Montana National Guard

Montana National Guard Welcome to the Official Facebook Site of the Montana National Guard!

Our intent with this site is to inform and engage Montanans and the nation as a whole about the work of the Montana National Guard, both Army and Air.

06/01/2026

It was great catching up with BG Gibson, the Adjutant General of the Montana National Guard, during his visit to the National Guard Bureau.

Our discussion highlighted what they call "The Montana Way": do the job, stand by your people, and leave things better than you found them. It is an ethos earned in the long days, hard decisions, and the quiet confidence that comes from people who know they can depend on one another.

This mindset is exactly what drives the Montana Army National Guard. Visits like these with our state teammates are crucial; they energize us all and serve as a powerful reminder that as Citizen-Soldiers, we do not seek the easier path. We accept the harder one because it’s ours to carry.

Thank you to the entire MTNG team for your unwavering dedication to your State and our Nation. Keep up the phenomenal work, Montana!

Ready For Combat! This We'll Defend!

05/29/2026

You can measure an organization by its trophies.
But you understand it by its standards.

In Montana, excellence is not reserved for a single unit, competition, or moment. It is built into the way our Guardsmen lead, maintain, train, fight, and serve beside one another every day.

This is a force shaped by discipline, strengthened by families, and driven by purpose.

This is The Montana Way.

Today, the Montana Army National Guard marked a historic moment at Fort Harrison as the 1‑163rd Infantry Battalion celeb...
05/27/2026

Today, the Montana Army National Guard marked a historic moment at Fort Harrison as the 1‑163rd Infantry Battalion celebrated its official transformation and honored more than a century of service to our state and nation.

During the ceremony, the battalion received the Superior Unit Award for exceptionally meritorious service during its 2021–2022 deployment to the U.S. Central Command area of operations. The event also marked the formal redesignation of the 1‑163rd Cavalry Regiment to the 1‑163rd Infantry Battalion, aligning the unit with evolving Army mission requirements.

Soldiers also took part in a ceremonial repatching, transitioning from the 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team patch to the 1889th Regional Support Group patch — a powerful symbol of the battalion’s new organizational alignment and continued commitment to readiness.

The ceremony included the presentation of the COL Joe Upshaw Leadership Award, recognizing the outstanding leadership of Sgt. Maj. Ronald Kentzel.

For more than 100 years, the 163rd has stood at the center of Montana’s military history — from World War I and World War II to the Global War on Terrorism and, most recently, Operation Spartan Shield. Across generations, these Soldiers have embodied Montana’s legacy of courage, sacrifice, and service.

Congratulations to the Soldiers of the 1‑163rd Infantry Battalion.
Today’s transformation honors your past, strengthens your present, and prepares you for the missions ahead. Montana is proud of you.

🇺🇸 Memorial Day 🇺🇸 Today, the Montana National Guard pauses to honor the Soldiers, Airmen, and service members who gave ...
05/25/2026

🇺🇸 Memorial Day 🇺🇸

Today, the Montana National Guard pauses to honor the Soldiers, Airmen, and service members who gave their lives in defense of our nation. Their courage, their sacrifice, and their unwavering commitment to something greater than themselves will never be forgotten.

Across Montana and across the country, we remember the fallen by living the values they stood for—service, duty, and devotion to one another. We also hold in our hearts the families who carry their legacy forward every day.

Today, we remember. Today, we honor. Today, we reflect.
May we strive to be worthy of the freedoms they secured.

🎖️ Honoring a Combined Legacy of ServiceFriends, family, and fellow Guardsmen gathered at the Missouri River Brewing Com...
05/24/2026

🎖️ Honoring a Combined Legacy of Service

Friends, family, and fellow Guardsmen gathered at the Missouri River Brewing Company’s East Wing on May 10 to celebrate the well‑earned retirements of MSG Daniel Wilmot and 1SG Mark Clayton.

The evening was filled with shared stories, congratulations, and plenty of laughs as we recognized their many years of dedication, leadership, and service to the Montana National Guard.

To MSG Wilmot and 1SG Clayton—thank you for your commitment to our Soldiers, our state, and our nation. Congratulations on your retirement. May the next chapter be as rewarding as the careers you leave behind.

To the Soldiers, Airmen, and Families of the National GuardAs we approach Memorial Day, we pause to honor the quiet cour...
05/22/2026

To the Soldiers, Airmen, and Families of the National Guard

As we approach Memorial Day, we pause to honor the quiet courage of the men and women who gave their last full measure of devotion for our Nation. They are the enduring heroes of the National Guard story, the sentinels of our freedom who serve alongside us in spirit.

