Guard News - The National Guard

Washington Guard Provides Aerial Support on Sinlahekin Fire
August 11, 2026 — WENATCHEE, Wash. – A Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota took to the skies above the Sinlahekin Fire Aug. 9, giving firefighters a perspective they had never had before during a National Guard... MORE

Washington State Department of Natural Resources firefighters "quarterback" from a Washington Army National Guard UH-72 Lakota helicopter about the Sinlahekin Fire in Okanogan County, Washington, Aug. 9, 2026.

North Carolina Guard, Botswana Forces Kick Off Southern Accord 2026
August 11, 2026 — GABORONE, Botswana – North Carolina National Guard and Botswana military personnel kicked off Exercise Southern Accord 2026 with an opening ceremony Aug. 10 at Gaborone Technical College, bringing... MORE

Members of the North Carolina National Guard and Botswana Defense Force render salutes during the playing of the U.S. and Botswana national anthems during an opening ceremony for Exercise Southern Accord 2026 at Gaborone Technical College in Gaborone, Botswana, August 10, 2026.

North Carolina Guard Mobilizes in Support of Operation Spartan Shield
August 11, 2026 — GREENSBORO, N.C. – The North Carolina National Guard’s 30th Mobile Brigade’s Combat Team’s 230th Brigade Support Battalion, Augmentation Company, recognized its mobilization to support U.S. Central... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Ben Wynn, commander of the 30th Mobile Brigade Combat Team, gives U.S. Army 1st Lt. Rebecca Benjamin, executive officer for the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, Augmentation Com., the North Carolina flag in Greensboro, North Carolina, Aug. 7, 2026.

Washington Guard, Malaysia Partners Focus on Logistics Exchange
August 11, 2026 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. – Two Washington Army National Guard Soldiers traveled more than 7,000 miles this summer to share technical expertise with their Malaysian counterparts, strengthening one of the... MORE

Sgt. Stavie Neel, petroleum supply specialist assigned to 181st Light Support Battalion, 81st Mobile Brigade Combat Team, Washington National Guard, talks with Royal Malaysian Air Force members during a Subject Matter Expert Exchange with a refueling team at Labuan Air Base, Malaysia, July 24-31, 2026.

Guard Medical Leaders Boost Readiness
August 11, 2026 — NORTH LITTLE ROCK, Ark. – A pilot course brought medical professionals and senior enlisted leaders from across the 54 states, territories and the District of Columbia together at the Personnel and... MORE

Army National Guard medical leaders participate in the pilot State Surgeon and Deputy State Surgeon Orientation Course hosted by the Personnel and Organizational Readiness Battalion at the National Guard Professional Education Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas, Aug. 4, 2026.

Oregon Guard Engineers Sharpen Deployment Skills
August 11, 2026 — LAJES FIELD, Portugal – Members of the Oregon National Guard’s 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron sharpened their deployment skills during a recent Deployment for Training, or DFT, at Lajes Field,... MORE

U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Maria Del Carmen Dominguez, right, an engineering assistant with the 142nd Civil Engineer Squadron, observes fellow civil engineers assembling a dynamic cone penetrometer during a Deployment for Training, or DFT, at Lajes Air Base, Portugal, June 23, 2026.

Kentucky Guard, Ecuador Strengthen Partnership With Medical Exchange
August 11, 2026 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. – Two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group shared information about the unit’s Critical Care Air Transport Teams, or CCATT, during a mission to Ecuador,... MORE

Lt. Col. Tim Ori, right, officer in charge of a Kentucky National Guard 123rd Medical Group Critical Care Air Transport Team, meets with members of the Ecuadorian Air Force during a five-day information exchange in Ecuador.

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.