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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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167th Airlift Wing Airman Spotlight October 2020
October 6, 2020
Maj. Lori Wyatt is the assistant chief nurse for the 167th Medical Group and the 167th Airlift Wing’s Airman Spotlight for October 2020.
Chaplain fills in for active duty priest
October 6, 2020
Chaplain (Capt.) Joshua Stevens passed out ice cream to Airmen while serving on temporary duty at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz. Stevens participated in a number of morale-building activities, counseling sessions and reintegration briefings during his month-long tour there in September 2020.
W.Va. Guard Soldiers learn valuable skills at Master Resilience Training course
October 5, 2020
Students from the Master Resilience Training Level 1 course pose for a photo Sept. 25, 2020, at Ft. McCoy, Wisconsin. Six members of the West Virginia Army National Guard recently completed the course which teaches resiliency skills. (Courtesy photo)
W.Va. Guard highlights COVID-19 response for September
October 2, 2020
James Blair, an IT Technician with Tate Communications, poses with Staff Sgt. Douglas Cooper and Steve Labelle, Telecommunications Specialists with the West Virginia National Guard, during the instillation of an outdoor WiFi booster on the Summersville Armory, September 15, 2020. The WiFi booster will allow students and parents to access free WiFi internet at WVNG armories at multiple locations around the state in support of Governor Jim Justice’s Kids Connect Initiative. The initiative is part of a statewide response effort to the COVID-19 pandemic and will provide internet access and availability at public spaces to students throughout areas of West Virginia where reliable internet is not always available. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard aircrew personnel help combat wildland fires in California
September 30, 2020
Four members of the West Virginia National Guard’s Company C, 1-150th Assault Battalion are in California flying aerial wildland firefighting missions to help combat the massive North Complex and August Complex fires currently burning throughout nine counties in the northern part of the state. (Curtesy Photo Provided)
West Virginia Air National Guard hosts inaugural air-to-air staff talks with Peru
September 28, 2020
Members of the 130th Airlift Wing and West Virginia Army National Guard talk with members of the West Virginia National Guard’s (WVNG) State Partnership Program (SPP) counterparts on Sept. 24, 2020 at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va. The West Virginia/Peru SPP was formalized in 1996 and has generated more than 120 interactions between the forces. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Caleb Vance)
West Virginia National Guard WO Soldier Spotlight: CW3 Siobhan O’Flaherty Cleek
September 28, 2020
West Virginia National Guard CW3 Siobhan O’Flaherty Cleek poses with her family; husband Khristopher, and daughters Agatha and Paige.
W.Va. Army Guard promotes newest general officer
September 26, 2020
West Virginia Army National Guard (WVARNG) Col. Murray E. “Gene” Holt is promoted to the rank of Brig. Gen. at West Virginia National Guard Joint Forces Headquarters, Charleston, West Virginia, September 26, 2020. Brig. Gen. Holt has served in the Army National Guard since 1985 and began his career as an enlisted Soldier before earning his commission into the Army Engineer Corps in 1990. In his new role, Brig. Gen. Holt will serve as the Assistant Adjutant General – Army, exercising responsibility for all WVARNG programs and commanding a force of nearly 4,200 Soldiers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)