Reserve + National Guard Magazine

Reserve + National Guard Mag covers news and resources for current serving reservists & guardsmen. Have a story tip? Email us at [email protected]

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

Reserve + National Guard Magazine Quarter 2 is here! We can't wait for you to read about all the things happening in the Reserves and National Guard.
Our issue starts with a tribute to the US Army Reserve Soldiers who lost their lives with the start of Operation Epic Fury.

Our cover story is written by Paul Davis about Air National Guard Master Sgt. Osterhout, the USO Guardsman of the Year. He represents the National Guard, but he's also a former Marine. "'Upon arrival in the Middle East, he immediately assumed leadership of a 585-member aircraft maintenance team operating under constant threat of hostile missile fire,' the USO noted. 'His decisive leadership drove 14,500 maintenance actions, enabling 2,500 combat sorties that resulted in 29 aerial victories and the use of 671 guided munitions.'" Continue reading in the digital edition.

This issue is packed full of news and resources. Read about the new 40D MOS (space mission specialty) transfers, tips to know before leaving the military, communicating with your civilian employer, navigating education benefits, Nebraska National Guard's State Partnership with Tanzania, Nevada Air Guard deploying to support Epic Fury, a podcast hosted by South Carolina guardsmen spouses, a Tennessee guardsman who uses her fitness platform on social media to connect with peers, AND MORE!

Click the here to read the FREE digital edition: https://t.co/YrKnUgXm7K

@ANG_Recruiting @CONG1860 @The_USO @MNNationalGuard @Missouri_NG @WheelofFortune

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

Behind every issue of Military Families Magazine and Reserve + National Guard Magazine is a mission. Our letter from the editor offers insight into the purpose, planning, and goals that shaped this Deployment Guide. Here is that letter:

"In the early days of Operation Epic Fury, U.S. Military Publishing recognized that even though deployments are as much a part of a military career as PCS moves, it has been some time since the community at-large experiences this level of uncertainty.

Since the Afghanistan withdrawal in 2021, service members have continued to experience separations from the home front for TDYs, rotational deployments, etc. But when U.S.-Israeli strikes began in February of this year, along with that came widespread questions about who the campaign would affect, when those orders may come and how long it may last. Naturally, those with skin in the game wanted information and clarity. It is a whole different ballgame when the news headlines personally affect your household and the people in it.

For some, Epic Fury meant the first combat deployment of their career; for others, there may have been a break in having to think about things like a Power of Attorney or pre-deployment briefs. We designed this guide to be a refresher for whatever category you may fall into, while understanding there are more topics that fit under the deployment umbrella than are contained in this 32-page resource.
Whether you are forward-deployed or have impending orders for the not-too-distant future, this resource was built with general subjects in mind. As you will learn from our roundup of organizations on P.30, there are an overwhelming number of resources with support, but awareness is a challenge. We will continue to update on our websites with the most current information about programs, news, expert advice, and the personal insights of those who have -- or are -- navigating a deployment."

🔗Read the digital Deployment Guide from U.S. Military Publishing: https://t.co/HxUatiZ8d8
📸: Cover photo by Michelle Murphy

This guide features the work of our talented writers:
Sarah Barron
Crystal Kupper I @KupperCrystal
Maggie BenZvi
Abby Ammons
Will Martin
Kathryn Butler
Bianca Strzalkowski

@UTR4Military I @The_USO I @AmericanLegion I @BlueStarFamily I @Op_Homefront I @PkgsFromHome I @RedCross I @HeadstrongProj I @ProjectEvrGreen

#militaryfamilies #deployments #yellowribbon #deploymentpreparation

News I Stories I Resources for today's service members, veterans & their families See less

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

After receiving a yo-yo in 2024, Grayson Rhea is a nationally ranked yo-yo athlete, claiming the 2025 U.S. National Yo-Yo Champion title.

"Programs like Little Blessings and Our Military Kids have supported Grayson’s growth and confidence along the way, and his family is deeply grateful for organizations that invest in military children and families." Grayson Rhea is the son of a retired Air Force Reservist.

Read the full story from Kailyn Rhinehart: https://t.co/OTinMeCz7o

@OurMilitaryKids @USAFReserve

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

“'The key is understanding which education programs can be used together, which must be sequenced, and which should be saved for the most expensive parts of their education,'" said Dr. Kenneth A. Hardy, Chief, Education Services Branch, National Guard Bureau.

"Lacking a personalized strategy, specific to the details of their service and the state in which they serve, misinformed guardsmen can burn through their GI Bill early instead of maximizing its value."

Read the full story from Will Martin: https://t.co/ZUqq93dXmX

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

Chief Master Sgt. Joe Madigan and Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout showcasing Osterhout’s cover feature on Reserve + National Guard Magazine.

Read the full story by Paul Davis and why Osterhout was named USO Guardsman of the Year: https://t.co/pZfWe2trxD

@The_USO @ANG_Recruiting @CONG1860

#reservenationalguard #airnationalguard #guardsmanoftheyear #uso

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

"When a retired Ohio Army National Guardsman assumed the director role with the Department of War Education Activity (DOWEA), he melded his civilian education career and military tenure into one cohesive role.

'I’ve been so blessed in my career that the military side made me a better teacher and later administrator,' said Paul Craft, who has been the director since March 9. 'And the teaching and administrator side made me a better officer. And I think you see that in certain combinations of National Guard and Reserve careers and civilian careers, how they can really reinforce one another.'”

