Spotlight on Master Sgt. Raymond Patrick Franze II: A Legacy in Fuels Management
October 6, 2024 — Master Sgt. Raymond Patrick Franze II from Dover, Delaware, is currently assigned to the West Virginia Air National Guard’s 167th Airlift Wing as a Fuels Management Flight Leader and an October 2024 West Virginia National Guard Spotlight... MORE

graphic showing 3 photos of MSgt. Patrick in uniform with his name, hometown and age

Gov. Justice directs National Guard to assist ongoing Hurricane Helene response
October 1, 2024 — West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice has activated members of the West Virginia National Guard to support ongoing disaster response and recovery efforts in North Carolina and South Carolina in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene... MORE

people driving loaders and back hoes and dump trucks in a small flooded area

All-Female West Virginia National Guard Aircrew Supports Girls in Aviation Day
September 30, 2024 — An all-female aircrew from the West Virginia National Guard participated in the 3rd annual Girls in Aviation Day held at the Robert C. Byrd National Aerospace Education Center, in Clarksburg, West Virginia, September 28, 2024. The aircrew piloted their “unmanned” UH-60M Blackhawk helicopter to the event, landing to the cheers and applause of hundreds of young girls and teens who came to the event meant to inspire and expose young females to the broad range of career opportunities in the aviation industry. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Edwin L. Wriston)... MORE

Spotlight on Cpt. Andrew M. Tanner: A Dedicated Pilot and Leader
September 22, 2024 — Cpt. Andrew M. Tanner, from Sunrise, Ohio, has served in the West Virginia Army National Guard for 11 years. Currently serving with the Fixed Wing Army Aviation Training Site in Clarksburg, West Virginia, Tanner’s role involves responsibilities in the unit's operations and planning. His experience as a pilot includes flying the C-12 Huron aircraft and UH-60 Blackhawk and OH-58 Kiowa helicopters. ... MORE

West Virginia, National Guard, soldier, spotlight, air, army

2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) welcomes new commander
September 20, 2024 — The 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), 77th Brigade Troop Command held a change of command ceremony September 14, 2024, at the Kenova Armed Forces Readiness Center in Kenova, West Virginia... MORE

men in U.S. Army uniforms in formation, watching a change of command ceremony which includes passing a guidon flag

West Virginia’s first Norwegian Foot March a success
September 16, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard held its first Norwegian Foot March on Sept. 8, 2024, joining in a military tradition meant to test endurance since 1915. The 30-kilometer (18.6-mile) march took place on the Elk River Trail in Clendenin, West Virginia and started in the pre-dawn hours Sunday... MORE

Spotlight on Lt. Col. Joshua Greenspan: Expert Pilot and Dedicated Family Man
September 15, 2024 — Lt. Col. Joshua Greenspan, from Reston, Va., brings extensive experience to his role as the Chief of Standards and Evaluations for the 167th Operations Group, 167th Airlift Wing, West Virginia National Guard. With 12 years of active duty and seven years in the National Guard, Greenspan excels as a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft instructor and evaluator pilot, assessing combat-ready aircrews and performing critical worldwide airlift missions. ... MORE

Spotlight on Staff Sgt. Colten Dorsey: Dedicated Medic and Community Leader
September 8, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Colten Dorsey, from Rupert, West Virginia, is a member of the 130th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Environmental Enhanced Response Force Package Medical Detachment and a September 2024 spotlight. With five years of service as a medical technician and search and extraction medic, Dorsey specializes in triage and lifesaving interventions during CBRNE attacks. ... MORE

Airman Spotlight Staff Sergeant Colten Dorsey

West Virginia Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – South Class 62 Graduates 58 Cadets
September 6, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard’s Mountaineer ChalleNGe Academy – South program, located in Montgomery, West Virginia, graduated 58 cadets as a part of Class 62 today at Haddad Riverfront Park in Charleston, West Virginia... MORE

Teenagers in khaki uniform shirts and navy pants and tan military boots march outside

