MAY 12, 2026 - Aviation crews assigned to the 1st Battalion, 168th Aviation Regiment, Washington Army National Guard, partnered with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue to conduct water bucket training near Puyallup, Washington, May 7, preparing for the state's wildfire season. Throughout the exercise, firefighters and aviation crews rehearsed aerial wildfire response operations, … [Read more...]

MAY 11, 2026 — A New Hampshire Air National Guard officer was awarded the Bronze Star Medal May 2 for distinguished accomplishments while deployed to Iraq, where he led security forces through a series of enemy aerial attacks during a six-month combat tour. Maj. Joel Loranger, security forces operations officer for the 157th Air Refueling Wing, earned the decoration for his … [Read more...]

MAY 8, 2026 – Two Indiana National Guard Soldiers received top honors at a Midwest regional competition held at Fort Custer Training Center, near Augusta, Michigan, April 30-May 2. Sgt. Brendan Bartlett and Spc. Caleb Chambers, who won Indiana's statewide competition in March at Camp Atterbury, competed against Guardsmen from Michigan, Illinois, Ohio, Iowa, Minnesota and … [Read more...]

MAY 7, 2026 – On the evening of May 2, the trophy felt heavier in Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller’s memory than it did in his hands. He recalled the 150th Kentucky Derby two years prior, when he crossed the turf at Churchill Downs with a single thought on loop: “You’re almost at the podium. You’re almost at the podium.” At the time, his focus was locked on his task. He knew a … [Read more...]

MAY 6, 2026 – When Army Air Corps 2nd Lt. Joseph Burke came home to Troy, New York, on May 1 – 84 years after he left – New York Army National Guard Soldiers welcomed him at the airport. Joseph Leroy “Roy” Burke was captured by the Japanese in May 1942 in the Philippines and held prisoner for more than two years. He was killed inadvertently by U.S. forces in January 1945, as … [Read more...]