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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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Wing recognizes Outstanding Airmen of the Year
March 12, 2021
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Ray Shepard, the Assistant Adjutant General- Air for West Virginia, left, and Command Chief Master Sgt. David Stevens, West Virginia Air National Guard Command Chief, right, present Airman 1st Class Pujaba Chudasama, with the James Kemp McClaughlin trophy during the 167th Airlift Wing’s Outstanding Airman of the Year ceremony March 7, 2021.
167th AW Airman Spotlight
March 12, 2021
Airman 1st Class Pujaba Chudasama is a maintenance management analyst for the 167th Maintenance Operation Flight and the 167th Airlift Wing’s Airman Spotlight for March 2021.
W.Va. Guard Marks One Year of COVID-19 Response
March 12, 2021
Members of the West Virginia National Guard, West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources, and the Berkeley County Health Department supported COVID-19 test lanes for minorities and vulnerable populations, May 15, 2020, on Bulldog Blvd in between Martinsburg High and South Middle Schools in Martinsburg, W.Va. The WVNG Task Force Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Response Enterprise, or TF CRE, along with WVNG medical personnel supported the mission which was being conducted simultaneously at four locations in the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle)
50 cadets graduate from inaugural class at Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – South
March 12, 2021
Brig. Gen. William "Bill" Crane, Adjutant General of the West Virginia National Guard, addresses class 2-2020 of the Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy South during a graduation ceremony held March 11, 2021, in Montgomery, West Virginia. Fifty cadets graduated from the inaugural class at the state's second campus. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin Wriston)
Soldier Spotlight: Sgt. Millard “Robbie” Stickler
March 10, 2021
Sgt. Millard “Robbie” Stickler, Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge (NCOIC) of Task Force Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Yield Explosive Response Enterprise (TF-CRE) for the West Virginia National Guard COVID-19 response efforts poses for photos at the Joint Interagency Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccines in Charleston, West Virginia, Mar. 8, 2021. Stickler has been on COVID-19 response orders since March of 2020 performing multiple assignments including decontamination missions, COVID-19 testing site management, and taking care of Soldier travel throughout the Mountain State. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Spc. Meg Keller)
W.Va. Guard Shares COVID-19 Vaccine Best Practices and Lessons Learned with SPP Partner Peru
March 4, 2021
Members of the West Virginia National Guard and the West Virginia Joint Interagency Task Force for COVID-19 Vaccines shared best practices and lessons learned for COVID-19 vaccine distribution with Peru during a virtual workshop held March 2, 2021. The purpose of the workshop, built upon the established SPP relationship between the WVNG and Peru, was to assist Peru in overcoming obstacles and challenges facing their nation as they begin vaccinating their population. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)
W.Va. Guard Mobilizes for Winter Storm Response
February 16, 2021
Airmen voluntarily receive COVID-19 vaccine
February 10, 2021
Staff Sgt. Katie Farrell and Staff Sgt. Ian Miller, standing, administer the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Airmen in the 167th Airlift Wing dining facility Feb. 6, 2021. Farrell and Miller, are members of the 167th Medical Group and currently serving in the West Virginia National Guard’s Task Force Medical- East.