band of Choctaws in Murray, Kentucky on Nov. 25, 2024. Hunter is one-eighth Choctaw and serves in the Kentucky National Guard.

Massachusetts Guard Civil Support Team Put to the Test
November 27, 2024 — NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Outside an empty school, the hum of generators and radios squawking breaks the silence. Inside, members of the Massachusetts National Guard’s 1st Weapons of Mass Destruction... MORE

A member of the Massachusetts National Guard 1st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team looks for signs of contamination during an evaluation training event at the Emerald Square Mall Nov. 7, 2024. The CST was tested over two days in North Attleboro.

Swedish Army Chief Visits New York Army Guard Exercise
November 27, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Sweden’s top Army officer visited New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division conducting a command post exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap Nov... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elsa Canales, support operations officer for the 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York National Guard, speaks with members of the Swedish military as she gives them a tour of the 42nd Infantry Division’s command post exercise operations at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Nov. 21, 2024. The New York National Guard and Sweden entered into an official partnership as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program in July, focusing on shared values and training to build relationships and capabilities for both military forces.

Alaska Air Guard, Coast Guard Rescue Pilot at Iliamna Lake
November 27, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 211th Rescue Squadron helped the Coast Guard rescue the pilot of a downed Cessna 207 Nov. 21 at Iliamna Lake.The Coast... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron passes over Malemute Drop Zone during airborne sustainment training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 10, 2024. A 211th RQS HC-130 worked with a Coast Guard District 17 HH-60 Jayhawk to rescue a plane crash victim Nov. 21, 2024, at Lake Iliamna.

Idaho National Guard Trains with US, Indian Special Forces
November 27, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The U.S. Army’s 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), along with partners from the Indian Army’s Special Operations Forces and the Idaho National Guard’s 124th Air Support Operations... MORE

Soldiers with U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and India's Special Operations Forces rush to cover at the Orchard Combat Training Center's Combined Arms Collective Training Facility near Boise, Idaho. The two units were joined by the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Air Support Squadron to conduct Exercise Vajra Prahar Nov. 2-22.

Michigan Guard, Sierra Leone Develop New Partnership
November 26, 2024 — FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Subject matter experts from the Michigan Army and Air National Guard visited Sierra Leone Nov. 14-23 to begin developing their State Partnership Program relationship with the... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Derek Smith, 177th Regional Training Institute, Michigan National Guard; U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Layton, bilateral affairs officer, Michigan National Guard; and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Daniel Blaser, chief instructor, 177 RTI, with instructor cadre members at the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Training Center, Benguema, Sierra Leone, Nov. 19, 2024. The Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces signed an agreement Sept. 12 to become partners under the State Partnership Program.

Massachusetts Guard Recognized for Environmental Stewardship
November 26, 2024 — JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. - Camp Edwards, the Massachusetts National Guard’s premier training site, has been recognized as the 2024 Northeast Region Military Conservation Partner by the U.S. Fish and... MORE

Jake McCumber, program manager, Massachusetts Army National Guard Natural Resources & Training Lands Program, highlights conservation achievements at Camp Edwards Training Site Nov. 22, 2024. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented his team with the 2024 Northeast Region Military Conservation Partner Award.

New York Army National Guard Aviators Help Control Wildfire
November 26, 2024 — GREENWOOD LAKE, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard aviators dropped 550,160 gallons of water on the 5,200-acre Jennings Creek fire Nov. 11-20 as state and local firefighters fought the Orange County... MORE

A New York Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter dumps water on the 5,200-acre Jennings Creek Fire in Greenwood Lake, New York, Nov. 15, 2024, while fighting the wildfire on the New York-New Jersey border in Orange County. New York Army National Guard’s aviators spent nine days assisting state and local firefighting crews in containing the fire.