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The West Virginia National Guard welcomed the Qatar Armed Forces Military Police Forces commander and senior leaders during a tour of Scouting America facilities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in Glen Jean, West Virginia, on Feb. 13, 2026. The tour was a part of an ongoing effort to strengthen international partnerships and to prepare for the Scouting America National Jamboree scheduled for this summer. Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake.
West Virginia Guard, Qatar Strengthen Security Ties for Scout Event
By Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake, | Feb. 26, 2026
The West Virginia National Guard welcomed the Qatar Armed Forces Military Police Forces commander and senior leaders during a Feb. 13 tour of Scouting America facilities at the Summit Bechtel Reserve as part of an ongoing...
Firefighters from the 167th Airlift Wing were the first on scene at a Berkeley County garage fire on Feb. 7, 2026 preventing flames from spreading into the home’s main living area.
167th Airlift Wing Firefighters first on scene at Berkely County structure fire
By Erica Bodker | Feb. 23, 2026
Firefighters from the 167th Airlift Wing were the first on scene at a Berkeley County garage fire on Feb. 7, 2026 preventing flames from spreading into the home’s main living area...
From left, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brett Fries, U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler E. Farley and Sgt. Devin Cantwell, members of the West Virginia National Guard, pose for a photo before their patrols in Washington, D.C., Dec. 31, 2025. On Dec. 15, 2025, they helped extinguish a dryer fire in an apartment building on Massachusetts Avenue Northwest. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical support to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of those who live, work in and visit the District. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Renee Crugnale.
West Virginia National Guard mission in Washington, D.C. to continue
By Sgt. 1st Class Ariana Shuemake | Jan. 29, 2026
As recently announced by Governor Patrick Morrisey, the West Virginia National Guard will continue its mission in Washington, D.C. through the remainder of the year, supporting ongoing efforts to assist with public safety...
Official photo of Capt. April McClung, a nurse assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard, who helped deliver a baby Dec. 23, 2025, outside Walter Reed National Military Medical Center's emergency room. Photo by st Lt. De-Juan Haley.
130th Air Wing Captain Helps Deliver Baby in Hospital Parking Lot
By Technical Sgt. Melissa Sterling, | Jan. 12, 2026
An West Virginia Air National Guard medical officer supporting operations in the nation’s capital helped deliver a baby in the front seat of a car just outside a hospital emergency room days before Christmas, turning a...
The West Virginia National Guard honors and remembers Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph
W. Va. Guard remembers first State Command Sergeant Major
By | Jan. 11, 2026
The West Virginia National Guard honors and remembers Command Sgt. Maj. Joseph "J.J.” Sale, Jr., who served as the first State Command Sergeant Major of the West Virginia Army National Guard...
From left, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Brett Fries, U.S. Army Pfc. Tyler E. Farley and Sgt. Devin Cantwell, members of the West Virginia National Guard, pose for a photo before their patrols in Washington, D.C., Dec. 31, 2025. On Dec. 15, 2025, they helped extinguish a dryer fire in an apartment building on N Street Northwest. About 2,500 National Guard members are supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, providing critical support to the Metropolitan Police Department to help ensure the safety of those who live, work in and visit the District. Photo by Tech. Sgt. Renee Crugnale.
National Guard Stops Apartment Fire in the District
By Tech. Sgt. Renee Crugnale, | Jan. 5, 2026
Three West Virginia National Guard members on a routine presence patrol along N Street Northwest recently stopped a dryer fire in an apartment building after detecting the faint smell of smoke...
Imagery taken during the Mountaineer Challenge Academy – South Class 2-2025 graduation ceremony held at the Fayette County Soldiers and Sailors Memorial Building, Fayetteville, West Virginia, December 19, 2025. Sixty-six cadets graduated from the 65th class since 1993 to complete 22-week residential MCA program. During their time in the program, the class completed more than 2956 hours of on 38 different community development projects, contributing more than $102,800.00 of volunteer efforts.
Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – South Class 2-2025 Graduates 66 Cadets
By | Dec. 22, 2025
The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – South program, located in Montgomery, West Virginia, graduated 66 cadets as a part of Class 2-2025/65 on December 19, 2025, at the Fayette County Soldiers and...
Governor Patrick Morrisey today formally announced that the State of West Virginia has requested the posthumous award of the Purple Heart for U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and the same honor for Air Force Staff Sergeant Andrew Wolfe of the West Virginia National Guard for their service and sacrifice while protecting the nation’s capital in Washington, D.C. WVNG Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim Seward (at podium) joined Governor Morrisey to support the call for that highest honor for the Guardsmen.
Governor Morrisey Requests Purple Hearts for Guard Members Killed, Injured in D.C. Attack
By | Dec. 19, 2025
Governor Patrick Morrisey formally announced that the State of West Virginia has requested the posthumous award of the Purple Heart for U.S. Army Specialist Sarah Beckstrom and the same honor for Air Force Staff Sergeant...
