Incomplete (tip of the iceberg) list of U.S. state National Guard developments (which should prove that the National Guard has become the ‘crutch’ for the Regular/active duty Army and Air Force), for the month of June 2023:
NATO-Europe is conducting the largest airpower wargame, ever, and multiple U.S. states have deployed their National Guard units to take part in Air Defender 2023.
On the African Continent, the largest wargame there was concluded in mid-June, several U.S. states deployed their Guard units to take part in African Lion 2023.
There was also the North American Aerospace Defense Command (NorAD) wargame called Noble Defender, as well as a cyber security wargame called Cyber Shield 2023.
CALIFORNIA: The Air National Guard’s 146th AW/146th Contingency Response Flight helped with loading of cargo planes, and air traffic control, for Air Defender 2023.
For the first time since the United Nations ordered the Korean Police Action (as requested by the United States in 1950), California has deployed an entire division! On 11JUN2023, a deployment ceremony was held for the 40th Infantry Division, which is being sent to the Middle East for the ongoing operations Inherent Resolve and Spartan Shield. Video by Sergeant Marla Ogden:
COLORADO:
Colorado Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Amanda Geiger, 11JUN2023.
The Air Guard’s 140th Wing deployed F-16 Falcons to Schleswig-Jagel Air Base, NATO-Germany, for Air Defender 2023.
GEORGIA:
Georgia Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Caila Arahood, 12JUN2023.
The 165th Airlift Wing deployed a C-130 Hercules to the Siauliai International Airport, NATO-Lithuania, during Air Defender 2023 (AD23).
IDAHO: Deploying to the continents of Africa and Europe:
Idaho Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant Becky Vanshur, 13JUN2023.
A ‘Gem State’ 124th Fighter Wing A-10C arrives on Lechfeld Air Base, NATO-Germany, for wargame Air Defender, 13JUN2023.
ILLINOIS:
Illinois Air National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Paul Helmig, 19JUN2023.
The 182nd Airlift Wing (AW) deployed their C-130 Hercules cargo plane to Wunstorf Air Base, NATO-Germany.
Louisiana Air National Guard photo by Major Larissa Lambert, 12JUN2023.
159th Fighter Wing (FW) F-15C Eagles on Hohn, NATO-Germany, for Air Defender, 12JUN2023.
MARYLAND:
Maryland A-10Cs equipped with long range external fuel tanks, about to take-off for NATO-Europe, 04JUN2023. Photo by Senior Airman Rachel Underwood.
The 175th Wing/104th Fighter Squadron deployed A-10C Thunderbolt-2s to Air Defender 2023.
MASSACHUSETTS:
Photo by Staff Sergeant Hanna Smith, 23JUN2023.
104th FW on Hohn Air Base, NATO-Germany, 23JUN2023.
Photo by Master Sergeant Bryan Hoover, 26JUN2023.
The 104th FW also took part in NorAD’s Noble Defender, over the Canadian-U.S. region.
MICHIGAN: Air National Guard’s 127th Wing A-10C Thunderbolt-2s get bombed-up & fueled-up (aka Integrated Combat Turn) on Lielvārdi Air Base, Latvia, 13JUN2023 (the video was not released until 16JUN2023). The militaries of Michigan and Latvia have been working together for more than 30 years. Video by Technical Sergeant Andrew Schumann:
MINNESOTA:
Photo by Staff Sergeant Jared Bounds, 05JUN2023.
133rd AW deployed a C-130 to Wunstorf Air Base, NATO-Germany, for Air Defender.
MISSISSIPPI: The 172nd AW/172nd Contingency Response Flight helped with loading of cargo planes, and air traffic control, for Air Defender 2023.
MISSOURI:
Photo by Master Sergeant Caila Arahood, 05JUN2023.
139th AW on Wunstorf Air Base, NATO-Germany, for Air Defender.
MONTANA:
Photo by First Lieutenant Jaycee Baker, 07JUN2023.
The Air Guard’s 120th Medical Group, out of Great Falls, provided dental care to Moroccans during African Lion 2023.
