Guard News - The National Guard

National Guard, French Army Leaders Mark Shared History, Alliance in Ceremony
February 25, 2026 — WASHINGTON – National Guard senior leaders joined French army leaders in a ceremony Feb. 24 marking the longstanding alliance between the U.S. and France and honoring the sacrifices of service members... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Carrie Perez, left, director of Army personnel management at the National Guard Bureau, and French army Lt. Gen. Frédéric Gout, head of the French army’s personnel branch, salute during a wreath presentation at the World War I Memorial at Pershing Park in Washington during a ceremony marking the longstanding alliance between the two countries, Feb. 24, 2026.

Exercise Justified Accord 2026 Begins in Kenya, Tanzania
February 25, 2026 — NAIROBI, Kenya – Exercise Justified Accord 2026, the U.S. Africa Command's largest annual, multinational exercise in East Africa, officially began Feb. 23 across Djibouti, Kenya and Tanzania.Led by... MORE

National Guardsmen Train in Pennsylvania to Use Small Drones
February 25, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – National Guard Soldiers from various backgrounds, skillsets and military occupational specialties attending a 10-day small unmanned aircraft system operator course, or sUAS,... MORE

A small unmanned aircraft system operator course is being conducted at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, Feb. 19-28, 2026.

Oklahoma Army National Guard Deploys for Fire Suppression Mission
February 25, 2026 — OKLAHOMA CITY – At the request of Oklahoma Emergency Management and with the authorization of Gov. Kevin Stitt, members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard are responding to wildfires in northwest... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk flies over the 702 Fire in Blaine County, Oklahoma after dropping more than 600 gallons of water on the fire, July 16, 2022.

Illinois, Pennsylvania and California Guardsmen Strengthen Ties with State Partners
February 25, 2026 — LUBLIN, Poland – The Lithuanian, Polish, Ukrainian Brigade, or LITPOLUKRBRIG, conducted Exercise Brave Band 2026 from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6, an annual battle staff training event designed to enhance the... MORE

Allies and partners gather for a group photo after the Brave Band 2026 Exercise.

Tennessee Guardsmen Rescue Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains
February 25, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – A flight crew with the Tennessee Army National Guard, based at Joint Base McGhee-Tyson, rescued a hiker suffering from severe cold-weather injuries Feb. 24 in the Great Smoky... MORE

Sgt. Christopher Burke, a Black Hawk crew chief, and Master Sgt. Tracy Banta, a flight paramedic with the Tennessee Army National Guard, begin hoisting an injured hiker with severe cold weather injuries into a hovering UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Feb. 24, 2026.

Oregon Guardsman Innovates to Maintain Jets
February 24, 2026 — PORTLAND, Ore. – Staff Sgt. Kenneth Fritz, an avionics integrated systems technician at the 142nd Wing, Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, spends his days solving problems with jets most people... MORE

Staff Sgt. Kenneth Fritz adjusts the intercommunication control panel with dial adjuster he manufactured, Portland Air National Guard Base, Oregon, Jan 31, 2026.

Guard Leaders Gather for Domestic Ops Conference, Sync Emergency Response Plans
February 23, 2026 — ARLINGTON, Va. – Leaders from throughout the Army and Air National Guard gathered at the National Guard Professional Education Center at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, Feb. 10-12, for the National... MORE

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Travis T. Boltjes, vice director of operations, National Guard Bureau Joint Staff, speaks to attendees of the 2026 National Guard Domestic Operations Conference at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas, Feb. 10, 2026.

New York Guard Soldiers Receive French Medal for Actions in Iraq
February 23, 2026 — ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers who helped rescue 34 French special forces during an August 2023 firefight in Iraq received the French equivalent of the Bronze Star during... MORE

Five of six New York Army National Guard Soldiers who received a French medal in recognition of the aid they offered to French special operations forces in August 2023, stand in formation during an award ceremony in Rochester, New York, Feb. 22, 2026.

Connecticut Guard Hosts Sendoff Ceremony Before Deployment
February 23, 2026 — HARTFORD, Conn. – The Connecticut Army National Guard hosted a sendoff ceremony Feb. 21 at the Gov. William A. O’Neill Armory for about 80 Soldiers assigned to the 143rd Regional Support Group as they... MORE

Soldiers of the 143rd Regional Support Group stand in formation during a sendoff ceremony for the unit at the Gov. William A. O'Neill Armory in Hartford, Connecticut, Feb. 21, 2026.

