Santos was not always Sgt. 1st Class Santos. Before the military, he was living out his days as a troubled youth in the streets of Baltimore, where he eventually found himself facing the wrath of a judge.

Article and Photos by Master Sgt. Arthur Wright LAUREL, Md. — Cadets embraced the importance of teamwork and competition during the Battle of the Beltway at the Capital Guardian Youth ChalleNGe Academy in Laurel, Maryland, on June 18, 2024. Teams representing the Maryland Freestate ChalleNGe Academy and the CGYCA competed in five activities for a title and bragging rights.“Nobody understands being a ...

By Capt. Dylan Bradford ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. – Maryland Army National Guard Col. Craig M. Hunter, the adjutant general’s special assistant for strategic initiatives, was promoted to the rank of brigadier general during a ceremony held at the Top of the Bay restaurant, June 15, 2024.   Brig. Gen. Hunter recently transitioned from the District of Columbia Army National Guard to be ...

By 2nd Lt Enjoli Saunders EDGEWOOD, Md. – The Maryland Army National Guard held a civic leader engagement event to enhance awareness and understanding of those leaders about the career opportunities, benefits, and mission of the National Guard at Aberdeen Proving Ground – South, June 12, 2024. The event, hosted at Weide Army Heliport, included a tour of the aviation facility and ...

By Rachel Ponder ABERDEEN PROVING GROUND, Md. — The Harford County Chamber of Commerce hosted the 47th annual Military Appreciation Luncheon at Top of the Bay May 16, 2024. The theme was “APG: An Installation of Choice with a Community that Cares.” Angela Rose, the president and chief executive officer of the Harford County Chamber of Commerce, said 280 people attended, which ...

Story by 2nd Lt Enjoli Saunders REISTERSTOWN, Md. (June 1, 2024) – The Maryland National Guard held their Fallen Warrior Memorial ceremony with a wreath-laying today at Camp Fretterd Military Reservation to honor the Maryland Army National Soldiers who have died during the Global War on Terrorism. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Janeen Birckhead, the adjutant general of Maryland, U.S. Army Brig. ...

By Philip Regina A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland Army National Guard, teaches basic rifle marksmanship to members of the Ghana Armed Forces for grouping and zeroing on the range in Domongo, Ghana, May 21, 2024. This range day was held during exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) and showcased multinational partnership and willingness to share ...

Story by Nicholas J. De La Pena DODJI, Senegal — After more than six years, Maryland National Guardsman Spc. Djibril Diop, a 92Y Supply Specialist with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, returned to his native country to provide critical support and help bridge cultural gaps with partner-led training activities in support of Exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24). Growing ...

A 1st Battalion, 175th Infantry Regiment, Maryland National Guard Soldier fist bumps with a Senegalese soldier during a dry-fire situational training exercise (STX) lane led by U.S. and the Netherlands Armed Forces, a NATO ally, as part of exercise African Lion 2024 (AL24) in Dodji, Senegal, May 22, 2024. The STX lanes were designed to simulate a search and attack ...

By Tech. Sgt. Mercedee Wilds, United States Air Forces Central UNDISCLOSED LOCATION – U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 335th Fighter Squadron at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in North Carolina and U.S. Air Force A-10 Thunderbolt IIs from the 104th Fighter Squadron, assigned to the Maryland Air National Guard, and support personnel participated in Desert Flag 2024. They joined ...