Daniel Hokanson

Task force studies ways to expand National Guard health care coverage

Efforts by the National Guard to get better healthcare coverage have yet to find a path forward to success.

Defense

New Jersey National Guard/Master Sgt. Matt Hecht

National Guard recruitment challenges grow over refusals to comply with COVID vaccine mandate

Hiring/Retention

FILE - This Aug. 18, 2010, file photo shows California National Guard troops, who are part of Task Force Sierra, deployed at the border along with Border Patrol Agents near the California/Mexico border in San Diego. California Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday, Sept. 28, 2018, extended the state National Guard's participation in President Donald Trump's border deployment by six months, a low-key announcement that was made without any of the acrimony that characterized his early negotiations with the federal government. The California National Guard said in a press release that the mission will now run until the end of March 2019. (John Gibbins/The San Diego Union-Tribune via AP, File)

National Guard’s hybrid status makes sexual assault confusing to prosecute

Defense

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In this file photo from Wednesday, March 3, 2021, members of the Michigan National Guard join the U.S. Capitol Police to keep watch over the Capitol grounds in Washington, in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection by a mob loyal to former President Donald Trump. The Guard mission is ending as Democrats and Republicans spar over whether to form an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the attack that sought to overturn Trump's loss to Joe Biden. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

National Guard readies severe budget measures to cover this year’s Capitol security costs

DoD Reporter's Notebook

(AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

In this file photo from Wednesday, March 3, 2021, members of the Michigan National Guard join the U.S. Capitol Police to keep watch over the Capitol grounds in Washington, in the wake of the Jan. 6 insurrection by a mob loyal to former President Donald Trump. The Guard mission is ending as Democrats and Republicans spar over whether to form an independent bipartisan commission to investigate the attack that sought to overturn Trump's loss to Joe Biden. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, file)

National Guard in need of supplemental funds to conduct summer training

Defense

(2d Cavalry Regiment/1st Lt. Ellen Brabo)

Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2d Cavalry Regiment prepare for departure aboard an aircraft at the Nuremberg Airport, Germany, July 26, 2018. 3/2CR is en route to Georgia to participate in Noble Partner 18 - a Georgian Armed Forces and U.S. Army Europe cooperatively-led exercise in its fourth iteration. The exercise is intended to support and enhance the readiness and interoperability of Georgia, the U.S. and participating nations during a multinational training operation. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Ellen C. Brabo)

Pentagon preparing sole-source contract to replace Defense Travel System

DoD Reporter's Notebook

(AP Photo/Alex Brandon)

Space National Guard plan nearing completion, Guard chief says

Space Operations

FILE - In this March 19, 2020, file photo, President Donald Trump attends a teleconference with governors at the Federal Emergency Management Agency headquarters, Thursday, March 19, 2020, in Washington. From left, Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar, Trump, Vice President Mike Pence, Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf, White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx and Adm. Brett Giroir, assistant secretary for health. There’s the standard process for getting urgently needed coronavirus equipment: send a request to FEMA. Then there’s the other way: have a buddy who can pick up the phone and call the Trump White House. Trump’s team has proudly recounted instances where a call to the White House has produced fast results for those who have an in with the president. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci, Poolm, File)

Senate, House Democrats blast FEMA for unfilled positions

Federal Newscast