News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma National Guard Team Wins Colorful Cyber Shield 2022 Gaming Competition That Allows Cyber Warriors to Test Their Skills Against Their Peers
June 23, 2022 — If it wasn’t for the rows upon rows of computers and the random 7-foot man in a ghillie suit, you might have thought you ran into a wayward group of tourists on the way to a tropical paradise. The place was filled with Hawaiian shirts and flip flops, with one man strumming on his ukulele. Nope – this was Netwars. ... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Participates in Cyber Shield 2022, the DoD’s Largest Unclassified Cyber Defense Exercise
June 23, 2022 — Approximately 15 Oklahoma National Guard cyber and computer security specialists are honing their skills, June 5-17, as part of Cyber Shield 2022, the Department of Defense’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise involving approximately 800 National Guard cyber specialists as well as law enforcement, legal, government and corporate partners from across the country... MORE

Lt. Col. Steven Stanford, Oklahoma National Guard G6, speaks with Oklahoma National Guard cyber and computer security specialists during Cyber Shield 2022.

National Guard Members Conduct Innovative Readiness Training
June 10, 2022 — TAHLEQUAH, Okla. - Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers and Airmen are building homes and treating patients in health clinics in Eastern Oklahoma.They are helping fellow Oklahomans thanks partly to the Innovative Readiness Training program – a Department of Defense initiative.While Soldiers of the 2120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th... MORE

Air National Guard Airman First Class Cabrera, 124th Civilian Engineer Squadron, smooths out gravel as a part of an Innovative Readiness Training mission while building homes for the Cherokee Veterans Housing Initiative in Tahlequah, Oklahoma, June 6, 2022. IRT is a Department of Defense initiative that is a joint environment with National Guard Soldiers and Airmen.

Former 137th commander turns 100
April 9, 2022 — Seals, a former commander of the 137th Special Operations Wing (then Military Airlift Wing), celebrated his 100th birthday April 9, 2022, where he received the The Stanley F.H. Newman Award for his contributions as a civilian to the Oklahoma Air National Guard mission... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard, Azerbaijan hold SPP exchange
April 8, 2022 — OKLAHOMA CITY – Five doctors with the Azerbaijan Operational Capabilities Concept Battalion exchanged medical knowledge with the Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard March 28-April 1.The Guardsmen provided a comprehensive picture of U.S. military standards of care, from the point of injury to Role 4 care, as part of the knowledge exchange under the... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers and doctors with the Azerbaijan Operational Capabilities Concept Battalion evacuate a simulated patient from a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a medical knowledge exchange in Oklahoma City, April 1, 2022. The Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard participated in support of the Department of Defense National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program.

Oklahoma Air National Guard participates in AERO Oklahoma
March 31, 2022 — Members from the 138th Fighter Wing and the 137th Special Operations Wing joined several of Oklahoma’s top aerospace entities and participated in an Aviation & Aerospace Advocacy Day at the State Capitol building in Oklahoma City on March 30, 2022.The purpose of the day was to recognize the state’s aviation, aerospace, and defense industry as a... MORE

Members of the 138th Fighter Wing participate in AERO Oklahoma at the State Capitol building in Oklahoma City, March 30, 2022. The purpose of the day was to recognize the state’s aviation, aerospace, and defense industry as a vital economic engine for the state and provided a unique opportunity for industry officials to come together and meet with state legislators and other elected officials to show them firsthand how the industry continues to solidify Oklahoma as a worldwide leader in aviation, aerospace, and aerospace and defense. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

OK Air National Guard aircraft crashes, pilot unharmed
March 23, 2022 — An Air Force F-16 assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing of the Oklahoma Air National Guard crashed today in Beauregard Parish, Louisiana. The pilot safely ejected and was recovered with no serious injuries... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard’s Family Program Office announces Month of the Military Child activities
March 22, 2022 — The Oklahoma National Guard’s Child and Youth Program with the Family Program Office has announced activities for the month of April, celebrating the Month of the Military Child. ... MORE

OKNG visits Azerbaijan as part of State Partnership Program
March 21, 2022 — BAKU, Azerbaijan – Four members of the Oklahoma National Guard (OKNG) visited the Peacekeeping Brigade of Azerbaijan Armed Forces during a State Partnership Program (SPP) engagement March 1-4.Two Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen and two Oklahoma Air National Guardsmen conducted a strategic planning and unit training management event in the first of... MORE

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard and the Azerbaijan Peacekeeping Brigade gather for a group photo at the conclusion of a joint partnership strategic planning and unit training management event March 3, 2022, in Baku, Azerbaijan. This is the beginning of a doctrinal training plan the Oklahoma National Guard is preparing for the Azerbaijan Peacekeeping Brigade intended to cover military decision making processes.

Oklahoma National Guardsmen compete for the title of best warrior
March 8, 2022 — Three Soldiers dressed in combat uniforms and carrying 35 pound ruck sacks made their way down the road, the sun rising behind them. A lone figure jogged out to meet them, cheering them on and running alongside them as they made their way to the finish line of an arduous 12-mile ruck march. Spc. David Jeffrey, a member of Headquarters Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Calvary Regiment, won the junior enlisted title of best warrior at the 20th annual Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, March 3-6, 2022. Jefferey was one of 21 competitors who battled it out in a series of physically and mentally demanding challenges for a chance to represent their command in the regional version of the competition... MORE

Sgt. Joy Quary, a member of 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard makes her way through an obstacle course during the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, March 3, 2022. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Pfc. Emily White)

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.