Click the link to read the full story from Kari Williams.

@marforres @NationalGuard @OHNationalGuard @GuardMontana

https://t.co/E5Mz1cITXS

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

“'If we could protect our troops and provide a structure where our soldiers can be safely resuscitated and then transported back to safety, that’s our main goal,' he said. 'There’s nothing like it right now in the world.'”

"Former Arizona National Guardsman Phil Roux will never be able to make magic force fields for his military brethren. But thanks to his invention of portable, rapidly deployable ballistic systems developed through his company, Southwest Armor Technologies (SWAT Armor), he’s getting pretty close."

Read the full story from Crystal Kupper at the link. https://t.co/ySwu7Jw20x

#SWATArmor #nationalguard #arizonanationalguard #medics

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

ＣＲＯＷＤＳＯＵＲＣＩＮＧ
Reservists/guardsmen needed for a story: looking to speak with those who have had to balance college classes while TDY/at AT/ or deployed overseas. We are putting together a deployment resource guide and need tips for keeping up with courses/ your lessons learned.

Email: [email protected]

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

ＣＲＯＷＤＳＯＵＲＣＩＮＧ
Reservists/guardsmen needed for a story: we are looking to speak with someone who has had to balance college classes while forward deployed. We are putting together a deployment resource guide and need tips for keeping up with courses. Email: [email protected]

[GA National Guard @GeorgiaGuard]

Georgia Guard engineers are on the ground supporting multiagency wildfire response efforts.

https://t.co/lFKdprG52F

Live here, work here, serve here
https://t.co/ahp8vqbGHH
#GeorgiaGuard #GuardStrong #ServeGA #MilitaryCareer #NationalGuard #GNGWF0426

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

@GeorgiaGuard @arkansasguard @NDNationalGuard @NENationalGuard

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

"As the Guardsmen were monitoring their area of operations, they saw USSS agents sprint toward the hotel entrance. 'They were running full speed with their weapons drawn,” said Sgt. 1st. Class Allen Haney, a team member with the Arkansas National Guard. “We immediately followed suit.'

Staff Sgt. Kristen Confer, a NENG combat medic and battle captain, recalled her response to the incident: 'We fell back on our basic training. You run toward danger and move in a way that makes sense for the situation.'"

Read the full story at the link from Staff Sgt. Jaylan Caulton

https://t.co/pFj1c68uv5

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

"'They [the unit] had just deployed that fall [2025]. We were trying to get the SFRG (Soldier and Family Readiness Group) kind of running and get people pulled in and into events, and we were just having a really hard time getting participation,' Matheny said. 'I feel like the National Guard historically struggles a little bit with the SFRG because when they’re not deployed, nobody really needs it, and then when they are, it’s not always a very well-established thing that people feel comfortable in.'”

"Military spouses from South Carolina National Guard are hosting a new podcast that they want to be a resource for families far beyond the borders of the Palmetto State."

Read the full story from editor-in-chief Bianca Strzalkowski at the link. And let us know in the comments if you've watched/listened to an episode of Family Guidons.

https://t.co/3Q3Pj5LAKn

@SCNationalGuard #nationalguard #alwaysreadyalwaysthere #familyreadinessgroup #soldierfamilyreadinessgroup #soldierfamilyreadiness

[Navy Football @NavyFB]

Hometown kid

#GoNavy | #RollGoats

[National Guard @USNationalGuard]

This week, @TheCalGuard and @NVNationalGuard Airmen conduct their annual Modular Airborne Fire Fighting System recertification and training to prepare to fight wildfires wherever and whenever needed.

🔗https://t.co/ZWiwtE3c27

[National Guard @USNationalGuard]

Always Ready, Always There! @GeorgiaGuard Soldiers with the 78th Aviation Troop Command help fight wildfires in South Georgia.

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

@RonnieAdkins great photo

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

“'Culturally, we’ve forgotten that marksmanship is America’s pastime,' he said. 'It ain’t baseball.'”

"For Army reservist and media executive Ronnie Adkins, readiness is not a slogan or a seasonal requirement, but a continuous practice shaped by discipline, self-awareness and hard-earned perspective.

"Adkins joined Funker530, the internet’s only dedicated combat footage archive, in 2020, stepping into the role of vice president with a focus on developing the platform as a business while preserving its original mission. Founded in 2008, Funker350 was built by a team whose collective experience spans decades of service and boasts millions of followers world-wide."

Read the full story from Jessica Manfre here:
https://t.co/QgF6fMMWZM

@RonnieAdkins @funkeractual @AmericanMarks @USArmyReserve

#reserves #twicethecitizen #marksmanship

[Reserve + National Guard Magazine @reserveguardmag]

Master Sgt. Jon Osterhout was announced as the USO Guardsman of the Year. He was incredibly humble and says the award is a reflection of his team.

"'I truly believe one of the greatest strengths of the National Guard is the ability that the guardsmen bring from their civilian life and careers coupled with their military training and experience. I believe this is the secret sauce that makes the National Guard something special within the profession of arms. When it comes to leadership skills, I always remember two leadership principles that I learned when I was a young Marine: to know myself and to seek self- improvement, and to know my troops and to look out for their welfare.'"

Guardsman and Reservists-- lean into that secret sauce!

@The_USO @CONG1860

Click the link to read the full story from Paul Davis: https://t.co/pZfWe2trxD