noodls browser compatibility check

The security settings of your browser are blocking the execution of scripts.

To use noodls, javascript support must be enabled. Please change your browser's security settings to enable javascript.

If you have changed your browser's security settings, you can click here.

related announcements

News

United States Attorney's Office[...]

Mexican National Unlawfully Residing in the United States Accused of[...]
American Cancer Society

High Cancer Burden Shifted From Urban to Rural Areas and Gap Widening
City of Tucson, AZ

Fourth Ave Street Fair: Streetcar Rides & Service Impacts!

International News

The United States Army

03/18/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 03/18/2026 17:04

Arizona National Guard sharpens lethality, boosts joint readiness

1 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Air National Guard Airman 1st Class Jonathan Flores, a Defender from the 162nd Wing Security Forces Squadron, waits for instruction during The Adjutant General's Match at Florence Training Site, Ariz., March 13, 2026. The event prepares Airmen for the demands of Agile Combat Employment, where they must operate in austere environments alongside personnel from sister services. (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Guadalupe Beltran) VIEW ORIGINAL 2 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. service members prepare by loading magazines during The Adjutant General's Match at Florence Training Site, Ariz., Mar. 13, 2026. The annual event tested individual and team marksmanship skills across multiple weapons systems to enhance combat proficiency and joint-force interoperability. (Photo Credit: Staff Sgt. Guadalupe Beltran) VIEW ORIGINAL 3 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the Arizona National Guard return to the firing line after annotating the adjustments they need to make on their M4 rifles during the zeroing portion of the annual Adjutant General Match, at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 14, 2026. Mastery of weapons systems ensures that Arizona National Guard service members are combat-ready and able to adapt to any situation on the battlefield. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL 4 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army National Guard 1st Sgt. Benjamin Mason, assigned to the Arizona Training Center, Arizona National Guard, fires his M4 rifle during the annual Adjutant General Match at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 13, 2026. Mastery of weapons systems ensures that Arizona National Guard service members are combat-ready and able to adapt to any situation on the battlefield. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL 5 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Jamie Gutierrez, a Defender with the 162nd Wing Security Forces Squadron, stands ready to compete in the pistol excellence in competition event during the annual Adjutant General Match, at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 13, 2026. Through rigorous training and competition across multiple weapons systems, Arizona National Guard Service Members enhance their operational capacity, contributing to their role as a proven, agile, and deployable force. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL 6 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Air National Guard Senior Airman Tyler Mariano, a Defender assigned to the 162nd Wing Security Forces Squadron, fires his M17 pistol during a speed accuracy event at the annual Adjutant General Match at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 14, 2026. The TAG Match reinforces the Arizona National Guard's commitment to maintaining a combat-proven, agile, and lethal force prepared for any mission at home or overseas. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL 7 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Main shoots his M17 Pistol during a timed accuracy event at the annual Adjutant General Match, at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 14, 2026. The skills utilized in the TAG Match are essential for maintaining high levels of lethality and combat readiness, and help ensure that Arizona National Guard service members are prepared for any mission at home or overseas. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL 8 / 8 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 1-158th Infantry Regiment, Arizona National Guard, gather for a photo with their awarded plaques from the annual Adjutant General Match, at Florence Military Reservation, Ariz., Mar. 15, 2026. The TAG Match features individual and team events in which service members build lethality through speed drills and timed shooting scenarios that simulate combat conditions, reinforcing the Arizona National Guard's commitment to maintaining a lethal, combat-ready force. (Photo Credit: Sgt. Samantha Hill) VIEW ORIGINAL

FLORENCE, Ariz. - More than 20 teams from the Arizona Army and Air National Guard, joined by civilian partners from the Arizona Department of Emergency and Military Affairs, participated in the 2026 Adjutant General's Match March 13-15 at Florence Training Site.

The annual event tested individual and team marksmanship across multiple weapons systems to sharpen combat proficiency and strengthen joint-force interoperability. The training supports the Arizona National Guard's dual mission of providing ready forces for state emergencies while serving as an operational reserve for the U.S. military. The warfighting skills honed during the competition are essential whether service members are called to defend the homeland or deploy overseas.

For Soldiers, competing alongside Airmen offers a valuable perspective on the integrated nature of the Total Force, a key element of success in large-scale combat operations. It demonstrates how ground operations are enabled by synchronized effects from airpower and other domains. This joint environment helps sharpen individual lethality and build the interoperability needed to defeat a near-peer adversary.

"I think it's important to train with our sister services because it gives us the hands-on experience needed to be a fully integrated force," said U.S. Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Gregory Main, readiness noncommissioned officer for Detachment 1, B Company, 640th Aviation Support Battalion. "You end up connecting with people from different areas that you normally wouldn't see when you come to drill."

The event also prepares Airmen for the demands of Agile Combat Employment, where they must be ready to operate in austere environments alongside sister services. Small-arms proficiency is a key component of the mission-ready Airman concept, ensuring that Airmen can protect personnel and assets in contested environments. Training alongside Soldiers adds real-world context while strengthening the trust and procedural knowledge required for joint operations.

"I'm incredibly grateful to be able to represent the 162nd Wing. The team has given me the opportunity to develop my combat marksmanship skills, and being able to test those skills with our joint partners is always a blast," said Air National Guard Master Sgt. Aaron Phillips, rifle squad leader. "As enlisted aircrew, these unique training opportunities are irreplaceable, giving me better perspective to help support the troops on the ground in my primary job."

The TAG Match serves as a model for building the warfighter culture of the future. While top shooters are identified for national competitions and earn prestigious awards such as the Governor's Dozen, the greater victory is the force's enhanced readiness as a whole. By supporting continued joint training, the Arizona National Guard ensures Soldiers and Airmen are prepared to integrate and win as part of the Total Force.

"This competition is the very essence of our 'Ready Today, Stronger Tomorrow' priority. It's where the fundamentals of lethality and readiness are forged under pressure," said Brig. Gen. John Conley, Arizona adjutant general. "Seeing our Airmen and Soldiers competing shoulder to shoulder reinforces the joint-force mindset that is critical to meeting our combat readiness objectives. Each competitor's dedication proves that the Arizona National Guard is a prepared, professional and formidable force, ready to defend the homeland and support missions in any environment."

As a state entity, the Arizona National Guard provides trained personnel to respond to local emergencies and support civil authorities. As a federal reserve component of the U.S. military, it provides combat-ready forces for national defense objectives.