Rhode Island National Guard

Members of the 1st Battalion, 103d Field Artillery Regiment (FAR), held a change of responsibility ceremony, bidding farewell to the outgoing command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Roberto Matos, and welcoming the incoming command sergeant major, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Dupuis. Following the ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Matos was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for exceptional service, serving as the command sergeant major of the 1-103d FAR from October 2019 to March 2026. He was also presented a gift on behalf of the Soldiers, noncommissioned officers and officers of the regiment.

Congratulations to Command Sgt. Maj. Matos on a distinguished tenure. Thank you for your dedication to the Soldiers of the 1-103d FAR. Congratulations to Command Sgt. Maj. Dupuis as he assumes responsibility as the 1-103d FAR's senior enlisted leader. The Soldiers of the 1-103d FAR look forward to his leadership as the regiment continues its proud tradition of service and readiness.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Terry Rajsombath)

Soldiers of the 115th Military Police Company conduct Combat Water Survival Test (CWST) at the Chase Athletic Center, Bryant University. The training consists of three training stations: equipment removal, high-platform water entry, and a 15-meter swim while carrying a weapon and wearing a load bearing vest. Each event tests the Soldiers’ ability to remain calm, overcome obstacles and properly react in open water.

Through CWST, Soldiers of the 115th are better equipped to respond decisively to unexpected challenges. They enhance their resiliency and readiness to accomplish the mission in high-stress environments.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Terry Rajsombath)

📸 Click the link to see more photos: 200464993@N06/albums/72177720334054192" rel="ugc" target="_blank">https://www.flickr.com/photos/200464993@N06/albums/72177720334054192

Congratulations to 1st Lt. Marc Boyd on being named a Providence Business News 2026 "40 Under Forty" honoree!

Boyd serves as the 143d Airlift Wing Director of Equal Opportunity and Public Affairs Officer. In his role, he helps strengthen our Wing by fostering a culture of dignity and respect while also sharing the stories of our Airmen and the missions they perform in service to Rhode Island and the nation.

This recognition reflects his commitment to leadership, service and excellence both in and out of uniform.

Please join us in congratulating 1st Lt. Boyd on this outstanding achievement and well-deserved honor.

According to reports, when Hasbro relaunched G.I. Joe in the 1980s, the company worked with the Rhode Island National Guard to help ensure the uniforms, vehicles, and military equipment looked authentic.

Hasbro, founded in Rhode Island, was creating a new generation of American heroes, while the RING continued to serve their communities, state, and nation.

For generations of kids, G.I. Joe represented courage, teamwork, and service. Few may realize that a small piece of that iconic franchise may have been shaped right here in the Ocean State.

Knowing is half the battle and the Rhode Island National Guard has been part of the story all along.

G.I. Joe's '80s Relaunch Involved A Special Arrangement With The National Guard

The Generals Cup is coming to Centerville Stadium on Sept. 19, and RING Army and Air Force teams are looking for service members interested in competing in this year's rivalry match.

This is your opportunity to connect with fellow service members, challenge yourself, and represent your branch in a fun and competitive environment. Lace up your boots. Wear your branch's colors. Be part of the team.

Contact the tryout representatives listed below for information on upcoming tryouts.

On May 25, 2026, Major General Andrew J. Chevalier, The Adjutant General, joined Governor Daniel J. McKee, service members, veterans, and Gold Star families at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery to honor the brave men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation during the state’s Memorial Day ceremony.

The ceremony, accompanied by the music of the “Governor’s Own” 88th Army Band, paid tribute to the courage, sacrifice, and enduring legacy of America’s fallen heroes as Rhode Islanders gathered in remembrance and gratitude.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Capt. Alexandra Curtis)

This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the men and women who gave their lives in service to our nation.

Across nearly four centuries, Rhode Islanders have answered the call in every generation. Some never came home.

Today, we stand with them. We speak their names. We remember their sacrifice. And we recommit ourselves to the duty they carried before us.

We are forever grateful.

We will never forget.

Memorial Day 2020 Tribute Capt. Mark Incze, a visual information specialist assigned to the R...

This Memorial Day, we remember and honor fallen Rhode Island service members at the annual Garden of Heroes wreath laying ceremony in Providence, R.I. Rhode Island Governor Dan McKee, joined by a Gold Star family member, lay wreaths as Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Chevalier reads the names of those who made the ultimate sacrifice in the Global War on Terrorism since September 11, 2001.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Rachel List)

Rhode Island National Guard Adds Norwegian Foot March to Best Warrior Competition

Story by Staff Sgt. Rachel List

EAST GREENWICH, R.I. — The Rhode Island National Guard's Best Warrior Competition expanded this year with the addition of the Norwegian Foot March, an internationally recognized military endurance event that challenges service members to complete an 18.6-mile march carrying a 24-pound rucksack within a strict time standard.
Rhode Island hosted the event, and featured it in the competition, for the first time. Sgt. Maj. Brian Lancey, G3 operations sergeant major at Rhode Island Joint Force Headquarters, organized the event and said the decision came down to two things: growing the competition and giving every participant something to take home.
"I'm trying to make it more enticing for people to want to do it," Lancey said. "And even if you didn't win Best Warrior, if you completed the march, you still have a badge you can wear."
Soldiers who finished the course within the required time standard earned the Norwegian Foot March medal, a decoration authorized for wear on the Army dress uniform. Lancey coordinated the award process directly with the Norwegian Embassy, submitting a packet that detailed the event's safety measures and logistics. The embassy approved the packet on the first submission.
"The embassy said, 'Great packet, great product, go ahead and do it,'" Lancey said. "Now that the march is done, I’ll send more paperwork to the embassy and they will send me the certificates."
Lancey noted that opportunities to earn foreign military badges are rare for Rhode Island Guardsmen. Prior to this year, the most common path was through airborne operations with a foreign jumpmaster. He sees the Norwegian Foot March as a way to expand those opportunities.
"People underestimate a little award you can put on your uniform," Lancey said. "It's a motivation tactic."
The Best Warrior Competition has no mandated event list, giving organizers the flexibility to build their own lineups. Lancey said he keeps his selections focused.
"I try to keep it all combat-related," he said.
Lancey had considered including the march in Rhode Island's upcoming regional Best Warrior Competition, but the event's weather restrictions made a June event too uncertain. The march cannot be conducted when temperatures exceed 77 degrees Fahrenheit.
"Depending on the weather in June, it might exceed that," Lancey said. "I don't want someone to attempt or complete it and then not get qualified."
Lancey expects the Norwegian Foot March to become a regular part of Rhode Island's Best Warrior Competition and is exploring ways to open it to soldiers outside the competition as well.
"Some people are super squared away but might not want to partake in Best Warrior," Lancey said. "They could still do the foot march."
Adding the Norwegian Foot March significantly raises the physical and mental bar for Rhode Island’s Best Warrior Competition.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Noah Moroski)

The Rhode Island National Guard hosts a promotion ceremony for its newest Chief Warrant Officer 5, CW5 Jacob Smith, at Joint Force Headquarters, Camp Fogarty, East Greenwich, Rhode Island, Thursday, May 21, 2026. CW5 Smith has served in the RI National Guard for 26 years and currently serves as the AGR Branch Manager. The ceremony was hosted by Maj. Gen. Andrew Chevalier, the Adjutant General, and attended by CW5 Smith's family, friends, and dozens of his uniformed friends and colleagues.

(U.S. Army National Guard photos by Maj. Mark Incze)