Today marks the 20th Anniversary of 9/11. We honor and remember the nearly 3000 innocent people killed during the terrorist attacks and their survivors; the first responders and citizens who selflessly put themselves in harm's way to save lives; and those who served and sacrificed in defense of our nation during the Global War on Terror. In the video, Maj. Gen. Michael Turley, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, and Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Nielsen, senior enlisted advisor, Utah National Guard, commemorate the anniversary and discuss the sacrifices, challenges and effects of the nearly two decades of continuous combat operations on the Utah National Guard, its service members, their families and the community.(U.S. Army video edited by Sgt. 1st Classs John Etheridge)

Gov. Spencer Cox commemorates the 20th Anniversary of 9-11 and addresses Utah National Guard

Last week, members of the United States Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Air Refueling Wing, in coordination with U.S. Transportation Command (USTRANSCOM)'s Denton Program for private donations, transported lifesaving equipment and humanitarian supplies to Kathmandu, Nepal, to help reduce human suffering and assist with Nepal’s COVID-19 response. #MissionElevated #InThisTogether

Employers of Utah National Guard Soldiers with the 145th Field Artillery Battalion visit Dugway Proving Grounds, Utah, to participate in a Boss Lift hosted by the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve). (U.S. Army National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack)

After serving their state and communities for over a year, approximately 140 Airmen and Soldiers serving as part of the Utah National Guard COVID-19 Response Task Force demobilized June 15-16, 2021 at Roland R. Wright Air National Guard Base, as well as at the 640th Regiment, Regional Training Institute at Camp Williams, Utah. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack)

“The ultimate end-state goal far all leaders and all members of the Utah National Guard,” says Maj. Gen. Michael J. Turley, the adjutant general, Utah National Guard, “is to prevent sexual assault, sexual harassment, and you can do that by protecting your teammate.” April is Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month and this year’s SAAPM theme is “Building Cohesive Teams through Character, Trust & Resilience. Protecting Our People Protects Our Mission.” #SAAPM #missionelevated

Utah National Guard senior leaders discuss the important of receiving the COVID-19 vaccination to maintain readiness, protect community members and return to normal. UTNG service members started receiving COVID-19 vaccinations on a volunteer basis and are prioritized based on guidance from the CDC, DOD and other expert agencies. Over 1,000 Soldiers and Airmen have received the vaccination since the beginning of the year, doing their part to help Utah and the country eliminate COVID-19 and get back to a normal life. It starts with each and every one of us. Educate. Vaccinate. Eliminate. #itstartswithme #AlwaysReady #InThisTogether

Earlier this week, the Utah National Guard started vaccinating service members who have been working on the fronts lines supporting the COVID-19 Task Force. Service members will continue to receive vaccinations on a voluntary basis and are prioritized based on guidance from the CDC, DOD and other expert agencies. How can you prepare? Educate. - Review vaccine fact sheets - Watch the Utah National Guard's town hall- Visit the CDC website for vaccine information- Talk to your leadership and medical providers Vaccinate. - Be mission ready - Be part of the solution - Protect your loved ones, community and nation Eliminate. - Stop the spread - Stop the virus Getting vaccinated is an important step to help Utah and the country eliminate COVID-19 and get back to a normal life, and it starts with each and every one of us. #itstartswithme #AlwaysReady #InThisTogether

2020 has been unprecedented for the Utah National Guard responding to domestic operations. Over 1,500 Soldiers and Airman of the Utah National Guard have served their communities this year by supporting Utah government agencies in COVID-19 response, civil protection, and wildland fire-fighting. As we celebrate the National Guard’s Birthday today, over 400 Utah National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are currently activated and serving the state on the front lines of COVID-19 response. 2020 truly is the Year of the Guard!

This suicide prevention and awareness app went live December 2019, and has already reported preliminary success. The app, known as SafeUTNG, was designed to support Utah National Guard service members and families in crisis. It’s free to download from the Android and Apple app stores, providing service members and their families with a safe, confidential platform to communicate with a crisis counselor 24/7. In a span of only two months since going live, the app has been downloaded nearly 800 times from the Apple and Google Play markets (541 downloads from Apple, 253 downloads from Google Play). From these downloads, behavioral health providers from the University Neuropsychiatric Institute received 15 tips, which resulted in 42 confidential in-app chats and 817 threads. A thread is the online equivalent of a conversation. Each tip had an average of 65 conversations. The SafeUTNG app can be download via Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.universityofutahhealth.safeutng&hl=en_US or Apple App Store: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/safeutng/id1488643677

During September, the National Suicide Prevention & Awareness Month, help us spread the facts about suicide and educate others on how we can help those who may be struggling.