Guard News - The National Guard

Virginia Guard Tests Cyberattack Scenarios at Cyber Fortress 26
August 20, 2026 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The Virginia Army National Guard’s 91st Cyber Brigade hosted Cyber Fortress 26, a joint, interagency, intergovernmental and multinational exercise, July 25 - Aug. 8 at the State... MORE

Cyber Fortress 26 tests military, civilian experts on domestic cyber-attack scenarios

Air Guard Builds Combat Readiness at Patriot Forge II
August 20, 2026 — FORT DEVENS, Mass. – Nearly 200 Air National Guard civil engineers moved through dense terrain carrying weapons and combat equipment, navigated without relying on Global Positioning System, operated... MORE

Airmen establish a defensive perimeter in the forest.

Georgia Army Guard Streamlines Medical Readiness
August 20, 2026 — MARIETTA, Ga. – The Georgia Army National Guard achieved the second-highest medical and dental readiness rating among the 54 states and territories after more than 6,600 Soldiers completed Soldier... MORE

Image of the Georgia Army National Guard conducting Soldier Readiness Processing training.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Injured Hiker From Hatcher Pass
August 20, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska — At the request of the Alaska State Troopers, Alaska Air National Guardsmen of the 176th Wing rescued an injured hiker from steep terrain in the Hatcher Pass... MORE

A U.S. Air Force HH-60W Jolly Green II assigned to the 210th Rescue Squadron, 176th Wing, Alaska Air National Guard, flies over Southcentral Alaska.

Southern Accord 2026 Concludes With Renewed Commitment to Partnership
August 19, 2026 — BOTSWANA — Exercise Southern Accord 2026 concluded with North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defence Force leaders reaffirming their commitment to strengthening military partnerships and... MORE

U.S. and Botswana military personnel pose for a photo following the closing ceremony for Exercise Southern Accord 2026 at Gaborone Technical College in Gaborone, Botswana, Aug. 15.

Nordhaus, Raines highlight global impact of State Partnership Program
August 18, 2026 — SAVANNAH, Ga. — Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief of the National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, senior enlisted advisor to the chief, highlighted the State Partnership... MORE

Air Force Lt. Gen. Steven S. Nordhaus, 30th Chief of the National Guard Bureau, speaks at the 2026 State Partnership Program Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, in August.

National Guard Recognizes Top State Partnership Program Achievements
August 18, 2026 — SAVANNAH, Ga. — The National Guard Bureau announced the recipients of the 2025 State Partnership Program (SPP) Awards during a recent conference, recognizing individuals, teams and partnerships whose... MORE

2026 State Partnership Program Conference graphic

Montana National Guard Soldier Awarded Soldier’s Medal for Heroic Rescue
August 18, 2026 — BELGRADE, Mont. — U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee received the Soldier’s Medal during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory Aug. 16 for heroic actions that saved the lives of two critically injured hikers in... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Trenton J. Gibson, adjutant general of the Montana National Guard, presents the Soldier’s Medal to U.S. Army Sgt. Adam M. Lee during a ceremony at the Belgrade Armory in Belgrade, Mont., Aug. 16.

Washington Guard, Malaysia Strengthen Expeditionary Capabilities
August 17, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. — Two Washington Army National Guard Soldiers joined Malaysian and active-duty U.S. Army counterparts for a weeklong working group, Aug. 3-7, at Camp Terendek in Melaka, Malaysia,... MORE

Group Photo during the Rapid Deployment Force working group, Aug. 3-7, 2026, at Camp Terendek, Melaka, Malaysia. Courtesy photo.

Washington Guardsman Supports Wildfire Recovery at Home
August 17, 2026 — SPOKANE, Wash. – As wildfires spread across Spokane and Stevens counties Aug. 1, threatening homes and forcing residents to evacuate, Washington Army National Guard Sgt. Keegan Tarbell watched the... MORE

Washington Army National Guard Sgt. Keegan Tarbell, assigned to the 341st Military Intelligence Battalion, carries an emergency relief package alongside an American Red Cross volunteer during the Spokane-area wildfire response in Spokane, Wash., Aug. 11.

Alabama Air Guard Tests Combat Readiness During Tuskegee Thunder
August 17, 2026 — DANNELLY FIELD, Ala. — Airmen assigned to the 187th Fighter Wing trained to generate and sustain F-35A Lightning II combat airpower under pressure during Operation Tuskegee Thunder, Aug. 12-14.The... MORE

An Alabama Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter conducts nighttime medical evacuation training during Operation Tuskegee Thunder at Dannelly Field, Alabama, Aug. 13, 2026.

