National Guard

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 »

March 2, 2009 -- Columbus, OH -- Ohio Governor Ted Strickland announced today that as part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the Ohio National Guard will receive more than $8.5 million for capital improvements to its facilities across the state.

“These funds will help us modernize and restore 22 National Guard facilities across the state while also putting more Ohioans to work,” Strickland said. “Not only will we extend the lives of the facilities, but we will reduce our operating expenses and be more environmentally friendly.”    » read more »

February 11, 2009 -- As the U.S. military continues to rely on the National Guard and Reserve for overseas deployments, making sure their families are adequately prepared for those missions is critical, according to a study issued today by the RAND Corporation.

"How the families of National Guard and Reserve members handle deployment may influence their plans to stay in the military," said Laura Castaneda, one of the lead authors of the study and a management scientist with RAND, a nonprofit research institution. "This means that understanding and addressing the needs of these families is not only key to ensuring their well-being, but potentially affects the health of the Guard and Reserve as well."    » read more »

9/1/2008 - BATON ROUGE, La. (AFPN) -- As Hurricane Gustav made landfall on the Gulf Coast, the secretary of the Department of Homeland Security praised the men and women of the Air Force and the National Guard for their efforts during preparations for the storm.

Secretary Michael Chertoff said the services were especially useful to help evacuate people with medical needs, such as critical care patients, who would be unable to otherwise leave the area.

"It was really the Air National Guard and the Air Force who came to the rescue setting up an air bridge so we could fly people out on C-130s and C-17s," he said. "It was a real positive addition to the capabilities we have on the ground."    » read more »

ARLINGTON, Va. – The National Guard has enlisted two superstars to attract new members and remind those already serving what the Guard is all about through a new nationwide theater advertising campaign that debuts today.

The new “Warrior” campaign includes music from Kid Rock and features Dale Earnhardt Jr., the National Guard-sponsored NASCAR Sprint Cup driver.

Kid Rock poses with Army National Guard soldiers: He appeared after filming the "Warrior" video, which will premiere in more than 3,000 theatres around the country on Aug. 22. (Photo courtesy of the Army National Guard)    » read more »

FORT DIX, N.J. (AFPN) - Members of the Air Mobility Battlelab (AMB) here have helped KC-135 Stratotanker aircrews to see in the dark through the KC-135 Exterior Night Vision Imaging System-compatible Lighting initiative.

Teaming with the Air Force Research Laboratory's Night Vision Center of Excellence of Mesa, Ariz., a light-emitting diode, or LED-based system was designed to replace the KC-135's wing and tail navigation lights, boom nozzle light, upper and lower strobes and pilot director lights without any internal aircraft wiring changes.

Inside the boom operator compartment at the tail of the plane, night-vision friendly LED flood lights were added and some cockpit and boom pod switches were replaced to facilitate multi-mode operations.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, (08/12/2008) - Servicemembers traveling for official business, including deployments, will continue to receive full reimbursement for reasonable, authorized excess baggage fees, defense officials said.

A recently updated fact sheet from the Department of Defense Per Diem, Travel and Transportation Committee explains department policy regarding excess baggage in light of new charges many airlines have imposed for checked baggage.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2008 – Defense Department officials are assessing ways to better prepare servicemembers, particularly members of the reserve and National Guard, for the stresses of combat so they’re better able to avoid alcohol-related problems when they return home, defense officials said today.

The goal, officials said, is to beef up existing strategies to address alcohol issues before and during deployments to mitigate post-deployment drinking problems.    » read more »

Today And Tomorrow

WASHINGTON, D.C., June 30, 2008 -- The Department of Homeland Security's Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) continues to coordinate the operational and support activities of numerous federal agencies in response to continued flooding in the Midwest.

FEMA and its federal partners are working closely with state and local governments as well as with the private sector to support those areas still fighting the floods and to assist those beginning the rebuilding process.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)

* Where waters have receded, FEMA disaster assistance workers are providing resources to individuals seeking assistance in the Midwest.    » read more »

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa - The Army National Guard flew one of its CH-47 Chinook helicopters into Cedar Rapids on Monday to help the town turn its water back on. The massive helicopters were used to pluck seven electrical pumps from a well field in Northwest Cedar Rapids still under water. Water receded enough by Saturday for the pumps to be above water.

National Guard flood relief, Cedar Rapids, Iowa: An employee from the Cedar Rapids Water Utility prepares to attach a lift cable from an Iowa Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook to a damaged water pump on the Iowa River near Cedar Rapids, Iowa. U.S. Air Force photo/Master Sgt Jack Braden    » read more »

Applauds Conservation Police Officers For Assisting With Rescues Following Levee Failure; Approximately 60,000 gallons of water being sent to Galesburg

June 17, 2008 -- SPRINGFIELD – Illinois Governor Rod R. Blagojevich today activated an additional 400 Illinois National Guard troops to assist with flood efforts along the Mississippi River, bringing the total troops engaged in the flood fight to 1,100. A State helicopter and additional rescue personnel are on stand-by for any additional emergency situations such as a levee break.    » read more »

WASHINGTON, June 16, 2008 – More than 600 National Guard members in Illinois and Missouri are continuing sandbagging operations along the Mississippi River today in an effort to thwart the flood waters that are subsiding in Iowa.

National Guard soldiers fill sandbags: Soldiers from 1138th Transportation Company, based at Jefferson Barracks, Mo., fill sandbags June 15, 2008, in Clarksville, Mo., an area expected to get more flood water this week. Photo by Gary Stevens, Missouri National Guard    » read more »

FORT CHAFFEE, Ark. (06/16/2008) - A severe thunderstorm swept through the Fort Chaffee and Fort Smith, Ark. area Sunday night forcing the evacuation of approximately 500 Illinois Army National Guard Soldiers from a remote training area. The Soldiers were moved into permanent barracks on Fort Chaffee due to wind damage to several tents the Soldiers were using for training at a Forward Operating Base.

Storm-damaged National Guard housing: Fort Chaffee, Ark. – Visible storm damage to temporary military housing at a remote training site after a series of severe storms passed through Sunday evening. Several Soldiers were injured; no injuries were serious.    » read more »

Lansing, Saginaw; Allegan, Eaton, Mason counties affected

June 16, 2008 -- LANSING - Michigan Governor Jennifer M. Granholm today issued an executive order activating the Michigan National Guard to assist jurisdictions operating under a state of emergency because of storms that swept the state earlier this month. The jurisdictions include the cities of Lansing and Saginaw and the counties of Allegan, Eaton and Mason.    » read more »