Guard News - The National Guard

Ohio Guard Fighter Wing Deemed Mission Ready
April 28, 2026 — SWANTON, Ohio – In a relentless demonstration of speed, skill and vigilance, about 1,000 members of the Ohio Air National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing successfully completed a six-day Combat Readiness... MORE

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, conduct an “Elephant Walk” as the final exercise during an Air Combat Command Combat Readiness Inspection, April 26, 2026, in Swanton, Ohio.

DC Guard Conducts Medevac Training with Medical Students
April 28, 2026 — BETHESDA, Md. – The thrum of rotor blades cut across a clear sky as a UH-60L Medevac Black Hawk assigned to the District of Columbia National Guard descended onto a training field in Bethesda, kicking... MORE

A UH-60L medevac helicopter assigned to the D.C. Army National Guard Aviation Battalion lands near the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences during a training exercise in Bethesda, Maryland, on April 10, 2026.

Indiana Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing Completes F-16 Conversion
April 28, 2026 — BAER FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ind. – The Indiana National Guard’s 122nd Fighter Wing has successfully completed conversion to new F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft, earning the right to regain... MORE

An F-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft assigned to the 122nd Fighter Wing, comes in for a landing at the 122nd Fighter Wing in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Oct. 20, 2023.

WWI Connecticut Guard Dog Sgt. Stubby Honored with Statue
April 28, 2026 — HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut State Library unveiled a new statue of the famous World War I canine Sgt. Stubby, who was adopted by a Connecticut Guardsman, was able to smell incoming gas attacks... MORE

U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut and Maj. Gen. Francis J. Evon Jr., the adjutant general of the Connecticut National Guard, unveil a statue of Sgt. Stubby during a ceremony at the Connecticut State Library in Hartford, Connecticut, April 20, 2026.

Georgia Guard Helps Fight Wildfires in South Georgia
April 27, 2026 — WAYCROSS, Ga. – Georgia National Guardsmen have been helping to fight wildfires in south Georgia, using helicopters to drop water on affected areas after Gov. Brian Kemp's April 22 declaration of a... MORE

A CH-47 Chinook helicopter crew with B Company, 1st General Support Aviation Battalion, 169th Aviation Regiment, 78th Aviation Troop Command, Georgia Army National Guard, dumps water using a helicopter bucket during wildfire suppression efforts in Pineland, Georgia, April 25, 2026.

New Jersey Guard Airman Awarded Bronze Star
April 27, 2026 — ATLANTIC CITY AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.J. – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Zingrone, 177th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants, or POL, fuels management... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Zingrone, 177th Fighter Wing Logistics Readiness Squadron Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants fuels management flight chief, receives a Bronze Star medal from Col. Matthew Vanderschuere, 177th Fighter Wing Mission Support Group commander, during a presentation ceremony for Zingrone at the 177th Petroleum, Oils and Lubricants facility, Egg Harbor Township, New Jersey, April 17, 2026.

North Carolina Guard Builds Combat Readiness, Warrior Skills
April 27, 2026 — NEW LONDON, N.C. — The North Carolina Air National Guard’s 145th Airlift Wing hosted the Warrior Skills Course this spring to strengthen Airmen’s combat and leadership skills at the New London Air... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Holden P. Cooke, 145th Security Forces Squadron defender, fires a M18 pistol after transitioning from the M4A1 carbine during the Warrior Skills Course, Albemarle Police Department firing range, Albemarle, N.C., March 9, 2026.

Idaho Guardsmen Conduct Close Air Support Training
April 27, 2026 — FORT SMITH, Ark. – Tactical Air Control Party Airmen from the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, conducted close air support training at the 188th Wing’s Razorback Range... MORE

Photo by Tech Sergeant Joseph R. Morgan.

Multi-State Air Guard Units Train at CHOP North 2026
April 24, 2026 — VOLK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Wis. – More than 50 U.S. Airmen and 13 units from the Air National Guard Region V participated in exercise Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear, or CBRN,... MORE

U.S. Air Force emergency management specialists, Air National Guard, practice land navigation during CHOP North 26, April 17, 2026, at Volk Field, Camp Douglas, Wis.

Alaska Guard Supports Denali Base Camp Establishment
April 24, 2026 — TALKEETNA, Alaska – An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook helicopter lifted off from Talkeetna with a load calculated down to the pound.Carrying more than 5,500 pounds of cargo and equipment,... MORE

Alaska Army National Guard CH-47F Chinook aircrew members and National Park Service personnel assigned to Denali National Park and Preserve’s Denali Rescue Team offload equipment at Denali Base Camp on the Kahiltna Glacier, April 14, 2026.

Connecticut Guard Supports Joint Airborne Training
April 24, 2026 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – Airmen from the 103rd Airlift Wing in the Connecticut Air National Guard collaborated this spring with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment to conduct Joint Airborne/Air... MORE

A U.S. Army jumpmaster with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment watches U.S. Army paratroopers after the jump from a C-130 Hercules during Joint Airborne/Air Transportability Training with the Connecticut Air National Guard at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Wash., March 26, 2026.

Remains of New Mexico Guard World War II Veteran Return Home
April 23, 2026 — ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – U.S. Army Cpl. Richard A. Veal, a New Mexico National Guard Soldier who fought in the defense of Bataan during World War II, returned home to New Mexico April 21.The New Mexico... MORE

The New Mexico Army National Guard Funeral Honors Team rendered planeside honors for U.S. Army Cpl. Richard A. Veal, a New Mexico National Guard Soldier who fought in the defense of Bataan during World War II.

Nevada Guard Maintenance Unit Deploys to Support CENTCOM
April 23, 2026 — STEAD, Nev. – The 150th Maintenance Company has deployed to the Middle East to support operations in the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, marking the unit’s first deployment.The Carson... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Jamee Finley, left, and 1st Sgt. Paul Jones, right, the company command team for the 150th Maintenance Company, case the colors at the Washoe County Armory in Stead, Nevada, April 18, 2026.

HIMARS Unit Fires Simultaneously Across 700 Miles, Three States
April 23, 2026 — BOISE, Idaho – Twelve M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMARS, were fired simultaneously across 700 miles and three states April 17, testing the HIMARS crews’ ability to deliver... MORE

M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, or HIMAR, crews fire at Camp Orchard, Boise, Idaho, during I Corps’ Courage Lethality exercise April 17, 2026.

Washington Guard Transfers Strykers to Bulgarian Land Forces
April 23, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – With the ongoing transformation of the 81st Brigade from a Stryker to a Mobile Brigade, the Washington National Guard transferred eight Strykers to the Bulgarian Land Forces... MORE

Brig. Gen. Paul Sellars, commanding general, Washington Army National Guard, sits down with Evgeni Mandadzhiev, reporter with the Ministry of Defense Information Center, to introduce the Stryker Fighting Vehicles and discuss the role of the National Guard in supporting the Bulgarian Land Forces, April 15, 2026, Sofia, Bulgaria.

Minnesota Guard, Croatia Partners Participate in Best Warrior Competition
April 22, 2026 — LITTLE FALLS, Minn. – Twenty-seven Minnesota Guard members, along with Canadian and Croatian soldiers, tested their skills April 15-18 during harsh weather conditions in the 2026 Minnesota Best... MORE

Minnesota Army National Guard Spc. Bronson Stachowiak, from Cottage Grove, Minnesota, who serves as a unit supply specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 682nd Engineer Battalion is one of 27 service members from the Minnesota National Guard and NATO allied nations Canada and Croatia who participated in the 2026 Minnesota Best Warrior Competition April 15-18, 2026, at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minnesota.

Washington Guard Leads Multi-Agency Radiation Response Workshop
April 22, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team (Weapons of Mass Destruction) hosted a multi-agency Radiation Response Workshop April 3, bringing together federal, state... MORE

Maj. Jaymar Imperial, Operations Officer, 10th Civil Support Team gives a briefing during a multi-agency Radiation Response Workshop, April 3, 2026 at Camp Murray, Wash.

California Guard Conducts Training Ahead of Wildfire Season
April 22, 2026 — McCLELLAN AIR TANKER STATION, SACRAMENTO, Calif. – Airmen with the 146th Airlift Wing began their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, recertification and training April 20, in... MORE

Airmen from the 146th Airlift Wing, 152nd Airlift Wing and the 302nd Airlift Wing train alongside CAL FIRE ground crews during their annual Modular Airborne Firefighting System, or MAFFS, recertification training at McClellan Air Tanker Base, Sacramento, Calif., April 20, 2026.

Oklahoma Guard Hosts Exercise Lightning Strike
April 22, 2026 — MUSKOGEE, Okla. – The Oklahoma National Guard, in partnership with the Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, recently hosted Exercise Lightning Strike, a domestic training exercise using drones to... MORE

Two Oklahoma National Guardsmen replace a drone’s battery during Exercise Lightning Strike at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 15, 2026. The Oklahoma National Guard, in partnership with Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management, hosted Exercise Lightning Strike, a domestic exercise scenario of an EF5 tornado. At the center of the exercise is the integration of uncrewed aircraft systems (UAS) across various scenarios, enabling real-time data sharing, improved situational awareness and more effective coordination among participating agencies. Exercise Lightning Strike brings together a wide range of agencies to operate within a shared framework, reinforcing the Guard’s role in supporting civil authorities during domestic incidents and natural disasters. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)

California Guard Innovation Center Hosts Drone Training
April 21, 2026 — MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – The California National Guard’s Hap Arnold Innovation Center brought together military, federal and industry partners for a Defense Contract Management Agency Blue... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Charles Rodriguez, Hap Arnold Innovation Center, California Air National Guard, tries on First-Person View goggles for small Unmanned Aerial Systems during a Defense Contract Management Agency, or DCMA, Blue List training event, March Air Reserve Base, Calif., April 14, 2026.