Guard News - The National Guard

Guard Chaplains, Partners Boost Readiness
July 16, 2026 — ACCRA, Ghana – Military chaplains and religious affairs personnel from the National Guard and 10 African nations gathered July 14 for the launch of the West African Religious Affairs Symposium, or... MORE

Multinational participants pose for a group photo during the West African Religious Affairs Symposium, or WARAS, in Accra, Ghana, July 14, 2026.

Pennsylvania Guard Expands Drone Training
July 16, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – As the battlefield continually shifts toward unmanned aircraft systems, the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Fort Indiantown Gap is expanding its unmanned aircraft systems, or... MORE

Several shipping containers altered to look like buildings were relocated recently to the grounds of the Pennsylvania National Guard's Fort Indiantown Gap's Unmanned Aircraft System Training and Innovation Facility.

Wisconsin Guard, Papua New Guinea Strengthen Partnership
July 16, 2026 — PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea – Soldiers from the Wisconsin National Guard and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, or PNGDF, stood shoulder to shoulder on the parade field at Murray Barracks during... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Brion J. Aderman, commander of the Wisconsin Army National Guard, and Col. Bruno Malau, head of the Coordination Branch from the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, shake hands after the opening ceremony of Exercise Tamiok Strike 26 at Murray Barracks, Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea, July 13, 2026.

Guardsmen Strengthen Defensive Capabilities in Cyber Shield 2026
July 16, 2026 — LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – More than 1,000 participants from 44 states and territories and 23 international partners have gathered at Camp Robinson to develop and test their defensive capabilities in... MORE

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Erin Parkin, 137 Special Ops Communications, completes an exercise simulating a cybersecurity event during Cyber Shield 2026 at the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, July 13, 2026.

Wyoming Guard Supports Wildfire Response in Western US
July 16, 2026 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – The Wyoming Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing was activated July 13 to support wildland firefighting operations in the western United States, wing officials announced.The... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Nathaniel Sobieski, a crew chief assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing, Wyoming Air National Guard, adjusts tow equipment on a C-130 Hercules aircraft at Cheyenne Air National Guard Base, Wyoming, July 14, 2026.

Minnesota Guard Strengthens Partnership with Croatia
July 16, 2026 — SAINT PAUL, Minn. – Sixty-six Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen trained in five locations simultaneously in Croatia as part of Exercise Combat Power 26, a multinational exercise that... MORE

Minnesota National Guard service members joined Croatian Armed Forces and nine other countries for Exercise Combat Power 26, June 23-July 1, 2026 in Croatia.

Army National Guard Names 2026 Best Warrior Competition Winners
July 16, 2026 — CAMP BLANDING JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Fla. – U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Brown, representing the Florida Army National Guard, earned the title of 2026 Army National Guard Soldier of the Year, and U.S. Army... MORE

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Rodney Kendrick, left, the Army National Guard command sergeant major, poses with U.S. Army Sgt. Michael Fouts, representing the Arizona Army National Guard, U.S. Army Spc. Brandon Brown, representing the Florida Army National Guard, and U.S. Army Lt. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, director of the Army National Guard, following the Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition awards ceremony at Camp Blanding Joint Training Center, Fla., July 15, 2026.

California Air Guard Supports Wildfire Response
July 14, 2026 — BOISE, Idaho – Two Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, equipped aircraft assigned to the California National Guard have been activated to support federal and state wildfire suppression... MORE

California Air National Guard personnel assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing load a Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System, or MAFFS, into a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, July 9, 2026.

West Virginia Guardsmen Provide Care Through Readiness Training
July 14, 2026 — CHARLESTON, W.Va. – West Virginia National Guard Airmen from the 130th Airlift Wing’s Medical Group recently concluded the Green River Area Wellness mission, providing vital healthcare to underserved... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. John Adams, performs an eye exam during the Green River Area Wellness Innovative Readiness Training, or IRT, mission, June 17, 2026.

Arkansas Guardsmen Strengthen Partnership With Guatemala Mission
July 14, 2026 — EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Three Arkansas Air National Guard Security Forces Airmen will deploy in August to Guatemala, where they will use their Spanish language fluency to train with... MORE

Airman Basic Giselle Aguilar-Garrido, Airman 1st Class Arturo Peña and Tech. Sgt. Jaime Flores, all with the 188th Security Forces Squadron at Ebbing Air National Guard Base, Arkansas, have been chosen for a deployment to Guatemala in August because of their Spanish language fluency.

