Guard News - The National Guard

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.

Washington Guard Tests Project Homeland During World Cup
July 8, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – The Washington National Guard’s Joint Operations Center was assessed during a June 26 World Cup game on how the state was using Project Homeland, a long-term modernization... MORE

Maj. Pierre Matte, Joint Operations Center Battle Manager, updates Ken Flowers, National Guard Bureau chief information officer/J6’s chief tech officer and division chief, J65 National Guard Bureau on the National Guard support to Seattle’s FIFA World Cup 2026 matches, June 26, 2026 at the Joint Operations Center, Camp Murray, Washington.

Togolese Officials Sharpen Disaster Response With North Dakota, Army Partners
July 8, 2026 — AGOME-GLOZOU, Togo – Togo’s National Civil Protection Agency, or NCPA, conducted a field training exercise with North Dakota disaster-relief experts and civil affairs Soldiers assigned to the U.S... MORE

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitchell Johnson, second from the right, the adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard and director of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services, speaks with the military member of Togo’s National Civil Protection Agency, or NCPA, left, during a visit to a field operations center at the field exercise portion of Operation Lignite Coast 2026 in Agome-Glozou, Togo, June 15, 2026.

North Carolina Guard Aviation Units Build Mission-Essential Skills
July 7, 2026 — MORRISVILLE, N.C. – Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted annual training across North Carolina from April to June, strengthening aviation capabilities and improving... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 131st Aviation Regiment prepare a sling load for hookup during annual training at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, June 4, 2026.

N.C. Guard Strengthens Readiness in Operation Carolina Surge
July 7, 2026 — MORRISVILLE, N.C. — Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade tested their ability to command and synchronize aviation operations in a contested environment during Operation Carolina... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 449th Combat Aviation Brigade conducted a Large-Scale Combat Operations exercise, Operation Carolina Surge, during the unit’s annual training in Morrisville, NC, May 30th through June 14th, 2026.

Second Consecutive National Guard Member Assumes Senior Enlisted Role at Defense Security Cooperation Agency
July 7, 2026 — ARLINGTON, Va. – U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude assumed responsibility as command senior enlisted leader to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency during a ceremony at DSCA... MORE

U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daryl Plude, incoming command senior enlisted leader to the director of the Defense Security Cooperation Agency and member of the National Guard, left, stands with Mary Beth Morgan, acting director of DSCA, center, and U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Mikael "Mack” Sundin, outgoing CSEL and member of the National Guard, right, following their change of responsibility ceremony at DSCA headquarters in Arlington, Virginia, July 1, 2026.

Washington Guard, Malaysia Partners Gather for Bersama Warrior
July 6, 2026 — KUANTAN, Malaysia – The Washington National Guard and the Malaysian Armed Forces have ended the 12th iteration of Bersama Warrior, a bilateral, U.S. Army Pacific-led joint exercise held at the Joint... MORE

U.S. and Malaysian service members pose for a group photo during the closing ceremony for Bersama Warrior 26 at the Joint Warfighting Center, Kuantan, Malaysia, June 12, 2026.

Tennessee Guard Hosts First Drone Trainer Course
July 2, 2026 — SMYRNA, Tenn. – Twelve Tennessee Army National Guard Soldiers became the first graduates of Tennessee’s new Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or SUAS, Master Trainer course led by the 1-117th Military... MORE

Staff Sgt. Alexander Spradling, an instructor with the 1-117th Military Police Battalion’s Multifunction Company prepares to launch an RQ-28A, a small, unmanned aircraft during the Small Unmanned Aircraft System, or SUAS, Master Trainer pilot course at Tullahoma’s Volunteer Training Site, June 23, 2026.

Montana Guard Completes Combat Readiness Inspection
July 2, 2026 — GREAT FALLS, Mont. – Airmen assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, concluded Operation War Hog Breakout, a four-day Combat Readiness Inspection that evaluated the wing's... MORE

Airmen assigned to the 120th Airlift Wing, Montana Air National Guard, participate in Operation War Hog Breakout during a Combat Readiness Inspection in Great Falls and Helena, Montana, 2026.

Army National Guard Wins National Aviation Safety Award
July 2, 2026 — BRIDGEPORT, W.Va. – The Army National Guard’s Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site, or FWAATS, operated by the West Virginia Army National Guard, received the 2025 Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army... MORE

The West Virginia Army National Guard Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site receives the 2025 Lt. Gen. Allen M. Burdett Jr. Army Aviation Flight Safety Award during an award ceremony on June 29, 2026.

Guam Guard Partners with Navy Helicopter Squadron for Training
July 1, 2026 — DEDEDO, Guam – A Guam National Guard unit deployed under Task Force Talon, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, partnered with the Navy’s Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron, or HSC, 25 for joint medical... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Alan San Nicolas of the Guam National Guard, assigned to Task Force Talon, 38th Air Defense Artillery Brigade, pulls security for a U.S. Navy SH-60 Seahawk during a joint medical evacuation and Air Assault tactical training event on Guam, May 26, 2026.