The Utah National Guard’s Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 145th Field Artillery, known as “the Animals,” were happy to continue the 24-year tradition of supporting the Spanish Fork Flag Retirement Ceremony last week at the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. “This event is special to me because I started my military career in this community,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Spencer Nielsen, senior enlisted leader for the Utah National Guard, and longtime Spanish Fork resident. “It’s great to be a part of this, for all of the 24 years of this flag retirement's existence. I’m glad we take responsibility to pay honor to our country and to our flag at this event each year and I hope we do it for generations to come.” The Utah National Guard is a capable, skilled, community-based force comprised of approximately 7,300 trained citizen-Soldiers and Airmen who are always ready to support the community and operations worldwide. (U.S. Army video by Staff Sgt Jordan Hack)

The Utah National Guard’s 65th Field Artillery Brigade, “America’s Thunder,” made a lot of noise and kicked up a ton of dust for Western Strike 22 at Orchard Combat Training Center, Idaho, during the first part of June. The 65th FAB’s subordinate units and partners were able to get in on the action also. Approximately 2,000 National Guard Soldiers from California National Guard , Iowa National Guard , North Carolina National Guard , and Utah National Guard along with active-component Soldiers from Joint Base Lewis-McChord and Texas participated in the exercise. For nearly 10 days the sound of rumbling thunder could be heard non-stop as thousands of rounds of artillery, rockets and explosives were expended in the desert southeast of Boise. The exercise was gauged a success, increasing the participating units readiness and lethality, but just as important — it was a lot of fun! #WesternStrike22 #AlwaysReady #NationalGuard

The Utah National Guard prepares for upcoming fire season by training with the Unified Fire Authority at Camp Williams Utah, May 19, 2022. ( U.S. Army National Guard video by 1st Sgt. John Etheridge)

The Utah National Guard FEMA Region VIII Homeland Response Force held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Collapsed Structure Venue Site May 10, 2022. The CSVS is one of only three military owned Urban Search and Rescue training venues west of the Rocky Mountains. This CSVS will allow both military search and extract and civilian search and rescue teams the opportunity to train together and build those necessary partnerships needed in an “all hazards” response.

The Utah Army National Guard hosted their annual Maintenance Symposium March 21-23, 2022, at Camp Williams, Utah, that included a three day multi-state best mechanic competition. (U.S. Army National Guard video by Sgt. 1st Class CaHugh Giles)

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)

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

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