Guard News - The National Guard

NGB Leaders Visit ’Top-notch’ Guardsmen in New Hampshire
November 29, 2024 — PORTSMOUTH, N.H. – The National Guard Bureau’s top leaders visited the New Hampshire National Guard Nov. 26 to better understand its people, missions and capabilities.Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus,... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, visit New Hampshire National Guardsmen at Pease Air National Guard Base, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, Nov. 26, 2024.

Kansas National Guard Airman Recognized for Saving a Life
November 29, 2024 — TOPEKA, Kan. - One of the benefits of joining the Kansas National Guard is the skills learned may be useful in the civilian world. While Tech. Sgt. Ryan Ewing’s skills as a boom operator in a KC-135... MORE

On Sept. 26, 2024, Maj. Gen. Michael Venerdi, Kansas adjutant general, presented the Kansas Medal of Excellence to Tech. Sgt. Ryan Ewing for resuscitating a man at a Milwaukee hotel.

Alaska Guard’s Operation Santa Claus Brings Holiday Cheer
November 29, 2024 — CIRCLE, Alaska - Alaska Army and Air National Guard members and Salvation Army volunteers boarded a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with Santa Claus Nov. 6 to deliver gifts to the remote village of Circle... MORE

Santa Claus smiles after arriving in Circle, Alaska, on board an Alaska Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk to deliver gifts to children during Operation Santa Claus, Nov. 6, 2024. The Alaska National Guard's annual community outreach program has provided toys, backpacks and books to children in remote Alaskan communities since 1956.

Embracing Heritage: Spc. Brianna Hunter’s Choctaw Journey
November 29, 2024 — MURRAY, Ky. - Learning about self-identity and heritage is a struggle for many young Americans. Sometimes, it takes a special push from family, friends or your community to figure out who you are.Spc... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Hunter poses in front of the Murray State University newsroom wearing a hand-beaded necklace from the Mississippi Band of Choctaws in Murray, Kentucky on Nov. 25, 2024. Hunter is one-eighth Choctaw and serves in the Kentucky National Guard.

Massachusetts Guard Civil Support Team Put to the Test
November 27, 2024 — NORTH ATTLEBORO, Mass. – Outside an empty school, the hum of generators and radios squawking breaks the silence. Inside, members of the Massachusetts National Guard’s 1st Weapons of Mass Destruction... MORE

A member of the Massachusetts National Guard 1st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team looks for signs of contamination during an evaluation training event at the Emerald Square Mall Nov. 7, 2024. The CST was tested over two days in North Attleboro.

Swedish Army Chief Visits New York Army Guard Exercise
November 27, 2024 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. - Sweden’s top Army officer visited New York Army National Guard Soldiers from the 42nd Infantry Division conducting a command post exercise at Fort Indiantown Gap Nov... MORE

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elsa Canales, support operations officer for the 369th Sustainment Brigade, New York National Guard, speaks with members of the Swedish military as she gives them a tour of the 42nd Infantry Division’s command post exercise operations at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., Nov. 21, 2024. The New York National Guard and Sweden entered into an official partnership as part of the National Guard’s State Partnership Program in July, focusing on shared values and training to build relationships and capabilities for both military forces.

Alaska Air Guard, Coast Guard Rescue Pilot at Iliamna Lake
November 27, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 211th Rescue Squadron helped the Coast Guard rescue the pilot of a downed Cessna 207 Nov. 21 at Iliamna Lake.The Coast... MORE

An Alaska Air National Guard HC-130J Combat King II assigned to the 211th Rescue Squadron passes over Malemute Drop Zone during airborne sustainment training at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, July 10, 2024. A 211th RQS HC-130 worked with a Coast Guard District 17 HH-60 Jayhawk to rescue a plane crash victim Nov. 21, 2024, at Lake Iliamna.

Idaho National Guard Trains with US, Indian Special Forces
November 27, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The U.S. Army’s 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne), along with partners from the Indian Army’s Special Operations Forces and the Idaho National Guard’s 124th Air Support Operations... MORE

Soldiers with U.S. Army's 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and India's Special Operations Forces rush to cover at the Orchard Combat Training Center's Combined Arms Collective Training Facility near Boise, Idaho. The two units were joined by the Idaho Air National Guard's 124th Air Support Squadron to conduct Exercise Vajra Prahar Nov. 2-22.

Michigan Guard, Sierra Leone Develop New Partnership
November 26, 2024 — FREETOWN, Sierra Leone – Subject matter experts from the Michigan Army and Air National Guard visited Sierra Leone Nov. 14-23 to begin developing their State Partnership Program relationship with the... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Sgt. Derek Smith, 177th Regional Training Institute, Michigan National Guard; U.S. Air Force Capt. Andrew Layton, bilateral affairs officer, Michigan National Guard; and U.S. Army Master Sgt. Daniel Blaser, chief instructor, 177 RTI, with instructor cadre members at the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces Training Center, Benguema, Sierra Leone, Nov. 19, 2024. The Michigan National Guard and the Republic of Sierra Leone Armed Forces signed an agreement Sept. 12 to become partners under the State Partnership Program.

Massachusetts Guard Recognized for Environmental Stewardship
November 26, 2024 — JOINT BASE CAPE COD, Mass. - Camp Edwards, the Massachusetts National Guard’s premier training site, has been recognized as the 2024 Northeast Region Military Conservation Partner by the U.S. Fish and... MORE

Jake McCumber, program manager, Massachusetts Army National Guard Natural Resources & Training Lands Program, highlights conservation achievements at Camp Edwards Training Site Nov. 22, 2024. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service presented his team with the 2024 Northeast Region Military Conservation Partner Award.

