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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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W.Va. Guardsman becomes youngest ever to achieve SAPPER distinction
June 15, 2022
Private 1st Class William Farkas, 17, attached to the 119th Engineer Company, 1092nd Engineer Battalion, with the West Virginia National Guard, has become the youngest ever recipient of the distinguished SAPPER tab after graduating with honors from the U.S. Army’s Sapper Leader Course. The course, hosted at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, is a demanding 28-day leadership development course for combat engineers that reinforces critical skills and teaches advanced techniques needed across the Army. (Courtesy Photo)
W.Va. Guard Soldier to compete at national-level Best Warrior Competition
June 13, 2022
Sgt. Jefferson Gwynn, a combat engineer with the 119th Sapper Company, will represent West Virginia at the national-level Best Warrior Competition to be held in Smyrna, Tennessee, July 22-29, 2022. Gwynn earned the opportunity to compete against the best the National Guard has to offer from around the nation after being named the Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) of the Year at the Region II Best Warrior Competition, held at Camp Dawson, West Virginia, in May. (U.S. Army National Guard graphic by Edwin L. Wriston)
Shepherd Field lighting upgrades support pilot training
May 23, 2022
U.S. Air Force Senior Master Sgt. Alan Romero, 167th Airlift Wing airfield manager, and a contractor with engineering firm Michael Baker International, look at a trench dug in the runway at Shepherd Field as part of an airfield lighting upgrade project, May 5, 2022. Lighting on the runway and the military and civilian sides of the airfield are being upgraded as part of a military construction cooperative agreement.
Holsinger takes command of 167th Operations Support Squadron
May 23, 2022
167th Operations Group deputy commander Lt. Col. John McCullough presents 167th Operations Support Squadron commander (OSS) Lt. Col. James Holsinger with the guidon during the OSS change of command ceremony held at the 167th base dining facility, Martinsburg, West Virginia, May 14, 2022. Air Force change of command ceremonies are a time-honored tradition where incoming commanders officially assume command while their airmen bear witness.
167th Mission Support Group Airmen participate in annual training event
May 23, 2022
Approximately 90 167th Mission Support Group Airmen participated in an annual training event at Camp Dawson, Kingwood, W.Va., May 14-19. Multiple training stations and scenarios were presented to the Airmen to shore up basic fundamental skills and enforce mission critical skills in an unfamiliar joint setting similar to a deploymen
130th AW donates C-130E pilot seat to aspiring aerospace engineers
April 28, 2022
Master Sgt. Jeffery Jackson, a First Sergeant, assigned to the 130th Maintenance Squadron explains the function of a C-130 E model aircraft seat to a group of High School students at Hurricane Hight School in Hurricane, West Virginia, April 26, 2022. The Aircraft seat was donated to the aerospace engineering students as an example of an aircraft seat designed for extended flight hours. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Eugene Crist)
West Virginia and District of Columbia Soldiers, Airmen vie for the title of Best Warrior
April 27, 2022
portrait of soldier or airman on a black background, waist up.
W.Va. Guard, DISA and academia team up to lead U.S. team in NATO cyber exercise Locked Shields 2022
April 26, 2022
Members of the West Virginia Army National Guard collaborate on a scenario inject during a simulated cyber-attack as a part of Locked Shields 2022. More than 75 participants from the various federal and state agencies competed on behalf of the United States team in the world’s largest international cyber defense exercise run virtually by the NATO Cooperative Cyber Defence Centre of Excellence in Tallinn, Estonia, April 19-21, 2022. The West Virginia-led U.S. team finished 15th overall out of 24 international teams. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Maj. Holli Nelson)