Nordhaus Underscores National Guard’s Indispensable Role
Air Force Gen. Steve Nordhaus testified that the National Guard delivered a record‑breaking 2025, executing precision airstrikes against Iran, rescuing flood‑stricken children in Texas, and responding to cyber and civil emergencies. Guard units logged more than 2.4 million domestic support hours and removed $15 billion in illicit narcotics, while 42,000 Guardsmen remain engaged worldwide across every combatant command. Nordhaus urged Congress to fund modernisation, address a reimbursement gap for state‑active‑duty activations, and streamline duty‑status reforms. He highlighted the State Partnership Program’s reach to 60% of nations at just 1% of the security‑cooperation budget.
Washington Guard Builds Readiness with New Executive Officer Course
Washington Army National Guard debuted its first Executive Officer Course on April 11‑12 at Camp Murray, a two‑day program designed to ready junior lieutenants for company‑level executive officer duties. The curriculum emphasized logistics, legal processes, command discipline and administrative tasks,...
Increased Airspace Enhances Wisconsin National Guard Training
The Wisconsin Army National Guard conducted its first small‑UAS training in statewide Class G airspace at the Arcadia Armory on April 1, 2026, following a new FAA authorization. The approval expands permissible training sites from three to 24 locations, with eight more...
Washington Guard, Thai Partners Strengthen Port Emergency Response
The Washington Army National Guard teamed with Thai partners for a week‑long emergency‑response exchange at the Port of Laem Chabang and Sri Racha Hospital in March 2026. The drill simulated a lithium‑battery fire and a shipboard pandemic, testing all‑hazard incident‑command and patient‑evacuation...
Florida National Guard Partners with Greece in State Partnership Program
The Florida National Guard has been officially designated as Greece’s partner in the U.S. State Partnership Program, creating a long‑term framework for joint military activities. The partnership will focus on joint training, maritime security, cyber defense, infrastructure protection, and disaster...
Florida Air Defense Battalion Trains with 82nd Airborne in First Minuteman Rotation
The Florida Army National Guard’s 3rd Battalion, 265th Air Defense Artillery Regiment completed its first Minuteman Rotation by training alongside the 82nd Airborne Division at the Joint Readiness Training Center from March 15‑20, 2026. The Minuteman concept synchronizes Guard annual...
Massachusetts Guard, Kenya Strengthen Partnership at African Land Forces Summit
Massachusetts National Guard leaders joined Kenyan Defence Forces at the African Land Forces Summit in Rome, a U.S. Army‑hosted event that gathered over 300 senior officials from 40 nations. The summit emphasized dual‑use technologies and industry partnerships to address shared...
Nevada Guard Soldiers Strengthen ROK-US Alliance During Freedom Shield 2026
Nevada National Guard soldiers from the 17th Sustainment Brigade took part in Exercise Freedom Shield 2026, a ten‑day multinational command‑post drill in South Korea. The unit embedded with the Eighth Army Interoperability Directorate and the new Combined Ground Component Command,...
Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania Formalize State Partnership
On March 12, 2026, the Nebraska National Guard and Tanzania Peoples’ Defence Forces signed a formal letter of intent, officially adding Tanzania to the U.S. National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The agreement builds on joint exercises in 2025‑26 and...
'Bury Them:' Alaska Army Guard's Avalanche Company Hones Lethality
From March 20‑22, the Alaska Army National Guard’s Avalanche Company executed a live‑fire Infantry Platoon Battle Course at Joint Base Elmendorf‑Richardson, testing squad movement, marksmanship and coordinated attacks in deep snow. Soldiers wore snowshoes and over‑white pants to blend into the...
Florida National Guard Builds Readiness Through Joint Training
The Florida National Guard held its first joint Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) spray certification in decades at Camp Blanding, involving more than 100 soldiers from Army and Air Guard units. The 715th Military Police Company and the 125th Security Forces Squadron...
NY Army Guard's Cyber Protection Team 173 Fights Computer Battle During Kingston Armory Exercise
From February 23‑26, 2026, the New York Army National Guard’s Cyber Protection Team 173 conducted a four‑day simulated ransomware attack against an electrical utility at the Kingston Armory, using the U.S. Cyber Command’s Persistent Cyber Training Environment. Thirty‑four soldiers, many...
