National Guard

10/31/2007 -- Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and Tennessee National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Gus Hargett, today announced that the Tennessee Air National Guard’s 118th Airlift Wing has been selected for the proposed stand-up of a C-130 transport aircraft Formal Training Unit. The unit will conduct day-to-day peacetime training of international airmen in preparation for the wing’s federal wartime mission.    » read more »

10/31/2007 -- In preparation for the forecasted return of Santa Ana winds beginning this Friday, California Governor Schwarzenegger today directed the California National Guard (CNG), California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Office of Emergency Services (OES) to proactively prepare for a new round of fires in southern California.

Under the Governor's direction, these agencies have developed an aggressive, tactical plan to pre-position staff and assets in areas facing a high fire risk, based on weather projected for Friday through Monday.    » read more »

WASHINGTON (10/24/2007) - Military C-130s with modular air firefighting systems this morning began dropping fire retardant and water on wildfires plaguing California. They will continue the effort as long as wind conditions allow, defense officials said.    » read more »

Oct 19, 2007 -- The Department of the Army today joined the Department of Defense in announcing Oct. 19 the alert of seven Army National Guard Brigade Combat Teams and one Army National Guard Fires Brigade for planned rotations in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.    » read more »

10/24/2007 -- WASHINGTON -- The National Weather Service said this morning the Santa Ana winds that are fanning the fires in southern California should die down by Thursday, but already nearly two-dozen fires have burned more than 400,000 acres from Mexico to north of Los Angeles. CNN reports that as many as 950,000 people have been evacuated, including more than 4,000 servicemembers from bases in the area.    » read more »

October 23, 2007, WASHINGTON, D.C. -- As fires continue to rage throughout communities in Southern California, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is swiftly mobilizing federal resources and assets in coordination with the state of California and other federal agencies. DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff and FEMA Administrator David Paulison traveled to the affected area today to meet with state officials and asses the federal response to the wildfires.    » read more »

10/22/2007 -- California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed the California National Guard (CNG) to make 1500 guardsmen available to support the firefighting efforts in Southern California. The 1500 guardsmen, including 200 troops currently patrolling the California/Mexico border, will be deployed at the direction of the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (OES) to areas where they can have the greatest impact.    » read more »

Leaders of Nebraska Military, Federal and State Veterans Affairs Officials Sign Memorandum of Understanding

October 17, 2007 -- (Bellevue, NE) -- Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) today at the newly opened Eastern Nebraska Veterans’ Home in Bellevue. The agreement solidifies the relationship between federal veterans’ officials and state leaders, outlining a commitment to ensure the full range of military benefits are made available to eligible Nebraska National Guard personnel who serve on active duty with the U.S.    » read more »

Governor Sends Letter Expressing “Extreme Disappointment” in Denial of Benefits for 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry Guard Soldiers

October 11, 2007 -- DES MOINES — In a letter sent today to Army Secretary Pete Geren, Iowa Governor Culver expressed “extreme disappointment with the denial of educational benefits to members of the 1st Battalion, 133rd Infantry, Iowa National Guard.”    » read more »

TriWest Healthcare Alliance partnership is result of Governor’s Yellow Ribbon Task Force

October 10, 2007 -- St. Paul – To further support the 2,600 men and women who have recently returned from a 22 month Operation Iraqi Freedom deployment, Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced that mental health professionals will be stationed in Minnesota Army National Guard armories around the state.    » read more »

10/08/2007 - ARLINGTON, Va. - A recently-returned Minnesota National Guard unit is getting the kudos it deserves this week.

The House of Representatives passed a Concurrent Resolution Oct. 1 that commended Soldiers from the 1st Brigade Combat Team, 34th Infantry Division on completion of their record deployment to Iraq. The unit’s 22-month deployment is the longest continuous deployment of any military unit during Operation Iraqi Freedom.    » read more »

Soldiers Return To Joint Force Headquarters, Lansing

October 5, 2007 -- LANSING, MICH.-- Following a 15-month tour of duty to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, approximately 44 Michigan Army National Guard Soldiers from the Personnel Services Detachment, based in Lansing, return home Sunday.

The Soldiers will arrive at approximately 11 a.m. at the Michigan National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters, located at 3411 N. Martin Luther King Blvd., in Lansing.    » read more »

October 04, 2007 -- Waterloo, IA - U.S. Senator Barack Obama today said that as President, he will honor and recognize the unique sacrifices that come with service in the National Guard and Reserves by ensuring they are deployed responsibly and receive the medical care and benefits they deserve when they return. In his remarks, Obama recalled the story of Iowa's 1st Battalion of the 133rd Infantry Regiment who learned from friends and family back home that their deployment had been extended and recently returned home after 22 months of service in Iraq.    » read more »

Nebraska Sen. Hagel Co-Sponsors Measure

October 2, 2007 -- (WASHINGTON, D.C.) – The Senate passed legislation authored by Senator Frank R. Lautenberg (D-NJ) to prevent increases to enrollment fees, premiums, and pharmacy co-payments for TRICARE, the military community’s health plan. The measure was added to the Department of Defense authorization bill that was approved by the Senate last night.    » read more »

A 2007 National Guard Bureau report showed shortfalls of up to $4 billion for emergency readiness equipment

October 1, 2007 -- WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Robert Menendez (D-NJ) successfully attached an amendment to the Department of Defense Authorization bill, which gained final passage in the Senate today, that calls for sufficient equipment for the Army and Air National Guard to achieve their missions inside the United States and to protect the homeland.    » read more »