National Guard

ARLINGTON, Va. (11/02/09) – For the first time ever, the Air National Guard will be the sole operator of a new aircraft straight off the assembly line.

The C-27J Spartan, the latest propeller-driven airlifter, is an "extremely rugged" aircraft, designed for austere environments, said Air Force officials. It is about half the size of a C-130 with 3.5 cargo pallet positions.

“It is the first time in U.S. Air Force history where the service acquired a new airframe solely owned, operated and maintained by the Air National Guard,” said Lt. Col. Chris Beckman, the ANG’s Aviation Planning and Execution chief.    » read more »

TONAWANDA, N.Y., (11/02/09) - The New York National Guard along with local officials from Erie County and the cities of Tonawanda, Buffalo and Niagara Falls joined with other state, regional and federal officials to formally announce the launch of the largest emergency response exercise to have ever been conducted in Western New York.

"Vigilant Guard is an opportunity for military and civilian professionals to train together and prepare for a potential catastrophe we all naturally hope will never happen," said Brig. Gen. Michael Swezey, commander of the Guard's Joint Task Force 6, based in Buffalo.    » read more »

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (10/19/09) - The 2010 Winter Olympics are a few shorts months away, and several Army National Guard Soldiers are currently competing for slots on the bobsled and luge teams.

The Soldiers, Sgts. Mike Kohn, Shauna Rohbock, Jeremy White, Courtney Zablocki, and Pfc. John Napier, are all members of the National Guard’s Outstanding Athlete Program, which brings Guardmembers on active duty to train and compete in their chosen sport.

Over the next few weeks, they will compete in 10 races on a variety of tracks to determine who will go to the Olympics. The Olympic team will be announced in January.    » read more »

Bill Includes Funding for Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program

October 7, 2009 -- Washington, D.C. – The United States Senate last night passed the fiscal year 2010 Department of Defense appropriations bill, which includes over $60 million for Oregon projects. Included at the request of Oregon Senators Jeff Merkley and Ron Wyden, these projects will provide research and development of clean energy technologies, equipment to help ensure military personnel land aircraft safely in severe weather conditions, and updated data and voice communications systems.

The bill also includes funding for the Oregon National Guard Reintegration Program, which helps soldiers transition back to civilian life.    » read more »

October 01, 2009 -- Washington, DC – Senator Robert C. Byrd, D-W.Va., today announced the award of a contract in the amount of more than $20.068 million to BBL Carlton, LLC, of Charleston, West Virginia, to construct a new C-130 fuel system/corrosion control hangar and shops for the West Virginia National Guard facilities at Yeager Airbase in Charleston. Byrd had the funding included in the Consolidated Security, Disaster Assistance, and Continuing Appropriations Act, 2009, which was signed into law in March.    » read more »

Investigation requested by Bayh to examine handling of exposure of Indiana National Guard soldiers in Iraq

October 1, 2009 -- Washington -- At the request of Senator Evan Bayh, the Department of Defense Inspector General (IG) announced that it will initiate an investigation into the U.S. Army’s response to the exposure of hundreds of U.S. soldiers—including 142 members of the Indiana National Guard—to the deadly chemical sodium dichromate in Iraq.    » read more »

Washington, D.C. -- May 22, 2009 -- U.S. Senators Kit Bond (R-Mo.) and Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), co-chairs of the Senate National Guard Caucus, announced that they have secured an additional $500 million to help the National Guard and Reserves address critical equipment shortfalls, in a budget bill passed by the Senate Thursday night.    » read more »

May 13, 2009 -- New York Governor David A. Paterson issued the following statement after the announcement that President Barack Obama has nominated the Adjutant General of New York, Major General Joseph J. Taluto, to be promoted to lieutenant general and assigned as Director of the Army National Guard. Governor Paterson nominated Major General Taluto to be considered for this position.

