Guard News - The National Guard

West Virginia Guard Builds Readiness at Northern Strike
August 10, 2026 — GRAYLING, Mich. – The West Virginia Army National Guard built readiness and enhanced interoperability during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2, using Camp Grayling’s expansive training areas and complex... MORE

M109A6 Paladins operated by U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to C Battery, 1st Battalion, 201st Field Artillery Regiment, West Virginia Army National Guard, prepare to conduct a nighttime live-fire mission during Exercise Northern Strike 26-2 at the National All-Domain Warfighting Center in Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 6, 2026.

Washington Guard Continues Statewide Wildfire Support
August 10, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As wildfires burn across the state, the Washington National Guard continues to provide aviation, hand crew and security support to communities and firefighters working to contain... MORE

Washington National Guard members conduct wildland fire support operations to Washington Department of Natural Resources at the Little Giant Fire near Leavenworth, Wash., Aug. 8, 2026.

Oregon Guard Strengthens Hazardous Response Capabilities
August 10, 2026 — CAMP RILEA, Ore. – Soldiers with the Oregon National Guard's 102nd Civil Support Team trained with members of the U.S. Coast Guard and Astoria Fire Department to strengthen partnerships and prepare... MORE

A U.S. Coast Guard boarding team member and an Oregon Air National Guardsman assigned to the Oregon National Guard's 102nd Civil Support Team use specialized equipment to search for a simulated radiological source aboard the Coast Guard Cutter David Duren during joint training in Astoria, Oregon, Aug. 5, 2026.

Montana Guard Modernizes With New Fuel Complex
August 10, 2026 — GREAT FALLS, Mont. – The Montana National Guard marked another step toward the 120th Airlift Wing’s transition to the C-130J Super Hercules Aug. 7 with the opening of a new petroleum, oil and... MORE

Montana National Guard leaders and project leaders from MEB General Contractors Inc. and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers cut a ribbon during a ceremony marking the opening of the new petroleum, oil and lubricants complex at the Montana Air National Guard Base in Great Falls, Montana, Aug. 7, 2026.

Idaho Guard Modernizes, Transitions to Mobile Infantry Brigade
August 10, 2026 — BOISE, Idaho – The Idaho Army National Guard’s 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team has completed one of its largest transitions, reorganizing from an armored brigade to a mobile infantry brigade to... MORE

The Idaho National Guard's 1st Battalion, 116th Cavalry Regiment, a mobile infantry battalion, was activated July 30, 2026, in Lewiston, where it is headquartered.

Oregon Guard Supports Grasshopper Wildfire Response
August 10, 2026 — TYGH VALLEY, Ore. – Oregon Air National Guard hand crews moved into their second day of wildland firefighting operations Aug. 9, shifting from structure protection to mop-up, monitoring and patrol of... MORE

Giovanni Carranza, a crew boss with the California Smokejumpers, briefs Oregon Air National Guard hand crew members on their assignment for the day using a fire map at the Grasshopper Fire camp near Tygh Valley, Oregon, Aug. 9, 2026.

Arkansas Guard Strengthens Emergency Response Capabilities
August 7, 2026 — CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. – Before winter storms close roads, down power lines or isolate communities, the Arkansas National Guard is preparing Soldiers and Airmen for one of the National Guard’s... MORE

Students of the Arkansas National Guard’s Guardian Response Training Academy participate in a winter storm response exercise on Aug. 4, 2026, at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, Arkansas.

SEAC: Guard’s Global Partnerships, People Are Key to Future Readiness
August 7, 2026 — DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – The U.S. military’s most senior enlisted service member addressed National Guardsmen at an annual enlisted National Guard conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, July 31.Senior... MORE

Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman David L. Isom, center, gives remarks during an annual enlisted National Guard conference in Daytona Beach, Florida, July 31, 2026.

Colorado Guard, US Pacific Command Enhance Operational Readiness
August 7, 2026 — JOINT BASE PEARL HARBOR-HICKAM, Hawaii – More than 100 members of the Colorado Air National Guard’s 140th Mission Support Group enhanced operational readiness and tested joint capabilities within the... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Figueroa, Colorado National Guard 140th Security Forces Squadron, or SFS, security forces specialist, fires at opposition forces during Operation Iron Flag, a hands-on, combat simulation field exercise June 17, 2026, at Bellows Air Force Station, Hawaii.

Hawaii Guard, Philippine Air Force Expand Aviation Partnership
August 6, 2026 — HILO, Hawaii - The Hawaii National Guard began an aviation engagement with its Philippine partners July 31 when a Hickam-based C-17 Globemaster III carrying a Black Hawk helicopter departed Hilo for... MORE

Hawaii Army National Guard Soldiers and Hawaii Air National Guard Airmen prepare to load a Hawaii Army National Guard UH-60M Black Hawk helicopter aboard a Hawaii Air National Guard C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 204th Airlift Squadron at Hilo International Airport, July 31, 2026.

