Every Friday, across towns, cities, schools, and workplaces, Americans wear red—not for fashion, but for purpose. RED Friday stands for Remember Everyone Deployed, a nationwide movement encouraging citizens to honor and show visible support for U.S. service members deployed overseas. As we head into this RED Friday, let’s take a moment to truly understand what it means to wear red and why it matters now more than ever.
Why RED Friday Matters
More than a symbolic gesture, RED Friday connects Americans at home to those who serve abroad—often in dangerous, isolated, and demanding environments. While we enjoy the comfort of our daily routines, thousands of U.S. military personnel are stationed in places far from home, separated from their families for months or even years. They miss birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, and everyday moments most of us take for granted.
RED Friday is a simple yet powerful way to say, “You are not forgotten.”
Who We’re Supporting Right Now
In April 2025 alone, thousands of U.S. troops are currently forward-deployed:
- The Michigan Army National Guard’s 1171st Medical Company is now operating in the Middle East as part of Operation Inherent Resolve. These 70 Soldiers provide lifesaving medical support and emergency care under combat conditions.
- Over 200 Airmen from Vermont’s 158th Fighter Wing recently returned from Japan after completing a multi-month rotation to support regional security in the Indo-Pacific. Their mission involved F-35 operations, tactical training, and strengthening international partnerships.
- Other units across the country continue to prepare for deployments in support of global defense operations. From logistics and aviation to infantry and cyber defense, their missions vary—but their sacrifice is the same.
Wearing red on Friday tells these men and women, and their families, that we see their service and we appreciate their courage.
Don’t Forget the Families
Behind every deployed service member is a family quietly serving in their own way. Spouses are raising children alone, parents are living with constant worry, and kids are going to bed missing someone they love. RED Friday is also a reminder to support military families who carry an incredible emotional and practical load while their loved ones are away.
Communities can support them by offering childcare, helping with errands, or simply checking in. Local veterans organizations, churches, and neighborhood groups can also make a huge difference. But sometimes, all it takes is awareness—and RED Friday helps bring that awareness to life.
How You Can Take Action
Wearing red is easy. It costs nothing. But it means everything to someone thousands of miles away. Here’s how you can take RED Friday from a color choice to a commitment:
- Wear red every Friday – whether it’s a shirt, hat, ribbon, or uniform, make it visible and make it consistent.
- Educate others – share why you wear red on social media, at work, or at school.
- Support military families – find a way to volunteer or donate to reputable organizations that assist them.
- Send care packages or letters – a simple message of encouragement can brighten a deployed service member’s day.
- Talk to your kids – explain why wearing red matters, and raise a new generation of Americans who value military service.
A Weekly Commitment to Gratitude
The world remains unpredictable. Our armed forces continue to be called upon to protect American interests and values around the globe. While they shoulder that burden, we can shoulder a little of their weight by standing in solidarity each week.
Let this Friday be more than the end of the workweek. Let it be a visible, united reminder that we remember. Let it be a message to every deployed American that their sacrifice is not invisible. Let it be RED Friday.
Keywords: RED Friday, Remember Everyone Deployed, support deployed troops, April 2025, Operation Inherent Resolve, Michigan Army National Guard, Vermont Air National Guard, 1171st Medical Company, 158th Fighter Wing, support military families, wear red Fridays, support our troops, U.S. military deployments
Virginia Army National Guard and Tajik Forces Sharpen Close-Quarters Battle Skills in Dushanbe Training Exchange
25 April 2025
In April 2025, four Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard traveled to Dushanbe, Tajikistan, to lead a five-day close-quarters battle (CQB) training exchange with Tajik security forces. The event, conducted April 7–11, focused on small-unit tactics in urban environments, building on a decades-long partnership between Virginia and Tajikistan through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program (SPP).
The participating U.S. Soldiers were assigned to the 1st Battalion, 183rd Regiment, Regional Training Institute, based at Fort Barfoot, Virginia. All four had prior experience as military instructors, and several had completed combat deployments in Iraq or Afghanistan.
Tajik participants included soldiers from the Ministry of Defense and the National Guard of Tajikistan. The training sessions focused on entering and clearing buildings, room-to-room movement, communication under fire, and target identification in high-stress environments. Training took place in a specialized CQB facility in Dushanbe, where Soldiers conducted hands-on drills and practical application exercises.
Staff Sgt. Benjamin Donovan, one of the Virginia instructors, emphasized that the training was based on proven U.S. Army doctrine but adapted to accommodate Tajik operational environments. The exchange also allowed Tajik forces to demonstrate their own tactics, creating a two-way learning environment.
This event was part of a larger slate of ongoing exchanges between Virginia and Tajikistan. In February 2025, Virginia National Guard leadership teams conducted a noncommissioned officer development and leadership training exchange. Future plans include hosting Tajik military personnel in Virginia later in 2025.
Virginia and Tajikistan have worked together through the SPP since 2003, completing more than 200 engagements. The program is designed to build enduring relationships, enhance military readiness, and support global security cooperation.
Michigan National Guard’s 1171st Medical Company Deploys to Middle East for Operation Inherent Resolve
On April 19, 2025, 70 Soldiers from the Michigan Army National Guard’s 1171st Medical Company (Area Support) gathered at Washtenaw Community College in Ann Arbor for a formal departure ceremony. The unit is deploying to the Middle East to support Operation Inherent Resolve, the U.S. mission focused on defeating ISIS and stabilizing the region.
Based in Ypsilanti, the 1171st Medical Company specializes in Role 2 medical care—providing trauma stabilization, emergency medical treatment, and patient evacuation in operational environments. During their deployment, Soldiers will deliver medical support to U.S. and coalition forces throughout Iraq and Syria under the direction of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM).
This is the unit’s first overseas mission since their 2019 deployment to Poland in support of U.S. European Command.
Michigan Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II addressed the Soldiers and their families at the send-off ceremony. He thanked them for their service and acknowledged the strength and support of the families standing behind each deploying Soldier. The ceremony also included remarks from military leadership and local officials, reinforcing the community’s support for the Guard members.
The deployment is part of the Michigan National Guard’s continued role in overseas operations, strengthening military readiness and contributing to global stability efforts.
Vermont Air National Guard Airmen Return from Japan Deployment Supporting Indo-Pacific Operations
On April 22, 2025, more than 200 Airmen from the Vermont Air National Guard’s 158th Fighter Wing returned home to South Burlington after a months-long deployment to Kadena Air Base in Japan. The mission, which began in January, was part of a scheduled rotation to support Indo-Pacific Command operations and enhance regional stability.
While deployed, the Airmen were assigned to the 134th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and brought with them F-35A Lightning II aircraft and support equipment. The mission focused on joint training, strengthening interoperability with allies, and maintaining a steady U.S. fighter presence in the Indo-Pacific region.
The deployment included participation in multiple exercises to reinforce readiness, tactical proficiency, and collaboration with regional partners. These efforts aligned with broader U.S. Air Force objectives in the region and supported ongoing modernization initiatives.
Family members and fellow service members gathered to welcome the Airmen home at the Vermont Air National Guard Base. Their return marks the successful conclusion of another critical overseas mission by the 158th Fighter Wing.
The Vermont Air National Guard remains a key contributor to national defense, actively participating in global operations and standing ready to respond wherever needed.
