Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel    
    
        Special Victims Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 Download
 Details
 Share
 NEWS
 California Army Guard Brigade Works 24/7 to Defend Nation By David Loeffler,
                California National Guard
 VANDENBERG SPACE FORCE BASE, Calif. - Seven California Army National Guard members of Detachment 1, 100th Missile Defense Brigade, epitomize the National Guard’s motto, “Always ready, always there.” The detachment, located in a windowless, nondescript building in a remote area, operates the Ground Missile Defense launch facilities and equipment to support the Missile Defense Element and Fire Direction Center. Their mission, described as shooting a bullet with a bullet, is to intercept and destroy incoming ordnance, such as International Continental Ballistic Missiles from adversarial nations. Although limited by size, the Soldiers of Detachment 1 can provide 24/7 monitoring, saving and enabling of ordnance chains to deliver Interceptors to the Fire Direction Center. All Soldiers of the unit are members of the California Army National Guard. On Dec. 11, the Soldiers demonstrated their capabilities by launching a Ground-Based Interceptor missile from Vandenberg SFB that intercepted and destroyed a simulated missile attack. The test target was an Intermediate Range Ballistic Missile, or IRBM, launched from a C-17 Globemaster III aircraft northwest of the Pacific Missile Range Facility, Hawaii. This successful “bullet hitting a bullet” took place in space, mere moments after the missile was launched from over 5,000 miles away. “Three hundred defending 300 million is a phrase used to describe the mission of the 100th Missile Defense Brigade,” said Army Capt. Scott Hoffman, 100th MDB Detachment 1 commander. “The defenders of Det. 1 here at Vandenberg, who are California National Guardsmen, the Colorado National Guardsmen of the 100th MDB, and Alaskan National Guardsmen at Fort Greely, make up roughly 300 Soldiers that make up the Ground Missile Defense mission that provide stability and certainty that the national security is protected." Hoffman, a former enlisted Soldier, has served on the Ground Missile Defense mission in all three states. He describes his team as dedicated professionals who are always up to the job. “Det. 1 is manned by California Army National Guard Soldiers,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Orellano, one of the few enlisted members who has served in each of the tristate missions. “Not all of the team members originated from California. Many came from other states to perform the mission and meet the operational needs of the unit. I’m very proud of this team because we do a 24/7-365 mission, and they meet that mission despite the challenges. If I had a message to the American public, it would be that they can rest assured that the homeland will be defended.”
 SHARE
 PRINT
  California National Guard
 Missile Defense
 Vandenburg Space Force Base
 ICBMs
 Alaska National Guard
 Colorado National Guard
 
 Guard Employs AI to Battle Wildfires, Improve Disaster Response
 By Master Sgt. Erich Smith,
  The Hometown Heroes of Tower 22
 By Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely,
  Southern Strike Joint Combat Exercise Concludes in Mississippi
 By 2nd Lt. Harrison Matheny,
  More
 Louisiana National Guard Engineers Prepare for Deployment4/20/2024168th Wing Enables Fighter Support over Pacific for Agile Reaper4/19/2024Army Guard Elevates Disaster Response with UAS Training4/18/2024 View more Guard News »
 Pennsylvania National Guard Members Deploy to Africa4/19/2024
US, Canadian Special Forces Forge Partnerships in Jamaica4/8/2024
Deployed Pennsylvania Guard Soldiers Earn Their Combat Patch3/27/2024 View more Overseas Operations News »
 Wisconsin Air Guard Trains with Papua New Guinea Partners4/19/2024

West Virginia Guard Expands International Partnerships4/16/2024

Maryland Guard, Bosnia and Herzegovina Conduct JTAC Training4/12/2024 View more State Partnership Program News »
 Back-to-school tools for military families8/11/2015DoD sends blended military retirement proposal to Congress6/16/2015First employment symposium held for National Guard spouses5/11/2015 View more Family Programs News »
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil