Guard News - The National Guard

Georgia Guard Brigade Strengthens Readiness, Warfighting Skills
June 1, 2026 — FORT STEWART, Ga. – The 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, comprising more than 4,000 Soldiers across the Georgia Army National Guard, is conducting annual training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, as the... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to Company B, 148th Brigade Support Battalion, 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Georgia Army National Guard, conduct preliminary marksmanship instruction with an M240B machine gun during the 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team annual training at Fort Stewart, Georgia, May 30, 2026.

Hawaiʻi Guard Concludes Statewide Storm Response
June 1, 2026 — OAHU, Hawaiʻi – The Hawaiʻi National Guard concluded a multi-month, statewide response at the end of May after supporting communities affected by a series of powerful Kona Low storms and severe... MORE

U.S. Soldiers assigned to the Hawaiʻi National Guard Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package assist the city and county of Honolulu first responders in search and recovery efforts during flood impacted zones in Waialua, Hawaiʻi, March 21, 2026.

Washington Guard Supports Chemical Spill Response
June 1, 2026 — LONGVIEW, Wash. – Following a tank implosion and chemical spill at the Nippon Dynawave Packaging Co., the Washington National Guard mobilized Soldiers and Airmen to support first responders with air... MORE

U.S. Soldiers and Airmen with the Washington National Guard’s 10th Homeland Response Force decontaminate search and recovery teams following a chemical tank rupture at the Nippon Dynawave pulp and paper mill in Longview, Washington, May 28, 2026.

New Hampshire Guard, Cabo Verde Partners Conduct Aeromedical Exchange
June 1, 2026 — PRAIA, Cabo Verde – A joint New Hampshire National Guard medical team conducted an aeromedical exchange with its state partners in Praia, Cabo Verde, May 20-22.Coordinated through the Department of... MORE

New Hampshire National Guard medical personnel and Cabo Verde Armed Forces Medical Unit members load a simulated patient aboard a C-12 Huron multipurpose aircraft assigned to the Cabo Verde Coast Guard Air Squadron during an aeromedical knowledge exchange in Praia, Cabo Verde, May 22, 2026.

New Mexico Guard, Seychelles Defence Forces Formalize State Partnership Program Agreement
May 29, 2026 — VICTORIA, Seychelles – The New Mexico National Guard and the Seychelles Defence Forces officially established a new partnership under the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership... MORE

New Mexico National Guard at the signing ceremony were Joint Staff Director Brig. Gen. Pia Romero and State Command Sgt. Maj. Chris Poccia, whose presence underscored the Guard’s commitment to building a strong and enduring relationship with the Seychelles Defence Forces across all levels of leadership.

Texas Guard Strengthens Search, Rescue Readiness
May 29, 2026 — SAN ANTONIO – The Texas Military Department participated in the 2026 Search and Rescue Exercise, or SAREX, May 18-21, marking 12 years of interagency partnership.SAREX focuses on disaster response... MORE

Soldiers from the 36th Combat Aviation Brigade, Texas Army National Guard, conduct a basket lift with a role player and canine during the 2026 Search and Rescue Exercise in the San Antonio area May 18-21.

Ohio Air Guard Enhances Combat Airpower at Checkered Flag
May 29, 2026 — TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. – In a contested environment, air superiority depends on advanced technology as well as the training and experience to use that technology effectively – a focus for the... MORE

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing takes off for a training flight during Checkered Flag 26-2 and the Weapons System Evaluation Program-East at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., April 29, 2026.

New York Air Guard Conducts Combat Readiness Exercise
May 29, 2026 — FRANCIS S. GABRESKI AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. – More than 1,000 Airmen assigned to the 106th Rescue Wing completed a five-day combat readiness exercise, testing every element of the unit’s... MORE

U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the New York Air National Guard 106th Rescue Wing conduct rappel operations during an Air Combat Command Combat Readiness Inspection at Fort Drum, New York, May 14, 2026.

Colorado Guard Ready for Wildfires Year-Round
May 28, 2026 — CENTENNIAL, Colo. – After a winter marked by record-low snowpack and persistent drought, the Colorado Army National Guard is shifting its focus from a seasonal schedule to a year-round mission to... MORE

A Colorado Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk, specially marked with high-visibility orange paint for firefighting missions, departs for water bucket operations in Longmont, Colorado, April 24, 2026.

Montana Guard Hosts 163rd Transformation Ceremony
May 28, 2026 — FORT HARRISON, Mont. – The Montana Army National Guard redesignated the 1st Battalion, 163rd Cavalry Regiment as the 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment during a transformation ceremony May 27,... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the newly redesignated 1st Battalion, 163rd Infantry Regiment stand in formation during a transformation ceremony at Fort Harrison, Montana, May 27, 2026.

