Guard News - The National Guard

Washington Army Guard Officer Earns Jungle Tab
January 8, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – When he decided to join the Washington National Guard, 1st Lt. Jenner Sapienza set out to pursue challenging opportunities.While serving as the training officer at the 205th... MORE

1st Lt. Jenner Sapienza poses with the 25th Infantry Division "Lightning Academy" sign following graduation of the U.S. Army Jungle Operations Training Course, Schofield Barracks, Wahiawa, Hawaii, Dec. 19, 2025.

Virginia Guard Completes Equipment Movement in Africa
January 8, 2026 — CAMP LEMONNIER, Djibouti – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, completed an... MORE

Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Powhatan-based 180th Engineer Support Company, 276th Engineer Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, load a Caterpillar D6K Dozer onto a West Virginia Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules while supporting Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of Africa, Dec. 3, 2025.

New York Air Guard Helps Commemorate 13th U.S. President’s Birthday
January 8, 2026 — BUFFALO, N.Y. – The New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing honored Millard Fillmore, the nation’s 13th president, when the wing’s Mission Support Group deputy commander laid a wreath at his gravesite... MORE

107th Mission Support Group Deputy Commander Lt. Col. Andrew Rodgers presents the presidential wreath on behalf of President Donald J. Trump at Millard Fillmore's gravesite, Jan. 7 2026, Buffalo, N.Y.

Washington Guard, Thailand Participate in Aviation Exchange
January 6, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Guard members from the Washington National Guard’s 96th Aviation Troop Command conducted an Aviation Subject Matter Expert Exchange, or SMEE, with Royal Thai aviation partners... MORE

Capt. Taylor Payne, Army Aviation Support Facility 2 commander and State Partnership Program aviation liaison, receives a coin from his Royal Thai Army counterpart during the closing ceremonies following an Aviation Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Lop Buri, Thailand, Dec. 12, 2025.

Washington Guard Participates in Stryker Exchange with Thai Partners
January 6, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Soldiers from the Washington Army National Guard’s G4 maintenance section led a Stryker Maintainer and Maintenance Manager Subject Matter Expert Exchange, or SMEE, with Royal Thai... MORE

Washington Guard members and Royal Thai Army members pose for a group photo during the Stryker Maintainer and Maintenance Manager Subject Matter Expert Exchange in Chon Buri Province, Thailand, Dec. 1–19, 2025.

New York National Guard Conducted 6,166 Military Funeral Honors in 2025
January 5, 2026 — LATHAM, N.Y. – New York National Guard Soldiers and Airmen provided military funeral honors at 6,166 graveside services in 2025.The 69 Soldiers who serve in the New York Army National Guard Honor... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the New York National Guard Honor Guard carry the remains of U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Pagliuso during Pagliuso's funeral service in Lyons, N.Y. Nov. 7, 2025.

National Guard Stops Apartment Fire in the District
January 5, 2026 — WASHINGTON – Three West Virginia National Guard members on a routine presence patrol along N Street Northwest recently stopped a dryer fire in an apartment building after detecting the faint smell of... MORE

From left, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brett Fries, U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler E. Farley and Sgt. Devin Cantwell, members of the West Virginia National Guard, pose for a photo before their patrols in Washington, D.C., Dec. 31, 2025.

New Jersey Guard Soldier Saves Her Own Life Using Lessons From U.S. Army Training
January 2, 2026 — PHILADELPHIA, Pa. – New Jersey Army National Guard Spc. Sanaa Drinks survived a drive-by shooting and credits her survival to the skills she learned while in U.S. Army Basic Combat Training.Three... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Sanaa Drinks, a Soldier with the New Jersey Army National Guard, poses for a picture during a ruck march at Fort Sill, Oklahoma.

Washington Guard Trains Partner Agencies in Life-Saving Medicine
December 30, 2025 — RIDGEFIELD, Wash. – When seconds matter and help is still minutes away, the ability to stop severe bleeding or stabilize a wounded person can mean the difference between life and death. To ensure law... MORE

Instructors from the Washington National Guard's Western Regional Counterdrug Training Center conduct an enhanced tactical medicine course with the Ridgefield Police Department in Ridgefield, Wash., Dec. 11, 2025.

Pennsylvania’s 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment Prepares for Deployment
December 30, 2025 — FORT HOOD, Texas — Soldiers with the Pennsylvania Guard’s 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, or MPAD, are finalizing readiness tasks and training before their deployment to Europe in support of... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with the 109th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, 213th Regional Support Group, march around Fort Hood, Texas, Dec. 20, 2025.

Connecticut Guard’s 103rd Airlift Wing Completes Major C-130 Fleet Modernization
December 29, 2025 — EAST GRANBY, Conn. – This year marked a major milestone for the Connecticut Air National Guard’s C-130 Hercules fleet when the 103rd Airlift Wing completed both a T-56 Series 3.5 engine upgrade and an... MORE

U.S. Master Sgt. Dan Doyle and Tech Sgt. Alex Morin, propulsion technicians with the 103d Maintenance Group, complete engine maintenance on a C-130 Hercules in the hangar in East Granby, Conn., on Oct. 3, 2025.

