News Front
CAMP MURRAY - After a year in Poland, supporting the State Partnership Program in the Kingdom of Thailand and responding to multiple state missions, the Guard members from 3rd Battalion, 161st Infantry Regiment, could have gone easy this annual training. However, that isn't the "Dark Rifle" way. "We planned and executed a
Recreation
CAMP MURRAY - Since childhood, being on the soccer field has always come naturally for Cpl. Matthew Solis. His natural talent has made him one of the most elite soccer players in the U.S. Army, as he suits up for the All-Army soccer team. "I have been playing for as long
News Front
TACOMA - This summer, more than 500 Washington National Guard members will take part in Hanuman Guardian 23, an annual, bilateral exercise hosted by the Royal Thai Army at the Cavalry Center in Saraburi, Thailand. Before they arrive, their large equipment needs to get to Thailand. "We have to get more
News Front
TACOMA - This summer, more than 500 Washington National Guard members will take part in Hanuman Guardian 23, an annual, bilateral exercise hosted by the Royal Thai Army at the Cavalry Center in Saraburi, Thailand. Before they arrive, their large equipment needs to get to Thailand. "We have to get more
Focus
The Cascade Mountain range stretches nearly 1,200 miles from British Columbia to Northern California and is home to more than a dozen active volcanoes. That is enough to keep Brian Terbush, an Earthquake / Volcano Program Coordinator at the Washington Emergency Management Division (EMD) busy. "The USGS monitors 161
Military Life
CAMP MURRAY - Catherine Trujillo had always dreamed of flying helicopters. At the age of 35, she thought she had missed her chance. "Along the way in life, I put my family ahead of my career. But when my youngest daughter turned three, I was like, ‘OK, now what do I
News Front
Whether on the battlefield during a federal deployment or responding to a disaster here at home, being able to communicate is one of, if not the most important thing for Guard members and first responders. Without communications, commanders do not know the status of their members, how the mission is
News Front
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Spc. Raymond Alonso, a combat medic specialist with Charlie Company, 181st Brigade Support Battalion, is the first member of his unit to earn the Expert Field Medical Badge on his first attempt in more than a decade. "Of the three expert badges, including the Expert Infantry and
News Front
During state emergencies, the subject matter experts of the Washington State Guard provide critical support to first responders who safeguard lives and property. When the state Guard needed a new commander, the Military Department leadership knew Washington National Guard Lt. Col. (Ret.) Joseph Maassen was the right guy for the
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For nearly 30 years Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tony Dohse has flown in one aircraft or another as part of the Washington National Guard. "I started in the Chinook and did that for four years, then I moved to the old C-23 Sherpa plane and now I am in the C-12
News Front
CAMP MURRAY, Wash. - About 100 Washington National Guard members were activated Jan. 21 to help alleviate staffing shortages and offer COVID-19 testing at eight hospitals across the state. The rapid spread of the Omicron variant has caused a spike in demand for COVID-19 tests. At the same time, hospitals face
News Front
CAMP MURRAY - For the citizen-soldiers of the 506th Military Police Detachment, this year's annual training was a chance to return to collective unit training and develop new soldiers' skills. "As a large percentage of the formation is comprised of new soldiers, we utilized the first week of annual training to
News Front
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Washington National Guard soldiers and airmen are transitioning from COVID-19 response and civil disturbance missions to prepare for what could be another catastrophic wildfire season. "We have been actively responding for the past 15 months to the COVID-19 pandemic," said Maj. Gen. Bret Daugherty, the adjutant general.
News Front
JOINT BASE LEWIS-MCCHORD - Along with supporting the state's response to the COVID-19 pandemic, assisting law enforcement during civil unrest and dropping nearly half a million gallons of water on multiple wildfires across the state, the crews from 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation also ramped up for an overseas
News Front
COVID-19 testing was one of the pillars of Gov. Jay Inslee's recovery plan for Washington state. Ensuring that test kits are readily available has been a team effort of the Department of Health, AmeriCorps and a dozen members of the Washington National Guard. "Working with the Department of Health and AmeriCorps
News Front
(Photo: CH-47 Chinook helicopters during Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 168th General Support Aviation deployment ceremony at the Washington Army National Guard Army Aviation Support Facility at Joint Base Lewis-McChord May 6. Bravo Company is set to deploy to the Middle East for the third time in 10 years.) While more than
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(Photo: Washington National Guard’s 10th Civil Support Team’s Communications truck parked near the State Capitol in Olympia as part of a display with AT&T FirstNet Jan. 22. The display showcased network and communications equipment that would be utilized during and following a disaster.) Following a disaster, the ability to communicate is
News Front
(Photo: Col. Gerald Dezsofi, commander, 56th Theater Information Operations Group and senior intelligence officer for the state, addresses the crowd during the first Intelligence Enterprise summit at McChord Club, Joint Base Lewis-McChord.) Traditionally, military intelligence professionals work alone or on small teams and rarely know what is happening in other units.
News Front
Public service runs through Capt. Hans Zeiger's blood. He is a member of the State Senate and a scoutmaster, and at the same time, helps many nonprofit veterans' organizations in the Puyallup area. His service to community earned him the 2019 Howard O. Scott Award from the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber. "Capt.
News Front
Spring time in Washington state means the end of the long gray days, no more snow and potentially less rain in the forecast. It is also when the Washington National Guard and Washington Department of Natural resources team up to proactively prepare for the upcoming summer wildfire season. "We have made