NEVADA: Nevada Air National Guard’s 152 Wing ‘High Rollers’/152nd Civil Engineer Squadron deployed to NATO-Spain. Video interview, recorded on 21JUN2023 by Staff Sergeant Michelle Brooks, explains why:
NEW YORK: Titan search;
OKLAHOMA: More than 25 U.S. states, territories, and five countries with the State Partnership Program, took part in Cyber Shield 2023. Video (by Mireille Merilice-Roberts) explaining how Oklahoma helped grade this year’s Cyber Shield:
PUERTO RICO: The 156th Wing/156th Contingency Response Group helped with loading of cargo planes, and air traffic control, for Air Defender 2023.
SOUTH DAKOTA:
Photo by Technical Sergeant Sarah M. McClanahan, 15JUN2023.
114th Fighter Wing on Jagel Airfield, NATO-Germany, during exercise Air Defender 2023 (AD23).
TENNESSEE:
Photo by Staff Sergeant Laura Weaver, 08JUN2023.
164th AW used their C-17 Globemaster-3 cargo planes to delivery Air Guard personnel to NATO-Estonia, for Air Defender 2023.
The Tennessee National Guard also took part in a cyber security wargame called Cyber Shield 2023. It was run from the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, from 11 to 15JUN2023.
UTAH:
Photo by Sergeant James J. Bunn, 08JUN2023.
Army National Guard CBRN (Chemical Biological Radioactive Nuclear) personnel train the Ghana Armed Forces during African Lion 2023.
Photo by Technical Sergeant Nicholas Perez, 05JUN2023.
The Air Guard’s 151st Medical Group helped operate a field hospital for sily-vilians, in Morocco.
Video by Specialist Shae Cox, Utah Air National Guard band playing in Morocco during this year’s African Lion wargames. It might be the last time as the U.S. Air Force is shutting down Air National Guard bands;
WISCONSIN: 128th Air Refuel Wing explains their role in Air Defender, video report by Staff Sergeant Josh Halverson;
A video was released on an anonymous Ukrainian ‘Telegram’ channel of a firefight involving recently delivered U.S. made M2A2 Bradley Infantry Fighting Vehicles (IFV). The video was recorded by an onboard camera, on what I believe is probably the platoon commanders Bradley.
The battle happened in Zaporizka Oblast (aka Zaporizhzhia), on 08JUN2023, the platoon of Bradleys made contact with enemy forces, which apparently were too powerful as the IFVs are attempting to fall back. The platoon commander is using the 25mm gun to provide covering fire as M2A2s retreat, unfortunately the retreating IFVs are driving in front of the Bradley providing covering fire!
Impressively, the gunner is able to control his trigger pulls missing the retreating vehicles, but one of the retreating Bradleys is either hit by enemy fire, or runs over a land mine. You might think the crew are dead, but amazingly the crew emerges from the back with their M4 assault rifles. A smoke grenade is thrown, then the platoon commander fires-off his smoke grenade launcher, the homeless IFV crew uses the smoke as cover while they scramble onto the platoon commander’s Bradley.
The anonymous poster of the video added crappy music, so I edited out the audio:
Interestingly, while Russian news sources made fun of the Ukrainians’ apparently failed attempt to use M2A2 Bradleys in battle, some Russian news sources also praised the Bradleys for ‘crew survivability’ admitting that the crews operating Soviet/Cold War era BMPs (Boyevaya Mashina Pekhoty, Боевая Машина Пехоты, Combat Vehicle Infantry) would not have survived the same incident!
When I first joined the U.S. military during the last decade of the Cold War, crew survivability was one of the main drivers of ‘Western’/NATO combat vehicle design.
The Lockheed C-130H Hercules is a Cold War era cargo plane still in use today. The first C-130s began arriving for military service in 1956, the ‘H’ version of the Hercules began service in the mid-1970s.
1971: Prepping for our first ‘Space Available’ C-130E trip, Rhein Main AFB, West Germany. You might be able to make out my younger sister’s (Tina) head in lower right corner. Photo by William L. Hutchins.
In the early 1970s I got my first ride on a U.S. Air Force C-130E, flying from West Germany to Iran with my parents (part of the Space Available service offered by the USAF).
