Domestic Response

One of the two District of Columbia Air National Guard fighter pilots sent on a potential suicide mission the morning of 9/11 will share that experience at the 148th General Conference & Exhibition in Indianapolis, Aug. 28-31.

National Guard units are supporting wildfire suppression operations in multiple states, providing aerial firefighting aircraft, helicopters and personnel to assist civil authorities as significant wildfire activity continues across the Midwest and West.

The California Air National Guard’s 146th Airlift Wing and the Wyoming Air Guard’s 153rd Airlift Wing have been activated to support wildland firefighting operations in the western United States.

The District of Columbia National Guard's 260th Special Purpose Brigade recently commissioned its first maritime security vessel, marking the first time an Army unit in the nation's capital has operated a dedicated waterborne platform.

Domestic missions like the one in Washington, D.C., are helping build National Guard readiness rather than detracting from it, a senior Guard leader said last week during a media roundtable.

As unmanned aerial systems continue to evolve from recreational tools into potential threats to public safety, critical infrastructure and major public events, the Washington National Guard is positioning itself at the forefront of counter-UAS training and readiness.

The Atlantic basin is likely to experience a “below-normal” hurricane season this year, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration forecasters.

Assistant Attorney General Colin McDonald, U.S. Marshals Director Gadyaces Serralta, and U.S. Attorney Jeanine Pirro announced plans to expand National Guard presence in Washington, D.C., ahead of events tied to the nation’s 250th Independence Day observance.

President Donald Trump announced his intent to remove National Guard troops from Chicago, Los Angeles and Portland in a Dec. 31 Truth Social post.

The Senate’s version of the annual defense policy bill passed with a critical provision to ensure the Guard has adequate funds needed to repair and maintain equipment used in state emergencies.

The Adjutants General Association of the United States and NGAUS have called on congressional defense leaders to include the bipartisan Guarding Readiness Resources Act in the fiscal 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

Staff Sgt. Zachary Graham (above right), a member of the South Carolina Army National Guard, helped a man who had been struck by a train and thrown across a Washington Metro station platform Aug. 20.