Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard Members Continue LA Wildfire Response
January 21, 2025 — LOS ANGELES – U.S. Army Sgt. Ricardo Hernandez watched from a cross street as sporadic traffic passed on the Pacific Coast Highway near Pacific Palisades. The late afternoon sun glinted off his... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Bryce Carter, an infantryman with C Company, 1st Battalion, 160th Infantry Regiment, California Army National Guard, sharpens the blade of a hoe to clear brush and other debris as part of remediation efforts along the Mulholland Trail near Tarzana, California, in the aftermath of the Palisades Fire, Jan. 18, 2025. Carter and other members of his unit were assisting CALFIRE in mop-up efforts, which included clearing brush and backfilling firebreaks and other areas to prevent mudslides and reduce the impact of firefighting efforts.

National Guard Bureau Leaders Meet With Guardsmen Supporting 60th Presidential Inauguration
January 20, 2025 — WASHINGTON – About 7,800 National Guard troops are on duty here as part of a large interagency presence to ensure the peaceful transition of power during the 60th Presidential Inauguration Monday,... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, and Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director, Army National Guard, visit National Guardsmen on duty to support the 60th Presidential Inauguration as part of Joint Task Force – District of Columbia (JTF-DC), Washington, D.C., Jan. 19, 2025.

North Dakota Brothers Exchange Command of Engineer Company
January 17, 2025 — JAMESTOWN, N.D. - Capt. Ricky Kuhn relinquished command of the North Dakota National Guard's 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) to his older brother, Capt. Toby Kuhn, in a change of command ceremony Jan... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Ricky Kuhn, 817th Engineer Company, Sapper, outgoing commander, left, watches as Lt. Col. Steven Bohl, 164th Engineer Battalion commander, passes the 817th Engineer Company, Sapper, guidon to his older brother, Capt. Toby Kuhn, signifying the relinquishing of command, during the change of command ceremony in Jamestown, North Dakota, Jan. 12, 2025. The brothers enlisted into the U.S. Army at different times, but both commissioned in 2017.

42nd Infantry Division Heads to Warfighter Exercise
January 17, 2025 — TROY, N.Y. - More than 1,300 New York Army National Guard Soldiers head for Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Jan. 24 to take part in the Warfighter command post exercise.The Soldiers are part of the... MORE

Swedish military staff officers meet with leaders of the New York Army National Guard’s 42nd Infantry Division at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, during a command post exercise Nov. 21, 2024. The exercise was one of three command post exercises held to prepare for a division Warfighter exercise that begins Jan. 24, 2025.

National Guard Soldiers Prepare for Funeral Honors Duty
January 17, 2025 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. – Two Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers and two North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers trained on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the... MORE

Virginia and North Carolina Army National Guard Soldiers train on the basics of military funeral honors during a course hosted by the Virginia National Guard Funeral Honors Program Dec. 12, 2024, at the State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach, Virginia. Military Funeral Honors Level 1 training is a five-day course that prepares Soldiers to conduct professional military funeral honors in accordance with service tradition.

Kentucky National Guard Military Police to Deploy Overseas
January 16, 2025 — RICHMOND, Ky. - Nearly 40 Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers said goodbye to loved ones at a deployment ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond Jan. 4.Soldiers of the 617th Military... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Pettibone, of the 617th Military Police Company, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, places the guidon at the deployment ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond, Kentucky, Jan. 4, 2025. Approximately 40 Soldiers with the 617th are deploying to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve.

California Guardsman Helps Battle Wildfires in His Community
January 16, 2025 — CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. - Amid the wildfire crisis in California, an Air National Guard member's resilience, dedication and commitment to service stand out.Master Sgt. Alan... MORE

Master Sgt. Alan Franklin, a commander's support Airman with the 146th Airlift Wing, speaks to 1st Lt. Aiden Flores about the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission on the flightline at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, Jan. 13, 2025. MAFFS aircraft from the Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming, the 152nd Airlift Wing, Reno, Nevada, the 146th Airlift Wing, Port Hueneme, California, and Air Force Reserve Command’s 302 AW, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, are working together to combat fires in the Los Angeles area.

New Jersey Guard Hosts U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff Training
January 16, 2025 — LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The New Jersey National Guard hosted a U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management... MORE

New Jersey National Guard members participate in a simulated training event during a Joint Staff training course conducted by North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at the NJNG Joint Operations Center in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jan. 12, 2025. The Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management in New Jersey and beyond.

Alaska Guard, Mongolia Conduct Cybersecurity Exchange
January 16, 2025 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard launched a new partnership with Mongolia through the State Partnership Program. The collaboration aims to develop cybersecurity training... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Brandy Thanos, Master Sgt. Bjorn Nielson, Tech Sgt. James Gilchrest, and Staff Sgt. Steven Laszloffy of the Alaska Air National Guard pose for a photo with their cyber defense counterparts in Mongolia while discussing cyber defense training and information exchange opportunities. The Alaska National Guard and Mongolia are State Partnership Program partners.