Spotlight on Sgt. Katie Lynn Mollohan: A Dedicated Logistician and Advocate
September 1, 2024 — The first spotlight for September 2024 is Sgt. Katie Lynn Mollohan from St. Albans, West Virginia. Mollohan has served in the West Virginia Army National Guard for four years. She is currently stationed at Joint Forces Headquarters as a 92Y unit supply specialist... MORE

Soldier spotlight Katie Lynn Mollohan, three pictures of soldier,

Spotlight on SPC Jacob Frantz: A Dedicated Guard Member and Family Man
August 25, 2024 — Spc. Jacob Frantz, an 88M Motor Transport Operator from Lewisburg, West Virginia, has served three years in the West Virginia Army National Guard and is a Spotlight for August 2024... MORE

Three photos of solider Jacob Frantz, man with family, man in airplane. Solider

130th Airlift Wing member lead planner for EOD Joint Training
August 23, 2024 — Master Sgt. Glynn Willard, emergency management superintendent for the Air National Guard’s 130th Airlift Wing in Charleston, West Virginia, was a lead planner for emergency management involvement in the exercise... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Patrick Harrington, left, explosive ordnance disposal technician with the Massachusetts Air National Guard's 104th Fighter Wing, and Senior Airman Benito Pacheco, EOD technician with the Nebraska ANG's 155th Air Refueling Wing, review X-rays of an improvised explosive device May 13, 2024, as part of the Audacious Warrior exercise at Volk Field Air National Guard Base in Wisconsin. The nine-day exercise included over 70 participants assigned to the Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Reserve and U.S. Marine Corps, as well as military EOD specialists from the Czech Republic.

WV STARBASE: Inspiring the Next Generation of STEM Innovators
August 19, 2024 — WV STARBASE Charleston, a youth program located at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base in Charleston, West Virginia, is dedicated to students by giving a hands-on experience in STEM. Every school year, STARBASE has around 2,000 5th graders from around the state that participate in up to 25 hours of exploring science, technology, engineering, and math... MORE

medium zoom photo of two boys with their heads down looking at a painting that one is painting with watercolors on a white piece of paper. red wall background. the other by is pointing to the paint brush.

Spotlight Maj. David Groom: Celebrating a Distinguished Career in Aviation
August 18, 2024 — As the we prepare to celebrate National Aviation Day tomorrow, Aug. 15, 2024, the West Virginia National Guard would like to Spotlight Maj. David J. Groom, a dedicated pilot with 21 years of military service... MORE

Graphic with three photos of a male airman either in camo uniform or with family.
TEXT: airman spotlight
Major David J. Groom
C-17 Pilot
age: 42 / Kearneysville, WV

Spotlight: CW5 Zachary McDowell
August 11, 2024 — West Virginia Army National Guard Chief Warrant Officer 5 Zachary McDowell is the Spotlight for Aug. 11, 2024... MORE

Graphic with three photos of a male soldier either in camo uniform or with family.
TEXT: soldier spotlight
CW5 Zachary McDowell
155AH / Standardization Officer
age: 43 / Hometown: Midwest City, OK

167th Airmen deploy as Mission Generation Force Element
August 9, 2024 — Nearly 150 Airmen with the 167th Airlift Wing deployed in June as a Mission Generation Force Element... MORE

People in uniform enter a military aircraft

167th Airlift Wing Airman Spotlight August 2024
August 9, 2024 — Tech. Sgt. Jessie Trejo is a Security Forces Craftsman and Phoenix Raven for the 167th Security Forces Squadron and he is the 167th Airlift Wing Airman Spotlight for August 2024... MORE

A man in uniform stands in front of police trucks

WV National Guard geologist digs his job
August 7, 2024 — U.S. Army 1st Lt. Matthew Shafer, a Huntington, West Virginia native, and a platoon leader with Horizontal Platoon, 821st Engineer Construction Company, 1092nd Engineer Battalion, 111th Engineer Brigade, West Virginia Army National Guard made the trek with his unit to Germany for Exercise Combined Resolve 24-2, a U.S.-led, NATO and partner integrated exercise in the European Theater focused on combined arms interoperability... MORE

