News from the Oklahoma National Guard

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)

Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers begin Innovative Readiness Training mission in Hawaii
June 12, 2023 — More than 30 Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers assigned to the 3120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, arrived at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, June 11, where for the next few weeks they will be renovating the Girl Scouts of Hawaii’s Camp Kilohana... MORE

Sgt. Hunter Konemann, a Mustang, Oklahoma resident serving as a carpentry and masonry specialist with the 3120th Engineer Support Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, builds support beams for a deck at the Girl Scouts of Hawaii's Camp Kilohana near Pahokuloa Training Area, Hawaii, June 14, 2023.

The Soldiers of the 3120th ESC are taking part in an Innovative Readiness Training program to improve their skills as Army engineers while providing the Girl Scout camp with improvements. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Task Force Tomahawk arrives in Africa, assumes responsibility of crisis response mission
June 7, 2023 — Task Force Tomahawk, comprised of Citizen-Soldiers from the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, has successfully arrived in Africa, marking a significant milestone in America's ongoing commitment to protect and support its personnel and facilities across the continent... MORE

Lt. Col. Brent Weece, commander, Task Force Tomahawk, shakes hands with the commander of Task Force Wolfhound, New York National Guard, during the transfer of authority ceremony between the two units at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 3, 2023. (photo provided by Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa)

219th Engineering Installation Squadron Stays Mission Ready With Tower Rescue Training
June 6, 2023 — The 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, 138th Fighter Wing recently conducted tower rescue training, a crucial aspect of their mission preparedness... MORE

Airman 1st Class Gregory Crowder and Joe Kuhn, 219th Engineering Installation Squadron cable and antenna systems technicianans, right, climb up an antenna tower during tower rescue training at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., June 3, 2023. The training simulates a scenario where an Airmen would pass out while still attached to the tower, requiring their wingmen on the ground to pull them away from the tower as they are lowered to safety. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Airman 1st Class Addison Barnes)

137th SOW Airmen unite for wing change of command
June 4, 2023 — Nearly 1,200 Airmen gathered for a change of command ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City June 3, 2023. Col. Christopher Gries, 137th SOW outgoing commander, passed the authorities and responsibilities of the wing to the 19th and current wing commander Col. Jason Davis... MORE

a crowd of airmen stand in orderly formation for a change of command

137th SOCF redesignated as squadron
May 31, 2023 — The 137th Special Operations Communications Flight was redesignated as a squadron May 7, 2023, during a ceremony held at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City... MORE

two people hold out guidons during a ceremony with onlookers

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Oklahoma National Guard, OK-TF1 and special operations partner for helocast training

Oklahoma National Guard

July 23, 2025 | 1:16

Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen with 1st Battalion, 244th Aviation Regiment, partnered with Oklahoma Task Force 1 and members of the U.S. Air Force’s 9th Air Support Operations Squadron from Fort Hood, Texas, to conduct helocast training at Camp Gruber Training Center, July 23, 2025. The joint training event, part of helocast certification requirements, utilized a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to execute water insertion techniques critical for rapid infiltration operations.