Guard News - The National Guard

Kentucky National Guard Military Police to Deploy Overseas
January 16, 2025 — RICHMOND, Ky. - Nearly 40 Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers said goodbye to loved ones at a deployment ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond Jan. 4.Soldiers of the 617th Military... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Tyler Pettibone, of the 617th Military Police Company, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, places the guidon at the deployment ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond, Kentucky, Jan. 4, 2025. Approximately 40 Soldiers with the 617th are deploying to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve.

California Guardsman Helps Battle Wildfires in His Community
January 16, 2025 — CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. - Amid the wildfire crisis in California, an Air National Guard member's resilience, dedication and commitment to service stand out.Master Sgt. Alan... MORE

Master Sgt. Alan Franklin, a commander's support Airman with the 146th Airlift Wing, speaks to 1st Lt. Aiden Flores about the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System mission on the flightline at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California, Jan. 13, 2025. MAFFS aircraft from the Air National Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing, Cheyenne, Wyoming, the 152nd Airlift Wing, Reno, Nevada, the 146th Airlift Wing, Port Hueneme, California, and Air Force Reserve Command’s 302 AW, Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado, are working together to combat fires in the Los Angeles area.

New Jersey Guard Hosts U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff Training
January 16, 2025 — LAWRENCEVILLE, N.J. - The New Jersey National Guard hosted a U.S. Northern Command Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management... MORE

New Jersey National Guard members participate in a simulated training event during a Joint Staff training course conducted by North American Aerospace Defense Command and U.S. Northern Command at the NJNG Joint Operations Center in Lawrenceville, New Jersey, Jan. 12, 2025. The Joint Staff training course focused on the readiness of Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to support emergency management in New Jersey and beyond.

Alaska Guard, Mongolia Conduct Cybersecurity Exchange
January 16, 2025 — EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska - The Alaska Air National Guard launched a new partnership with Mongolia through the State Partnership Program. The collaboration aims to develop cybersecurity training... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Brandy Thanos, Master Sgt. Bjorn Nielson, Tech Sgt. James Gilchrest, and Staff Sgt. Steven Laszloffy of the Alaska Air National Guard pose for a photo with their cyber defense counterparts in Mongolia while discussing cyber defense training and information exchange opportunities. The Alaska National Guard and Mongolia are State Partnership Program partners.

National Guard to Support Presidential Inauguration
January 15, 2025 — WASHINGTON - Thousands of National Guard members from approximately 40 states, territories and the District of Columbia will support the 60th Presidential Inauguration at the request of the Secret... MORE

Senior Airmen Emma Oehler, 185th Air Refueling Wing medical technician, waits to depart the Sioux City, Iowa, airport with Airmen from the Iowa Air National Guard’s 185th Air Refueling Wing Medical Group Jan. 15, 2025. Iowa Air Guard medical technicians are flying to Washington to provide medical support for National Guard members in the capital region as part of the 60th Presidential Inauguration.

Lankford Center Hosts 1st ALS Commandant Conference
January 15, 2025 — MCGHEE TYSON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Tenn. - The Lankford Enlisted Professional Military Education Center hosted the first Airman Leadership School Commandant Conference last week.The event brought... MORE

U.S. Air Force leaders in enlisted education pose inside of Spruance Hall at the I.G. Brown Training and Education Center, McGhee Tyson Air National Guard Base, Tennessee, Jan. 8, 2025. Airman Leadership School commandants, senior leaders from the Barnes Center for Enlisted Education and representatives from the Lankford Center for Enlisted Professional Military Education attend the inaugural ALS Commandant's Conference to share strategies and best practices to develop the next generation of Total Force enlisted leaders.

Oklahoma National Guard Engineers Deploying to Africa
January 15, 2025 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Family and friends gathered at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee Jan. 13 to bid farewell to Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers preparing to deploy on a humanitarian mission... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 1120th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, stand in formation during their farewell ceremony at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jan. 13, 2025. Approximately 50 Soldiers will deploy overseas to support U.S. Africa Command in engineering and utilities projects across the Horn of Africa.

Idaho National Guard Deploys Helicopter Company To DC Area
January 14, 2025 — BOISE, Idaho - The Idaho National Guard deployed 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and more than 80 Soldiers to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Jan. 10-11 on a year-long mission to support the Joint Emergency... MORE

The Idaho National Guard deployed 10 UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters and more than 80 Soldiers to Fort Belvoir, Virginia, Jan. 10-11 on a year-long mission to support the Joint Emergency Evacuation Plan.

National Guard Bureau Chief Thanks Firefighting Guardsmen
January 14, 2025 — CHANNEL ISLANDS AIR NATIONAL GUARD STATION, Calif. – The National Guard is part of a multi-agency response to the historic wildfires across the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California. Over the... MORE

Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, and Army Senior Enlisted Advisor John Raines, SEA to the CNGB, visit National Guard members supporting wildland firefighting in Southern California, Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Calif., Jan. 11, 2025. Thousands of National Guardsmen are involved in multiple air and ground firefighting in the Los Angeles Basin and Southern California.

Vermont Air National Guard Deploys to Japan
January 13, 2025 — SOUTH BURLINGTON, Vt. – More than 200 Vermont Air National Guard Airmen, equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance... MORE

A fighter pilot assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing climbs into the cockpit of an F-35A Lightning II aircraft at the Vermont Air National Guard Base, South Burlington, Vermont, Jan. 6, 2025. More than 200 Vermont Air National Guard Airmen, equipment and F-35A Lighting II aircraft recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, as part of a planned rotation to enhance regional security and strengthen interoperability with joint and allied forces.

