Guard News - The National Guard

Virginia Guard Engineers Enhance Readiness in Portugal
September 13, 2024 — LAJES FIELD, Portugal - Airmen with the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, trained at Lajes Field, Terceira Island,... MORE

Airmen with the 203rd Rapid Engineer Deployable Heavy Operational Repair Squadron Engineers, 192nd Wing, Virginia Air National Guard, perform renovation operations during a deployment for training July 14-26, 2024, at Lajes Field, Terceira Island, Azores, Portugal. The DFT provided the 203rd RED HORSE the opportunity to maintain readiness and training requirements while repairing and renovating facilities across the world.

Washington Guard Hosts Female Royal Thai Air Force Officers
September 13, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - The Washington Air National Guard hosted the first engagement for female leaders in the Royal Thai Air Force Sept. 9-13 at Camp Murray.The engagement aimed to empower female... MORE

Washington Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 2 Kristin Retherford, 10th Civil Support Team survey team leader, gives Royal Thai Air Force officers a tour of the 10th CST facilities during a State Partnership Program engagement Sept. 11, 2024, at Camp Murray, Wash. The tour was part of the first female leadership-focused exchange with RTAF since Washington’s formal relationship with the Kingdom of Thailand began in 2002.

Ohio Airmen Provide Free Readiness Training Health Care
September 13, 2024 — XENIA, Ohio - Medically trained Airmen from the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing helped provide free health care to more than 1,000 community members Aug. 11-12 as part of the Department of... MORE

U.S. Airman 1st Class Isabella D’Alessandro, an aerospace medical service Airman assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, helps a family through the registration process before they enter the Greene County Career Center for Guard Care in Xenia, Ohio, Aug. 11, 2024. Guard members helped provide free health care as part of the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training program.

New York Air Guard Ends Greenland Science Support Season
September 12, 2024 — STRATTON AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.Y. - The New York Air National Guard’s 109th Airlift Wing wrapped up its 2024 support for National Science Foundation research in Greenland at the end of... MORE

An LC-130 Hercules aircraft from the 109th Airlift Wing sits at Summit Station, Greenland, May 9, 2024. Summit Station is ideal for studying long-range intercontinental transport and its effects on the ice sheet surface.

Maryland Airmen Test Cyber Skills in Virginia Exercise
September 12, 2024 — VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. - Maryland Air National Guard Airmen participated in Cyber Fortress 3.0, a training exercise that tested the local, state and federal response to potential cyberattacks against... MORE

Maryland Air National Guard Airmen pose for a group photo during the Cyber Fortress 3.0 exercise at Virginia Army National Guard’s State Military Reservation July 20, 2024. The training exercise tested the local, state and federal response to potential cyber attacks against critical infrastructure.

Virginia Guard Enlisted Leaders Meet with Finnish Partners
September 12, 2024 — RICHMOND, Va. - Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leadership traveled to Finland Aug. 19-23 to collaborate with members of the Finnish Defence Forces on a plan for joint enlisted training and... MORE

Virginia National Guard senior enlisted leaders prepare to travel via Jurmo-class landing craft to engage with the joint senior noncommissioned officer at the Finnish Naval Academy during a senior NCO exchange Aug. 19-23, 2024, in Finland. Virginia and Finland are partners under the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Washington Guardsmen Shine at Mechanic of Year Competition
September 12, 2024 — CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - Vehicle maintenance often happens in a shop, in the field or on the side of a road, but never in front of an audience and never for any recognition.Staff Sgts. Ian Wilding, Delta... MORE

Staff Sgts. Ian Wilding, Delta Company 141st Brigade Support Battalion, and Chris Yoder, Fox Company 181st Brigade Support Battalion, show off their awards following the 2024 National Guard Best Mechanic of the Year competition at Camp Williams, Utah, Aug. 25, 2024. Wilding took top honors; Yoder finished fourth out of 26 competitors.

Oregon Guardsmen Recognized at Mobilization Ceremony
September 12, 2024 — KLAMATH FALLS, Ore. - Members of the 173rd Fighter Wing were recognized with a September mobilization ceremony at Kingsley Field. Approximately 50 members from every group on base are deploying this... MORE

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Alan Gronewold, Oregon National Guard adjutant general, speaks with Tech. Sgt. Peter McNally, 173rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, after a mobilization ceremony at Kingsley Field in Klamath Falls, Oregon, Sept. 8, 2024.

Alaska Guard Joins Polar Dagger Special Ops Exercise
September 11, 2024 — PETERSON SPACE FORCE BASE, Colo. – The Alaska Army National Guard participated in Operation Polar Dagger Aug. 15-25, helping Special Operations Command North rapidly deploy and operate in the... MORE

An Alaska Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook lands for the first time on Little Diomede, Alaska, with Big Diomede, Russia, visible in the background. The unit supported Operation Polar Dagger, a joint special operations mission across the Alaskan Arctic.

Kentucky Airman Earns Navy Commendation for EOD Excellence
September 11, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Ky. - A Kentucky Air National Guard Airman recently earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal for outstanding performance while attending the U.S. Navy’s explosive ordnance... MORE

Airman 1st Class Barrett Darlington, an explosive ordnance disposal specialist with the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron, earned the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal after graduating from the Air Force EOD preliminary course and the U.S. Navy’s eight-month explosive ordnance disposal school.