Mountaineer Challenge Academy – North Class 2-2025 graduation ceremony was held at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, West Virginia, December 12, 2025. Sixty-five cadets graduated from the 65th class since 1993 to complete 22-week residential MCA program. During their time in the program, the class completed more than 3,230 hours of on 44 different community development projects, contributing more than $112,000 of volunteer efforts. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
West Virginia Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – North Class 2-2025 Graduates 65 Cadets
By Edwin Wriston | Dec. 17, 2025
The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – North program graduated 65 cadets as a part of Class 65/2-2025 on Dec. 12, 2025 at Camp Dawson, West Virginia...
Evalea Beckstrom and West Virginia Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Jim D. Seward embrace during U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom's committal service at the West Virginia National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia, Dec. 9, 2025. Beckstrom, a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company, 111th Engineer Brigade, West Virginia Army National Guard, was laid to rest with full military honors during the ceremony and interment. Beckstrom died on Nov. 27, 2025 due to a gunshot wound received when she was ambushed by a gunman while on patrol near the Farragut Square Metro Station in Washington, D.C. the previous day. Beckstrom was 20 years old and had served 2 years and 5 months in the West Virginia National Guard. Beckstrom is survived by mother Evalea Beckstrom, father Gary Beckstrom, sisters Nicole and Christina and brothers Bryan and Wesley. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Cdt. Ayden Norcross)
Spc. Sarah Beckstrom laid to rest at W.Va. National Cemetery
By | Dec. 12, 2025
U.S. Army Spc. Sarah Beckstrom, a military police officer with the 863rd Military Police Company, West Virginia Army National Guard, was laid to rest with full military honors during a ceremony and interment on Dec. 9, 2025...
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World Scout Jamboree planners meet in West Virginia
July 24, 2018
Brig. Gen. Richard Kim, Deputy Commanding General of Operations, United States Army North (ARNORTH), thanks one of four Soldiers with the West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) World Scout Jamboree (WSJ) planning team July 18, 2018, at the Glen Jean Armory in Glen Jean, West Virginia. The Soldiers were instrumental in facilitating a two-day table top exercise to discuss the 2019 WSJ being held at the Summit Bechtel Family National Scout Reserve in Fayette County, West Virginia next year. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Zoe Morris)
W.Va. Guard Engineers support Resolute Castle, forge international relationships in Poland
July 14, 2018
Pfc. Travis Kearns, a signal support system specialist in the West Virginia Army National Guard, assigned to 812th Engineer Company, 1092nd Engineer Battalion, 111th Engineer Brigade, based out of Eleanor, West Virginia, uses a rake to level out the recently placed gravel while at Drawsko Pomorskie Training Area, Poland, during Resolute Castle, July 12, 2018. Resolute Castle is a multinational training exercise for NATO and U.S. Army engineers, which supports Atlantic Resolve by promoting interoperability. Atlantic Resolve is a demonstration of the United States’ commitment to the collective security of Europe through the deployment of rotational U.S. forces in cooperation with NATO ally and partner nations.
Developing a lethal and ready force through the Army's enlisted corps
July 12, 2018
CSM Cantrell Official Photo.
Governor, Adjutant General highlight impact of National Guard during plane naming ceremony
July 6, 2018
Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, discusses the economic impact of the WVNG during a plane naming ceremony held July 6, 2018 at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, West Virginia. The 130th AW unveiled a C-130H with the name “Pride of West Virginia” during the ceremony and Gov. Jim Justice thanked Guardsmen and women for their service to West Virginia and the nation.
167AW Airman Spotlight July 2018
July 3, 2018
Tech. Sgt. Alex Whalton is a client systems technician for the 167th Communications Flight and the 167th Airlift Wing's Airman Spotlight for July 2018. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle)
249th Band celebrate Independence Day, Partnership, in Peru
July 3, 2018
The 249th Band joined the Peruvian Armed Forces (PAF) “Mariscal Nieto” Cavalry Regiment to participate in the changing of the guard at Peru’s Presidential Palace on July 3, 2018, as the first foreign band to take part in the ceremonial event. The same day, the band showcased their talents at the official Independence Day celebration at the United States Department of State Chief of Mission Residence in Lima. The tour was also a celebration of the 21-year relationship between the WVNG and PAF through the State Partnership Program (SPP).
W.Va. Guard children’s camp receives new name in 2018
June 29, 2018
Retired Command Sgt. Maj. Gary Conley, West Virginia National Guard Youth Camp Director, is presented with a banner in honor of all his hard work throughout the years in support of the West Virginia National Guard Youth Programs that certifies the West Virginia Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. James Hoyer's decision to rename the West Virginia National Guard Kids Kamp to Camp Conley. The camp started in 1991 and gives children of service members a chance to experience some of the aspects of military life that their parents or family members endure during deployments.
167th extended drill leads into deployment exercise
June 12, 2018
Senior Airman James Reynolds III (left), a 167th medical technician, works with Airman 1st Class Paul Sexton, a 167th aerospace propulsion mechanic, to pass out gear in a deployment mobility line at the 167th Airlift Wing, June 8, 2018. The wing plans to exercise some unused skills during a deployment exercise to Alpena, Mich., June 9-14. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Jodie Witmer)