1-150th Cavalry supports DEFENDER 24 in Czechia
August 7, 2024 — Less than 24 hours after touching down in Czechia via a commercial airline flight from the U.S., West Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers – some running on just a couple of hours of sleep – fell in on Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 at the Libava Training Area in Czechia at the start of DEFENDER 24 in March... MORE

The combined 405th Army Field Support Brigade team made up of Soldiers and Army civilians from Army Field Support Battalion-Africa from Livorno, Italy, and contractors from the Coleman Army Prepositioned Stocks-2 worksite in Mannheim, Germany, as well as West Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers from the 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment, pose for a photo before conducting a safety briefing May 2 at an APS-2 Equipment Configuration and Hand-off Area at the Libava Training Area in Libava, Czechia, at the start of DEFENDER 24.

157th Military Police Company Receives Brief on Upcoming Deployment
August 6, 2024 — Soldiers assigned to the 157th Military Policy Company, 771st Troop Command Battalion, West Virginia Army National Guard, receive a briefing from Lt. Col. Ryan Kaufman and Command Sgt. Maj. Kendall Struxness at the Moorefield Armory, in Moorefield West Virginia on August 3, 2024... MORE

Large ground of Soldiers in Army PT uniforms sit in an auditorium and receive briefings from men in uniform

Spotlight: SGT Sophia Perez
August 4, 2024 — West Virginia Army National Guard Sgt. Sophia Perez is this week's Soldier Spotlight... MORE

Soldier spotlight
SGT Sophia Perez
Aviation Operations Specialist, FWAATS
age: 23 / Hometown : Martinsburg, WV

Spotlight: Travis Stone
August 4, 2024 — Travis Stone hails from Buffalo, West Virginia, and serves as the Director of the Apple Program at Patriot Guardens, converting reclaimed coal mine property into agricultural hubs... MORE

Graphic with three photos of a male in civilian clothes
TEXT: civilian spotlight
CIV. Travis Stone
Director of Apple Program, Patriot Guardens
age: 35 / Hometown: Buffalo, WV

167th Airlift Wing Airman Spotlight July 2024
July 31, 2024 — U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Zachary Pollard is a Water and Fuels Systems Maintenance Craftsman for the 167th Civil Engineering Squadron and the 167th Airlift Wing Airman Spotlight for July 2024... MORE

U.S. Army Pfc. Mose E. Vance Returns Home
July 31, 2024 — During a dignified transfer, the remains of U.S. Army Pfc. Mose E. Vance of Bradshaw, West Virginia, were released to his closest living relative and next-of-kin... MORE

honor guard soldiers unloading a flag-draped casket from a plane with a ground of family looking on.

Spotlight: SSG Anthony Jones
July 21, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard Spotlight for July 21, 2024, is Staff Sgt. Anthony Michael Jones... MORE

soldier spotlight
SSG. Anthony Michael Jones
12N/Horizontal Construction Engineer, 197th RTI
age: 44 / Hometown: Van, WV

WVNG Hosts Pre-deployment Yellow Ribbon Event for 863rd MP Co. and 153rd PAD
July 15, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard hosted a pre-deployment Yellow Ribbon event for the 863rd Military Police Co. and 153rd Public Affairs Det. on July 12, 2024, in Glen Jean, West Virginia... MORE

group of people looking at vendor tables

All-Hazards Joins Dunbar First Responders In Their Annual Jr. Police Academy
July 12, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard's All-Hazards team collaborated with the Dunbar Safe Community, Police Department and Fire Department for their annual Junior Police Academy held at Dunbar Middle School July 8-12, 2024... MORE

The West Virginia National Guard's All-Hazards team collaborated with the Dunbar Safe Community, Police Department and Fire Department for their annual Junior Police Academy held at Dunbar Middle School July 8-12, 2024.

