MATHER AIR RESERVE BASE, Calif. – Crews from the 129th Rescue Wing, California Air National Guard, were certified to perform water bucket operations here July 2, becoming the only rescue unit in the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard qualified to fight fires.

Once outfitted with the necessary firefighting equipment, the dozers will be strategically placed at the fire site where they are most needed. The dozers will be manned by California National Guard Soldiers from throughout northern California. According to the men who operate the, these heavy machines are capable of doing the work of 150 people.

Once again the California National Guard has been called to action in support of civil authorities. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger called the CNG to duty on June 22, 2008 to assist Cal FIRE in fighting California wild fires. As of June 25, 2008 the CNG has provided 7 helicopters, including a firehawk for aerial fire suppression and two fixed wing aircraft for aerial reconnaissance and fire mapping.

MATHER FIELD, Calif. — The California National Guard (CNG), with support from National Guard equipment and personnel from various other states is currently providing twelve rotary aircraft, eight fixed-wing aircraft, and more than 200 personnel to assist in extinguishing various northern California wildfires today.

The California National Guard is participating in the fight to douse several wildfires in Northern California. Civilian fire crews from all over the Golden State have been called to help while National Guard service members (from as far as North Carolina) have been on the job.

Soldiers from the 160th Range Reconnaissance Detachment and 143rd Field Artillery returned this month from deployments in Iraq. During the deployment they conducted presence patrols, convoy security, detainee processing, and operated various enemy checkpoints. Welcome home!

CalTrans will launch a major reconstruction project on I-5 leading in and out of the downtown Sacramento corridor beginning Friday, May 30. What type of an effect will this have on you if you are heading to the Joint Force Headquarters? Click on this link and find out.

On this edition of the GrizCast, we take you to Mather Field for the annual Capitol Air Show. It's an exclusive look at our aviation assets within the California Army and Air National Guard only on the GrizCast.

The at-a-glance section this month highlights the deployments of the Soldiers and Airmen of the California National Guard since 9-11-2001. While the Army National Guard deploys Soldiers as part of a unit (company, battalion, or brigade) the Air National Guard sends out Airmen as either individual backfills or in small groups.

On this edition of the GrizCast, we take you to the land of the rising sun for Operation North Wind as National Guard units from several states join forces to train with the Japanese. See what role the California National Guard played in this mission.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. - Servicemembers from throughout the state will be present at the 2008 California Military Ball clad in their finest mess dress to celebrate a year of exceptional service to state and country on April 19, 2008.

The following months will be very busy for the California National Guard as we welcome home more than 1,000 Soldiers from one year deployments to Iraq. Additionally, we will bid farewell to more than 2,000 Soldiers and Airmen before the end of the year.