The Texas Military Forces (TMF) was founded in February 1823, today it is comprised of the Texas Air National Guard, Texas Army National Guard and the Texas State Guard. The TMF is administered by the Texas Military Department (TMD), which was established on 05AUG1836.
In addition to the ongoing border patrols, this is just a little bit of what the Texas Air & Army National Guard accomplished in August, 2023.
On 22AUG2023, the Texas Army National Guard’s 56th Infantry Brigade Combat Team jumped from a perfectly good UH-60 Black Hawk rotary wing, over Kosovo, in NATO Europe. Video by Sergeant Gauret Stearns:
While watching the Point of View (PoV) video, calculate how long it takes the parachutist to hit the ground (when he says “ow!”) after jumping from the helicopter:
11AUG2023, Texas Army National Guard UH-60 water-bombs a wildfire near the community of Lockhart, in Caldwell County. Texas Military Department photo by Michael Linan.
Texas Army National Guard photo by Captain Nadine Wiley De Moura, 10AUG2023.
On 10AUG2023, Texas Army National Guard’s 197th Special Troops Support Company (STSC) Special Operations (SO) Airborne (A), conducted M249 and M240 machinegun qualifications. The 197th STSC is one of only two Army National Guard Special Forces (SF) units, the other unit is in Utah (19th SF Group Airborne).
Photo by Julie Briden-Garcia, 09AUG2023.
On 09AUG2023, the Texas Air National Guard’s 136th Airlift Wing (AW) began a program called Honorary Commanders (aka Guardians Program). Seven silly-vilian (civilian) sector employers were chosen for a two years mission to help increase public awareness and understanding of the 136th AW. Part of the job of an Honorary Commander is to attend scheduled drills.
On 09AUG2023, a 136th AW C-130J Super Hercules took part in a ‘Maintenance University’ on Savannah Air National Guard Base (Hilton Head International Airport) in the state of Georgia. Georgia Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Victoria Coursey.
“This is a world-class range that is run very well. The units here in Idaho, along with the range, OCTC [Orchard Combat Training Center], and Mountain Home communities have taken care of us every time we’ve come up here. If we find ourselves in a jam, or need something or don’t know this procedure or that procedure, we get nothing but help here.”-Master Sergeant Daniel Haack, JTAC manager for 11th Marine Regiment, 1st MARDIV
U.S. Marine Corps photo by Corporal Dean Gurule, 17APR2023.
In April 2023, the U.S. Marine Corps launched operation (Exercise) Garnet Rattler, seizing the U.S. Air Force’s gunnery range known as Saylor Creek, in Southern Idaho.
USMC photo by Corporal Dean Gurule, 17APR2023.
The use of the word ‘garnet’ is appropriate because Idaho is officially known as The Gem State. Exercise Garnet Rattler is about training Joint Tactical Air Controllers (JTAC): “Garnet Rattler’s main objective is to take entry level joint terminal attack controllers, forward air controllers, air officers and joint fires observers, and put them in a live-fire environment that has a lot of maneuver flexibility, as well as aviation employment, in order to train realistic scenarios for their entry level controls in the fleet.”-Master Sergeant Daniel Haack, JTAC manager for 11th Marine Regiment, 1st MARDIV
U.S. Marine Corps video report by Corporal Dean Gurule, 29APR2023, note the Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing/190th Fighter Squadron A-10Cs in action, also, a Mountain Home Air Force Base (AFB) F-15E pilot admits it is all about “…the Air Force and Marines are starting look to the Pacific and preparations for the Near Peer fight…”:
The following USMC videos, recorded (between 10-29APR2023) by Corporal Dean Gurule and Lance Corporal Juan Torres, have been edited by me.
“Rotors comin’ in!”:
Mountain Home AFB F-15E Strike Eagle:
USMC photo by Lance Corporal Juan Torres, 26APR2023.
Machine guns & mortars:
Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 25APR2023.
Idaho Air National Guard’s 124th Fighter Wing/190th Fighter Squadron’s A-10C Thunderbolt-2 (remember, the ‘woke’ USAF has been trying to get rid of this awesome aircraft):
Mexican news media report drug gangs on the U.S./Mexico border are using anti-tank weapons (they are Swedish made AT-4 non-guided anti-tank rockets, the report incorrectly calls them Javelin guided anti-tank missiles):
24 hours after the governors of South Carolina, Virginia and West Virginia announced deployments of Army National Guard personnel to the Joint Task Force Lone Star operation, in Texas, several more states throw their hats in the ring.
On 01JUN2023, Arkansas, North Dakota and Ohio ordered additional militia personnel to the border with Mexico.
El Paso fence. Joint Task Force Lone Star photo by Mark Otte, 10MAY2023.
