JANUARY 23, 2026 – Alaska Air National Guard members assigned to the 176th Wing rescued an injured snowmachiner Jan. 21 in Southcentral Alaska. The injured snowmachiner used a cellular phone to contact the Alaska State Troopers, who then requested support from the Alaska Rescue Coordination Center, which opened a rescue mission. The Alaska Air National Guard accepted the … [Read more...]
Guard Innovation Becomes Army Standard
JANUARY 23, 2026 — An innovation born from operational necessity on the flight line in Salem has become the new standard for medical evacuation operations across the entire U.S. Army. Oregon Army National Guard aircrews with G Company, 1st Battalion, 189th Aviation Regiment, identified and solved a critical equipment compatibility issue that threatened to limit the use of … [Read more...]
Virginia Guard Training in Finland
JANUARY 22, 2026 – Virginia National Guard Soldiers assigned to the Fort Belvoir-based 29th Infantry Division Headquarters participated in the Finnish training exercise Operation Karelian Spear Nov. 28 – Dec. 4, 2025, in Kouvola, Finland. The training, featuring the Finnish Karelian Brigade and other members of the Finnish Army Headquarters and other foreign partners, was … [Read more...]
Guard Shortens Officer Candidate School
JANUARY 21, 2026 – The Washington National Guard is cutting the timeline for commissioning officers through its Officer Candidate School, or OCS, by four months while maintaining the exact training-hour requirements and adhering to the same standards as in the traditional 18-month-long course. Qualified individuals who would like to commission through the Washington state … [Read more...]
Carden Confirmed as National Guard Vice Chief
JANUARY 21, 2026 — The U.S. Senate has confirmed Army Lt. Gen. Thomas M. Carden to serve as the 12th vice chief of the National Guard Bureau. With this confirmation, Carden, a Georgia Army National Guard officer, will also receive a fourth star, marking the first time the National Guard has had two four-star generals and making him the first NGB vice chief to wear the … [Read more...]