1977: My little brother, Ernie, enjoying his tour of a C-130 during the Edwards AFB ‘Open House’. Photo by William L. Hutchins.
In the mid-1980s I was an Iso-Dock Crew Chief for C-130Hs on Dyess Air Force Base, in Texas. Even after my time in the USAF, as a California, and later a Idaho, Army National Guardsman I continued to catch rides on the C-130H.
Last ride on a C-130H, this time as a M1A2 TC with the Idaho Army National Guard, on the way back from a ‘friendly’ with Canadian armor in Alberta, 2002.
U.S. Air Force photo by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 10JUN2023.
In the above photo you see two types of C-130H; one is the older type used by the Kingdom of Morocco, the other is an upgraded type used by the United States. The older C-130H has four propeller blades per engine, the upgraded type has eight.
94th AW’s upgraded C-130H sits on the flightline of Kenitra AFB, Morocco. USAF photo by Senior Airman Jan K. Valle, 14JUN2023.
African Lion is the largest wargame on the African continent, involving the United States and other NATO members, as well as Ghana, Morocco, Senegal and Tunisia, from 13MAY-18JUN2023.
The 86th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany, help show you how to setup a C-130 for medical evacuation. U.S. Air Force (USAF) video by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 07JUN2023:
Emergency medical treatment onboard a C-130H. USAF video by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 08JUN2023:
Moroccan C-130H cargo planes take part in para-drop during African Lion 2023, USAF video recorded by Technical Sergeant Steven Adkins, 10JUN2023:
USA video by Sergeant Christian Dela Cruz, 10JUN2023:
U.S. Air Force Reserve’s Cold War era C-130H based on Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Georgia, flew all the way to Morocco to play in the dirt! USA video by Sergeant Christian Dela Cruz, 15JUN2023:
94th Airlift Wing, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, USAF report by Senior Airman Jan Valle:
For all you happy taxpayers, African Lion wargames have been conducted since 2008.
27 June 2023 (08:40-UTC-07 Tango 06) 06 Tir 1402/08 Dhu l-Hijja 1444/10 Wu-Wu(5th month) 4721/27 Июнь 2023 года
Since at least 2018, the U.S. Army has been testing autonomous HEMTTs (Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks), to reduce reliance on humans to deliver supplies.
Robot HEMTT waiting to be offloaded onto the Port of Shuabia, Kuwait. U.S. Army photo by Captain Katherine Alegado, 24JUN2023.
New York Army National Guard’s 369th Sustainment Brigade offloads self-driving HEMTT trucks on the Port of Shuabia, in Kuwait, 24JUN2023. Video by Staff Sergeant Sebastian Rothwyn:
‘Leader-Follower’ HEMTT unloaded by Charlie Company of the 142nd Division Sustainment Support Battalion, Task Force Legion, on Camp Buehring, Kuwait. New York Army National Guard photo by Staff Sergeant Sebastian Rothwyn, 26JUN2023.
The ‘Leader-Follower’ robot vehicles arrive on Camp Buehring, Kuwait. New York Army National Guard video by Staff Sergeant Sebastian Rothwyn, 26JUN2023:
“We are a ready Army, not a ‘woke’ Army. What I’m trying to talk about now is how that drip, drip, drip of criticism about a woke military is having some counterproductive effects on recruiting.”-Christine Wormuth, Secretary of the Army, 13JUN2023
Official U.S. Army Medical Command Pride graphic.
It is interesting that many high ranking U.S. military leaders testified, before Congressional committees, that they were not aware of any taxpayer funded ‘woke’ movements within the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD), because the DoD itself has released promotional videos boasting of being ‘woke’!
Photo via Office of the Secretary of the Navy, 07JUN2023.
The DoD refers to LGBTQ+ organizations as Employee Resource Groups (ERG).