The Statehouse News Bureau reports that Mike DeWine, Governor of Ohio, ordered a new rotation of 50 National Guard personnel, for October. There are currently 125 Ohio state militia personnel in Texas.
“The benefit of sharing and collaborating in this space with our active duty counterparts is the opportunities we can provide prospective recruits. If a ‘customer’ isn’t looking for something full-time, they have Guard recruiters at their disposal. If they’re looking to explore full-time opportunities, active duty recruiters are twenty feet away.”-Senior Master Sergeant Casey Bermensolo, Idaho Air National Guard Recruiting
Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.
Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.
The grand opening was on 02MAY2023. The Total Force Recruiting Office is jointly operated by the Idaho Air National Guard and the USAF’s 368th Recruiting Squadron based on Hill Air Force Base, in Utah.
Idaho National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Morgan, 02MAY2023.
The USAF hopes this is a way of addressing the collapsing recruiting numbers: “This is the toughest it’s been in a long time for both active duty and Air National Guard recruiting. The fact that we’re forging these relationships and building this infrastructure during these complicated times, I believe, ensures our success going forward.”-Captain Annie Driscoll, USAF 368th Recruiting Squadron
So far, only two other states have USAF/Air National Guard Total Force Recruiting Offices; Illinois and Georgia.
Incomplete list of video reports, and links to news reports, of recent state National Guard developments, as of 26MAY2023:
More proof never ending deployments are having a negative effect on U.S. families:
ARKANSAS:
Arkansas Army National Guard Photo by Sergeant Maddie Fortune, 12MAY2023.
The Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion-153d Infantry Regiment, prepped for their deployment to the Middle East/Operation Spartan Shield!
National Guard video (by Sergeant Madeline Fortune) of Arkansas and Missouri Guard personnel learning how to use the Javelin for their deployment:
CALIFORNIA: National Guard deployed to San Francisco, as the drug crisis explodes in ‘The Golden City’!
FLORIDA: 8-hundred National Guard personnel deploying alongside police, to Texas!
ILLINOIS:
Illinois Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Trenton Fouche, 04MAY2023.
From 02-06MAY2023, the 6/54th Security Force Assistance Brigade conducted ‘pre-mobilization’ training.
IOWA:
U.S. Army photo by Master Sergeant Daniel Griego, 24MAY2023.
The Air National Guard’s 132nd Medical Group took part in medical training in the Gjakova District of Kosovo, 24MAY2023.
LOUISIANA: 773rd Military Police Battalion deploying to NATO-Europe!
MICHIGAN:
Michigan Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Patrick Mayabb, 13MAY2023.
Bravo Battery-1-182nd Field Artillery Regiment, Michigan Army National Guard, practiced loading their HIMARS onto a C-17, while deployed to NATO-Estonia, 13MAY2023.
New Jersey Army National Guard photo by Specialist Michael Schwenk, 21MAY2023.
On 21MAY2023, Army National Guard personnel boarded busses for Fort Polk, Louisiana, to take part in a massive ‘large scale combat operations in a multi-domain setting against a near-peer opposing force’ wargame. The more than 5-thousand National Guard personnel wargame will also include militia personnel from Puerto Rico!
New York Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Sean Madden, 06MAY2023.
New York and Massachusetts National Guard units conducted combat rescue Operation Jawbreaker training on Warren Grove Range, in New Jersey, 05-07MAY2023: “These Special Forces units can greatly enhance our warfighting and ground base defense capabilities so that we are able to better prepare for near-peer adversaries.”-First Lieutenant Al Romano
NEW YORK:
New York Army National Guard photo by Specialist Jean Sanon.
160 Army National Guard Military Police said goodbye to their friends and family during a deployment ceremony at Monroe Community College on 16MAY2023. They are deploying for the next year to NATO-Poland, but first stop is Fort Bliss, Texas, for additional training.
U.S. Army photo by Private Zachary Brown, 02MAY2023.
Rhode Island Army National Guard practiced loading their vehicles onto Rhode Island Air National Guard C-130J Super Hercules, while on Fort Drum in New York, 02MAY2023.
NORTH CAROLINA: National Guard trains for cyber warfare, Operation Tobacco Road.
OHIO:
Ohio Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Sarah Stalder Lundgren, 05MAY2023.
Air National Guard F-16 Falcons took part in a large-scale readiness exercise, in Swanton, 05MAY2023.
OKLAHOMA: National Guardsman arrested in Texas!
TENNESSEE: 1-hundred militia personnel deploying to Texas!
Washington National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon, 10MAY2023.
On 10-11MAY2023, the Washington and Montana National Guards spent the weekend conducting FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) Region 10 training to integrate guard units with federal and local civilian emergency response personnel, for chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear disasters. The training included load-up of a C-130J Super Hercules: “This is a true joint-training event between the Washington and Montana National Guard and active duty. This was also the first time we practiced loading onto a C-130J airframe.”-Senior Master Sergeant Adam Brunneman
Washington Army National Guard photo by Private First Class Abigail Clark, 07MAY2023.
