Guard News - The National Guard

Connecticut Guard Home to Specialized Aircraft Maintenance Facility
January 23, 2026 — GROTON, Conn. – At the Connecticut National Guard’s 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot, or AVCRAD, workers refurbish and maintain the U.S. Army’s fleet of rotary-wing aircraft, a unique... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Kaitlin Cavanaugh and Sgt. Omar Sewell conduct maintenance on the forward rotor of a CH-47 Chinook helicopter, which was battle damaged from a hard landing while serving in Iraq, in the maintenance bay of the Connecticut National Guard's 1109th Theater Aviation Support Maintenance Group in Groton, Conn. June 22, 2021.

Connecticut Guard Completes Emergency Training Before Winter Storm
January 23, 2026 — NIANTIC, Conn. – Members of the Connecticut National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters joint staff completed a five-day training earlier this month that strengthened their ability to respond in... MORE

Students of the Connecticut National Guard's Joint Task Force Staff Training Course discuss topics being taught at the Regional Training Institute Jan. 7, 2026.

Alaska Air National Guard Rescues Injured Snowmachiner
January 23, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guard members assigned to the 176th Wing rescued an injured snowmachiner Jan. 21 in Southcentral Alaska.The injured snowmachiner used a... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, takes off at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Oct. 26, 2022.

Nevada Guard Signal Company Activates to Support 17th Sustainment Brigade
January 23, 2026 — LAS VEGAS – The Nevada Army National Guard formally activated the 321st Signal Company during an uncasing ceremony last December, marking the establishment of a new signal unit assigned to the 17th... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers attached to the 321st Signal Company pose for a photo at the Speedway Armory in Las Vegas, Nevada, Dec. 6, 2025.

Oregon Guard Innovation Becomes Army-Wide Standard for Medevac Operations
January 22, 2026 — SALEM, Ore. – An innovation born from operational necessity on the flight line in Salem has become the new standard for medical evacuation operations across the entire U.S. Army.Oregon Army National... MORE

Sgt. James Gale, a crew chief with G Company, 1-189th Aviation, Oregon Army National Guard, displays the SK-1189-V litter strap at Salem's McNary Army National Guard Field Heliport, Dec. 5, 2025.

Alaska Guard Conducts a Nighttime Medical Evacuation
January 22, 2026 — BETHEL, Alaska – Alaska Army National Guard members assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command medically evacuated an individual Jan. 21 in Southwest Alaska.In response to a request for assistance... MORE

Bethel-based U.S. Army UH-60L Black Hawk aviators assigned to the 207th Aviation Troop Command, Alaska Army National Guard, fly under the Northern Lights while responding to a medical evacuation request in Western Alaska, Jan. 21, 2026.

Virginia Guard Participates in Warfighter Exercise in Finland
January 21, 2026 — KOUVOLA, Finland – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters participated in the Finnish training exercise Operation Karelian Spear Nov... MORE

Missouri Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing Demonstrates Readiness During Inspection
January 21, 2026 — ST. JOSEPH, Mo. – The Missouri Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing conducted a combat readiness inspection Jan. 9–11, at Rosecrans National Guard Base, testing the wing’s ability to deploy and operate in a... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 139th Airlift Wing use a forklift to load cargo on a C-130H Hercules aircraft during a combat readiness inspection at Rosecrans Air National Guard Base, St. Joseph, Mo., Jan. 9, 2026.

Washington Guard Shortens Officer Candidate School by Four Months
January 21, 2026 — JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD, Wash. – The Washington National Guard is cutting the timeline for commissioning officers through its Officer Candidate School, or OCS, by four months while maintaining the... MORE

U.S. Army officer candidates listen on the radio for word from the platoon sergeant to advance their position while taking part in a platoon situational training exercise during Officer Candidate School, or OCS, Phase III at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., Aug. 5, 2025.

Georgia Guard Launches Drone Dominance Program
January 20, 2026 — FORT STEWART, Ga. – The Georgia Army National Guard launched its first Unmanned Aerial Systems, or UAS, Operator's Course in early 2026, creating a new pipeline for skilled drone pilots.The 12-day... MORE

Georgia Army National Guard Soldiers participate in an Unmanned Aerial Systems Operator's Course Jan. 5-16, 2026, in Fort Stewart, Ga.

