News

Nevada, Samoa officials hold SPP exchange, witness fellow Samoan win NRL thriller
March 4, 2026 — Members of Samoa’s disaster response, corrections and fire services visited the Nevada National Guard last week, meeting with the Nevada Office of Emergency Management, county emergency managers from around the state, along with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department and security officials at Allegiant Stadium. They also attended the three-game Australian National Rugby League Premiership season opener at Allegiant Stadium. Samoa, a Nevada partner nation in the National Guard State Partnership Program since 2023, is also a rugby-crazed nation... MORE

Stephon Critchton, who scored the winning field goal in front of 45,719 people at Allegiant Stadium during a National Rugby League Premiere game, poses for a photo with Apelu Sauoaiga, Samoa assistant commissioner of emergency medical response, Josephina Chan Ting, principal disaster risk, reduction officer and Bella Simeti, senior disaster management officer last Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026. Samoan officials were in Nevada last week for a State Partnership Program subject matter exchange to prepare for their mass casualty exercise set for 2027 in Apia, Samoa.

‘Last we saw him’: Nevada Air Guardsman’s lifesaving effort includes curious cliffhanger
March 1, 2026 — Kimball and Dall attended the annual Recruiting and Retention Leadership Symposium held at the Combat Readiness Training Center in Gulfport, Miss., last September. After lunch, Dall and Kimball were driving eastbound on Rippy Road in southern Mississippi when they noticed a multiple-vehicle accident blocking traffic, including a Subaru Outback careened in a nearby ditch surrounded by forest and underneath electrical line, according to a Gulfport Police Department report... MORE

Montana Air Guard Capt. Caitlyn Cayer, who is also a nurse practitioner, administers aid to a man involved in a traffic wreck in Gulfport, Miss., Sept. 22, 2025. Master Sgt. Kraig Kimball, top right, helped pull the driver from a car fire and escorted him to safety seconds before the car engulfed in flames.

Nevada Air Guard continues colonel’s last act — helping children diagnosed with cancer
February 26, 2026 — The 152nd Airlift Wing, Nevada Air National Guard, will hold the third annual Col. Mike Fugett Memorial Golf Tournament on May 4 at Toiyabe Golf Club in Washoe Valley. Community members and service members are welcome to participate, honor Fugett’s legacy and help the Northern Nevada Childhood Cancer Foundation. Registration is open until April 24; $175 per person, $600 for foursome. Proceeds from the event have raised more than $14,000 for NNCCF since 2023... MORE

Retired Chief Master Sgt. Shawn Plunket tees off during the inaugural Col. Mike Fugett Memorial Golf Tournament held at the LakeRidge Golf Course in Reno, Aug. 5, 2024. The tournament helped raise more than $3,000 for the Northern Nevada Children’s Cancer Foundation.

Nevada National Guard trains for updated federal National Guard Response Force standards
February 25, 2026 — For more than 20 years, NGRFs have been readily available to governors, Congress and the president to assist during emergencies but have varied in composition, training and equipment readiness across the states. Ongoing training this month will seek standardized training across all 53 states and territories with National Guard personnel... MORE

U.S. Air Force Tech Sgt. Adams, 152nd Medical Group, practices defending himself using his baton during a National Guard Response Force training at the Office of the Adjutant General in Carson City, Nevada, Feb. 20, 2026. NGRF personnel will be prepared to respond to Nevada's needs, ready within 24 hours activation, like the activation during the Davis Creek fire in 2024 to safeguard evacuated neighborhoods. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Adrianne Lopez)

Through fire and ice, Nevada Air Guard footprint touches all seven continents
January 29, 2026 — The Nevada Air National Guard began operating at the southernmost portion of the planet last year and continued its high-paced operations tempo flying C-130 Hercules over fires in North America. Over the past two years, at least one member of the Nevada Air National Guard has set foot on all seven continents — an uncommon distinction that underscores the organization’s worldwide operational footprint... MORE

The Nevada Air National Guard's High Rollers arrive in Antarctica Dec. 18, 2024, to support the annual U.S. military mission in Antarctica. They flew augmented max duty day missions, logging over 30 hours in three days.