Washington Army National Guard’s Field Support teams 1556 and 1567 deploying to U.S. Southern Command (SouthCom) and Central Command (CentCom) areas of responsibility.
Washington Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon, 30APR2023.
At the end of April, the Washington National Guard began prepping for the 2023 wildfire season.
Washington DC:
Washington DC National Guard photo by Senior Airman Natalie Filzen, 21APR2023.
DC Air National Guard personnel prepare for possible deployment from Joint Base Andrews, in Maryland, 21APR2023.
Incomplete list of recent state National Guard developments, from March 14th through April 5th, 2023, revealing the National Guard is in Crisis:
CALIFORNIA:
California Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Joseph Pagan, 01APR2023.
Air National Guard Airmen assigned to California’s 163d Attack Wing deployed to The Philippines with their MQ-9 Reaper drones on 01APR2023. It is part of Exercise Balikatan, which includes the first ever ‘large-scale’ deployment of attack drones deployed to The Philippines.
FLORIDA: National Guard is paying ‘headhunter’ fees to anybody who can convince anybody else to join-up;
IOWA: Recruiter arrested;
MARYLAND:
Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant David Eichaker, 05APR2023.
Massachusetts Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Steven Eaton, 04APR2023.
On 04APR2023, The Bay State’s 1st Battalion-182nd Infantry Division return home from deployment after nine months of service throughout The Middle East. More than 20-thousand Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers and Airmen have deployed since 11SEP2001!
MISSOURI:
The leaders of the apparently failing Missouri Air National Guard’s Diversity Council. Missouri Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Janae Masoner, 01APR2023.
The Missouri Air National Guard’s 139th Airlift Wing is looking for what I call ‘Woke Folk’ to join their year old Diversity Council. Going by the photo it looks like the Diversity Council consists of short females. The press release admits that the Diversity Council has been having problems attracting new members, it also revealed that the Diversity Council is a creation of Woke Folk higher-up the chain of command: “It’s really cool that even from state that’s what they’re also pushing and giving us information on so we can educate on that, but it’s a pretty broad spectrum of stuff we’re looking at and tackling and we’re just now getting off the ground too.”-Senior Airman Julia Jurgensmeyer, Co-chair Diversity Council
NEW JERSEY:
New Jersey Army National Guard photo by Major Amelia Thatcher, 03APR2023.
On 01APR2023, a tornado damaged Building 66/68 on the National Guard Training Center, in Sea Girt. The building was being used for storage of material used by the National Guard Youth Challenge program for ‘troubled’ teenagers.
PENNSYLVANIA:
Pennsylvania National Guard photo by Wayne V. Hall, 03APR2023.
It has been decided that personnel who complete the Sexual Assault Prevention and Response (SAPR) Victim Advocate and Refresher Training will be marked with a SAPR patch. SAPR also addresses the apparent increase in reports of males being sexually assaulted in today’s ‘woke’ military.
TEXAS:
Texas Air National Guard photo by Airman First Class Asiah Phillips, 02APR2023.
The Lone Star State’s 147th Attack Wing prepped for deployment by attending ‘mission-ready training’ in Pennsylvania.
Army National Guard continues to work the border with Mexico;
30-thousand illegals halted by National Guard;
VERMONT:
Vermont Air National Guard photo by Technical Sergeant Richard Mekkri, 02APR2023.
The Green Mountain State’s Air National Guard is taking part in Agile Combat Employment, to improve cooperation with NATO units, the public was warned that there would be loud sounds.
Vermont National Guard can’t fill 6-hundred vacant jobs;
WASHINGTON:
Washington Army National Guard photo by Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon. 04APR2023.
Explosive Ordinance Disposal (EOD) personnel in The Evergreen State are now training to deal with Category-A-Incidents; hostages who have been boobytrapped with bombs!
WISCONSIN: National Guard recruitment hits historic lows;
It is painfully obvious, now, that the leadership of the United States has been conducting what I call ‘Forever Wars’, under the guise of fighting terrorism, extremism and “near peer threats”.
Recently revealed list of state National Guard deployments:
On 31MAR2023, more than 2-hundred militia personnel with New Hampshire‘s 3rd Battalion-197th Field Artillery Regiment, were honored in a send-off ‘deployment ceremony’. They are heading first to Fort Bliss, Texas for additional deployment training, then in April they will arrive in The Middle East to support Operation Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve with rocket and missile artillery fire.