Alabama Air Guard Showcases Communications Capabilities
September 11, 2024 — MONTGOMERY, Ala. – The 226th Combat Communications Group, Alabama Air National Guard, conducted a large-scale contested environment exercise Sept. 5-8. Copperhead Beacon 2024 is an expeditionary... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Chavez Rollins, an RF transmission specialist and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Christopher Wightman, a cyber transportation specialist, both with the 232nd Combat Communications Squadron, connect an Airbus to a military satellite during a field exercise at a training facility in Central Alabama, Sept. 7, 2024.

Oregon Guard Supports Wildland Firefighting Across State
September 11, 2024 — SALEM, Ore. - For nearly 60 days, the Oregon National Guard has supported wildland firefighting crews in multiple capacities across the state. Whether assisting with medical evacuation, water buckets... MORE

Brig. Gen. Alan R. Gronewold, the adjutant general of Oregon, presents a challenge coin to Spc. Rodney Chamberlain, an Oregon Army National Guard hand crew member, for exceptional performance fighting the Telephone Fire, Aug. 6, 2024, at the Harney County Fairgrounds fire camp.

Tennessee Guard Rescues Hiker in Great Smoky Mountains Park
September 10, 2024 — LOUISVILLE, Tenn. – A Tennessee Army National Guard flight crew based at Joint Base McGhee-Tyson rescued an injured hiker in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park early Sept. 10.Shortly after 3 a.m... MORE

A Black Hawk from the 1-230th Assault Helicopter Battalion of the Tennessee National Guard hovers while medics prepare to descend during the SAREX 23 exercise in Pickett State Park near Jamestown, Tenn., Jan. 7, 2023. The group worked on tracking, locating and evacuating missing people as part of a training exercise with other military and civilian agencies.

New Hampshire Guard Airmen Prepare for 1st KC-46 Deployment
September 10, 2024 — PEASE AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, N.H. – Airmen, families and members of Congress gathered inside Hangar 254 Sept. 8 to honor more than 180 Airmen who will deploy to support U.S. Central Command this... MORE

Airman 1st Class Ashlyn Levine, a supply specialist with the 157th Logistics Readiness Squadron, adds a canteen belt to an Airman's mobility bag, Sept. 7, 2024, at Pease Air Force Base, New Hampshire. The 157th Air Refueling Wing is set to deploy multiple KC-46 aircraft and more than 180 Airmen to Southeast Asia later this fall in what will be the first operational deployment of the Air Force’s next-generation tanker.

Alaska Air Guard Rescues Plane Crash Victims, Hikers, Hunter
September 9, 2024 — JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Alaska Air National Guard 176th Wing members rescued eight distressed residents in five missions over the Labor Day Weekend.Two of the missions required 212th... MORE

Alaska Air National Guard Maj. Dan Warren, right, 212th Rescue Squadron combat rescue officer, and Master Sgt. Harry Bromley, 212th RQS pararescueman, evacuate an injured airplane pilot Aug. 30, 2024, about 50 miles southwest of Tok to a 210th Rescue Squadron HH-60G Pave Hawk. Warren and Bromley jumped from a 211th Rescue Squadron HC-130J Combat King II to reach the injured pilot.

Hawaii Guard, Indonesia Conduct Super Garuda Cyber Exercise
September 9, 2024 — SURABAYA, Indonesia - On the outskirts of Surabaya’s bustling city at a sprawling naval base, teams of multinational service members collaborated to solve perplexing challenges in cyberspace.From Aug... MORE

Hawaii Air National Guard Col. Glen Hayase, commander of the 154th Mission Support Group, briefs multinational participants of a cyber exercise Aug. 26, 2024, in Surabaya, Indonesia. The exercise was part of Super Garuda Shield 2024, an Indonesia-led exercise to increase military interoperability between allies and partners.

Kentucky National Guard Hosts State Partner Djibouti
September 6, 2024 — BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – Logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion while in Kentucky Aug. 19-22.The visit was part of the Department... MORE

Maj. Joshua Mitchell, battalion executive officer, speaks to logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces who visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion in Bowling Green, Ky., Aug. 22, 2024. The visit was part of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Supports Antarctic Research
September 6, 2024 — CORAOPOLIS, Pa. - Four firefighters from the 171st Air Refueling Wing recently returned from Operation Deep Freeze, a longstanding mission supporting the National Science Foundation's McMurdo Research... MORE

Pennsylvania Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Robbie Gregor from the 171st Air Refueling Wing gently encourages an emperor penguin to leave an active runway while supporting Operation Deep Freeze at the National Science Foundation's McMurdo Research Center, Antarctica, in January 2024. Operation Deep Freeze involves logistical support for scientific research.

Louisiana National Guard Supports Belize Wellness Exchange
September 6, 2024 — PINEVILLE, La. – “Nobody can take care of you better than you. You can’t pour from an empty cup; you need to think of ways to fill your cup. Keep in mind, sometimes your cup will go down before it... MORE

Louisiana Army National Guard Chaplain Col. David Yellott reviews training and evaluations with the Belize Defence Force Wellness Team and Coast Guard leadership during a State Partnership Program wellness exchange at Price Barracks in Ladyville, Belize, Aug. 20, 2024.

Guard Partnership Exchange Strengthens Security at Thai Port
September 6, 2024 — LAEM CHABANG, Thailand - Eight Washington National Guard members recently visited the Port of Laem Chabang in the longest-running exchange in the 22-year State Partnership Program relationship between... MORE

Group photo at the Port of Laem Chabang, Thailand, Aug. 22, 2024.