Nevada Guard says goodbye to beloved retired Army dentist
January 20, 2026 — After assisting in the oversight of the Nevada Army Guard’s medical readiness for decades, serving the state on the front line during its battle against coronavirus and reaching the podium in military sports competitions, retired Col. Joyce Anacker – who died following a valiant battle with cancer on Oct. 29, 2025 at age 64 – could easily have been remembered as one of the top officers in Nevada Army Guard history... MORE

Col. Joyce Anacker, seen here in civilian garb, was in the Nevada Army Guard for more than 21 years before retiring in March 2025.

Nevada National Guard supports Las Vegas law enforcement during annual NYE celebration
January 6, 2026 — Hours before revelers descend upon the famed Las Vegas Strip, a multi-agency effort formed at the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department headquarters. Members of the LVMPD, North Las Vegas and Henderson police departments, Clark County Fire Department, FBI, Nevada Highway Patrol, and other intelligence agencies, along with the Nevada National Guard, briefed on the upcoming event before heading out to the throngs of partygoers on the famed Las Vegas Strip. ... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Ulises Enriquez (left), Sgt. Andrea Flenner (center), Spc. Xarn Manzon (right) conducts security operations on the Las Vegas 'Strip' in Las Vegas, Nevada, Jan. 1, 2026. For more than 25 years, the Nevada National Guard has supported New Year's Eve public safety operations, with roughly 190 Soldiers activated for this year's event. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Byronjames Crisostomo)

Nevada Guard set to mark start of construction on U.S. Army firing range in Hawthorne
December 9, 2025 — The Nevada National Guard held a groundbreaking ceremony Friday to start construction on the Nevada Army National Guard Qualification Training Range. U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen and Congressman Mark Amodei and Brig. Gen. Randy Lau, Nevada Army Guard commander, attended the event. When completed, set for 2027, the range will become the only Department of the Army approved qualification range in the state of Nevada... MORE

U.S. Sen. Jacky Rosen and Rep. Mark Amodei and Nevada Land Component Commander, Brig. Gen. Randy Lau breaks ground for the new Nevada Army National Guard Qualification Training Range during a ceremony held in Hawthorne, Nev., Dec. 5, 2025. The new range will allow Nevada Soldiers to meet military marksmanship standards without having to leave the state — finally giving Nevada Soldiers access to an in-state Army weapon qualification range that meets Army requisites.

Fiji Military Forces and Nevada Army National Guard conduct multinational training
December 9, 2025 — The annual training exercise brought military participants from Australia, Fiji, France, Germany, Japan, New Zealand, United Kingdom, and the U.S. together to enhance combat readiness and interoperability... MORE

LT Lakoenavuli, Fiji Royal Military Forces, company commander, briefs the "culminating raid" during Exercise Cartwheel, Nov. 6, 2025. Showcasing the Terrain Model, creating situational awareness, and clearly communicating the concept of the operation, this brief drove the following days rehearsals and enhanced the execution of the raid.

Nevada National Guard Completes Third Year of Formula 1 Support in Las Vegas
November 23, 2025 — This year marked the third consecutive Las Vegas Grand Prix supported by the Nevada National Guard, continuing a partnership with state and local agencies that began with the inaugural race in 2023... MORE

U.S. Army Soldiers attached to B Company, 422nd Expeditionary Signal Battalion - Expeditionary, pose for a photo with Brig. Gen. D. Rodger Waters (back right), the Adjutant General of the Nevada National Guard at the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix in Las Vegas, Nevada, Nov. 21, 2025. About 130 Nevada Army and Air National Guard members were activated to enhance emergency response capabilities during the Formula 1 Las Vegas Grand Prix. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Adrianne Lopez)