Guard News - The National Guard

Northern Strike ‘26 Winter Iteration Concludes
February 5, 2026 — GRAYLING, Mich. – More than 450 U.S. Soldiers and Airmen braved freezing temperatures and extreme winter conditions during the winter iteration of Northern Strike 26, Jan. 26-29.An Army-sponsored,... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the 177th Military Police Brigade, Michigan National Guard, board a U.S. Army UH-60 Black Hawk aircraft assigned to the 3rd Battalion, 238th Aviation Regiment General Support Battalion, Michigan National Guard, during Northern Strike 26-1, Jan. 28, 2026, at Camp Grayling, Michigan.

Wisconsin Guard Artillery Soldiers Train in Extreme Weather
February 5, 2026 — FORT McCOY, Wis. – About 200 Soldiers assigned to the Wisconsin National Guard's 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment, completed important individual tasks and trained on M777 and M119... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the Wisconsin National Guard's 120th Field Artillery Regiment conduct winter sling-load operations at Fort McCoy, Wisconsin, Jan. 28, 2026.

New Hampshire Guard’s New Small Arms Range to Boost Readiness
February 5, 2026 — PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. – A new $16 million small arms range is set to enhance readiness, boost training efficiency and modernize weapons qualification for Airmen assigned to the New... MORE

The 157th Security Forces Squadron Small Arms Range building stands at Pease Air National Guard Base, New Hampshire, Jan. 9, 2026.

Louisiana Guard Combat Medics Complete Recertification Training
February 5, 2026 — PINEVILLE, La. – About 70 combat medic specialists completed a recertification training to maintain their credentials from Jan. 22-31 at Camp Beauregard.The course brought together Louisiana National... MORE

Louisiana National Guard medics practice cardiopulmonary resuscitation techniques during 68W sustainment training at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La., Jan. 30, 2026.

Hawaii Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Exercise
February 5, 2026 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – The Hawaii Air National Guard hosted about 1,000 personnel and more than 40 aircraft from across the U.S. and Australia as part of this year’s Sentry Aloha... MORE

A U.S. Air National Guard F-15 Eagle from the 159th Fighter Wing, Louisiana Air National Guard, takes off during exercise Sentry Aloha 26-1 at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii, Jan. 27, 2026.

Washington Guard Hosts Foundation Day to Strengthen Homeland Defense Readiness
February 4, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Military and civilian leaders convened Jan. 29, as the Washington National Guard, with support from the National Guard Bureau and U.S. Northern Command, hosted a Foundation Day... MORE

Maj. Gen. Gent Welsh, the adjutant general of the Washington National Guard, provides opening comments for a Foundation Day event, Jan., 29, 2026, at Camp Murray, Washington.

Texas Guard’s 36th Infantry Division Holds Farewell Ceremony Before Deployment
February 4, 2026 — AUSTIN, Texas – Soldiers assigned to the 36th Infantry Division gathered with family members, friends and community leaders Jan. 31 at Camp Mabry for a farewell ceremony as they prepare to deploy to... MORE

Texas Army National Guard Soldiers of the 36th Infantry Division Headquarters and the Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, or HHBN, held a mobilization ceremony with their families and friends Jan. 31, 2026, at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. Maj. Gen. Brad Bowlin, the commanding general of the 36th Infantry Division, spoke to the gathered families and friends about the readiness of the unit, the devotion to duty and the importance of support for both the Soldiers and the families.

Washington Guard’s 111th Contingency Response Squadron Holds First Drill
February 4, 2026 — FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. – The 111th Contingency Response Squadron, or CRS, conducted its first scheduled drill weekend Jan. 29, marking an initial step in preparing the newly formed unit for... MORE

Washington Guard Airmen assigned to the 111th Contingency Response Squadron conduct training during the unit’s first scheduled drill weekend Jan. 29, 2026, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Washington.

Colorado Guard’s 140th Wing Deploys to Pacific
February 4, 2026 — BUCKLEY SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – Nearly 300 Airmen from the Colorado National Guard’s 140th Wing departed for a roughly three-month deployment to a Pacific Air Forces location in the U.S... MORE

Members of the 140th Wing depart to the Pacific region for a three-month deployment from Buckley Space Force Base, Aurora, Colorado, Jan. 10, 2026.

Virginia Guard Responds to Back-to-Back Winter Weather Events
February 4, 2026 — RICHMOND, Va. – More than 420 Virginia National Guard personnel responded to two winter weather events in the span of a week, staging and answering calls for assistance from regional emergency... MORE

Virginia National Guard Airmen assigned to the Virginia Beach-based 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers squadron, 192nd Mission Support Group, 192nd Wing support a Virginia Department of Transportation, or VDOT, mission to help clear rural roadways in Central Virginia of ice and snow Feb. 1, 2026.