“Major General Joseph Taluto has been a dedicated officer in the New York National Guard for more than 40 years and his selection not only reflects his great ability and tremendous leadership style, but the talent and expertise New York can offer to the rest of the Nation. I congratulate President Obama for his decision to nominate Major General Taluto to serve as Director of the Army National Guard.    » read more »

California Only State Offering No Higher Education Benefit to Reward and Retain State National Guard

04/28/2009 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today urged legislators to pass SB 815, a bill proposed by the Governor and carried by Senator Dave Cogdill. Long overdue, this legislation is designed to close a gap within the Post-9/11 G.I. Bill allowing only Guard members who serve on a federal mission (such as in Iraq or Afghanistan) to be eligible for higher education benefits, leaving thousands of Guard members who serve closer to home without such benefits.

California is currently the only state in the nation that has yet to close this gap and offer an education incentive to reward and retain National Guard members.    » read more »

April 18, 2009 -- At 1:30 this morning, Colorado Governor Bill Ritter, in coordination with the Colorado Department of Local Affairs' Division of Emergency Management, activated the Colorado National Guard to support emergency shelter operations in Clear Creek County.

Hazardous weather conditions closed I-70 and other roads along the mountain corridor between Morrison and Vail. The severe weather forced numerous stranded motorists to seek emergency shelter in Idaho Springs and Georgetown.

I-70 is now open in both directions, although travel is still discouraged at this time.    » read more »

March 26, 2009 -- Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has issued a disaster declaration due to today's blizzard, activating the National Guard to assist with rescue operations and authorizing up to $200,000 in state funds for emergency assistance.

"Our first and foremost concern is the health, safety and welfare of Colorado's citizens," Gov. Ritter said. "We have activated the State Emergency Operations Center to monitor conditions, coordinate the state's resources and respond as needed. We are also asking residents to limit their travel and encourage employers to consider releasing employees in a phased manner to alleviate heavy traffic this afternoon."

Here is the text of Executive Order D 005 09, "Declaring a Disaster Emergency Due to a Severe Blizzard":    » read more »

Raleigh Project Gets $41.5 Million In Federal Funds; Will Provide Up To 4,200 Jobs

3/25/2009 -- North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue announced today that work will begin shortly on a $56 million new North Carolina National Guard Joint Force Headquarters facility that will also house offices of the state Division of Emergency Management, the State Highway Patrol and the Department of Transportation in Raleigh. The project, which is expected to create up to 4,200 jobs, will be open to bids next week with work to start as soon as early summer and to be finished within two years.    » read more »

March 23, 2009 -- BISMARCK, N.D. - Pursuant to the statewide emergency flood disaster declaration issued by Gov. John Hoeven on March 13, 2009, the N.D. Department of Emergency Services, N.D. National Guard, N.D. Department of Transportation and other agencies are assisting in flood fighting efforts around the state of North Dakota. These actions follow state preparation efforts coordinated with local authorities, as well as the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and FEMA.

Fargo    » read more »

March 18, 2009 -- TRENTON - New Jersey Governor Jon S. Corzine today signed Kelley's Law, a measure that extends payment of accidental death benefits to survivors of members of the Armed Forces Reserve and National Guard who fall under the Police and Firemen's Retirement System (PFRS), the State Police Retirement System (SPRS), the Public Employees' Retirement System (PERS) and the Teachers' Pension and Annuity Fund (TPAF).

The bill, A-770/S-1392, is named for U.S. Army Reserve Major Dwayne M. Kelley, who was also a Detective Sergeant First Class in the New Jersey State Police. Major Kelley was killed by a bomb blast in Baghdad, Iraq on June 24, 2008.    » read more »

Recovery Act dollars will fund maintenance, energy efficiency upgrades at three Army National Guard bases in Michigan

March 4, 2009 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today announced that three of Michigan's Army National Guard facilities will receive $7.85 million from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the federal economic recovery plan designed to create jobs and stimulate the nation's economy.

The recovery dollars will fund infrastructure improvements, facilities maintenance, and operational costs at three Army National Guard training and support centers in Michigan. All recovery plan funds announced today will be in addition to the annual federal appropriation for maintenance of National Guard facilities in Michigan.    » read more »