Hanscom Air Force Base (AFB), Massachusetts, LGBTQ+ Pride Month video message (recorded by Mark Herlihy), 07JUN2023:
U.S. Marine Corps video report (by Lance Corporal Audrey Martinez) about the Camp Foster Community Center Group Fitness Program Pride dance party, on Okinawa, Japan, 09JUN2023:
Also on 09JUN2023, the U.S. Air Force proudly reported on the Rainbow Weasels’ Pride month dorm feed, on Misawa Air Base, Japan. Video report by U.S. Navy Petty Officer Second Class Stephanie Contreras:
On 11JUN2023, the USAF celebrated LGBTQ+ pride on Yokota Air Base, Japan. USAF video by Senior Airman Azaria E. Loyd:
Washington DC Army National Guard boasts of being ‘woke’! Video interview by Specialist Alex Cano, 11JUN2023:
On 19JUN2023, the U.S. Department of State revealed a new refugee system, as part of a 2016 global deal called the Tent Partnership for Refugees. ‘Tent’, as it is also officially known, is essentially an international government sanctioned legal human trafficking operation.
Official Department of State video, in which it is admitted that the government is helping more than 3-hundred U.S. employers hire refugees still living in other countries:
During the second week of June 2023, Air and Army National Guard units from Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio conducted earthquake response training, on the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Indiana.
Kentucky Army National Guard photo by Sergeant First Class Benjamin Crane, 09JUN2023.
The Kentucky Army National Guard practiced using ‘raft bridges’ to transport vehicles and people across the river, expecting that local bridges would be destroyed by the quake.
Kentucky Army National Guard video showing you how to build a ‘raft bridge’. Video by Sergeant First Class Andrew Dickson, edited by me:
The training event was officially called Homeland Defender 2023, and also involved local emergency responders, and Verizon’s Frontline-Emergency Network operators: “This was a full-scale exercise with the purpose to integrate local, state, federal and military assets, as well as the private sector, to provide support to local authorities during a disaster response.”-Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie Railey, Indiana National Guard Joint Force Headquarters
Indiana Air National Guard video by Airman First Class Amber Anderson, 10JUN2023:
The emergency responders included the Indiana Department of Homeland Security, Indiana Task Force 1, Indiana Helicopter Aquatic Rescue Team, Monroe Fire Protection District, Indiana State Police, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department and Fort Wayne Police Department.
Indiana Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant L. Roland Sturm, 10JUN2023.
The training involved almost every possible scenario: “We had everything from water rescue operations to collapsed buildings and civil unrest…”-Lieutenant Colonel Stephanie Railey, Indiana National Guard Joint Force Headquarters
Indiana Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant L. Roland Sturm, 10JUN2023.
Even robot ‘dogs’ were used during the quake riot training: “The Air National Guard has a civil disturbance responsibility. The security forces squadron acts as an aid to civilian authorities in case there’s a civil disturbance that gets too big or out of hand.”-Major Joseph Williams, Indiana Air National Guard
Indiana Air National Guard video by Airman First Class Amber Anderson, 10JUN2023:
Indiana Air National Guard photo by Master Sergeant L. Roland Sturm, 10JUN2023.
A Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear (CBRN) scenario involved recovering bodies from a contamination event! Indiana Air National Guard CBRN video by Airman First Class Amber Anderson, 10JUN2023:
Joint statements by NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg and United States Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin the Third, in which it is revealed that taxpayer funding for NATO is being greatly increased; the original 2% maximum of GDP funding is now considered “a minimum” for defense spending. NATO video released 15JUN2023:
NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says “All allies stand by Ukraine for as long as it takes.” Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Oleksii Reznikov, reveals formation of ‘Birds Coalition’ to begin training on F-16 Falcon aircraft in Netherlands and Denmark, as well as yet-to-be specified ‘testing’ with Sweden. NATO video released on 15JUN2023:
NATO Deputy Secretary General, Mircea Geoană, praises the expansion of NATO’s Multinational Ammunition Warehousing Initiative (MAWI). It is not just about the war with Russia, but the fact that NATO is rapidly expanding its operation around the world. NATO video released 15JUN2023:
NATIONAL GUARD PREPS FOR ‘BIG ONE’ IN THE WABASH VALLEY, RIOTS & CBRN EVENTS EXPECTED!
U.S. NATIONAL GUARD PREPS FOR GLOBAL WAR!
NATO-
