JUNE 9, 2020 - Once demonstrators realized the Georgia National Guard was there to protect them and facilitate a peaceful protest, violence diminished in downtown Atlanta last week, said Staff Sgt. David Knicely. “People were extremely receptive once we kind of explained it is our obligation to defend the Constitution,” Knicely said, “and the Constitution allows for the … [Read more...]

JUNE 8, 2020 - All out-of-state National Guardsmen will be returning home after accomplishing their missions in the nation's capital, Army Secretary Ryan McCarthy told reporters today. Joined by Army Maj. Gen. William Walker, the commander of the District of Columbia National Guard, McCarthy said the Guard units that helped protect the rights of citizens to peacefully … [Read more...]

JUNE 4, 2020 - Governors in 28 states have called on the National Guard to support first responders in the wake of civil unrest and protests across the nation following the death of George Floyd. A Defense Department official said yesterday that the country relies on Guard troops to support civil authorities because they can be deputized to serve in a law enforcement role, … [Read more...]

JUNE 2, 2020 - National Guard members in Alaska and Hawaii were on duty Saturday as NASA launched its first manned space mission since 2011. Guard members with the Alaska Air National Guard’s 176th Wing and the Hawaii Air National Guard’s 154th Wing were there to provide search-and-rescue support in case a mishap forced the astronauts aboard the spacecraft to abort the … [Read more...]

JUNE 1, 2020 – As of Monday morning, National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were activated in 23 states and the District of Columbia in response to civil disturbances, bringing the total number of Guard members on duty in support of their governors to nearly 62,000. This number represents activations for civil unrest, COVID-19 response, as well as state-specific disasters such … [Read more...]