Two months after returning from their deployment, Minnesota Army National Guard personnel tell you about the problems they are having readjusting to life in the U.S., one of those problems is that deployments are getting more dangerous:
“We are going to have to stop being the policemen of the world.”-Donald Trump, August 2015 interview with Hugh Hewitt
26 March 2023 (16:05-UTC-07 Tango 06) 06 Farvardin 1402/04 Ramadan 1444/05 Yi-Mao(2nd month) 4721/26 марта 2023 года
McChord Field, Washington, 15MAR2023. Photo by John Wayne Liston.
From March 13th through 17th, 2023, FEMA Region 10 underwent a mass aero-medical evacuation, affecting the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon and Washington!
The U.S. Transportation Command (TransCom) coordinated the medevac. More than 4-hundred military (Regular [Active Duty], Reserve and National Guard) and civilian personnel from across the U.S. were involved, including personnel from the the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Department of Health and Human Services, and the Defense Health Agency.
McChord Field, Washington, 15MAR2023. Photo by John Wayne Liston.
Most of the medevac took place on McChord Field in Washington, but also included Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska; Gowen Field (Boise Airport), Idaho; and Portland Air National Guard Base (Portland Airport), Oregon.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, 13MAR2023. USAF photo by Airman First Class J. Michael Peña.
Fortunately it was all a massive training event:“It allows in a controlled environment to surge the system, identify what needs to be improved, then to act on those areas to train to the highest standards.”-Major Donna Olson, 446th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron
“You want to make the training as realistic as possible with some stressors you would find out in the real world. Making sure the players aren’t completely stressed out, but proper learning is done.”– Master Sergeant Robert McNeal, North Carolina Air National Guard
“It’s important to do exercises like this to give people a sense of what happens in real world situations. The more you do it the less you have to think about it when it actually happens.”-Technical Sergeant Shannon Glover, 446th Operations Support Squadron
U.S. Air Force video report by Airman First Class Quatasia Carter, 13MAR2023:
A Boeing C-17 Globmaster-3, on McChord Field in Washington, was used to move the victims, video by Staff Sergeant Chris Sommers, 14-15MAR2023:
Some of the victims were delivered via UH-60 Black Hawk rotary wings, with the help of Portland Fire, video by Staff Sergeant Chris Sommers, 17MAR2023:
Some victims were transferred from the C-17 to awaiting Black Hawks, video by Staff Sergeant Chris Sommers, 15MAR2023:
CH-47 Chinooks also brought in victims, video by Staff Sergeant Chris Sommers, 17MAR2023:
Some CH-47s delivered directly to the waiting C-17, video by Staff Sergeant Chris Sommers, 14MAR2023:
Washington Army National Guard video, by Peter Chang, 17MAR2023:
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On 09MAR2023, WVEC, in Virginia, reports that Guard personnel are not getting their civilian jobs back when returning from deployments, in violation of federal law (this has always been a problem, even during the Cold War):
California Army National Guard drops hay, from CH-47 Chinooks, to snowbound cows in Humboldt County:
After ten days and at least 13 deaths(!), the ‘woke’ gov’na of California finally deployed the National Guard to the snowbound communities in the San Bernardino Mountains on 02MAR2023 (I used to live in Wrightwood back in the mid-1970s, so I know how bad it can get):
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Apparently the cost of dental work is so sky-high and hard to come-by (since The Pandemic) that the Idaho Army National Guard now offers free dental services to its militia members!
Idaho National Guard public relations employee, Crystal Farris, reported that on 05MAR2023 The Gem State’s militia opened its first Field Dental Treatment Facility on Gowen Field (part of the Boise airport complex).
Idaho Army National Guard photo by Crystal Farris, 05MAR2023.
The official reasoning is to increase the medical readiness of Guard units for future deployments (never mind that Idaho has been taking part in revolving door deployments for years, and currently has combat troops in Syria!): “Now we have the ability to complete exams and provide limited treatment. This allows Soldiers to receive dental care within our dedicated dental treatment rooms on Gowen Field rather than sending them to a civilian provider at a later time for follow-up care.”-Captain Trey Wanty, Deputy State Surgeon
Also, it turns out that ‘contracting’ with civilian dentists was not saving taxpayers any money! Idaho joins Arizona, and Nebraska, in taking part in the new federal National Guard Bureau’s Limited Dental Treatment Program: “When the National Guard Bureau asked which states wanted to become a pilot state in this program our state’s leadership jumped at the opportunity. It is going to save our organization significant money, while also providing our Soldiers quicker assistance and improving our medical readiness.”-Captain Trey Wanty, Deputy State Surgeon
The new Limited Dental Treatment Program does not apply to militia members in the Tricare (apparently Tricare is not an acronym, it is a made-up name for a Department of Defense healthcare system) program, and does not offer dental services requiring sedation.
THREE MORE STATES DEPLOY NATIONAL GUARD TO TEXAS!
IDAHO DEPLOYS STATE POLICE TO TEXAS/MEXICO BORDER!
