News from the Oklahoma National Guard

OK Airmen join in multinational airborne training
July 26, 2023 — Members of the Oklahoma National Guard's 137th Special Operations Wing joined fellow U.S. military members as well as other national forces including France, Guyana and Mexico, to participate in a static line jump during TRADEWINDS23 Exercise over Air Base London, Guyana, July 18, 2023... MORE

Photo: Tactical Air Control Party specialists with the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma National Guard, conduct a static line jump during TRADEWINDS23 Exercise over Air Base London, Guyana, July 18, 2023. The different training components of the exercise are focused on increasing regional cooperation throughout the Caribbean and Caribbean Basin. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)

OK Air Guard members support arms training with SOUTHCOM multinational partners
July 26, 2023 — Members of the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force and Oklahoma Air National Guard conducted marksmanship training and close quarters battle training with multinational partners as part of TRADEWINDS23 Exercise on July 16, 2023, at Camp Stephenson, Guyana. Mexican Special Operations Forces joined U.S. joint force instructors, where they took part in rifle and pistol marksmanship training. The Mexican forces received refresher training and also increased their pistol and rifle weapons systems skills with new techniques... MORE

Photo: U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Scott Palelei, a tactical air control party specialist with the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, applies a tourniquet to a member of the Guyana Defense Force during tactical combat casualty training held at Camp Seweyo, Guyana, for TRADEWINDS23 Exercise July 16, 2023. TRADEWINDS is initiated and formulated as part of the Caribbean Basin Initiative, which allows participating nations to forge enduring relationships that will improve security capabilities through the exchange of knowledge and expertise. (U.S. Air National Guard photo courtesy of Senior Airman Richie Thammavongsa)

Oklahoma employers experience National Guard training
July 26, 2023 — Civilian employers of Soldiers of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade participated in an Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) "boss lift" at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, June 25, 2023... MORE

Photo of: Civilian employers of Soldiers of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade firing a machine gun.

Oklahoma National Guard Soldier Harnesses Fighting Spirit
July 20, 2023 — An Oklahoma Army National Guard member, Spc. Justin Budd harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way. Battling with anger issues throughout his youth, Budd found purpose in Mixed Martial Arts, enabling him to transform his life. ... MORE

Spc. Justin Budd, a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way.

137th Special Operations Wing supports Tinker Air Show
July 11, 2023 — Members of the 137th Special Operations Wing joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard Recruiting team to share the Wing's history and Oklahoma Air National Guard information with people attending the 2023 Tinker Air Show, July 1-2, 2023... MORE

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at the Tinker Air Show on July 1, 2023, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City. The Blue Angels joined members of the joint and total force at the Tinker Air Show to showcase the diverse aspects of aviation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Erika Chapa)

Oklahoma ANG TACPs support Air Defender 2023
June 30, 2023 — Members of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, Oklahoma National Guard, supported exercise Air Defender 2023, providing joint all-domain command and control to the combined force air component commander June 12-23, 2023, throughout the U.S. European Command area of responsibility... MORE

From right: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Richie Thammavongsa, Staff Sgt. Henry Castagnetta, and Senior Airman Jarret Tyra, all tactical air control party specialists with the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma National Guard, determine the distance to a point using a pocket laser range finder as the team rehearses reconnaissance operations during exercise Air Defender 2023 (AD23) in Germany June 19, 2023. Exercise AD23 is a German-led exercise that integrates both U.S. and Allied air-power to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)

45th FAB Soldiers take on Western Strike 2023
June 29, 2023 — Members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Field Artillery Brigade, along with support elements from 90th Troop Command, contended with the harsh summer elements and forested terrain at Fort Chaffee for exercise Western Strike, June 16-30, 2023... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier with the 45th Field Artillery Brigade, provides security from the turret of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during exercise Western Strike at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, June 21, 2023. Western Strike is a highly immersive and fully instrumented training comparable to a combat training center that aims to prepare units like the 45th FAB for overseas operations. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma state senator joins OKANG
June 26, 2023 — Tom Woods, an Oklahoma state senator, took the oath of enlistment on Monday, June 26, 2023... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Rex Alan Star, left, Arkansas Air National Guard, issues the oath of enlistment to Tom Woods, an Oklahoma state senator, at the Oklahoma State Capitol on June 26, 2023, Oklahoma City. Woods said he enlisted into the Oklahoma ANG for the opportunity to serve more Oklahomans than who he currently serves in his congressional district. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Erika Chapa)

Oklahoma Guardsmen win Cyber Shield; a modern cyber warfare training exercise
June 16, 2023 — With technology continuing to advance at an unprecedented pace along with its associated threats, members of the Oklahoma National Guard joined approximately 800 military and civilian cyber professionals from 35 states, including international partners, for this year’s Cyber Shield, June 2-16. This year's exercise, won by the Oklahoma team for the second year in a row, was centered on critical infrastructure protection, incident response, network defense with a specific tie to U.S. Transportation Systems Sector and other crucial aspects of cybersecurity... MORE

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard cybersecurity team work together to defend networks during Cyber Shield 2023, held at the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, June 10, 2023. With technology continuing to advance at an unprecedented pace along with its associated threats, members of the Oklahoma National Guard joined approximately 800 military and civilian cyber professionals from 35 states, including international partners, for this year’s Cyber Shield, June 2-16, 2023. This year's exercise, won by the Oklahoma team for the second year in a row, was centered on critical infrastructure protection, incident response, network defense with a specific tie to U.S. Transportation Systems Sector and other crucial aspects of cybersecurity. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

1-158th Field Artillery Regiment prepare HIMARS for Western Strike 2023
June 14, 2023 — Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard, had the opportunity to train alongside members of the U.S. Air Force during a Joint Aircraft Inspection and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) training mission at the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, June 14, 2023... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, back a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into a C-17 aircraft in preparation for transport at the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport June 14, 2023. The Soldiers were loading the HIMARS into C-17 aircraft assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing out of Altus Air Force Base as part of a joint exercise to practice the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s skills to rapidly and safely transport the launchers and equipment across large distances. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Caleb Stone)

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Day Four: National Guard Region V Best Warrior Competition

Oklahoma National Guard

May 15, 2025 | 0:45

Video Reel: Sixteen miles. No shortcuts.

Every step tested resolve, but our warriors pressed on through the early morning with grit in their boots. This is what elite looks like.