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State Partnership Program turns 30: The Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program today
July 19, 2023 — On the eve of its 30th anniversary, the Department of Defense National Guard State Partnership Program has matured into thriving security cooperation relationships with 100 nations... MORE

Guard chief plans fitness initiative for Guard, families
February 1, 2023 — The chief of the National Guard Bureau is launching a holistic fitness initiative in March to improve the wellness of National Guard members and their families. The new program highlights two priorities of Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson: readiness and people... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers in the 1-254th Regional Training Institute's Infantry Advanced Leaders Course 22-02 take part in an Army Combat Fitness Test at the National Guard Training Center in Sea Girt, New Jersey, March 23, 2022. Forty-three Active-Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers attended the course, which focused on skills to lead squad- and platoon-sized units.

Leaders detail future of National Guard
January 25, 2023 — The National Guard remains an integral part of U.S. military might, and it's changing to remain effective for the future, Chief of the National Guard Bureau Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson said... MORE

Two men in military uniforms sit behind a table with microphones. The sign behind them indicates that they are at the Pentagon.

National Guard’s global reach, capabilities support National Defense Strategy
December 12, 2022 — What the National Guard brings to the global stage directly contributes to significant pieces of the 2022 National Defense Strategy, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau... MORE

Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief, National Guard Bureau

Month of the Military Family: Husband, wife enlist, graduate Basic Military Training together
November 30, 2022 — November is Month of the Military Family and is designated as a time to acknowledge the service and sacrifices made by military members and their families. For Airmen 1st Class Alex Waters and Melissa McCabe, those sacrifices are being made as both service members and military family members... MORE

Airmen First Class Melissa McCabe and Alex Waters see each other for the first time and share a hug after completing Basic Miliary Training at Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. (U.S. Air National Guard courtesy photo)

Survey asks service members about discrimination, extremism experiences
October 5, 2022 — A new survey is giving service members a chance to make their voices heard on issues related to race, discrimination and extremism in the military... MORE

Uniformed service members from various branches stand in formation with flags.

McConville: 'We can't do what we do as an Army without the National Guard'
August 31, 2022 — The Army is transforming, modernizing, boosting readiness, improving fitness across the force, and investing in potential recruits, the chief of staff of the Army said in wide-ranging remarks Aug. 27. But, first, Army Gen. James McConville heaped praise on a National Guard he said is essential to the Army, overseas and in the homeland... MORE

Retiring from National Guard or Reserve? Know your TRICARE options
August 9, 2022 — Are you thinking about retiring from the National Guard or Reserve? Retirement benefits depend on your age and service time... MORE

Modernized, interoperable Guard is hedge against peer competitors
June 9, 2022 — Having a modernized, relevant and capable reserve component to augment the nation's active forces is a key part of deterrence, the chief of the National Guard Bureau told a Senate panel... MORE

Two service members sit atop an aircraft.

AI-powered app aims to discover talent in Guard, Reserve
May 12, 2022 — Members of the Reserve and National Guard are highly skilled across a variety of private-sector industries and have the potential to make substantial contributions to Defense Department missions, a DOD official said. ... MORE

As he squats on the floor, a service member looks at an electronic device that's connected to a computer network.

Fiscal 2023 budget funds military for today, future
March 29, 2022 — President Joe Biden's $773 billion fiscal year 2023 Defense Budget Request funds the department for today's security environment and positions DOD to maintain its competitive advantage in the years ahead, Deputy Secretary of Defense Kathleen H. Hicks said... MORE

President's Fiscal Year 2023 Defense Budget

Guard chief details changes to combat sexual assault, harassment
January 21, 2022 — The National Guard is instituting changes to better combat sexual assault and harassment in the ranks, Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told the House Armed Services military personnel subcommittee Jan. 19... MORE

Secretary of Defense has authority to order mandatory COVID-19 shots
November 16, 2021 — The Secretary of Defense has the authority needed to order all members of the military – including the National Guard – to receive COVID-19 vaccinations, said Pentagon Press Secretary John F. Kirby... MORE

Two soldiers wearing face masks and gloves use syringes to draw medicine from a small bottle.

National Guard Chief details contributions over past year
June 25, 2021 — National Guardsmen more than demonstrated their value to America during 2020, and the need for their service has never been greater, said Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau... MORE

JBSA joint, Total Forces practice sling loading skills
December 30, 2020 — A joint Total Force team led by the 74th Aerial Port Squadron peers into a darkened landscape masked by a moonless evening sky in preparation for an ambitious helicopter sling load mission dubbed “Operation Nightstorm.”  ... MORE

U.S. Air Force Reserve Component Airmen assigned to the 74th Aerial Port Squadron, Texas Army National Guard Soldiers from the 2nd Company, 149st Aviation Regiment and 108th Aviation Regiment, and active-duty members from the Air Force Special Warfare Training Support Squadron participate in a helicopter rigging mission, Dec. 15, 2020, at Joint Base San Antonio-Chapman Annex, Texas.

Air Force hits record retention levels, reviews voluntary force management efforts
December 7, 2020 — The Department of the Air Force is seeing its highest retention levels in 20 years, second only to rates recorded shortly after 9/11 in 2002... MORE

The Department of the Air Force is seeing its highest retention levels in 20 years, second only to rates recorded shortly after 9/11 in 2002.

Women's Equality Day – Recognizing Soldiers who lead the way
August 26, 2020 — Aug. 26 marks the 100th anniversary of the passage of the 19th Amendment guaranteeing and protecting women's constitutional right to vote... MORE

Capt. Jennifer Alvarez, company commander for the 42nd Infantry Division's Operation's Comany, does a 26.2 mile ruck march on her deployment to the Middle East March 18, 2020.

No sign of operations tempo slowing, National Guard Bureau chief says
July 6, 2020 — Some 120,000 members of the National Guard have responded this year to natural disasters — floods in Michigan, wildfires in Kansas and tornadoes in Tennessee, just to name a few — and have participated in global military operations and responded to civil disturbances and to COVID-19, the chief of the National Guard Bureau said... MORE

North Carolina Army National Guardsmen Spc. Isai Arroyo, assigned to the 883rd Engineer Company, carries produce to a vehicle

Guard's COVID-19 response is largest since Hurricane Katrina
May 12, 2020 — Almost 47,000 Soldiers and Airmen from the National Guard are activated to help fight COVID-19 in the Guard’s largest domestic response effort since Hurricane Katrina in 2005. More than 51,000 Guard members responded to Katrina... MORE

More than 47,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are activated in all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia supporting COVID-19 response efforts. That is the Guard's largest response since Hurricane Katrina in 2005 when more than 51,000 Guard members responded.

National Guard chief: More Guard members to be called up
April 13, 2020 — More than 28,000 National Guard members are on duty as part of COVID-19 response efforts, and that number is expected to grow, the Guard’s top general says... MORE

Louisiana National Guard Soldiers and Airmen collect nasal swabs