New York Army National Guard Aviators Help Control Wildfire
November 26, 2024 — GREENWOOD LAKE, N.Y. - New York Army National Guard aviators dropped 550,160 gallons of water on the 5,200-acre Jennings Creek fire Nov. 11-20 as state and local firefighters fought the Orange County... MORE

A New York Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter dumps water on the 5,200-acre Jennings Creek Fire in Greenwood Lake, New York, Nov. 15, 2024, while fighting the wildfire on the New York-New Jersey border in Orange County. New York Army National Guard’s aviators spent nine days assisting state and local firefighting crews in containing the fire.

Runway Reopens at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center
November 26, 2024 — ALPENA, Mich. - After two years of construction, the new runway at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center officially reopened.The project provided the best-designed solution for military aircraft... MORE

Two Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center snowplows cut the ribbon at the runway repair ceremony Nov. 25, 2024, in Alpena, Michigan. The two-year, $60 million federally funded construction project repaired the entire primary runway at Alpena County Regional Airport that supports military and commercial aircraft operations.

Alaska Guard Delivers Meat to Storm-Ravaged Community
November 25, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Two years after the remnants of Typhoon Merbok flooded communities across thousands of miles of western Alaska, the community of Toksook Bay made a big step... MORE

Alaska Army National Guardsmen from the 207th Aviation Troop Command and Bison Company, 1st Battalion, 297th Infantry Regiment, load frozen meat for transport via UH-60L Black Hawk helicopter during an Innovative Readiness Training mission at the AKARNG hangar in Bethel, Alaska, Nov. 18, 2024. Two years ago, the community of Toksook Bay, whose population is almost entirely members of the Alaska Native Nunakauyarmiut Tribe living a subsistence lifestyle, lost thousands of pounds of meat that spoiled due to extended power outages caused by Typhoon Merbok flooding.

Washington Guard Recognized for Aircraft Crash Recovery Help
November 25, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Senior Department of Defense leaders, including Vice Adm. Dan Cheever, commander of Naval Air Forces, recently honored members of the Washington National Guard for supporting the... MORE

U.S. Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment (General Support Aviation Battalion), Washington National Guard, attach a cargo hook to a CH-47 Chinook during sling-load operations near Mount Rainier, Wash., Oct. 25, 2024. Washington National Guard aviation assets were activated Oct. 25-27 to support the U.S. Navy in its recovery of an EA-18G Growler fighter jet.

Ministry Dog Aids Michigan Army Guard Soldier Resiliency
November 25, 2024 — BATTLE CREEK, Mich. - Soldiers may have spotted a furry new face around the Michigan Army National Guard— a four-legged addition already making an impact. Penny, a small black Labrador, is no ordinary... MORE

Penny, a therapy dog with the Michigan Army National Guard, provides emotional support to Soldiers during training exercises and events at Fort Custer, November 2024. Penny works alongside Chaplain Adam Lavigne to foster resilience and well-being among service members.

Utah Army Guard Boosts Lethality with New Apache Aircraft
November 25, 2024 — WEST JORDAN, Utah – The 1st Battalion 211th Aviation Regiment, 97th Aviation Troop Command, is increasing its aerial lethality with 24 new AH-64E Apache Guardian attack aircraft.“The AH-64 Apache... MORE

The Utah Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment welcomed the newest AH-64E Apache Guardian into its ranks in West Jordan, Utah, Nov. 23, 2024. The most advanced attack helicopters enhance the Utah Army National Guard’s air lethality.

Idaho Guard Fighter Wing Tests Readiness in Nevada Desert
November 25, 2024 — BOISE, Idaho - The 124th Fighter Wing returned to Gowen Field Nov. 9 after spending more than 15 days training in the Nevada desert during the Green Flag West exercise.The exercise prepared units to... MORE

The 124th Fighter Wing participates in Green Flag West at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, Oct, 27-Nov. 8, 2024. GFW is a comprehensive joint exercise featuring live fly missions that immerse warfighters in advanced air-to-surface integration training.

Virginia National Guard Winds Down Poland Mission
November 22, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. - Approximately 40 Soldiers assigned to the Virginia National Guard’s 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 329th Regional Support Group, returned to the United States Nov. 19... MORE

The Virginia National Guard’s Virginia Beach-based 529th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion conducts a transfer of authority ceremony with the Georgia National Guard’s 110th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Nov. 6, 2024, in Zagan Palace in Zagan, Poland.

Stealth Bombers Land Precision Strike Against Houthi Militia
November 22, 2024 — BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, Louisiana - On Oct. 16, B-2 Spirit long-range bombers from Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, conducted precision strikes against five hardened underground weapons storage... MORE

A U.S. Air Force crew chief assigned to the 131st Maintenance Group marshals a B-2 Spirit stealth bomber on the flight line at Whiteman Air Force Base, Missouri, Feb. 1, 2024, Missouri Air National Guard Airmen work side-by-side with their regular Air Force counterparts to ensure B-2s are ready to fly at a moment’s notice.

Sweden Makes State Partnership Visit to 106th Rescue Wing
November 22, 2024 — WESTHAMPTON BEACH, N.Y. - Ten members of the Swedish Air Force visited the New York Air National Guard’s 106th Rescue Wing at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base as part of the State... MORE

U.S. Air Force Col. Jeffrey Cannet, 106th Rescue Wing commander, and Chief Master Sgt. Edward Rittberg, 106th command chief, receive a plaque from Swedish Lt. Col. Sebastien Blixte, a Swedish Air Force Ranger and chief of operations for Blekinge Wing, Sweden, at Francis S. Gabreski Air National Guard Base, Westhampton Beach, N.Y., Nov. 19, 2024. It was the initial key leader engagement for State Partnership Program partners Sweden and the New York National Guard.