Wyoming, Nevada Guard Aircrews Assist California Firefighters
January 13, 2025 — CHEYENNE, Wyo. – Three Wyoming Air National Guard C-130s equipped with the U.S. Forest Service’s Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems and associated personnel were activated by U.S. Northern Command... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 153rd Airlift Wing load and install the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting Systems onto a C-130H Hercules aircraft in Cheyenne, Wyoming, Jan. 10, 2025, in preparation to support firefighting efforts in the Los Angeles area.

114th Fighter Wing Exchanges Jets with 122nd Fighter Wing
January 13, 2025 — JOE FOSS FIELD, S.D. – The 114th Fighter Wing is exchanging F-16s with the 122nd Fighter Wing based in Fort Wayne, Indiana, creating an opportunity to exercise mission readiness and improve relations... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard 1st Lt. Seth Chambers, pilot, 163rd Fighter Squadron, taxis to the runway during a morning sortie at Joe Foss Field, South Dakota, Jan. 8, 2025. The 114th Fighter Wing and 122nd Fighter Wing are exchanging jets for training.

California, Nevada, Wyoming Guard Join Firefighting Battle
January 10, 2025 — MOFFETT AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Calif. - Hundreds of National Guard members are now involved in multiple air and ground firefighting efforts as wildfires rage across the Los Angeles Basin and... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, at Moffett Air National Guard Base, Calif., prepare an HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter to help battle the Palisades Fire Jan. 9, 2025.

New York Air Guard Wing Marks Ex-President Fillmore’s Birthday
January 8, 2025 — BUFFALO, N.Y.- The New York Air Guard’s 107th Attack Wing honored Millard Fillmore, the nation’s 13th president, as the wing’s mission support group commander laid a wreath at his grave Jan. 7.Lt... MORE

Lt. Col. William Gourlay, 107th Mission Support Group commander, New York Air National Guard, lays the presidential wreath on Millard Fillmore's grave, Jan. 7, 2025, in Buffalo, New York.

DC, Maryland, Pennsylvania Guard Support Election Certification
January 8, 2025 — WASHINGTON - District of Columbia, Maryland and Pennsylvania National Guard members were deputized by U.S. Capitol Police as a reserve force for the 2025 counting and certification of electoral votes... MORE

Maryland and Pennsylvania National Guard members arrive at the District of Columbia Armory to prepare for the electoral certification mission Jan. 5, 2024. The counting and certification of electoral votes was designated a National Special Security Event.

New York Army Guard Engineers Heading for Horn of Africa
January 6, 2025 — BUFFALO, N.Y. - One hundred and forty-five New York Army National Guard Soldiers heading to the Horn of Africa were sent off with a formal ceremony at the Connecticut Street Armory Jan. 2.The... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company stand in formation during their farewell ceremony at Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, New York, Jan. 2, 2025. The unit will train in Texas, before heading to Africa to support Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa.

NY Air Guard Members Receive Space Force Association Award
January 6, 2025 — ORLANDO, Fla. - The Space Force Association recognized two New York National Guard Airmen as enlisted service members of the year for 2024 during the organization’s annual conference Dec. 10-12.Staff... MORE

Staff Sgt. Jason Capostagno, left, and Staff Sgt. Curtis Grady, right, with the New York Air Guard’s 222nd Command and Control Squadron, stand with Gen B. Chance Saltzman, chief of Space Operations, U.S. Space Force, at the Space Force Association's Spacepower Conference in Orlando Fla., Dec.10-12, 2024. Capostagno was named the winner of the Space category, while Grady won the Intelligence category award.

Illinois Army Guard’s Top Recruiter Pays it Forward
January 3, 2025 — SCHAUMBURG, Ill. - When Francisco Orozco first approached an Army National Guard recruiter in 2016, the recruiter “would not give me the time of day.”Orozco was overweight and had a neck tattoo. Both... MORE

Brig. Gen. Lenny Williams, the assistant adjutant general - Army of the Illinois National Guard and the commander of the Illinois Army National Guard, State Command Sgt. Maj. Michael Kelly, and State Command Chief Warrant Officer CW5 Thomas Black present Staff Sgt. Francisco Orozco with an award at the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion's annual awards banquet Nov.16, 2024, in Peoria. Orozco was the Illinois Army National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Noncommissioned Officer of the Year with 35 enlistments.

Hawaii Airmen Redesign F-22 Maintenance Stands
January 2, 2025 — HONOLULU – Maintenance Airmen from the Hawaii Air National Guard have revolutionized F-22 Raptor maintenance by developing customized stands at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.The project, the result... MORE

U.S. Air Force, Air National Guard and contract personnel pose in front of their custom-designed F-22 Raptor maintenance stands Sept. 26, 2024, at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam..The specialized maintenance stands are the culmination of nearly five years of collaboration between Total Force Airmen and the National Guard Bureau, providing a safer and more efficient way to access the hard-to-reach areas of one of the world’s most advanced stealth aircraft.

Massachusetts National Guard Wing Trains on Disaster Response
January 2, 2025 — OTIS AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, Mass. - Emergency managers with the 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron conducted a natural disaster response exercise with 102nd Intelligence Wing members on Otis Air National... MORE

U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Jeffery Andrieu, 102nd Civil Engineer Squadron commander, asks for updates from each member in the Emergency Operations Center during a natural disaster exercise on Otis Air National Guard Base, Massachusetts, Dec. 18, 2024.