Minuteman Report

Texas Guardsmen participating in the bilateral, Orient Shield 2011 exercise, took a day away from training to participate in Culture Day. Culture day is held on the fourth and final day of functional training during Orient Shield, and provides soldiers a chance to experience Japanese culture. Story by SPC Brian Vorce

A Columbus Ohio school teacher and Ohio Air National Guardsman with the 179th Airlift Wing deployed to the Transit Center at Manas, Kyrgyzstan and is using her down time to help students and teachers in a local Kyrgyzstan school. Story by MSgt Mike Tateishi.

The National Guard Education Division joined educators from around the nation in Chicago to share strategies to battle the country’s high school dropout crisis. Story by Capt Kyle Key.

National Guardsmen participate in training the ANP and the start of a bridge project to stimulate a local Afghan village's economy. The project has also helped change the way the locals view their government. Story by MC2(SW) Brandon Shelander

The Missouri National Guard recently received three AH-64D Apache Longbow attack helicopters. The aircraft are the latest in attack helicopter technology. The aviation battalion expects to receive 24 Apache Longbow helicopters over the next six months. Story by SPC Adam Winters.

This edition features a story on National Guardsmen visiting historical, Pea Ridge National Military Park to study epic battles. While America commemorates the 150th Anniversary of the Civil War, military units service-wide continue to study epic battles at National Military Parks. Produced by Capt. Kyle Key.

Soldiers and Airmen from the Rhode Island National Guard travel to New Hampshire to conduct their final evaluation as the Region 1 Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and High Yield Explosive Response Force Package or CERFP. Story by SGT Megan Burmeister.

Cilvil Air Patrol Cadets got the opportunity to see Missouri National Guard, OH-58 Kiowa Helicopter during their weekly meeting at Rosecrans Air National Base, Missouri. The Missouri National uses the Kiowa for counterdrug Operations throughout the state. Story by SSGt Michael Crane.

This edition features a story on Soldiers from the Minnesota National Guard's 1/34th BCT who visited a Kuwait National Guard Mechanized Battalion on Camp Sound, Kuwait. Story by SPC Bob Brown. Hosted by Tech Sgt. John Anderson.

This edition features a story on Spc. Michael Conley and Spc. Caleb Goldsberry of the Indiana Guard's 384th Military Police Company who helped save the lives of more than 20 people when the apartment across from where they live went up in flames. Produced by Sgt. Lorne Neff

Air National Guardsmen from across the nation gathered in Nashville recently for the 2011 Enlisted Leadership Symposium. The event is held every two years and offers leadership development training and information on the current operations and future state of the Air National Guard Enlisted Corps.

Soldiers from the Iowa National Guard's 71st Civil Support Team traveled to Council Bluffs, Iowa to augment the training of the Council Bluffs Fire Department HAZMAT Team. Story by SFC J.D. Phippen.

Soldiers from the Illinois National Guard's 444th Chemical Company train for disaster relief and casualty aid and recovery efforts. Guardsmen have responded to wildfires, flooding, hurricanes and tornadoes throughout 2011. Story by SPC Brian Vorce.

The South Carolina Air National Guard's 169th Fighter Wing recently hosted a “Boss Lift." An event sponsored by ESGR, which gives Guardsmen's civilian employers a chance to see first hand what their employees do in their military careers.

Members of the Maine Air National Guard's 243rd Engineering Installation Squadron trained on a 100-foot communications tower and learned how to restore vital communications links in the event of an emergency. The training tested the technical capability of the squadron's team chiefs and installers. Story by Capt Devin Robinson.

Soldiers from the National Guard Patriot Academy gathered along the banks of the Muscatatuck Reservoir to watch a battle buddy get baptized by the Army National Guard's newest, "oldest" chaplain at 55 years old. The Patriot Academy is the military's first and only high school for former dropouts who wish to enlist and serve their country. Story by Capt. Kyle Key.

The Illinois State Military History Museum hosted a World War I reenactment which featured several events inspired by the Illinois National Guard's 33rd Infantry Division. The reenactment offered the public a chance to see what warfare was like during WWI. Story by SPC Dan LoGrasso.

The Michigan Air National Guard's 127th Air Refueling Group has begun mobilizing its KC-135 aircraft as part of an ongoing rotation to southwest Asia. Air crew and support personnel from the unit are conducting two-month deployments in support of U.S. Central Command, keeping dozens of Guardsmen on duty at least for the next year.

With more than 175 of its members deployed, the Washington Air National Guard's 121st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron has made history, becoming the first Guard F-16 unit to be stationed at Bagram Air Field, Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom. Story by SSgt Dana Morgan.

Hawaii Army and Air National Guardsmen were called to duty as part of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit designation as a National Special Security Event. The Guardsmen aided civil authorities with protecting more than 20,000 delegates from 21 Pacific Rim countries and 2,000 members of the media. Hosted by Tech. Sgt. Amber Monio.

The Florida National Guard recently participated in a CERFP exercise at Camp Blanding where they responded to a simulated train derailment. The training scenarios were set up to be as realistic as possible to ensure the Guardsmen are prepared to respond to a similar real-life catastrophe. Story by A.J. Artley.

A North Carolina Air National Guard C-130 Hercules Aircrew from 145th Air Wing out of Charlotte, NC made their first airdrop of their deployment rotation to Afghanistan. Video by SSgt Jose Rodriguez.

On the day he formally assumed the duties of the director of the Army National Guard, Army MG William Ingram, Jr. was simultaneously promoted to lieutenant general during a Pentagon ceremony. General Ingram is the Army Guard’s 20th director.

Florida National Guardsmen provide key communication support for the Operation Omega training exercise. Operation Omega teamed the Guardsmen with 25 emergency agencies and is the largest communication exercise in the state's history. Story SSG Carmen Gibson

The Oregon Army National Guard's 224th Engineer Company is getting hands-on experience with construction and heavy equipment while helping a local city's economy as part of the Innovative Readiness Training program. The Guardsmen are moving more than 40,000 cubic yards of dirt to open a boat access channel.