Oregon Guard Assists With Hagen Fire Response
August 14, 2026 — PENDLETON, Ore. – Inside the cabin of an HH-60M Black Hawk, Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders leans out over the open door, eyes locked on a water bucket swinging 100 feet below the aircraft. The pilots up... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Kyle Sanders, a crew chief with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation, watches as water releases from an HH-60M Black Hawk helicopter's bucket onto the Hagen Fire in Umatilla County, Oregon, Aug. 10, 2026.

Michigan Guard Proves Command and Control Capability at Northern Strike
August 14, 2026 — ALPENA, Mich. – The Michigan National Guard’s 110th Wing conducted an air component forward experiment during exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Aug 3-14,... MORE

U.S. Air Force members assigned to the 217th Air Component Operations Squadron collaborate in support of Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan, Aug. 4, 2026.

Pennsylvania Guard Strengthens Partnership With Lithuania
August 14, 2026 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. – A team from the Pennsylvania National Guard’s 171st Air Refueling Wing Communications Squadron traveled to Lithuania July 12-25, completing the unit’s fifth rotation supporting the... MORE

From left, Staff Sgt. Adan Mancera, cybersecurity journeyman, 171st Air Refueling Wing; Senior Master Sgt. Robert Beveridge, warfighter communications superintendent, 171st Air Refueling Wing; and Maj. Aivaras Ramanauskar, chief of cyber operations, Lithuanian Cyber Command, pose for a photo at the Lithuanian Cyber Command in Vilnius July 14, 2026.

National Guard Planning Course Prepares Military for Future Threats
August 14, 2026 — CAMP FOGARTY, R.I. – A five-day planning course helps Soldiers, Airmen and interagency partners learn to build relationships and develop integrated plans that enable military and civilian... MORE

National Guard service members participate in the National Guard Joint Planners Course on Aug. 6, 2026, at Camp Fogarty, R.I. For five days, military and civilian planners learn how to integrate military, state, federal and civilian capabilities to develop whole-of-state solutions for domestic emergencies and homeland defense.

New York Guard Airmen Strengthen Capabilities in Unfamiliar Terrain
August 14, 2026 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska – Security forces Airmen from the New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing conducted land navigation and active shooter training July 13-19 in Alaska,... MORE

New York Air National Guardsmen assigned to 107th Security Forces squadron begin to set coordinates for their next checkpoint during a land navigation exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richarson, Alaska, July 16, 2026.

Oregon Guard Supports Klamath County Wildfire Evacuations
August 14, 2026 — KINGSLEY FIELD, Ore. – Seventy-three Airmen from the Oregon National Guard’s 173rd Fighter Wing have been activated to support the Klamath County Sheriff’s Office with evacuation and wildfire... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt Alexander Giden, 173rd Maintenance Group Aircraft Metals Technology Specialist, and U.S. Air Force Master Sgt Richard Chaffin, 173rd Maintenance Support Group, Aerospace Ground Equipment Helper, help an evacuee as the evacuee gathers belongings at Klamath Falls, Oregon, Aug. 11, 2026.

Colorado Guard Assists With Aspen Acres Fire
August 13, 2026 — PUEBLO, Colo. – Destructive wildfires threatened Colorado communities during the summer of 2026, resulting in the activation of the Colorado Army National Guard to provide critical, targeted support... MORE

Members of the Colorado Army National Guard’s 220th Military Police Company support the Pueblo County Sheriff’s office, managing traffic control points for road closures and evacuated areas near the Aspen Acres Fire, Pueblo, Colorado, July 9, 2026.

Arkansas Guard Airmen Strengthen Readiness With Integration Training
August 12, 2026 — EBBING AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ark. – Seventeen Airmen from the Arkansas National Guard’s 188th Intelligence Support Squadron, or ISS, recently returned from their annual training at Ramstein Air... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Tessah Satterfield, an Arkansas National Guard 188th Intelligence Support Squadron aviation resource manager, recently deployed to Germany for a temporary duty, or TDY, assignment to provide support to the 693rd Wing at Ramstein Air Base.

Oklahoma Guard, Royal Brunei Open Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26
August 12, 2026 — TUTONG CAMP, Brunei – Oklahoma National Guard and Royal Brunei Land Force Soldiers marched together to the beat of drums during the Aug. 11 opening ceremony of Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26, marking... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Michael Scanlon, deputy chief of staff for operations, Oklahoma Army National Guard salutes the formation during the opening ceremony for Exercise Pahlawan Warrior 26 at Tutong Camp near Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei, Aug. 11, 2026.