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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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130th Airlift Wing practices ACE during FLARE 2023
April 2, 2023
U.S. Air Force Technical Sgt. Zackery Payne, an aircraft maintainer, assigned to the 130th Maintenance Group, Charleston, W.Va. salutes an aircraft prior to taking off during the unit’s Fly Away Readiness Exercise (FLARE), March 30, 2023, at the Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Gulfport, MS. FLARE is a commander directed readiness exercise designed to inform commanders of their units’ ability to deploy using the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) model. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley)
2023 SAAPM Message
April 1, 2023
Grapgic of a flyer. April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention (SAAPM) Month. Do your part to end Sexual Assault. Safe Helpline: 24 Hour Sexual Assault Support Call: 1-877-995-5247 Text: *55-247 Email/Online Chat: http://www.safehelpline.org
Jobs & Hope, Mountaineer Job ChalleNGe grads join West Virginia's heavy equipment workforce
March 28, 2023
A group of six men and two women stand in front of a banner that states "Your Journey Starts Here."
European partners, allies converge in West Virginia for Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise planning
March 27, 2023
U.S. Army Maj. Dwight Bundy, West Virginia National Guard Ridge Runner operations officer in charge, briefs participants of the Ridge Runner Irregular Warfare Exercise (RR IWX) 23-01 mid planning conference March 24, 2023, at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. The RR IWX planning conference attendees confirmed training objectives, coordinated exercise support, and refined the scenario prior to the inaugural June exercise being held in West Virginia, which will provide validation for deploying U.S. special forces elements. (Courtesy Photo)
Eagle Scout, AITEC hold initial flag retirement ceremony
March 22, 2023
Eagle Scout Phillip Cavender, a member of Troop 74 in Tornado, West Virginia, built a large fire pit and benches on the grounds of the West Virginia Army National Guard St. Albans Armory for proper flag disposal. Cavender (far left) his grandmother and his father, retired Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chad Cavender salute the first flag disposed of during the initial ceremony on March 8, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by SGT Zoe Morris)
W.Va. Guard holds Key Leader Engagement with Qatar Partners
March 21, 2023
West Virginia National Guard senior leaders and members of the State Partnership Program met with Qatari military leadership in Doha, Qatar March 14-16, 2023, to conduct key leader engagement and develop a path forward for future bilateral exchanges in the next year. The Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Bill Crane, senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Dusty Jones, and chief of the joint staff, Col. Brian Abraham, along with the SPP team and U.S. Embassy - Qatar personnel, met individually and collectively with various high-ranking officials within the Qatar Armed Forces and Qatar National Service Academy to establish priorities and discuss opportunities for information sharing and collaboration between the two militaries. (Courtesy Photo)
W.Va. National Guardsman serves as military mentor for U.S. Senate Youth Program 2023
March 14, 2023
Maj. Holli Nelson (back right) poses with delegates from the 61st United States Senate Youth Program at the United States Institute of Peace in Washington, D.C. March 7, 2023. Nelson served as one of 17 military mentors charged with providing support and mentoring to 104 delegates from across the United States, District of Columbia and the Department of Defense Education Activity. (Courtesy Photo)
Maintenance facility renovations step towards right-sizing 167th Airlift Wing
March 10, 2023
Renovations to 167th Maintenance Group facilities are underway to consolidate maintenance functions on the first floor and relocate the 167th Operations Group to the second story of the building, to right-size the Martinsburg, West Virginia, air base.