News from the Oklahoma National Guard

TF Tomahawk finishes post mobilization training, departs overseas
May 22, 2023 — Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard, including Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, Col. Brad Carter, Col. Andrew Ballenger and Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez, bid farewell to members of Task Force Tomahawk as they officially depart overseas to the Horn of Africa... MORE

Oklahoma NG hosts Wellness Day event
May 17, 2023 — As part of the Oklahoma National Guard's marking of Mental Health Awareness Month, members of the OKNG attended the annual Wellness Day event in Norman, Oklahoma, on May 9, 2023.The event brought together members of the Army and Air National Guard, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration and learning. The focus of the day was centered... MORE

Col. Lindy I. White, divison chief, health and wellness, delivers opening remarks during the Oklahoma National Guard Health and Wellness Event at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Norman, Okla., 09 May, 2023. The health and wellness event focused on the five pillars of health; physical, occupational, social, spiritual and financial wellness. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Brig. Gen. Harrison retires
May 11, 2023 — Brigadier General Harrison hung up his uniform on May 6, 2023, after a moving retirement ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, after 39 years of service... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Brig. Gen. Jon Harrison, former assistant adjutant general, pose at Harrison’s retirement ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, May 6, 2023. Harrison built a distinguished career over the course of 39 years and earned many awards for his service, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

146th ASOS trains under new mission set
May 10, 2023 — Tactical air control party specialists with the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron performed familiarization training for a new career field mission set at Fort Sill, Okla., May 10, 2023. The TACP Airmen conducted land navigation across rugged terrain to a broad area of land where they performed reconnaissance operations that would help develop intelligence on strategic level threats for the air component commander... MORE

An Airman crosses through a field of grass

137th SOW hosts students, community partners for fly-in
May 4, 2023 — The 137th Special Operations Wing hosted a fly-in event at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, May 4, 2023. This event demonstrated to high school students, community partners and honorary commanders from around the state how every unit on base contributes to deploying Oklahoma Citizen Airmen around the world... MORE

high school students look through night vision goggles excitedly

Oklahoma Guardsmen compete to be Best Warrior
May 2, 2023 — Twelve of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s best Citizen-Soldiers gathered to battle it out for the title of Best Warrior at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 20-23. At the end of the competition, Sgt. Evan Bias, a cavalry scout from Tuttle, Oklahoma, took home the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Carson Downum, a horizontal construction engineer from Claremore, Oklahoma, earned the title of Soldier of the Year... MORE

Spc. Matthew Giudice II, a fire fighter assigned to Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma Army National Guard, climbs a ladder on the Tough One obstacle during the Best Warrior Competition held at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 21, 2023. The annual competition brings Soldiers together to demonstrate their proficiency in a variety of warrior tasks and drills such as land navigation, marksmanship, an obstacle course, and a 12-mile ruck march, all culminating in an interview with a panel of sergeants major. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

137th SOW hosts Oklahoma JROTC state drill championships
April 17, 2023 — The Oklahoma JROTC held their 2023 state drill championship meet at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, April 8, 2023... MORE

two junior rotc cadets exhibit color guard drill demonstration skills

South African native earns US naturalization before military deployment
April 12, 2023 — A South African native currently serving in the Oklahoma Army National Guard is preparing to deploy overseas while also studying for his naturalization test... MORE

Private 1st. Class Dewald Ekron, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 179 Infantry Regiment, Oklahoma National Guard, stands before conducting actions on the objective during pre-moblization training at Ft. Riley, Kan., 25 March 2023. Ekron, a South Africa native, moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue farming. More than 1,000 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen, including a company each from Nebraska and Indiana, will deploy overseas as Task Force Tomahawk in support of operations within U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility. While there, they will provide security support at five installations across multiple East African countries. (Oklahoma National Guard by Sgt. 1st Class Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers compete at the 2023 Bataan Memorial Death March
April 7, 2023 — Oklahoma Army National Guard Col. Brian Coleman and Maj. Jeffrey Kragh competed in the recent Bataan Memorial Death March, March 19, 2023... MORE

zCol. Brian Coleman, Oklahoma Army National Guard, competes in the military light division at the 2023 Bataan Memorial Death March at White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, March 19, 2023. Coleman competed in the military light division, which is 26.2 miles in a full military uniform and finished 7th overall with a time of 5:59:51. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

Top Air Force honors for Tulsa Civil Engineers
February 21, 2023 — The 138th Civil Engineer Squadron at Tulsa Air National Guard Base has won the 2022 Colonel Fredrick J. Reimer Award and received runner-up for the Major General Robert H. Curtin Award... MORE

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.