As 2012 comes to a close, the National Guard was kept busy throughout the year with its fair share of natural disasters to contend with including battling raging wildfires, picking up the pieces after multiple tornadoes and evacuating citizens in the wake of two hurricanes.

When springtime tornadoes affected 10 Midwest and southern states in three days, the National Guard provided search and rescue operations, debris removal, traffic control points and presence patrols within hours after the severe weather.

As 2012 comes to a close, the National Guard was kept busy throughout the year with its fair share of natural disasters to contend with including battling raging wildfires, picking up the pieces after multiple tornadoes and evacuating citizens in the wake of two hurricanes.

When springtime tornadoes affected 10 Midwest and southern states in three days, the National Guard provided search and rescue operations, debris removal, traffic control points and presence patrols within hours after the severe weather.

A Reservist assigned to the 920th Rescue Wing here found himself in not one, but two life-saving situations during flights to and from his November unit training assembly .

Col. (Dr.) Lewis D. Neace, the 920th Aeromedical Staging Squadron commander, was called to action during the flight from Portland, Ore., Nov. 1. About an hour after takeoff, a call came over the intercom asking if there were any medical personnel on board.

Frequent, tough, realistic training helps maintain the prowess demanded of America’s expeditionary force in readiness. Marine Transport Squadron 1’s search and rescue members train as often as two or three times a day to be ready in case they have to jump into action.

The warfighter who carries up to 100 pounds of equipment on his back is expected to get relief from the cumbersome weight, officials at the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency say.

It’s not just any robot. DARPA’s semiautonomous Legged Squad Support System -- also known as the LS3 -- will carry 400 pounds of warfighter equipment, walk 20 miles at a time, and act as an auxiliary power source for troops to recharge batteries for radios and handheld devices while on patrol.

Legacy of valor -- its part of the Airman's Creed, and it's a focus of numerous movie plots but have you really thought about its meaning?

When I think of the legacy of valor, I think of times long ago and missions other people do.

Gen. Mark Welsh, our new Air Force Chief of Staff, gave a speech at the U.S. Air Force Academy last November. I highly encourage you to look it up on You Tube. He spoke to the young cadets about the heritage of the Air Force and the legacy of valor many unknown cadets have left in past history.

The New York Army National Guard's Honor Guard will perform about 10,200 military funerals by the time 2012 ends at midnight, Dec. 31.

This is 500 fewer than the 10,752 military funerals the Honor Guard conducted in during 2011, but isn't unexpected, said Honor Guard Coordinator Don Roy.

The number of World War II veterans whose families were taking advantage of the Honor Guard services peaked a couple of years ago, Roy explained. So the overall number of funerals for that era's veterans is declining.

Down the ramp and below decks, over hurdles of Humvees, boxes, and stockpiles of Marine equipment, lies a small community set in a place not often visited by Sailors and Marines.

Assault Craft Unit (ACU) 1 is comprised of four utility landing craft (LCU), neatly stowed in the belly of amphibious assault ship USS Peleliu's (LHA 5) well deck. The total crew amounts to approximately 50 Sailors who eat, sleep, and work aboard the small vessels.

The windows fogged up, rain fell down, and their bodies fought to stay warm, but the Marines pushed through these conditions and watched the road ahead – prepared for any situation.

Approximately 50 Marines with Combat Logistics Battalion 6, Combat Logistics Regiment 27, 2nd Marine Logistics Group conducted deployment situations during a field exercise from Dec. 11 to 13.