News from the Oklahoma National Guard

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)

National Guardsmen support civil authorities in large-scale illegal marijuana eradication operation
February 25, 2022 — Guardsmen from across the State of Oklahoma came together to support the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics in a massive multi-agency, large-scale operation targeting criminal marijuana growth and trafficking. At the request of OBN, Governor Kevin Stitt authorized the activation of approximately 150 Guardsmen to assist with eradication, debris removal, logistical support and identification of hazardous materials associated with the seizure of illegal marijuana grow operations... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen assist local authorities in the destruction of marijuana during massive multi-agency operation targeting criminal marijuana growth and trafficking in the southern region of Oklahoma, Feb. 22, 2022. he OKNG assisted with the clean-up of the nine illegal or unregistered grow sites after Law Enforcement Officers served warrants and gathered the evidence they needed. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

137th CTF teaches land nav skills during MST training
February 17, 2022 — The 137th Combat Training Flight taught 33 students land navigation, radio communication and radio programming skills during Mission Sustainment Team training held at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City, Feb. 7-10, 2022... MORE

Three AFSOC wings participate in combat control training at WRANGB
February 16, 2022 — A Special Tactics combat controller with the 125th Special Tactics Squadron (STS), Oregon Air National Guard, is seen through night vision goggles measuring the distance to a target during a training exercise in Oklahoma City, Jan. 12, 2022. The 125th STS trained with the help of members with the 137th Special Operations Wing (SOW) acting as... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard unit receives Meritorious Unit Commendation
February 11, 2022 — In a formal ceremony, the U.S. Army recognized and rewarded an Oklahoma Army National Guard unit for their outstanding performance while deployed overseas. On February 5, the Department of the Army awarded the Meritorious Unit Commendation to Company A, 777th Aviation Support Battalion, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers with Alpha Company 777, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command receive a Meritorious Unit Commendation at a ceremony at the Armed Forces Readiness Center, Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Feb. 5, 2022. The unit was awarded the commendation in recognition of their accomplishments during their 2016-2017 deployment to Kuwait in support of Operations Inherent Resolve, Spartan Shield, and Freedom’s Sentinel. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma National Guard concludes stranded driver assistance mission
February 5, 2022 — The Oklahoma National Guard has successfully concluded a multi-day state active-duty mission where Guardsmen assisted the Oklahoma Highway Patrol in rescuing stranded drivers during a winter storm that left highways dangerous for travelers... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard members working with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Team based in Vinita, Oklahoma push a vehicle out of a snowbank on the Will Rogers Turnpike near Vinita, Oklahoma, Feb. 3, 2022.

Oklahoma National Guard prepares to assist stranded motorists
February 2, 2022 — At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma National Guard is preparing to dispatch teams to multiple locations to assist stranded motorists during and after expected severe winter conditions strike Oklahoma... MORE

An Oklahoma National Guard humvee follows an Oklahoma Highway Patrol vehicle during a stranded motorist recovery mission along the Turner Turnpike near Stroud, Oklahoma, Feb. 14, 2021. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers attached to 5th Armored Brigade help local non-profit secure $100,000 grant
January 27, 2022 — Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers attached to 5th Armored Brigade at Fort Bliss, Texas attended a $100,000 grant presentation at the Armed Services YMCA (ASYMCA) Jan. 21, 2021... MORE

Spc. Monique Tran, left, and Sgt. Mikaela Norton, assigned to 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West, pose with members of the Association of the United States Army (AUSA) and the Armed Services YMCA during grant presentation from AUSA to the YMCA in El Paso, Texas, January 21st, 2022. 5th Armored Brigade supports the local community while preparing National Guard and Reserve partners to deploy world wide. (U.S. Army photo by Capt. Coady Pratt, 5th Armored Brigade)

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Nebraska National Guardsmen take 2025 National Guard Region V Best Warrior Competition

Oklahoma National Guard

May 17, 2025 | 1:33

Nebraska National Guardsmen Sgt. Luke Entz and Spc. Alexander Thomson, both infantrymen from Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 134th Infantry Regiment, were named winners of the 2025 National Guard Region V Best Warrior Competition on May 16 in Oklahoma City.

The competition took place May 12-15 at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, and featured 12 competitors from six states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri.