Guardian Response 22

Iron Dragons assume mission command over domestic CBRN defense response task force

The 110th Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) Battalion (Technical Escort) “Iron Dragons” have assumed mission command of Task Force 2 in the Defense CBRN Response Force.

U.S. Army North Patch Logo/A5 logo

US Army North, FEMA, others prepare for 2022 Hurricane Season predicted to be “above average”

As the 2022 Atlantic Hurricane season approaches, U.S. Army North hosted more than 150 military and civilian partners who gathered in person and virtually for a Hurricane Rehearsal of Concept (ROC) Drill at the Army Medical Department ROC Drill Facility at Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, May 25.

A service member stands on ice as other service members watch from a submarine.

NATO Allies, Partners Promote Arctic Security, Military Cooperation

The annual Arctic Security Forces Roundtable assembled 45 military leaders from 11 NATO Ally and partner nations to promote military cooperation on a wide range of issues facing the strategically important High North and the world’s Arctic nations, May 3-5.

Capt. Dylan Weber, the Air Expeditionary Group’s MAFFS Scheduler, 152nd Operations Group, stands in front of a Nevada Air National Guard C-130 equipped with the MAFFS unit.

Nevada Air Guard doubles certified pilots during aerial firefighting training

The Nevada Air National Guard’s 152nd Operations Group upgraded four pilots to aircraft commanders certified on the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) here, April 25 - 30.

U.S. Air Force personnel from the 146th Airlift Wing load the U.S. Forest Service's Modular Airborne Firefighting System (MAFFS) inside a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft

Airborne Firefighting units participate in interagency spring training in Idaho

Less than two years after the most devastating firefighting season in the United States, the Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System (MAFFS) spring training took place at Gowen Field, Idaho, April 25-29, 2022.

Maple Resolve 2019

US Army, US Marines and multinational forces to participate in Maple Resolve 22

Approximately 680 U.S. Army Soldiers, 20 U.S. Marines and 3,200 Canadian and British forces will participate in the largest allied exercise conducted in North America, May 10-22, 2022.

WPS

Gender advisors support Operation Allies Welcome mission

Throughout the duration of Department of Defense (DoD) support to Operation Allies Welcome, U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) led the effort to provide gender advisory support to this Department of Homeland Security (DHS)-led, interagency operation to resettle Afghan evacuees in the United States.

A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules MAFFS (Modular Airborne Firefighting System) aircraft assigned to the 146th Airlift Wing sits on the flight line in front of the newly constructed MAFFS pits at Channel Islands Air National Guard Station, Port Hueneme, California. April 21, 2022. The new fire-retardant ground tanks have increased the storage capability five-fold from a 10,000-gallon capacity to 50,000 gallons to accommodate more MAFFS aircraft and the U.S. Forest Service's Very Large Air Tankers (VLAT's) with water and fire retardant solution. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michelle Ulber)

MAFFS ground tanks give California a cutting edge in aerial firefighting capabilities

Finalizing construction for a massive air-tanker base upgrade, the California Air National Guard's 146th Airlift Wing (146 AW) completed the installation of four new fire retardant ground storage tanks in March.

Soldiers with the 172nd Hazard Response Company from Fort Riley, Kansas, run a decontamination site Aug. 25, 2016 at Fort Hood, Texas during Exercise Sudden Response 16. The weeklong exercise was a key training event for the 172nd HR Co. and various other units within Joint Task Force Civil Support, a rapidly deployable force of more than 5,000 service members from across the country who are specially trained and equipped to provide life-saving assistance in the event of chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear disasters in the U.S. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Marcus Floyd, 13th Public Affairs Detachment)

US Army North oversees annual disaster response exercise

U. S. Army North, U. S. Northern Command’s Joint Force Land Component Command, will oversee approximately 1,250 military and civilian personnel assigned to numerous military organizations across the country during its annual disaster response training exercise, Vibrant Response, April 22 to May 13.

graphic with USAF aircraft and emblems on a U.S. flag background for Virtual Flag: Homeland Defense exercise

VIRTUAL FLAG: Homeland Defense exercise sharpens skills, deters enemy aggression

The VIRTUAL FLAG 22-2 homeland defense exercise was successfully executed at the 705th Combat Training Squadron’s Distributed Mission Operation Center, or DMOC, located at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico, and distributed locations around the world from March 28 – April 1.

An officer gives an interview on the Women Peace and Security effort.

DOD Makes Strides in its Women, Peace and Security Program

Two years into its Strategic Framework and Implementation Plan, the Defense Department's Women, Peace and Security program has made significant strides to promote the safety, equality and meaningful contributions of women around the globe.

Army 1st Sgt. Marissa Lowe, left, the senior human resources noncommissioned officer with the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, talks with a female Djiboutian officer during a State Partnership Program planning conference at Kempinski Palace, Djibouti City, Djibouti, March 8, 2022.

Guard incorporates women, peace and security initiatives

The National Guard is playing a key role in integrating a Department of Defense initiative to reinforce the importance of equal gender participation in all aspects of global peace and security.

WPS

A Diplomat’s Perspective on Operation Allies Welcome and the Importance of a Women, Peace, and Security (WPS) Perspective

In mid-July of 2021, I found myself serving as the Department’s sole Foreign Policy Advisor (POLAD) at North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) and United States Northern Command (USNORTHCOM).  This was when the crisis planning began for evacuating our Afghan allies, which eventually brought almost 80,000 Afghans to safety in the United

Green Berets with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) load snowmobiles onto a Royal Canadian Air Force C-130 Hercules during Exercise ARCTIC EDGE 2022 in Wainwright, Alaska, March 12, 2022. AE22 is a biennial, binational exercise designed to provide realistic and effective training for participants using the premier training locations available throughout Alaska, February 28 – March 17. (DoD photo)

ARCTIC EDGE 22 comes to a close

U.S. Northern Command’s exercise Arctic Edge 22 came to a close March 16 across the state of Alaska. Hosted by Alaskan Command, the bi-national, multi-service exercise is held every two years with roots going back more than five decades to a shared commitment to the defense of North America.

Soldiers assigned to Task Force Liberty wave goodbye to Afghan guests.

DOD ceases Afghan Evacuee Safe Haven operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst

U.S. Northern Command concluded DoD installation support to Operation Allies Welcome with the closure of safe haven operations at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., March 15.