This day is a solemn reminder that the shield of freedom is forged in sacrifice. From the fields of Lexington and Concord to the deserts of Iraq and skies over Iran, generations of our Nation’s warfighters have answered the call, knowing the potential cost. They defended not just our soil, but our ideals and very way of life.

As we reflect on their service, we honor our Gold Star and Surviving Families. Their lives are forever shaped by the high cost of freedom. The National Guard family stands with you, today and always. Your resilience, strength, and fortitude are a testament to the character of your loved ones. We share in your grief, and we pledge to honor the memory of our fallen by supporting you and carrying on the mission they so nobly advanced.

Let us channel our gratitude into dedication to the principles for which they fought. Let us live lives worthy of their sacrifice, serving our communities and our Nation with the same honor, integrity, and commitment. On this sacred day, we offer our deepest thanks, and we renew our promise to never forget their names, their valor, or their ultimate sacrifice for our country.

John T. Raines, III Steven S. Nordhaus
Senior Enlisted Advisor, U.S. Army General, U.S. Air Force
Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chief, Chief, National Guard Bureau
National Guard Bureau

Montana Guardsmen Showcase World‑Class MarksmanshipEight of Montana’s top Army and Air National Guard marksmen put their...
05/22/2026

Montana Guardsmen Showcase World‑Class Marksmanship

Eight of Montana’s top Army and Air National Guard marksmen put their skills to the test at the 55th annual Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship in North Little Rock, Arkansas—competing alongside 53 teams from across the nation and several allied partner countries.

Two Montana teams represented the state with exceptional performance, with A Team finishing 7th overall. Individual standouts included Sgt. Johnson placing in the top 10% of the Combat Pistol Excellence Match, strong rifle finishes from Sgt. Slavinsky, and top Novice Class placements from Sgt. Illies and Sgt. Schultz.

This elite competition pushes Soldiers and Airmen through demanding, combat‑realistic marksmanship events—reinforcing readiness, precision, and teamwork at the highest level.

05/21/2026

Every Combat Medic remembers their first 68W War Days.
The early mornings. The weight of the aid bag. The pressure of knowing that every scenario—every scream, every simulated casualty—represents a real moment someone will face downrange.

War Days were created to forge medics who can stay calm in the storm.
You treat under fire. You triage in chaos. You lead when others freeze.
You learn what it means to be the one everyone looks to when things go bad.

It’s tough. It’s gritty. It’s the soul of being a 68W.
And it’s why medics are trusted with the most precious thing on the battlefield: a soldier’s life.

🩸 RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE — JUNE 18, 2026 The need for blood never stops, and neither does our community’s commitment to ...
05/20/2026

🩸 RED CROSS BLOOD DRIVE — JUNE 18, 2026
The need for blood never stops, and neither does our community’s commitment to helping others.

Join us at the Helena Armed Forces Reserve Center on 18 June from 0900–1500 hrs to donate blood and support patients across Montana and beyond.

Making an appointment is quick and helps the Red Cross plan for a full, successful drive.

Schedule your donation by:
📱 Using the Red Cross Blood Donor App
🌐 Visiting www.redcrossblood.org
📞 Calling 1‑800‑REDCROSS (733‑2767)

Every pint saves lives. Let’s fill every slot and show what service looks like—uniform or not.

Today, we proudly recognized the Soldiers of 68W MOS‑T Class 26‑001 as they completed their training and stepped forward...
05/19/2026

Today, we proudly recognized the Soldiers of 68W MOS‑T Class 26‑001 as they completed their training and stepped forward as the Army’s newest combat medics.

This class demonstrated grit, discipline, and an unwavering commitment to the mission. During the ceremony, several Soldiers were honored for their standout performance:

Academic Excellence: SGT Prieto

Sheep Dog Award: SSG Cleary

Blood, Sweat, and Tears: SGT Smith

The Work Horse: SGT Gaub

Satisfactory Medic: SPC Luna

Each award reflects the character, effort, and professionalism these Soldiers brought to the course. Their instructors also shared the long‑standing meaning behind the Satisfactory Medic award—reminding us that in this profession, learning never stops and excellence is a lifelong pursuit.

The ceremony closed with families, friends, and teammates rising together for the Army Song and benediction, celebrating not just graduation, but the beginning of a new chapter of service.

Congratulations to Class 26‑001—Always Ready, Always There.

Address

1956 Mt Majo Drive
Fort Harrison, MT
59636

Telephone

+14063243009

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