NEWS | May 31, 2020

Utah Guard Activated by Order of the Governor

By Sgt. Nathaniel Free, 801-716-9162 Public Affairs Office

SALT LAKE CITY, Utah – Approximately 200 members of the Utah National Guard were activated by order of Utah Governor, Gary R. Herbert, to assist law enforcement agencies in protecting life and property in Salt Lake City, May 30, 2020. Peaceful protests began Saturday, 11 a.m. in SLC following the death of George Floyd, an African-American man from Minneapolis who died in police custody. When the SLC protests turned violent, Herbert issued an Executive Order, activating the Utah National Guard to help safeguard lives, protect property and maintain peace.

“We condemn violence and looting,” Herbert said in a tweet. “I have activated the National Guard to help control the escalating situation in downtown Salt Lake City. I once again call on all who are protesting to do so peacefully.”

In less than an hour, UTNG was ready to respond.

“We have activated Soldiers and Airmen from the Utah National Guard to support local law enforcement to preserve life and protect property,” said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Turley, adjutant general, Utah National Guard, in an official statement released Saturday. “We are trained to provide support to civil authorities during various types of emergencies. We are fellow citizens; we are your neighbors; we support our law enforcement partners and fellow Utahns.”

Nearly 30 Airmen from the Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Security Forces Squadron and approximately 150 Soldiers from the Utah Army National Guard’s Reaction Force assisted law enforcement at several key locations around Salt Lake City throughout the night.

“I am grateful to the Airmen of the Utah Air National Guard for their readiness and quick response to the governor’s request for support to local civilian jurisdictions and responders,” said Col. Kurt Davis, 151st Air Refueling Wing commander.

“Our personnel are the cornerstone of the National Guard and I appreciate the coordination and professionalism displayed as they helped to maintain safety and peace during a tumultuous time,” Davis continued. “This is the type of thing we train for, and are ready to assist our community and help where we can.”

The mission of Utah Air National Guard’s 151st Security Forces Squadron “Defenders” is to enforce the law at Wright Air National Guard Base in Salt Lake City, but they can also be called up by the governor to respond to a crisis at a moment's notice.

“I started receiving phone calls around five o’clock, and within the hour, we were ready to respond,” said Lt. Col. Bruce Lewis, commander of the 151 SFS. “I can not express enough how proud I am of the 151 SFS ‘Defenders.’ Over the last five years, they have trained with the Utah Department of Public Safety and Salt Lake City Police Department, and it paid off last night. The rapid response, the seamless integration, and the professionalism of our Airmen is what the city needed. We were trained and ready to respond.”

During the night, UTNG assisted law enforcement after Salt Lake City Mayor Erin Mendenhall issued a city-wide curfew, which extended from 8 p.m. May 30, to 6 a.m. June 1, 2020.

“In response to the violence and destruction of property in Salt Lake City today, I have issued a curfew that will apply to all of SLC extending from 8 p.m. tonight until 6 a.m. Monday morning,” Mendenhall announced in a tweet.

Members of the UTNG remain ready to face any crisis in a wide array of unique capabilities, from law enforcement and civil support to medical care, working right alongside civilian law enforcement agencies and emergency responders. Many of the specially trained Soldiers in the National Guard Response Force are from the 142nd Military Intelligence Battalion, able to provide Utah with a rapid response capability, focused on incidents requiring law enforcement or security support.

“I couldn't be more proud of our Soldiers,” said Lt. Col. Scott Chalmers, commander, 142nd MI Battalion. “They truly define what it means to be a citizen-Soldier.”

The NGRF is designed to respond to an incident ahead of federal assets, capable of delivering an initial force of 75-125 personnel within eight hours.

“This year alone, members of the 142nd MI Battalion deployed back east in support of federal missions and to the Southwest Border,” Chalmers said. “When the governor called, Soldiers from across the state dropped barbecues, picnics, camping trips, and family outings and showed up in record time."