Wyoming National Guard Grows HIMARS Force Through Transition Course
The Wyoming National Guard is expanding its field artillery capability by running a 13M HIMARS transition course at Camp Guernsey on March 20, 2026. The program converts experienced soldiers from other MOSs into qualified HIMARS crew members, blending classroom instruction with realistic...
Presidio Endeavor Sharpens Wisconsin National Guard Readiness
The Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs hosted the inaugural Presidio Endeavor wargame on March 11‑12, bringing together the state National Guard’s joint Army and Air staffs, emergency management officials, U.S. Northern Command and the National Guard Bureau. Designed by wargame...
Pennsylvania Army National Guard Soldiers Place 2nd in Lithuania Land Forces Best Infantry Squad Competition
Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldiers competed in Lithuania’s Best Infantry Squad Competition for the first time, finishing second among foreign teams. The eight‑person squad faced 10 Lithuanian squads and units from Germany, Estonia, Latvia, the Netherlands, and two active‑component U.S....
Arizona National Guard Sharpens Lethality, Boosts Joint Readiness
The Arizona National Guard held its 2026 Adjutant General’s Match at the Florence Training Site, bringing together more than 20 Army and Air Guard teams and civilian partners. The three‑day competition tested individual and team marksmanship across multiple weapons, sharpening...
Texas National Guard Drone Teams Support Border Partners, Strengthen Guard Readiness
The Texas National Guard’s 640th Technology Integration Cell deployed small unmanned aircraft systems to support Operation Lone Star, delivering real‑time thermal imaging and aerial overwatch for Border Patrol agents. The drones accelerated terrain assessment, enabling faster decision‑making and contributing to...
Michigan Guard Unit Validated for National Guard Response Force Mission
The Michigan Army National Guard’s 246th Transportation Battalion completed a multi‑day validation exercise at Camp Grayling, earning certification as a component of the state’s National Guard Response Force (NGRF). The validation, part of a nationwide effort mandated by Executive Order...
Army Guard Medics Strengthen Kosovo Clinic with Lifesaving Training
U.S. Army National Guard medics from NATO’s KFOR conducted lifesaving medical training at a clinic in Obiliq, Kosovo, as part of the routine hand‑over from KFOR 35 to KFOR 36. The program delivered basic Combat Lifesaver, CPR, advanced cardiac life...
Oregon National Guard CERFP Strengthens Interagency Response During Training
The Oregon National Guard’s 102nd CBRN Defense Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) took part in two regional training exercises focused on chemical‑leak emergencies, partnering with local fire departments and the EPA. The February drill simulated an anhydrous ammonia spill, while...
Washington National Guard, Royal Thai Army Strengthen Stryker Expertise Through Leader Exchange
Six Washington Army National Guard soldiers partnered with Royal Thai Army units for a Stryker Leader Course in Chon Buri, Thailand, from Jan. 19 to Feb. 6. The exchange, part of the Washington‑Thailand State Partnership Program, marked the seventh such training since September 2022....
Exercise Arctic Connect Validates Communication Across Alaska
Exercise Arctic Connect brought together more than 30 radio operators from 28 locations across Alaska to test high‑frequency communications. Participants from the Alaska National Guard, State Defense Force, Civil Air Patrol, and state emergency agencies validated HF pathways and refined...
Minnesota Guard Strengthens Partnership, Trains in Norway’s Arctic Environment
From Feb. 4‑18, about 100 Minnesota National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in NOREX 53, a bilateral Arctic training exchange with Norway’s Home Guard in Haltdalen. The exchange featured a six‑day field exercise, a new Enhanced Winter Warfare Training course, and realistic...
Washington Guard, Thailand Partners Train Through Cobra Gold 2026
During Exercise Cobra Gold 2026, U.S. and Thai forces, together with five other Asian partners, conducted a multinational humanitarian assistance and disaster relief (HADR) demonstration in Phanom Sarakham, Thailand. The drills featured joint search‑and‑rescue, medical response, hazmat entry, and coordination...
Pennsylvania National Guard Trains Future Combat Medics
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute is nearing the end of its 59‑day 68W Healthcare Specialist MOS‑T course, converting soldiers from other specialties into combat medics. The program certifies participants as National EMTs, trains them in primary‑care...
