Texas National Guard Member Fires Across Rio Grande, Wounds Mexican Citizen
“Texas National Guard member fires across Rio Grande, wounds Mexican citizen” was first published by The Texas Tribune, a nonprofit, nonpartisan media organization that informs Texans — and engages with them — about public policy, politics, government and statewide issues. Sign up for The Brief, The Texas Tribune’s daily newsletter that keeps readers up to […]
Alaska Soldier Charged with Murder of National Guard Wife Who Disappeared
A soldier in Alaska has been charged with murder after the body of his missing wife — also a member of the Army — was discovered in a storm drain in Anchorage near an apartment the two shared, according to local media reports. Zarrius Hildabrand, 21, was arrested Friday and charged with first- and second-degree […]
Pentagon Activates National Guard, Sends Helicopters to Aid in Deadly Hawaii Fires
The Pentagon announced that it has sent a number of troops and military helicopters to Hawaii to assist in rescue-and-recovery efforts in the wake of devastating wildfires that swept through the island of Maui. “As of this morning, the National Guard has activated 134 National Guard personnel — 99 from the Army National Guard and […]
More Republican Governors Deploy National Guard Troops to Texas Border
The Republican governors of Oklahoma, West Virginia and Nebraska this week joined a growing list of those deploying National Guardsmen to the U.S.-Mexico border to bolster the ranks of the Texas National Guard’s scandal-scarred mission. The roster now includes at least 13 Republican governors who collectively made pledges to send roughly 1,300 Guardsmen to the […]
Army National Guard Halts Payments for Soldier Student Loans After Funding Snafu
The Army National Guard has ceased payments to soldiers for student loan debt as the service component faces unforeseen funding issues, and officials have no timeline for when the problem may be resolved. The issue is isolated within the Student Loan Repayment Program, or SLRP — one of the key incentives for joining the part-time […]
US Military’s Recruiting Woes Are a National Security Crisis
America’s armed services are failing to meet their recruiting goals, with the Army in particular suffering the worst shortfalls in five decades. There are many reasons behind this, but one is very surprising: veterans themselves. Recent reporting and anecdotal evidence indicate the likelihood that children of service members will sign up, or be urged to […]
Army National Guard Can’t Retain Enough Soldiers, Even as Active Duty Meets Goals
It was a celebratory moment for the Army in April when it hit its retention goal for the fourth year in a row. The achievement signaled that, despite a historic recruiting slump, once soldiers are in, they like the service and tend to stay. “I do love our soldiers. They joined a great team, and […]
Army Wants Confederate Names Gone from National Ranger Memorial. Retired Soldiers Object
More than 100 retired U.S. Army Rangers signed a letter sent to Congressional leaders to “strenuously object to the defacement and desecration of the National Ranger Memorial.” That’s how those veterans describe the decision to remove from the memorial the names of Rangers associated with the Confederacy. The May 23 letter the National Ranger Memorial Foundation sent to Speaker of the […]
Nikki Haley’s Husband to Deploy with National Guard to Africa as She Seeks 2024 GOP Nomination
COLUMBIA, S.C. — Nikki Haley’s husband will soon begin a yearlong deployment with the South Carolina Army National Guard to Africa, a mission that will encompass most of the remainder of his wife’s campaign for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination. A formal deployment ceremony will likely happen in the next few weeks, a person with knowledge […]
Gov. Whitmer Signs Bill Extending Tuition Assistance to National Guard Family Members
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer signed a bill to give tuition assistance benefits to spouses and dependents of National Guard members Saturday. House Bill 4199 expands eligibility for tuition assistance to National Guard members’ family members and increases the funding cap from $10 million to $15 million. The Michigan National Guard Tuition Assistance Program provides financial assistance for service members attending any public […]