Maryland Guard, Estonian Partners Strengthen Cyber Readiness
May 27, 2026 — TALLINN, Estonia – More than 40 Maryland National Guard members participated in Immediate Response 2026, a comprehensive cyber exercise, with their Estonian counterparts at Foundation Cyber Range 14,... MORE

Members of the Maryland National Guard discuss exercise control and scenario development as a part of the white cell part during a multinational cyber defense exercise in Estonia, May 2026.

Massachusetts Airmen Sharpen Readiness During Major Aircraft Response Exercise
May 26, 2026 — BARNES AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. – The Massachusetts National Guard’s 104th Fighter Wing strengthened its crisis response capabilities during a Major Aircraft Response Exercise, or MARE, held May... MORE

Members of the 104th Fighter Wing actively participate in a Major Aircraft Response Exercise, or MARE, May 12-14, 2026, at Barnes Air National Guard Base, Westfield, Massachusetts.

National Guard Gold Star Spouse Turns Grief Into Advocacy
May 26, 2026 — CONCORD, N.C. – The loudest place in American sports knew when to be quiet.At Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, the Coca-Cola 600 was everything it is supposed to be: horsepower, heat, noise... MORE

Jane Horton poses next to Ty Dillon's No. 10 Chevrolet before the Coca-Cola 600 NASCAR race at Charlotte Motor Speedway in North Carolina, May 24, 2026.

California Guard Trains Airmen to Rapidly Repair Damaged Airfields
May 26, 2026 — MARCH AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – Seven instructors assigned to the California National Guard’s 163d Regional Training Site train more than 1,000 Airmen annually through specialty courses such as Rapid... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Reuben Dominguez, 163rd Regional Training Site superintendent, California Air National Guard, gives kudos to Airmen after operating a skid-steer successfully during a weeklong Rapid Damage Repair course at March Air Reserve Base, California, May 19, 2026.

Arizona Airmen Sharpen Combat Readiness in Weapons Load Competition
May 26, 2026 — MORRIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ariz. – Airmen assigned to the Arizona National Guard’s 162nd Wing demonstrated combat readiness, precision and lethality during the annual Weapons Load Crew... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard service members assigned to the 152nd Fighter Squadron Aircraft Maintenance Unit load munitions to an F-16 Fighter Falcon during the annual Weapons Load Competition at Morris Air National Guard Base, Arizona, May 1, 2026.

Pennsylvania Guard Helps Shape Army’s Extended Basic Leader Course
May 22, 2026 — FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. – The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute, or RTI, is serving as the Army National Guard’s validation site for the Army’s new 29-day... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers attending Basic Leader Course conducted by the 166th Regiment - Regional Training Institute participate in field training during validation of the Army’s new 29-day Basic Leader Course program at Fort Indiantown Gap, Pennsylvania, May 19-20, 2026.

Kentucky Guard Enhances Lethality at Arcane Thunder
May 22, 2026 — FORT IRWIN, Calif. – Soldiers of Kentucky National Guard’s B Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, 38th Infantry Division Artillery, conducted annual training at Fort Irwin, during a larger,... MORE

U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers with Kentucky's Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Regiment fire a rocket from a High-Mobility Artillery Tocket System at Fort Irwin, California, April 24, 2026.

N.Y. National Guard Marks Memorial Day With Ceremony
May 21, 2026 — LATHAM, N.Y. – Soldiers, Airmen, Naval Militia members and civilians who work at the New York National Guard headquarters in Latham marked Memorial Day with a short ceremony May 21 at the building’s... MORE

Air National Guard Major General Gary Charlton, commander of the New York Air National Guard, left, and Command Chief Master Sergeant Michael Hewson salute while taps played during the New York National Guard headquarters Memorial Day ceremony in Latham, New York, on May 21, 2026.

Arizona Guard Team Earns Awards for Combat Readiness
May 21, 2026 — MORRIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Ariz. — The Arizona National Guard’s 162nd Wing’s Aircrew Flight Equipment, or AFE, flight recently earned two major command-level awards: the 2025 U.S. Air Force AFE... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Fernanda Van Pratt, 162nd Aircrew Flight Equipment, or AFE, noncommissioned officer in charge, stitches a parachute at Morris Air National Guard Base, Arizona, May 1, 2026.

Oregon Guard Supports Ceremony Featuring 103-Year-Old WWII Pilot
May 20, 2026 — SALEM, Ore. – The hangar fell quiet for nearly 30 minutes on Armed Forces Day while Capt. Richard "Dick" Nelms stood before a crowd at the B-17 Alliance Museum & Restoration Hangar at Salem McNary... MORE

Capt. Richard "Dick" Nelms, a 103-year-old World War II B-17 pilot, addresses attendees during the B-17 Alliance Foundation's Armed Forces Day Celebration at Salem McNary Airfield in Salem, Oregon, May 16, 2026. Nelms, wearing his 8th Air Force veteran's cap and flight jacket, completed 35 combat missions over occupied Europe with the 447th Bombardment Group (Heavy) between May and September 1944.