West Virginia National Guard Celebrates 106th Anniversary of Warrant Officers
July 10, 2024 — The West Virginia National Guard started off the morning of July 9, 2024, with a walk/run through Coonskin Park followed by breakfast at the Tackett House at Joint Forces Headquarters to celebrate the 106th anniversary of the Warrant Officer Corps, marking over a century of specialized leadership and service... MORE

two men standing behind a table and cutting a cake with a sword while smiling

Spotlight: Master Sgt. Staci Lentz
July 7, 2024 — The WVNG Spotlight for July 7, 2024, is Master Sgt. Staci R. Lentz, an Aerospace Medical Technician at the 167th Medical Group, 167th Airlift Wing... MORE

AIRMAN spotlight
Master Sgt. Staci R Lentz
4N071, Aerospace Medical Technician, 167th AW
age: 37 / Hometown: Shanghai, WV

130th Airlift Wing Guardsman Honored with Bronze Star Medal
June 18, 2024 — MCLAUGHLIN AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, W.Va. – Master Sgt. Andrew Mencin, of the 130th Airlift Wing’s Civil Engineering Squadron, was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for his service while deployed to Iraq during a ceremony held Saturday, June 8th, 2024 at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base... MORE

Brig. Gen. David Cochran, Commander of the West Virginia Air National Guard, presents the Bronze Star certificate to Master Sgt. Andrew Mencin, a firefighter assigned to the 130th Airlift Wing during a ceremony held June 8, 2024, at McLaughlin Air National Guard Base, Charleston, W.Va. Mencin earned the Bronze Star for actions during a six-month deployment in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by 2nd Lt. De-Juan Haley)

Image Gallery

167th Airlift Wing conducts readiness exercise validation

U.S. Air Force Captain Blake Terry, 167th Airlift Squadron, helps push a Blackhawk helicopter out of a C-17 Globemaster aircraft during readiness exercise Sentry Unicorn, Shepherd Field, Martinsburg, West Virginia, April 19, 2024. Held in tandem with the West Virginia National Guard Sentry Storm exercise, Sentry Unicorn 2024 served as a Readiness Exercise Validation to gauge the wing’s self-assessment capabilities. A team of 20 Air Mobility Command inspectors observed the 167th Inspector General’s Wing Inspection Team (WIT) as the WIT assessed the Airmen executing mission-essential tasks in a contested or degraded environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle)

PHOTO BY: Senior Master Sgt. Emily Beightol-Deyerle

VIRIN: 240419-Z-PU513-1071.JPG

FULL SIZE: 1.81 MB

Additional Details

CAMERA

NIKON Z 6

LENS

70.0-200.0 mm f/2.8

APERTURE

28/10

SHUTTERSPEED

1/160

ISO

800

IMAGE IS PUBLIC DOMAIN

This photograph is considered public domain and has been cleared for release. If you would like to republish please give the photographer appropriate credit. Further, any commercial or non-commercial use of this photograph or any other DoD image must be made in compliance with guidance found at https://www.dimoc.mil/resources/limitations, which pertains to intellectual property restrictions (e.g., copyright and trademark, including the use of official emblems, insignia, names and slogans), warnings regarding use of images of identifiable personnel, appearance of endorsement, and related matters.

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Video by Sgt. Cheryl Madolev, Staff Sgt. Mickey Miller, Sgt. Davis Rohrer

WVNG Best Warrior Competition 2024 Video

153rd Public Affairs Detachment

March 19, 2024 | 4:11

Soldiers and Airmen from the West Virginia and District of Columbia National Guard compete in the West Virginia National Guard Best Warrior Competition held April 19-21, 2024, at Camp Dawson in Kingwood, West Virginia. Best Warrior is an annual event where participants compete in a series of warrior training tasks including weapons proficiency on the M4 rifle, 9mm pistol, land navigation, physical fitness, combat first aid, tactical movements, communications, and professional development activities. Photos by 153rd Public Affairs Det., WVARNG