Michigan National Guard

Michigan and Latvia strengthen partnership during key leader engagement
June 16, 2021 — For 28 years the relationship between the Michigan National Guard (MING) and Latvian National Armed Forces (LNAF) has grown immensely. The State Partnership Program (SPP) was created to foster such relationships and is an official collaboration between the U.S. National Guard Bureau, the U.S. Department of Defense, and the U.S. State Department. The Michigan-Latvia partnership was one of the first three bilateral relationships – along with Pennsylvania/Lithuania and Maryland/Estonia – to be formalized on April 27, 1993... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Paul Rogers, right, adjutant general and director of the Michigan Department of Military and Veterans Affairs, and Command Sgt. Maj. William Russell III, senior enlisted advisor, Michigan National Guard, shake hands with the Latvian delegates at the end of the key leadership engagement between Latvian National Armed Forces (LNAF) and the Michigan National Guard (MING)

Michigan Air National Guard Husband and Wife team from Zambia become U.S. Citizens
June 14, 2021 — On May 24, 2021, Airman 1st Class Waicha Gondwe recited her Oath of Allegiance, marking the completion of her journey to become a U.S. Citizen. Born and raised in Zambia, Gondwe is a material management specialist with the 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB), Michigan... MORE

Air Force Airman 1st Class Waicha Gondwe, a material management specialist in the 127th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base (SANGB), Michigan, born and raised in Zambia, stands with her husband, Master Sgt. Suzgo Gondwe, noncommissioned officer in charge of the 107th Maintenance Squadron, SANGB, also born and raised in Zambia, after she recited her Oath of Allegiance, marking the completion of her journey to become a U.S. Citizen at the Immigration Services building, Detroit, Michigan

Michigan Guard Drives Operation Patriot Press
June 8, 2021 — Michigan National Guard Soldiers drove a half-million miles through more than 15 states, transporting almost 6 million pounds of ammunition as part of Operation Patriot Press... MORE

A row of military vehicles drives on a road.

Guardsman Highlight: Army Pvt. Fahad Al-Kadhim
June 6, 2021 — Army Pvt. Fahad Al-Kadhim, a motor transport operator with the 1461st Transportation Company, Michigan Army National Guard, poses after his first annual training with his unit driving in Operation Patriot Press, Fort Custer Training Center, Augusta, Michigan, May 25, 2021... MORE

Michigan Air Guard member follows path to England
June 1, 2021 — RAF MOLESWORTH, England – With four stars on his shoulder, he was the highest-ranking officer U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sydney Suwannarat had ever seen. The staff was called to attention, the room fell silent and he approached where she and two other junior enlisted colleagues were standing at the front of the room.“Whatcha got,” he... MORE

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Sydney Suwannarat, an all-source intelligence analyst with the 217th Air Operations Group, 110th Wing, Battle Creek Air National Guard Base, Michigan, stands outside RAF Molesworth, England, May 7, 2021. Suwannarat is serving a multiyear tour at RAF Molesworth’s Joint Intelligence Operations Center, Europe (JIOCEUR) Analytic Center.

National Guard scholarship helps fuel desire to fly
May 29, 2021 — KALAMAZOO, Mich.— With dreams of becoming a pilot, one Michigan National Guard (MING) Soldier is taking advantage of the National Guard Minuteman Scholarship while attending the Army’s ROTC program at Western Michigan University (WMU)... MORE

U.S. Army ROTC Cadet Carly Ness, with the Western Michigan University (WMU) Army ROTC program, poses for a portrait at the Army ROTC office in Kalamazoo, Michigan, on April 27, 2021.

Alpena CRTC offers invaluable air space and facilities for AMC’s Mobility Guardian 21 exercise
May 25, 2021 — Air Mobility Command (AMC) is conducting part of their biennial training exercise Mobility Guardian at Michigan Air National Guard’s Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC) May 17-28, 2021. Mobility Guardian 2021 (MG21) is focused on all-domain operations in Contested, Degraded, and Operationally-Limited (CDO) environments against a high-end adversary. The scenario drives a response to adversary aggression threatening the security and sovereignty of the exercise area of responsibility... MORE

A C-5 Galaxy assigned to the 436th Airlift Wing takes off from Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center, Michigan

Michigan National Guard nurse uses educational benefits to pursue graduate degree
May 25, 2021 — From Missouri to Texas to Michigan, a Michigan Air National Guard member is taking advantage of the educational benefits provided through the Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP)... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Seven George, 127th Security Forces Squadron, 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan Air National Guard poses for a photo

Guardsman Highlight: Army 2nd Lt. Anvar Akhmedov
May 18, 2021 — Army 2nd Lt. Anvar Akhmedov (right), a platoon leader with the Michigan National Guard’s 1463rd Transportation Company, briefs a Soldier after the company’s convoy returned to Fort Custer, Augusta, Michigan, from driving across the Midwest transporting ammunition as part of Operation Patriot Press, May 18, 2021... MORE

MING Soldier helps at vaccination events with sign language
May 17, 2021 — MARINE CITY, Mich. – During a recent COVID-19 vaccination clinic, Michigan Army National Guard Sgt. Bill Fitrakis, assigned to the 1460th Transportation Company as a truck driver, was able to put his American Sign Language training to use.“I absolutely enjoy and love what I do for work,” said Fitrakis, who works as an ASL interpreter in his... MORE

Michigan Army National Guard Sgt. Bill Fitrakis, 1460th Transportation Company, certified in American Sign Language, explains the COVID-19 vaccine process during a vaccination clinic at the Marine City Middle School in Marine City, Michigan, April 27, 2021. Due to most of sign language being a visual language, he cannot wear a mask as it would not impart the message.