Michigan National Guard

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.

Michigan Air National Guardsman pursues kickboxing gold
May 13, 2021 — BATTLE CREEK, Michigan – U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Destiny “Diesel” Taylor has qualified to compete for a spot in the World Games 2022 as a result of her recent gold win at the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations U.S. National Championships in Nashville.With the restrictions due to the coronavirus pandemic, National Guard members had to... MORE

Michigan Air National Gjuard Master Sgt. Destiny Taylor, 110th Wing finance specialist, spars with a teen boy during a youth training class in Kalamazoo, Michigan, April 22, 2021.

MING Soldier Uses Several Educational Benefits
May 13, 2021 — The first 10 years of service in the Michigan Army National Guard (MIARNG) has contributed to Sgt. Lettia Morgan’s continued education, as she pursued degrees in psychology first, and now nursing. The Michigan National Guard State Tuition Assistance Program (MINGSTAP) and Montgomery GI Bill (MGIB) became Morgan’s sources of financial aid... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. Lettia Morgan with the Michigan Army National Guard, currently serving with Michigan’s Task Force Red Lion COVID-19 Vaccination/Testing Team (CVTT), poses for a photo

Michigan National Guard Soldier on the offense against COVID-19
May 12, 2021 — MARQUETTE, Mich. – Throughout 2020, Michigan Army National Guard Sgt. John Toomey helped defend his community in his role as a civilian nurse practitioner in the intensive care unit treating COVID-19 cases. In early 2021, he moved to the COVID-19 offense, joining the Michigan National Guard's vaccine mission in the northern part of the state.“At... MORE

U.S. Army Sgt. John Toomey, assigned to the COVID-19 Vaccination Testing Team Task Force North, Michigan National Guard, conducts administrative procedures during a vaccination event in Marquette April 29, 2021.