Wyoming High School Seniors Commit to Air National Guard
February 23, 2026 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Three Cheyenne Central High School seniors have taken a step toward service, formally committing to join the Wyoming Air National Guard during the school’s annual Senior Military... MORE

A graduating senior walks beneath a ceremonial saber arch formed by the Cheyenne Central High School Junior ROTC Color Guard during Senior Military Night in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Feb. 17, 2026.

Michigan Guard Soldiers Welcomed Home from Southern Border Mobilization
February 23, 2026 — LANSING, Mich. – The 1463rd Transportation Company of the Michigan National Guard was officially welcomed home during a Yellow Ribbon reintegration event held Feb. 21 following a 14-month activation... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen Ravindra V. Wagh, the assistant adjutant general of the Michigan Army National Guard, addresses the Soldiers of the 1463rd Transportation Company, 272nd Regional Support Group, during their Yellow Ribbon reintegration event heldFeb. 21 in Lansing, Michigan.

Virginia Guard Participates in Finnish Cyber Security Exercise
February 23, 2026 — RIIHIMÄKI, Finland – Virginia National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 91st Cyber Brigade and the 185th Cyberspace Operations Squadron, 192nd Wing participated in Elements... MORE

Pennsylvania Guard Team Wins Innovation Category at Army Drone Competition
February 23, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – A team of Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division won the innovation competition at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter... MORE

Soldiers from the 28th Infantry Division who won the innovation category at the U.S. Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition receive their award from Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll, right, Feb. 19, 2026, in Huntsville, Alabama.

Louisiana Guard Supports Law Enforcement Partners During Mardi Gras
February 20, 2026 — NEW ORLEANS – Louisiana National Guard Soldiers supported federal, state and local law enforcement partners throughout peak Mardi Gras operations in the French Quarter, assisting with crowd... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas Friloux, adjutant general of Louisiana, and Command Sgt. Maj. Clifford Ockman, command senior enlisted leader of the Louisiana National Guard, join city officials, federal partners and leaders from state agencies during the annual ceremonial walk down Bourbon Street marking the official close of Carnival Season in New Orleans, Feb. 18, 2026.

Massachusetts Guardsman Collaborates With Top AI Researchers in Prestigious Fellowship
February 20, 2026 — CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Massachusetts National Guard Senior Airman Matthew Wright recently completed a challenging five-month fellowship program at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology through a... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Matthew Wright, a cyber analyst with the 267th Intelligence Squadron, poses for a photo on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, Feb. 18, 2026.

Oklahoma National Guard Unveils New Wellness Center
February 20, 2026 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma National Guard leadership held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Feb. 19 for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center, a nearly 35,000-square-foot facility at the Oklahoma City... MORE

Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, Col. Lindy White and Capt. E.J. Johnson, Oklahoma Army National Guard, are joined by Oklahoma Rep. Chris Kannady, as well as representatives from Flintco Construction, Larson Design Group and Oklahoma Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office, during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center in Oklahoma City, Feb. 19, 2026.

Guam Guard Hosts Clandestine Drug Lab Multi-Agency Exercise
February 20, 2026 — BARRIGADA, Guam – The Guam National Guard’s 94th Civil Support Team, together with New Mexico Guard’s 64th Civil Support Team and Andersen Air Force Base’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological and... MORE

Soldiers of the Guam and New Mexico National Guards, together with Airmen from the Andersen Air Force Base Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Explosives Response Team, survey a clandestine drug laboratory during a multiagency exercise hosted by the Guam Guard, Barrigada, Feb. 18, 2026.

Louisiana Guard Military Police Company Holds Departure Ceremony
February 20, 2026 — PINEVILLE, La. – The Louisiana National Guard’s 2228th Military Police Company, 773rd Military Police Battalion, 139th Regional Support Group, bid farewell to family, friends and fellow service... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the Louisiana National Guard’s 2228th Military Police Company recite the Soldier’s Creed at the conclusion of a departure ceremony at the post theater on Camp Beauregard in Pineville, Louisiana, Feb. 11, 2026.

Alaska Guard Rescues Overdue Snowmachiner in Remote Area
February 20, 2026 — BETHEL, Alaska – An Alaska Army National Guard aircrew assigned to Bethel conducted a successful search and rescue mission to locate and extract an overdue snowmachiner during a mission coordinated... MORE