NY Army Guard Officer Is Top Ranking American Officer in NATO Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum
Maj. Gen. Sean Flynn, a New York Army National Guard officer, has become the top‑ranking American at NATO’s Allied Joint Force Command Brunssum. He now serves as deputy chief of staff for operations, overseeing coordination of up to 250,000 troops...
West Virginia Guard, Qatar Strengthen Security Ties for Scout Event
The West Virginia National Guard hosted senior Qatar Military Police leaders to plan joint security for the upcoming National Scout Jamboree. Both forces will field roughly 40‑45 Qatari personnel alongside Guard members to manage crowd control, route security, and facility...
National Guard, French Army Leaders Mark Shared History, Alliance in Ceremony
U.S. National Guard senior leaders and French army officials gathered at Washington’s World War I Memorial to mark the enduring U.S.-France alliance. The ceremony featured a wreath‑laying that honored two American volunteers, Ferdinand Capdevielle and Kiffen Rockwell, who died serving with French forces...
Oklahoma Army National Guard Deploys for Fire Suppression Mission
The Oklahoma Army National Guard answered a state request by deploying UH‑60 Black Hawk helicopters equipped with 660‑gallon water buckets and two ground hand crews to combat wildfires in northwest Oklahoma. The Guard’s Wildland Firefighting Program, which has trained 130...
Illinois, Pennsylvania and California Guardsmen Strengthen Ties with State Partners
The Lithuanian‑Polish‑Ukrainian Brigade (LITPOLUKRBRIG) held its annual Exercise Brave Band 2026 in Lublin, Poland, from Jan. 25 to Feb. 6. National Guard units from Illinois, Pennsylvania and California participated, marking the 11th consecutive year of U.S. involvement through the State Partnership Program. The exercise...
Six New York Army National Guard Soldiers Receive French Medal for Actions in Iraq
Six New York Army National Guard aviators were honored on Feb. 22, 2026 with the French National Defense Gold Medal with Bronze Star for rapid aerial support that rescued 34 French special‑operations troops during an Aug. 28‑29, 2023 firefight near Hawija, Iraq. The crews...
Guard Leaders Gather for Domestic Ops Conference, Sync Emergency Response Plans
The National Guard Domestic Operations Conference convened Feb. 10‑12 at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, uniting senior Army and Air Guard leaders to synchronize homeland‑focused disaster response plans. Attendees examined recent hurricanes, wildfires and cyber‑induced infrastructure failures to develop a unified playbook...
Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Win Innovation Title at Army’s Best Drone Warfighter Competition
A Pennsylvania National Guard team from the 28th Infantry Division captured the innovation prize at the Army’s inaugural Best Drone Warfighter Competition. Their Project R.E.D. uses AI‑driven object recognition and a 3‑D‑printed carbon‑fiber robotic arm to retrieve downed drones for intelligence...
Massachusetts Guardsman Advances AI Innovation Through Fellowship
Massachusetts National Guard Senior Airman Matthew Wright completed a five‑month MIT AI fellowship, part of the Department of the Air Force Artificial Intelligence Accelerator. Selected from fewer than 3% of applicants, he was the first junior enlisted Airman to join...
Guam National Guard Trains with Partners at Simulated Drug Lab
The Guam National Guard’s 94th Civil Support Team conducted a full‑scale, multi‑agency exercise on Feb. 18 at a simulated clandestine drug laboratory in Barrigada. Participants included the New Mexico Guard’s 64th CST, Andersen Air Force Base’s CBRNE Response Team, and Guam’s fire,...
Washington National Guard Strengthens Readiness Ahead of World Cup 2026
Washington’s National Guard is boosting its counter‑drone readiness ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup, holding a Field‑Ready Range Day at Joint Base Lewis‑McChord that united military, law‑enforcement, and interagency partners. The exercise focused on detecting, tracking, and neutralizing hostile...
Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Strengthen AI Skills
Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers and civilian staff completed a two‑day Artificial Intelligence 201 course at Fort Indiantown Gap on Feb. 11‑12, 2026. Taught by U.S. Army War College faculty, the program focused on responsible AI integration, critical thinking, and mission‑command principles...
Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Strengthen AI, Critical Thinking Skills
The Pennsylvania National Guard delivered a two‑day AI 201 course at Fort Indiantown Gap, taught by U.S. Army War College faculty, to teach soldiers and civilian staff advanced AI concepts and critical‑thinking techniques. The program emphasized responsible AI integration, mission‑command principles,...
National Guard’s Vice Chief Credits Georgia’s ‘Leadership Factory’
General Thomas Carden, a career Georgia National Guard officer, has been confirmed as the 13th Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau, bringing nearly four decades of experience to an organization that oversees more than 435,000 Soldiers and Airmen. Carden...
Florida National Guard Supports D.C. Mission During Winter Weather
The Florida National Guard’s Task Force Phantom has been deployed in Washington, D.C., to support the Safe and Beautiful mission amid an unusually heavy winter snowfall. Guard soldiers have been clearing snow from schools, assisting stranded motorists, and maintaining a visible...
Michigan Facility Designated as DOW National Test Site for Drones
The U.S. Department of Defense has named Michigan’s National All‑Domain Warfighting Center (NADWC) a national test site for uncrewed aerial systems. The range offers roughly 200,000 acres of maneuver space and over 17,000 square miles of dedicated airspace, enabling realistic...
Wyoming Guard Partners with Wyoming Hoist Team for Search and Rescue Training
The Wyoming Army National Guard partnered with the volunteer Wyoming Hoist Team to conduct joint hoist training with the Big Horn County Search and Rescue and Wyoming Life Flight in the Greybull Mountains on Jan. 28, 2026. The exercise taught civilian rescuers...
Wisconsin Signal Soldiers Train in Complex Communication Environments
More than 100 Wisconsin Army National Guard signal soldiers gathered at Camp Douglas on Jan. 31, 2026 for a combined signal exercise hosted by the 32nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team S6. The two‑day drill emphasized complex communications, integrating trunked land‑mobile radios...
Maryland National Guard Participates in Crossed Swords 25 with Estonian Partners
The Maryland National Guard joined NATO’s Crossed Swords 25 cyber‑defense exercise with Estonian partners at the CCDCOE in Tallinn, Oct. 27‑Nov. 7, 2025. The drill hosted 240 participants from roughly 45 countries and focused on strategic command, AI‑assisted tactical operations, multi‑domain integration, public‑private coordination,...
Wisconsin Guard Artillery Soldiers Train in Extreme Weather
Around 200 Wisconsin National Guard soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 120th Field Artillery Regiment completed an 11‑day cold‑weather training cycle at Fort McCoy from Jan. 21‑31. The exercise emphasized individual tasks, teamwork, and proficiency on M777 and M119 howitzers under sub‑zero...
Texas Guard’s 36th Infantry Division Prepares for Middle East Deployment
The Texas National Guard’s 36th Infantry Division held a farewell ceremony at Camp Mabry before deploying to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield. The division will complete final readiness training and mission validation ahead of a March...
Pennsylvania Guard Shapes Army’s Unmanned Aircraft Capabilities
The Pennsylvania National Guard’s Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training and Innovation Facility demonstrated lethal drone capabilities to Assistant Secretary Brent Ingraham at the Army Combat Capabilities Development Command in New Jersey. Guard soldiers Robert Reed and Brent Wehr provided live feedback...
Massachusetts National Guard Leaders Deepen Partnership with Paraguay
Massachusetts National Guard Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Gary Keefe led a senior delegation to Asunción in January 2026, marking the 25‑year anniversary of the State Partnership Program with Paraguay. The visit featured award ceremonies, the inauguration of new air‑base hangars,...
Washington Guard Lifts WWII-Era Bomber for Move to Museum
The Washington Army National Guard used a CH‑47 Chinook to air‑lift the 83‑year‑old PBY‑5A Catalina bomber from downtown Oak Harbor to the Pacific Northwest Naval Air Museum. After years of planning, stress testing, and community support, the lift attracted more...
Connecticut Guard Home to Specialized Aircraft Maintenance Facility
The Connecticut National Guard’s 1109th Aviation Classification and Repair Depot (AVCRAD) in Groton performs depot‑level refurbishment of Army rotary‑wing aircraft, including UH‑60 Black Hawks, CH‑47 Chinooks and AH‑64 Apaches. By stripping helicopters to component level and rebuilding them to factory...