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 lethality and reinforcing joint‑force interoperability. Participants highlighted how the event supports the Guard’s dual mission of state emergency response and federal combat readiness. Top shooters earned spots in the Governor’s Dozen and national contests.
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...
Connecticut Guard Joint Staff Trains for Emergency Response as Winter Storm Arrives
The Connecticut National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters completed a five‑day Joint Task Force Staff Training Course at Camp Nett, sharpening its ability to plan and coordinate Guard support during domestic emergencies. The curriculum covered logistics, personnel management, and inter‑agency coordination, culminating...
Nevada Army Guard 321st Signal Company Activated to Support 17th Sustainment Brigade
The Nevada Army National Guard officially activated the 321st Signal Company on Dec. 6, 2025, assigning it to the 17th Sustainment Brigade. Capt. Howard Kemple Jr. and 1st Sgt. Justin Strong now lead the unit, which expands the brigade’s organic communications capability. The...
Oregon Guard Innovation Becomes Army Standard for Medevac Operations
Oregon Army National Guard aircrews identified a mismatch between the new Vita Vertical Rescue System (VRS) and existing Black Hawk litter straps, prompting them to redesign the strap as SK‑1189‑V. After prototyping with Skedco and six months of testing, the...
29th ID Participates in Warfighter Exercise in Finland
Virginia National Guard soldiers from the 29th Infantry Division headquarters joined Finland’s Operation Karelian Spear from Nov. 28 to Dec. 4, 2025. Integrated into the Finnish 4th Army Corps, they supported warfighting functional cells and observed tactical field operations. The exercise, part...
Senate Confirms Carden as First Four-Star Vice Chief of the National Guard Bureau
The U.S. Senate confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Carden as the 12th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau, making him the first officer to hold the four‑star rank in that position. The FY2024 National Defense Authorization Act elevated...
Illinois National Guard, Portugal Sign New State Partnership Agreement
The Illinois National Guard and Portugal’s Ministry of National Defense signed a State Partnership Program agreement on Jan. 12, 2026 in Lisbon. The partnership, part of the U.S. Army’s National Guard Bureau program, formalizes cooperation between the Illinois Guard and Portuguese armed...
NY Army National Guard Col. Jason Lefton, a Niskayuna Resident, Takes over 53rd Troop Command
New York Army National Guard Colonel Jason Lefton, a Niskayuna resident, assumed command of the 53rd Troop Command on Jan. 11, 2026 at Camp Smith. The 53rd Troop Command oversees roughly 5,100 soldiers across the state and is one of the Guard’s two general‑officer commands. Lefton...
Leadership Conference Conducted for Junior Enlisted New York Army National Guard Soldiers
The New York Army National Guard hosted a four‑day Junior Enlisted Conference for 61 junior soldiers at its Latham headquarters from Jan 8‑11, 2026. Led by Command Sgt. Major Leyland Jones and adjutant general Maj. Gen. Ray Shields, the workshop covered training, readiness, family programs,...
Pennsylvania Guard, Côte D’Ivoire to Partner Through State Partnership Program
The Pennsylvania National Guard has been selected to partner with Côte d’Ivoire through the U.S. Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program. The partnership will focus on security cooperation, disaster preparedness, and professional development, while also exploring economic...