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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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Guard ramping up efforts to combat COVID-19, encourages ‘flattening the curve’
March 27, 2020
Members of the West Virginia National Guard assist volunteers with the Greater Greenbrier Long Term Recovery Committee in preparing meals for more than 3,600 school-age students throughout Greenbrier County, West Virginia, during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, March 25, 2020, in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The Soldiers supported more than 30 volunteers in packaging and delivering the meals to needy children around the county and will continue to do so for the duration of the outbreak. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard Assists Agencies and Volunteer Organizations Feeding Hungry West Virginians
March 26, 2020
Members of the West Virginia National Guard assist volunteers with the Greater Greenbrier Long Term Recovery Committee in preparing meals for more than 3,600 school-age students throughout Greenbrier County, West Virginia, during the COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, March 25, 2020, in Lewisburg, West Virginia. The Soldiers supported more than 30 volunteers in packaging and delivering the meals to needy children around the county and will continue to do so for the duration of the outbreak. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard adds additional personnel, missions for state’s COVID-19 response
March 24, 2020
Members of the West Virginia National Guard assist state-level partner agencies, including the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources and West Virginia Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management, with the logistical movement and delivery of in-demand medical supplies to hospitals, clinics, and local departments of health throughout West Virginia in support of COVID-19 pandemic outbreak response efforts, March 24, 2020, in Poca, West Virginia. Workers packaged up large distributions of supplies such as surgical masks, respirators, sterile gowns, and examination gloves which were then loaded into vehicles for rapid dispatch and delivery around the state. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard update on COVID-19 preparations and response
March 23, 2020
Lt. Col. John Snedegar, Medical training Officer, Medical Detachment, West Virginia National Guard (WVNG), assists state partner agencies by manning phone lines at the West Virginia Poison Center, part of the statewide Coronavirus 2019/COVID-19 response efforts, March 19, 2020, in Charleston, West Virginia. The members are answering questions and inquiries from concerned citizens on a hotline established as part of an interagency whole-of-government approach in response to the ongoing pandemic. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Edwin L. Wriston)
Governor Jim Justice's Executive Order 9-20
March 23, 2020
Maj. Gen. James Hoyer Letter to the Force
March 23, 2020
West Virginia National Guard Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. James Hoyer, talks about the great responsibility of being a wing commander during a change of command ceremony at the 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia Air National Guard, Jan. 12, 2020. Col. Martin Timko assumed command of the wing, Col. David Cochran relinquished command during the ceremony.
W.Va. Guard holds tabletop exercise on COVID-19 response
March 18, 2020
The West Virginia National Guard (WVNG) holds a tabletop exercise in order to test operations, logistics and response to needs that might be requested by Governor Jim Justice, state partner agencies, and local communities during the current Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) response in West Virginia, March 17, 2020. The discussion-based exercise gave leaders the opportunity to work through a wide-range of topics, from manpower issues including both the military and civilian Guard workforce, to integration within the joint agency response across the state and scenarios where the WVNG might be called into response. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard experts provide PPE safety training for regional responders
March 16, 2020
Photo caption for attached images: Members of the West Virginia National Guard's (WVNG) Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive (CBRNE) Battalion, 35th Civil Support Team (CST) and the 35th CBRN Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) provide hands-on personal protective equipment (PPE) instruction to members of first responder agencies from Kentucky and West Virginia, March 16, 2020, in Huntington, W.Va. The just-in-time training was conducted in order to educate first responders on how to minimize cross-contamination through the proper wear of, “donning” and the procedures for “doffing” PPE. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)