2025 Marks Historic Year for Guard Members
December 23, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. – For many Guard members, 2025 was a busy year.Soldiers and Airmen deployed overseas. They took part in missions along the southern border. Teams responded to natural disasters and... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Josh Lapooh, a special warfare tactical air control party Airman assigned to the 124th Air Support Operations Squadron, Idaho Air National Guard, trains on close air support operations at Saylor Creek Bombing Range, Idaho, Dec. 16, 2025.

Illinois Guard’s 725th Transportation Company Kept European Command Fueled
December 23, 2025 — MACHESNEY PARK, Ill. – About 160 Soldiers of the Illinois Army National Guard’s Machesney Park-based 725th Transportation Company celebrated a deployment to U.S. European Command in which the unit... MORE

Multiple Illinois Army National Guard 725th Transportation Company Soldiers were awarded military medals ranging from Meritorious Service Medals to Army Achievement Medals during the unit’s Welcome Home ceremony, Dec. 13, 2025, at Harlem High School in Machesney Park, Ill.

Air National Guard Touts Key Changes After Record-Setting Recruitment Year
December 23, 2025 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The Air National Guard's most successful recruiting year, with nearly 12,000 new members in fiscal year 2025, coincides with a major restructuring of its operations to better support... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brittany Fralick, a production recruiter with the 108th Wing, New Jersey Air National Guard, center, is honored with a sabre salute during the Operation Blue Suit banquet at the Hidden Gem in New Braunfels, Texas, March 27, 2025.

New York Air Guard Supports NORAD's Annual Santa Tracking Operation on Christmas Eve
December 22, 2025 — ROME, N.Y. – The North American Aerospace Defense Command defends the North American airspace 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, and includes the New York Air Guard members of the... MORE

New York Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the Eastern Air Defense Sector in Rome, New York, prepare for their Santa Tracking on Christmas Eve as part of their North American Aerospace Defense Command mission on Dec. 19, 2025.

Michigan National Guard Hosts Sierra Leone to Strengthen New Partnership
December 19, 2025 — LANSING, Mich.— The partnership between the Michigan National Guard and Sierra Leone recently marked another significant step forward in the Department of War National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Michael Engel, Warrant Officer 1 Courtney Topper, Warrant Officer 1 Jacob Shumway, Warrant Officer 1 Alex G. Sama, chief of logistics for the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces, and Maj. Edward K. John pose for a photo during a Department of War National Guard Bureau's State Partnership Program engagement in Michigan, December 2024.

National Guard Responds to Historic Flooding in Western Washington
December 19, 2025 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As rivers overtopped banks and levees failed across western Washington, the Washington National Guard launched one of its largest and fastest flood responses in recent memory,... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 303rd Cavalry Regiment, 96th Troop Command, Washington Army National Guard fill sand bags in Sedro Woolley, Wash., Dec. 11, 2025

Operation Santa Comes to Anchorage, Spreads Holiday Cheer for Western Alaskans
December 19, 2025 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — For nearly 70 years, the Alaska National Guard has worked with partner agencies to spread holiday cheer to rural Alaskan communities through Operation Santa... MORE

Members of the Alaska Air and Army National Guard and the Department of Homeland Security, along with volunteers from the Salvation Army and the Alaska National Guard Child and Youth Program, hosted families from Kipnuk and Kwigillingok during Operation Santa Claus 2025 at the Alaska Native Heritage Center in Anchorage, Alaska, on Dec. 14, 2025.

California Guard’s 129th Rescue Wing Hoists Woman From Cruise Ship
December 19, 2025 — MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. – A 79-year-old cruise ship passenger found unresponsive Dec. 16 is back on land following a high-risk overnight rescue by the California Air National Guard's 129th Rescue... MORE

Three Pararescue Airmen from the 131st Rescue Squadron, 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, at left in orange, join for a group photo at Moffett Air National Guard Base in Mountain View with HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopter aircrew members from the 129th Rescue Squadron, early in the morning of Dec. 17 after rescuing a woman with a medical emergency from the Ruby Princess cruise ship 130 nautical miles southwest of San Francisco.

Louisiana Guard’s Youth Challenge Program’s 130 Cadets Graduate
December 19, 2025 — PINEVILLE, La. – One hundred thirty cadets graduated from the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program Class 2025-1 during a Dec. 13 ceremony at the Randolph Riverfront Center in Alexandria,... MORE

Cadets from the Louisiana National Guard’s Youth Challenge Program Class 2025-1 prepare for a graduation ceremony at the Randolph Riverfront Center in Alexandria, Louisiana, on Dec. 13, 2025.