Pennsylvania National Guard Hosts Inaugural Keystone Combatives Tournament
January 14, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. — Thirty-nine Soldiers and Airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard tested their hand-to-hand combat skills during the inaugural Keystone Combatives Tournament at the Blue... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, poses with competitors following the awards ceremony at the inaugural Pennsylvania National Guard Keystones Combatives Tournament in Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Jan. 11, 2026.

Alaska Air Guard Conducts Nighttime Medical Evacuation
January 14, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Alaska Air National Guard members assigned to the 176th Wing medically evacuated an individual Jan. 12 in Southcentral Alaska.In response to a request for... MORE

Carrying U.S. Coast Guard members of the Maritime Security Response Team, a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk combat search and rescue helicopter conducts joint hoist training Jan. 23, 2023, at Coast Guard Station Kodiak.

Illinois Guard, Portugal Formalize New State Partnership Agreement
January 13, 2026 — LISBON, Portugal – The Illinois National Guard and the Ministry of National Defense of the Portuguese Republic held a ceremony Jan. 12 to officially establish a new State Partnership Program agreement... MORE

Maj. Gen. Rodney Boyd, the adjutant general of Illinois and commander of the Illinois National Guard, and Portuguese Lt. Gen. Rui Freitas sign the formal agreement creating the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program between the Illinois National Guard and the Portuguese military on Jan. 12, 2026, at the Portuguese Ministry of Defense in Lisbon.

Pennsylvania Guard, Côte d’Ivoire to Partner Through State Partnership Program
January 13, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Pennsylvania National Guard and Côte d’Ivoire military officials announced Jan. 13 that the Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire... MORE

Pennsylvania National Guard and Côte d’Ivoire military officials announced Jan. 13, 2026, that the Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire through the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Connecticut National Guard Teams Drive Innovation
January 12, 2026 — HARTFORD, Conn. – Three teams of Connecticut National Guard service members presented ideas on how to improve their organization to a panel of judges Jan. 10 during the 2026 Innovation Challenge at... MORE

Participants and judges of the 2026 Connecticut National Guard Innovation Challenge pose for a photo inside the Governor William A. O'Neill State Armory, Hartford, Connecticut, Jan. 10, 2026.

New York Army Guard Psychologist is Warhammer Champion
January 12, 2026 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York Army Guard Maj. Matthew Southard holds a doctorate in clinical psychology, has two master’s degrees, is a supervising psychologist for the New York Police Department, runs a... MORE

Warhammer 40,000 gaming figures painted by New York Army National Guard Maj. Matthew Southard displayed for a competition.

Oregon Guard Peacekeepers Return From Sinai After Nine-Month Mission
January 12, 2026 — MEDFORD, Ore. – Nearly 200 Oregon Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment were formally welcomed home Jan. 11 during a demobilization ceremony at South... MORE

Lt. Col. Joshua Rapp, left, commander of the 1st Battalion, 186th Infantry Regiment, and Command Sgt. Maj. Evan Garner render honors during the national anthem at a demobilization ceremony at South Medford High School in Medford, Oregon, Jan. 11, 2026.

Michigan National Guard and Latvia Have Built an Enduring State Partnership
January 12, 2026 — LANSING, Mich. — The Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program began as a cautious post-Cold War experiment and has evolved into one of the most enduring and cost-effective... MORE

Michigan National Army and Air Guard members, along with other services, represent the United States of America at the Latvian Centennial Parade in Riga, Latvia Sunday, Nov. 18, 2018.

Air National Guard Captain Helps Deliver Baby in Hospital Parking Lot
January 12, 2026 — WASHINGTON – An Air National Guard medical officer supporting operations in the nation’s capital helped deliver a baby in the front seat of a car just outside a hospital emergency room days before... MORE

Official photo of Capt. April McClung, a nurse assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard, who helped deliver a baby Dec. 23, 2025, outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's emergency room.

Arizona National Guard Conducts Life-Saving Rescue in Yavapai County
January 9, 2026 — YAVAPAI COUNTY, Ariz. – An Arizona National Guard helicopter crew from the 2-285th Assault Helicopter Battalion rescued an injured hiker from treacherous terrain in Yavapai County in the pre-dawn... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from the Arizona National Guard conduct pre-flight checks before take off, Aug. 1, 2024 in Phoenix, Arizona.