Connecticut Guardsmen Return From US Southern Command Deployment
July 13, 2026 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – About 100 soldiers assigned to the Connecticut Army National Guard’s 643rd Military Police Company returned home at Bradley Air National Guard Base July 11, after being deployed... MORE

The guidon bearer for 643rd Military Police Company, Connecticut National Guard, poses for a photo with his family after returning from deployment at Bradley Air National Guard Base, East Granby, Connecticut, July 11, 2026.

Guam, Washington Enhance Readiness With Palau Partners
July 13, 2026 — BARRIGADA, Guam – Guardsmen from the Guam National Guard and the Washington National Guard recently conducted Exercise Alupang ACE in support of Exercise Valiant Shield 2026 in Palau as part of Guam’s... MORE

A U.S. Air Force C-130 sourced by the Washington National Guard lands on Angaur Airstrip, Palau, June 25, 2026 as part of exercise Alupang ACE.

Innovation Partnership Strengthens Oregon Guard F-35 Pilot Readiness
July 13, 2026 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – An innovative partnership between the Oregon National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing and Klamath Community College is strengthening F-35 pilot readiness by producing realistic... MORE

Surrogate targets created by a collaboration between the Oregon National Guard's 173rd Fighter Wing and Klamath Community College personnel are placed in the Kingsley Field range, May 29, 2026, in Oregon.

California Air Guardsmen Rescue Fisherman at Sea
July 13, 2026 — MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – Guardsmen with the California Air National Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing rescued a Mexican citizen at sea July 7 after the person sustained traumatic injuries aboard a fishing... MORE

Pararescuemen from the California National Guard's 129th Rescue Wing's 131st Rescue Squadron transfer a patient onto land at Socorro Island, July 7, 2026.

DC National Guard Boosts Homeland Defense With First Maritime Security Vessel
July 13, 2026 — WASHINGTON – The District of Columbia National Guard’s 260th Special Purpose Brigade, or SPB, has commissioned its first maritime security vessel, marking the first time an Army unit in the nation’s... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Spc. Luke Martinez Acuna, assigned to Joint Task Force- District of Columbia in support of the DC Safe and Beautiful mission, conducts Preventive Maintenance Checks and Services on a boat to ensure its mission capability on Joint Base Anacostia-Bolling in Washington, D.C., July 8, 2026.

Washington Guard’s Dark Rifles Battalion Builds Readiness Through Modernization
July 10, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Soldiers from the Washington National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team completed an ambitious annual training June 13-27 that... MORE

Soldiers from Washington National Guard's 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment train with the Bumblebee drone system, June 17, 2026, at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington.

Arizona Guard Military Police Return From Alaska Mission
July 10, 2026 — PHOENIX – More than 50 Soldiers assigned to the Arizona Army National Guard’s 855th Military Police Company returned home July 8 following a year-long mobilization to Fort Greely, Alaska, in support... MORE

Arizona Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 855th Military Police Company in formation during their homecoming ceremony at Papago Park Military Reservation, Arizona, July 8, 2026.

Alaska Guard Performs Four Rescues July 4 Weekend
July 9, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Soldiers and Airmen of the Alaska National Guard executed four missions to save four people during the July 4 holiday weekend.Maj. Kody Schmidt, Alaska Rescue... MORE

A G Company, 2-211th General Support Aviation Battalion, HH-60M Black Hawk crew chief hoists a hiker stranded on Matanuska Peak, Alaska, July 2, 2026.

Ohio Guard, Angola Sign State Partnership Program Agreement
July 8, 2026 — LUANDA, Angola – Senior military leaders from the Republic of Angola, the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Africa Command opened a new chapter in U.S.-Africa security cooperation during the Department of... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Matthew S. Woodruff, right, adjutant general for the Ohio National Guard, and Angolan Aviation Gen. Altino Carlos José dos Santos, left, chief of the General Staff of the Angolan Armed Forces, sign a Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program agreement prior to the 2026 African Chiefs of Defense Conference in Luanda, Angola, June 29, 2026.

Washington Guard Boosts Thai Partners’ Armored Fleet Readiness
July 8, 2026 — CHON BURI PROVINCE, Thailand – Mechanics and logisticians with the Washington National Guard wrapped up a three-week maintenance and logistics exchange with the Royal Thai Army in Ko Chan District... MORE

Mechanics and logisticians with the Washington National Guard wrapped up a three-week maintenance and logistics exchange with the Royal Thai Army in Ko Chan District on May 30, 2026.