National Guard to Support Presidential Inauguration
January 15, 2025 — WASHINGTON - Thousands of National Guard members from approximately 40 states, territories and the District of Columbia will support the 60th Presidential Inauguration at the request of the Secret... MORE

Senior Airmen Emma Oehler, 185th Air Refueling Wing medical technician, waits to depart the Sioux City, Iowa, airport with Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group Jan. 15, 2025. Iowa Air Guard medical technicians are flying to Washington to provide medical support for National Guard members in the capital region as part of the 60th Presidential Inauguration.

Lankford Center Hosts 1st ALS Commandant Conference
January 15, 2025 — MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - The Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center hosted the first Airman Leadership School Commandant Conference last week.The event brought... MORE

U.S. Air Force leaders in enlisted education pose inside of Spruance Hall at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, Jan. 8, 2025. Airman Leadership School commandants, senior leaders from the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education and representatives from the Lankford Center for Enlisted Professional Military Education attend the inaugural ALS Commandant's Conference to share strategies and best practices to develop the next generation of Total Force enlisted leaders.

Oklahoma National Guard Engineers Deploying to Africa
January 15, 2025 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Family and friends gathered at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee Jan. 13 to bid farewell to Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers preparing to deploy on a humanitarian mission... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 1120th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, stand in formation during their farewell ceremony at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jan. 13, 2025. Approximately 50 Soldiers will deploy overseas to support U.S. Africa Command in engineering and utilities projects across the Horn of Africa.

Idaho National Guard Deploys Helicopter Company To DC Area
January 14, 2025 — BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho National Guard deployed 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and more than 80 Soldiers to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Jan. 10-11 on a year-long mission to support the Joint Emergency... MORE

The Idaho National Guard deployed 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and more than 80 Soldiers to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Jan. 10-11 on a year-long mission to support the Joint Emergency Evacuation Plan.

National Guard Bureau Chief Thanks Firefighting Guardsmen
January 14, 2025 — CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. – The National Guard is part of a multi-agency response to the historic wildfires across the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California. Over the... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, visit National Guard members supporting wildland firefighting in Southern California, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., Jan. 11, 2025. Thousands of National Guardsmen are involved in multiple air and ground firefighting in the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California.

Vermont Air National Guard Deploys to Japan
January 13, 2025 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – More than 200 Vermont Air National Guard Airmen, equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance... MORE

A fighter pilot assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing climbs into the cockpit of an F-35A Lightning II aircraft at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Jan. 6, 2025. More than 200 Vermont Air National Guard Airmen, equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance regional security and strengthen interoperability with joint and allied forces.

Wyoming, Nevada Guard Aircrews Assist California Firefighters
January 13, 2025 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Three Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and associated personnel were activated by U.S. Northern Command... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing load and install the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems onto a C-130H Hercules aircraft in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jan. 10, 2025, in preparation to support firefighting efforts in the Los Angeles area.

114th Fighter Wing Exchanges Jets with 122nd Fighter Wing
January 13, 2025 — JOE FOSS FIELD, S.D. – The 114th Fighter Wing is exchanging F-16s with the 122nd Fighter Wing based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, creating an opportunity to exercise mission readiness and improve relations... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard 1st Lt. Seth Chambers, pilot, 163rd Fighter Squadron, taxis to the runway during a morning sortie at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota, Jan. 8, 2025. The 114th Fighter Wing and 122nd Fighter Wing are exchanging jets for training.

California, Nevada, Wyoming Guard Join Firefighting Battle
January 10, 2025 — MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. - Hundreds of National Guard members are now involved in multiple air and ground firefighting efforts as wildfires rage across the Los Angeles Basin and... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif., prepare an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to help battle the Palisades Fire Jan. 9, 2025.

New York Air Guard Wing Marks Ex-President Fillmore’s Birthday
January 8, 2025 — BUFFALO, N.Y.- The New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing honored Millard Fillmore, the nation’s 13th president, as the wing’s mission support group commander laid a wreath at his grave Jan. 7.Lt... MORE

Lt. Col. William Gourlay, 107th Mission Support Group commander, New York Air National Guard, lays the presidential wreath on Millard Fillmore's grave, Jan. 7, 2025, in Buffalo, New York.

DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Support Election Certification
January 8, 2025 — WASHINGTON - District of Columbia, Maryland and Pennsylvania National Guard members were deputized by U.S. Capitol Police as a reserve force for the 2025 counting and certification of electoral votes... MORE

Maryland and Pennsylvania National Guard members arrive at the District of Columbia Armory to prepare for the electoral certification mission Jan. 5, 2024. The counting and certification of electoral votes was designated a National Special Security Event.