News from the Oklahoma National Guard

OKNG officer earns promotion to brigadier general
September 27, 2024 — Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest brigadier general at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Sept. 26, 2024. Brig. Gen. Robert H. Walter, assistant adjutant general - Army for Oklahoma, was pinned Thursday by his wife and daughter... MORE

Brig. Gen. Robert Walter, assistant adjutant general - Army for the Oklahoma National Guard, raises his right hand during his oath of office at his promotion ceremony in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma Capitol on Sept. 26, 2024. Walter advises and assists the adjutant general in preparing Oklahoma Army National Guard units for domestic operations and mobilization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard welcomes new chaplains
September 27, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard Chaplain Corps welcomed new members as Capt. Stephanie Jenkins and 2nd Lt. Jesse Johnston took the Oath of Commissioned Officers during a commissioning ceremony in Oklahoma City, on Sept. 25, 2024... MORE

Capt. Stephanie Jenkins and 2nd Lt. Jesse Johnston take the Oath of Commissioned Officers as a newly commissioned chaplain and chaplain candidate in the Oklahoma Army National Guard during a commissioning ceremony in Oklahoma City, on Sept. 25, 2024. The mission of a chaplain is two-fold, impacting both individual Soldiers and overall mission readiness. This role includes providing religious support for Soldiers as well as advising the command on religious impacts of missions within the organization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Oklahoma Guard leadership mentors new command teams
September 18, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard hosted the annual Company Commander and First Sergeant Pre-Command Course at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 14, 2024... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard company commanders and first sergeants in their first year of command attend the 2024 OKARNG Company Commanders and First Sergeants Pre-Command Course at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center, Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 14, 2024. The course reinforces lessons learned at Army-wide leadership courses and mentors the new command teams on OKARNG-specific systems and procedures. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Sergeants Major Hosts Dual Retirement After Combined 61 Years of Service
September 18, 2024 — Friends, family and fellow Guardsmen gathered at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center to celebrate a joint retirement ceremony for Command Sgt. Maj. John Workman of Glenpool, Oklahoma and Sgt. Maj. Michael Hearon of Mead, Oklahoma, both members of 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez (right), state command sergeant major for Oklahoma Army National Guard presents gifts to Command Sgt. Maj. John Workman (Left) of Glenpool, Oklahoma and Sgt. Maj. Michael Hearon (Middle) of Mead, Oklahoma, both members of 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during their joint retirement ceremony held at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Together Workman and Hearon have a combined 61 years of service, including their final assignment as members of the command team for Task Force Tomahawk during their deployment to the Horn of Africa from 2023-2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Seminole Native Receives his star
September 13, 2024 — Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest general officer during a promotion ceremony held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024... MORE

Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest general officer, Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general - Army, Oklahoma National Guard, during a promotion ceremony held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Carter’s current role as assistant adjutant general - Army consists of advising and assisting the adjutant general for Oklahoma on the preparation of OKARNG units for homeland defense and federal mobilizations. Additional roles include oversight of training, administration, logistics and personnel actions, where he directs the immediate staff and provides guidance to the staff and subordinate commanders.

Governor's Twenty showcases marksmanship of Oklahoma Guardsmen
September 12, 2024 — More than 100 Oklahoma National Guardsmen from across the state tested their marksmanship skills and abilities in the 2024 Governor’s 20 Marksmanship Competition, Sept. 7-8 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma... MORE

An Oklahoma Air National Guard Airman with the 138th Fighter Wing, fires an M4 Carbine during the 2024 Governor's 20 Marksmanship Competition, Sept. 7, 2024 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma. The Oklahoma National Guard Governor’s 20 is an annual competition where Oklahoma Army and Air National Guardsmen compete in a series of shooting events to showcase the Oklahoma National Guard’s top marksmen. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

US Sen. Lankford meets with leaders of OKGuard cUAS program
August 29, 2024 — U.S. Sen. James Lankford meets with Oklahoma National Guard leaders and other members of the Oklahoma Advanced Air-mobility innovation group following a demonstration from the Oklahoma National Guard’s Counter UAS school to discuss the unique capabilities at Camp Gruber Training Center, Aug. 22, 2024... MORE

U.S. Sen. James Lankford meets with Oklahoma National Guard leaders and other members of the Oklahoma Advanced Air-mobility innovation group following a demonstration from the Oklahoma National Guard’s Counter UAS school to discuss the unique capabilities at Camp Gruber Training Center, Aug. 22, 2024. The Oklahoma National Guard partnered to establish this working group to integrate unmanned systems support and capabilities across multiple domains including domestic response. Organizations in attendance include tribal, state, higher education, emergency management, and aerospace industry partners. The OKNG’s UAS initiatives relate to both the federal and state National Guard missions including survivability on the battlefield of the future as well as domestic response in the homeland. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Tulsa Air National Guard Base opens vital infrastructure
August 23, 2024 — The Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 138th Fighter Wing held a ribbon-cutting ceremony Tuesday, August 13, 2024, celebrating the opening of a fuels complex and a commercial inspection facility... MORE

The 138th Fighter Wing marked a significant milestone in its operational capabilities with the official opening of a new fuel complex and commercial inspection facility. , Aug. 13, 2024, at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla. A ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorated the completion of this critical infrastructure project, underscoring the Wing’s commitment to mission readiness and support. The advanced facilities will enhance fuel handling, storage, and quality control, while also streamlining commercial inspection processes. (Oklahoma Air National Guard video by Master Sgt. CT Michael)

Artillery booms as Soldiers re-enlist at Northern Strike 2024
August 23, 2024 — Amid the thunderous backdrop of artillery rounds echoing downrange, two artillerymen raised their right hands to recommit to the Oklahoma Army National Guard... MORE

Spc. Jonathan Underwood (right), a fire control specialist assigned to Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, Oklahoma National Guard, recites the oath of enlistment to Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, director of the joint staff for Oklahoma National Guard, during Exercise Northern Strike 2024 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 12, 2024. NS 24-2 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in an all-domain environment. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Thunderbird artillery takes aim at Northern Strike 2024
August 16, 2024 — Artillerymen with the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, tested their mettle at Northern Strike 2024 at Camp Grayling, Michigan, August 3-17, 2024... MORE

Members of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, load an M777 towed 155mm howizter during Exercise Northern Strike 2024, Camp Grayling, Michigan, Aug. 11, 2024. NS 24-2 is a premier reserve component training event that focuses on joint readiness training to build interoperability and strengthen partnerships in an all-domain environment. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Oklahoma Army National Guard hosts Best Warrior

Oklahoma National Guard

Nov. 9, 2024 | 1:30

Sixteen Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard competed in the 2025 OKARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 6-8, 2024.

At the conclusion of the competition, Spc. Juan Lopez, a resident of Stillwater, Oklahoma assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team as a signal operations support specialist, won the title of Soldier of the Year, while Sgt. James Bording, a resident of Claremore, Oklahoma assigned to the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th IBCT as an infantryman, was awarded the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. (Oklahoma National Guard Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

CG:
00:23:15
Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez
Command Sgt. Maj. for Oklahoma

00:38:14
Spc. Juan Lopez
2025 Soldier of the Year

00:46:23
Sgt. James Bording
2025 Noncommissioned Officer of the Year