Pennsylvania Guard Strengthens Intelligence Capabilities
August 6, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers focused on locating simulated enemy fighters through various military intelligence means and calling in strikes from unmanned aircraft... MORE

Soldiers from the Pennsylvania National Guard's 556th Military Intelligence Company, 56th Mobile Brigade Combat Team determine a simulated enemy position during a multi-domain exercise Aug. 3, 2026 at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania.

Hawaii Guard, Indonesian Partners Unite for Explosives Training
August 6, 2026 — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – For the first time in their 20-year partnership, Hawaii Air National Guard and Indonesian Air Force Airmen came together for specialized Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dustin Frey, 154th Explosive Ordnance Disposal, or EOD, flight technician, presents and reviews hook and line equipment to the Indonesian Air Force EOD on Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, July 21, 2026.

Nordhaus, Raines Praise Enlisted Force for Delivering ‘Always Ready, Always There’
August 5, 2026 — DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. – Drawing on nearly four centuries of service and the National Guard’s ongoing operational tempo, the Guard Bureau’s senior leaders Aug. 2 urged the enlisted force to sustain the... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the chief of the National Guard Bureau, address the 55th annual conference of the Enlisted Association National Guard of the United States, Daytona Beach, Florida, Aug. 2, 2026.

Michigan Guard Strengthens Emergency Response Partnerships
August 5, 2026 — SAULT STE. MARIE, Mich. – Military personnel including the Michigan National Guard, first responders and government agencies from across the nation came together July 27-31 during Operation Iron Wave,... MORE

Members of the 51st Civil Support Team, Michigan National Guard, U.S. Coast Guard, and other responders are on the St. Marys River during the culminating training event for Operation Iron Wave at the Soo Locks in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

Hawaii Air Guard Establishes Recruiting and Retention Flight
August 5, 2026 — PEARL CITY, Hawaii – The Hawaii Air National Guard activated its first Recruiting and Retention Flight during a ceremony Aug. 1 at the Hawaii Air National Guard recruiting offices in Pearl Highlands... MORE

Air Force Brig. Gen. Phillip L. Mallory, Hawaii Air National Guard commander, passes the Headquarters Hawaii Air National Guard Recruiting and Retention Flight guidon to Air Force Lt. Col. Michael Buendia, Headquarters Hawaii Air National Guard Recruiting Flight commander, symbolizing Buendia's acceptance of command of the flight during the unit's activation ceremony held at Pearl Highlands Center in Pearl City, Hawaii, Aug. 1, 2026.

Air National Guard Details Bonuses, Policy Changes Amid ‘Summer Surge Incentives’
August 4, 2026 — ARLINGTON, Va. – The Air National Guard is rolling out sweeping recruiting and retention transformation initiatives – removing accession barriers, expanding enterprise support and reshaping how it... MORE

A U.S. Air Force special tactics Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing jumps into Henry E. Rohlsen Airport near Christiansted in St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, Aug. 26, 2025 as part of Emerald Warrior 25.2, a large-scale special operations exercise being staged in multiple locations by Air Force Special Operations Command.

Nebraska Guard Members Boost Readiness in Medical Mission
August 4, 2026 — CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – Nebraska National Guard Airmen, active component, National Guard and U.S. Reserve service members provided no-cost medical, dental, optometry, behavioral health, pharmacy,... MORE

A U.S. Marine Corps dentist, assisted by two U.S. Air Force medical personnel, provides dental care to a local resident during an Innovative Readiness Training mission in the Corpus Christi and Robstown, Texas, area, July 21, 2026.

Washington Guard Supports Wildfire Response
August 3, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – As wildfires spread across Washington state, Washington National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have joined the firefight, working alongside state and local partners to protect... MORE

A UH-60 Black Hawk assigned to the 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation Battalion, takes off to support a water drop mission on the Modrite Fire in Ferry County, Washington. Since 2012, more than 4,500 Guard members have partnered directly with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources, delivering steadfast relief to Washington residents and dropping more than 4 million gallons of water on state wildfires.

Ohio Guardsmen Sharpen Readiness in Unfamiliar Jungle Terrain
August 3, 2026 — SCHOFIELD BARRACKS, Hawaii – Airmen assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard’s 178th Security Forces Squadron challenged themselves through annual training in July in the jungle terrain of Oahu,... MORE

Security Forces Airmen assigned to the Ohio Air National Guard's 178th Security Forces Squadron prepare for an ambush exercise during annual training at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, July 19, 2026.

Puerto Rico Guard Distributes Water Amid Drought
August 3, 2026 — FORT BUCHANAN, Puerto Rico – The Puerto Rico National Guard has distributed more than 505,000 gallons of water as of July 31 in support of the Puerto Rico Aqueduct and Sewer Authority under Mission... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers work alongside a civilian contractor atop a Guaynabo City municipal water tanker truck (K-210SS) during a water distribution operation at an unidentified facility in Puerto Rico.