The NGRF mobilized in less than four hours, with Soldiers geared up, loaded, and traveling to augment local law enforcement.

Chalmers said Soldiers from the 142ND MI worked all through the night, standing guard at key infrastructures throughout Salt Lake City, to augment law enforcement.

"They continue to stand ready for as long as the governor needs them.”

While working alongside law enforcement during a time of civil unrest in Salt Lake City, UTNG also continues to support the state’s response to COVID-19 with mobile testing sites, document translation, and the governor’s PPE Push Pack initiative, ensuring local businesses have proper personal protective equipment to reopen the economy.

-30-

 

 

 

 

Your Career Starts Here

Freedom Academy delegates perform a customized group chant at Camp Williams on the morning of July 20th, 2023. Since 1961 the Utah National Guard and Honorary Colonels Corps have sponsored Freedom Academy, providing a challenging and engaging environment designed to teach high school leaders from across Utah the importance of freedom and highlight the military and governmental functions that are critical to its survival.
Utah National Guard hosts Freedom Academy 2023
By Sgt. Christine Hoskins | July 20, 2023
High school students from across the state of Utah assembled at Camp Williams for a week of learning, honing leadership skills, developing friendships, finding deeper purpose, and solidifying their understanding of freedom,...

Senior Airman Kevin Buckner (middle), fire protection with the 151st Civil Engineering Squadron, Utah National Guard, carries a pineapple while rucking more than six miles for the mystery event during the Region VII Best Warrior Competition on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu, May 7-11, 2023. The Best Warrior Competition is an annual Army-sponsored event designed to measure the Soldier’s physical fitness, mental acuity, and demonstrated skill in warrior tasks and battle drills. The Soldier and Noncommisioned Officer of the Year for the region will advance to the All Guard National Best Warrior Competition in Alaska.
Utah Airman keeps up with region’s top Soldiers at Best Warrior Competition
By Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack | May 12, 2023
Senior Airman Kevin Buckner, a fire protection journeyman with the 151st Civil Engineering Squadron, winner of the Soldier of the Year category at this year’s Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition, impressed everyone...

Educators from high schools in Salt Lake and Utah Counties were given the chance to fly high with members of the Utah National Guard as part of a centers of influence event at Camp Williams, Utah, March 16, 2023. 

Lt. Col. Toby Adamson, commander, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, was one of the guest speakers at the COI event that helped educators become familiar with opportunities and resources the Utah National Guard has to offer their students with programs like Freedom Academy, Minuteman Scholarship, United Families and Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery.
Utah educators fly on Black Hawk helicopters over Salt Lake and Utah counties
By Ileen Kennedy | March 17, 2023
Educators from Salt Lake and Utah Counties were given the chance to fly high on a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with members of the Utah National Guard’s 2nd General Support Aviation Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment; and...

Spc. Justin Webber, a food service specialist assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group Support Battalion, prepares a soup during the “Final Four” of the Philip A. Connelly Competition at Camp Williams, Utah, February 25, 2023. Webber was one of several 19th Soldiers who supported the 1457th Forward Support Company, 1457th Engineer Battalion, Utah National Guard. (US Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Rich Stowell)
Utah Guardsmen Among Top Cooks in the Country
By Sgt. 1st Class Richard Stowell | March 9, 2023
Soldiers assigned to and supporting the 1457th Forward Support Company, 1457th Engineer Battalion, Utah National Guard, participate in the “Final Four” of the Philip A. Connelly Competition at Camp Williams, Utah, February...

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. David Zahm (right) and Master Sgt. Shaundra Andress (left) communicate about an upcoming project for the base comm office. (Air National Guard photo by: Tech Sgt. Nicholas Perez)
16 Key Principles of Effective Communication
By Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Perez | Feb. 23, 2023
Effective communication is crucial to success in any field, but it is imperative in the military. In high-stakes, dynamic environments, clear and accurate communication is essential for ensuring the safety of troops, the...

Utah National Guard’s 300th Military Intelligence Brigade held its 34th annual Military Intelligence Language Conference on Feb. 11, 2023. As part of the conference more than 140 competitors from 25 different organizations participate in the Polyglot Games. The competition is conducted in seven different languages and follow every step of the intelligence cycle, from the operations order to a final commander's brief as they translate battlefield recordings and news reports, exploit documents to identify and destroy enemy equipment, and assess possible enemy courses of action.
Utah National Guard hosts world’s largest Polyglot Games at the MI Language Conference
By Master Sgt. Samantha Xanthos | Feb. 11, 2023
Competitors from multiple organizations came from across the country to participate in this year’s Polyglot games, hosted by the 300th Military Intelligence Brigade. More than 140 participants from 25 different organizations...

The Utah Air National Guard honor their outstanding nominees during the Airmen of the Year banquet at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center on Jan. 7th, 2023. The Airmen of the Year award program is designed to recognize Airmen who display superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement.

(Air National Guard photo by: Tech. Sgt. Danny Whitlock)
Utah Air National Guard Honors the Airmen of the Year 2022
By Tech. Sgt. Danny Whitlock | Jan. 10, 2023
The Utah Air National Guard celebrated its Airmen of the Year during a banquet held in their honor at the Utah Cultural Celebration Center Jan. 7, 2023 in West Valley City, Utah.The Airmen of the Year award program is...

Utah National Guard members repel with the help of their civilian counterparts during a Utah National Guard FEMA Region VIII Homeland Response Force training exercise on Camp Williams, Utah, Nov. 5, 2022. The event featured multiagency interoperability training for the Utah National Guard and civilian partner agencies to provide initial and follow-on care to stranded and injured citizens in the event of a natural or human-caused emergency. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Alejandro Lucero)
Utah National Guard Hosts Multi-Agency Disaster Response Exercise
By Capt. Megan Tidwell | Nov. 5, 2022
The Utah National Guard’s Domestic Operations Office; in conjunction with the state of Utah Emergency Operation Center, Division of Emergency Management, conducted a multi-agency training event at Camp Williams in Bluffdale,...

Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented the Seven Seals and Patriot Awards to select civic leaders at a ceremony on Oct. 26, 2022. Gov. Spencer Cox received both the ESGR’s Seven Seals Award and the Patriot Award. Mr. Gary Harter, executive director for the Utah Department of Veterans and Military Affairs, and Mr. Jon Pierpont, chief of staff to the governor and former executive director of the Utah Department of Workforce Services, also received the ESGR Seven Seals Award.
ESGR Presented Awards to Civic Leaders
By Maj. Chris Kroeber | Oct. 27, 2022
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented the Seven Seals and Patriot Awards to select civic leaders at a ceremony on Wednesday. Gov. Spencer Cox received both the ESGR’s Seven Seals Award and the Patriot Award. Mr...

Sgt. Maurice Manns II with the 204th Maneuver  Enhancement Brigade, emerges for a breath during the swimming portion of the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge , conducted at Camp Williams, Utah Oct. 16, 2022. This year’s competition offers an opportunity for competitors to earn the German Armed Forces Proficiency Badge. The Utah National Guard Best Warrior Competition is an annual event that brings together Soldiers and Airmen from the major commands to compete for the title of Soldier/Airman-of-the-Year, Noncommissioned Officer-of-the-Year and Senior NCO-of-the-Year. The Army winners of this competition will represent the Utah Army National Guard at the Region VII Best Warrior Competition next spring.  (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ariel J. Solomon)
UTNG Best Warrior Competition Presents Top Competitors
By Spc. Shae Cox | Oct. 24, 2022
Twenty-three Soldiers and Airmen battled mental and physical challenges as they competed for the title of Soldier/Airman of the Year, Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Senior NCO of the Year, during the Utah National...