Illinois Guard Airmen Test Limits During Northern Strike
January 30, 2026 — CAMP GRAYLING, Mich. – Public affairs Airmen from the 182nd Airlift Wing and 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, trained in Arctic conditions to prepare for cold-weather operations and assess how... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Patrick Kerr, public affairs superintendent at the 183d Wing, Illinois Air National Guard, poses for a photo during Northern Strike 26-1.

Pennsylvania Guard Shapes Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities
January 30, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Two Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers supported an unmanned aircraft systems, or UAS, demonstration for a senior Army official recently at U.S. Army Combat Capabilities... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robert Reed, left, of the Pennsylvania National Guard Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training and Innovation Facility takes part in an unmanned aircraft systems demonstration for Assistant Secretary of the Army for Acquisition, Logistics, and Technology and Army Acquisition Executive Brent Ingraham, third from left, Jan. 20, 2026 at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey.

Nevada Air Guard Touches All Seven Continents Over Two Years
January 29, 2026 — RENO, Nev. – Over the past two years, at least one member of the Nevada Air National Guard has set foot on all seven continents — an uncommon distinction that underscores the organization’s worldwide... MORE

The Nevada Air National Guard's High Rollers arrive in Antarctica Dec. 18, 2024, to support the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica.

Pennsylvania Guard Soldier Makes College Soccer Comeback After Deployment
January 29, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - When 1st Lt. Daniela McCurdy graduated from Millersville University in 2023, she left campus with an Army commission and an unexpected loose end. She had one year of NCAA... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Daniela McCurdy, a human resources officer with the 213th Personnel Company, 213th Regional Support Group, Pennsylvania National Guard, poses for a photo after being named the MVP of an international soccer tournament while deployed to Kuwait, May 2025.

Massachusetts Guard’s Adjutant General Leads Engagements in Paraguay
January 28, 2026 — ASUNCION, Paraguay – Maj. Gen. Gary W. Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, led a series of senior leader engagements in Paraguay from Jan. 16-22 to strengthen bilateral... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe, the adjutant general of the Massachusetts National Guard, left, awards Paraguayan Air Force Commander Gen. Julio Rubén Fullaondo Céspedes with the Medal of Merit in Asunción, Paraguay, Jan. 21, 2026. The award recognizes Fullaondo’s leadership and contributions to strengthening aviation cooperation, interoperability and international partnerships between the Massachusetts National Guard and the Paraguayan Armed Forces.

Southampton Fire Department Thanks New York Guard for Wildfire Support
January 28, 2026 — FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. – Members of the Southampton Fire Department visited Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, on... MORE

Southampton Fire Department First Assistant Chief Ricky Fowler, right, and Capt. Jason Poremba, left, present representatives of the New York Air Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing and Army Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 142nd Assault Helicopter Battalion with a framed photograph at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base in Westhampton Beach, New York, Jan. 9, 2026.

Washington Guard Lifts WWII-Era Bomber for Move to Museum
January 28, 2026 — OAK HARBOR, Wash. – A story, years in the making, came to an end for the city of Oak Harbor when a CH-47 Chinook air crew from the Washington Army National Guard air lifted a World War II-era PBY-5a... MORE

A U.S. Army CH-47 Chinook helicopter assigned to B Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, 96th Aviation Troop Command, Washington National Guard, sling loads a PBY-5A Catalina amphibious aircraft from Oak Harbor, Wash., Jan. 21, 2026.

Kentucky Guard Transports Patients, Medical Workers After Winter Storm
January 27, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing are transporting medical patients and healthcare providers to and from clinics and hospitals after Winter Storm Fern... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Brendan Overstreet from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing drops off Alicia Crawford at Norton Hospital Brownsboro in Louisville, Ky., Jan. 26, 2026, for her shift as a medical-surgical nurse.

Iowa National Guard Welcomes Home 185th Airmen from Deployment
January 27, 2026 — SIOUX CITY, Iowa – Family and friends welcomed the Iowa National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Airmen back from their deployment from the U.S. Central Command, or CENTCOM, area of responsibility... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Anthony O’Tool, a fuels management craftsman with the 185th Air Refueling Wing, hugs his wife on his return from a deployment at the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa, Jan. 25, 2026.

National Guard Members Respond to Winter Weather in 15 States
January 26, 2026 — ARLINGTON, Va. – More than 5,300 National Guard members are on duty in 15 states in the aftermath of winter storms that dropped snow and ice from the Midwest to the Mid-Atlantic and the South over the... MORE

Maryland Army National Guard Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Battalion and paramedics from Old Town Fire Station push an ambulance out of the snow in Baltimore, Jan. 25, 2026.