News from the Oklahoma National Guard

New STARBASE Oklahoma classroom opens at Fort Sill
August 19, 2022 — STARBASE Oklahoma welcomed teachers from across the state as they celebrated the dedication of their newest classroom. The new STARBASE classroom is located at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, and was officially opened on Thursday, August 11, 2022... MORE

Steven Schraner, deputy director of STARBASE Oklahoma - Fort Sill, Melanie Powers, STARBASE Oklahoma business manager, and James Skrapka, director STARBASE Oklahoma, cut the ribbon at the new STARBASE Oklahoma classroom at Fort Sill, Thursday, August 11, 2022. STARBASE Oklahoma, a program sponsored by the Department of Defense and administered by the Oklahoma Military Department, focuses on introducing fifth grade students to science, technology, engineering, and math through hands-on experiments done in a classroom setting. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Pfc. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma Guard recruiting battalion ranked first in nation for July
August 18, 2022 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion ranked first for all National Guard states in July 2022 for exceeding their recruiting mission set... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard's 45th Infantry Brigade honors commanders
August 18, 2022 — Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, friends and family gathered to bid farewell to outgoing commander Col. Colby Wyatt, of Cherokee, Oklahoma, and welcome incoming commander Col. Andrew Ballenger, of Sulphur, Oklahoma, during a change of command ceremony at Camp Gruber Training Center, Sunday... MORE

Col. Colby Wyatt, outgoing commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, passes the unit colors to Brig. Gen. Thomas Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, at a change of command ceremony, Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Aug. 14, 2022. Wyatt served as the commander of the 45th IBCT for three years and relinquished command to Col. Andrew Ballenger. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

Special Operations Storytellers
August 15, 2022 — Three members of the 137th Special Operations Wing (SOW) Public Affairs, Oklahoma National Guard, integrated with 352d Special Operations Wing Public Affairs at RAF Mildenhall to provide photo and video support and receive annual training Aug. 1-5, 2022... MORE

Michigan Airmen, Partners Achieve Milestone During Northern Agility
August 12, 2022 — ALPENA, Mich. – Less than six weeks after conducting the first highway-based A-10 Thunderbolt II Integrated Combat Turns (ICTs), Airmen from the 127th Wing, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, Michigan, achieved a milestone for the Air Force’s Agile Combat Employment (ACE) doctrine Aug. 8-12, alongside joint and ally partners from the Royal Canadian... MORE

U. S. Air Force Airmen from the 127th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, Selfridge Air National Guard Base, (SANGB) Mich. perform Agile Combat Employment (ACE) training while loading bombs onto an A-10 Thunderbolt II also from SANGB during an Integrated Combat Turn (ICT) during Northern Agility 22-2/Northern Strike 22, at Cherry Capital Airport in Traverse City, Mich., Aug. 8, 2022.

OKNG senior leader goes extra mile for 50th birthday
August 3, 2022 — For one Oklahoma National Guard senior leader, simply turning 50 was not enough - he needed a challenge... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Jolly, the command sergeant major for the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, completes a 50 kilometer trail run near Quanah, Texas, May 14, 2022. Jolly ran 50 kilometers to celebrate his 50th birthday. (Photo provided by Command Sgt. Maj. Walter Jolly)

Soldiers from 700 Brigade Support Battalion conduct annual training at the Sustainment Training Center
August 3, 2022 — More than 200 Soldiers with the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, received specific Military Occupational Specialty training at the Sustainment Training Center at Camp Dodge Joint Maneuver Training Center, Iowa, July 2022... MORE

Spc. Schneider Njifunuh, an automated logistical specialist with Company A, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma National Guard, conducts simulated warehouse functions at the Sustainment Training Center on Camp Dodge near Johnston City, Iowa, July 18, 2022. The 700th BSB conducted annual training at the STC to enhance technical and tactical unit training. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma Guard units conduct airborne operations with Nebraska, Indiana
August 3, 2022 — Tactical Air Control Party Specialists (TACPs) from the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron (ASOS), Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma City and jumpmasters with the 2nd Battalion 134th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Battalion Combat Team (IBCT), Nebraska, and a detachment in Indiana, who wear the “Thunderbird” patch of the 45th IBCT, Oklahoma Army National Guard, conducted static-line airborne operations at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center near Fort Smith, Arkansas, July 23, 2022... MORE

Staff Sgt. Rob Stokley, an airborne Soldier with Company C, 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Nebraska Army National Guard aligns his parachute to pack up after a high-performance jump from a C-130 “Hercules” on Rattlesnake Drop Zone at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, July 23, 2022. The 2nd Battalion is the newest unit to join the 45th IBCT, bringing with them airborne capabilities that the 45th has not had in more than 50 years. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. John Stoner)

Oklahoma National Guard Supports Wildland Firefighting
August 2, 2022 — OKLAHOMA CITY - Oklahoma Army National Guard helicopter crews dropped nearly 400,000 gallons of water on wildfires in Northwestern Oklahoma July 16-19 and 27-29.During the two multiday missions, Oklahoma Army National Guard crews flying UH-60 Black Hawk and LUH-72 Lakota helicopters conducted 744 water drops, releasing around 399,700 gallons on... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk flies over the 702 Fire in Blaine County, Oklahoma, after dropping more than 600 gallons of water on the fire, July 16, 2022. The Oklahoma National Guard is supporting the Oklahoma Forestry Services and local fire departments from the air using a UH-60 Black Hawk and a LUH-72 Lakota.

Oklahoma Guard F-16s receive fifth-generation radars
July 1, 2022 — The 138th Fighter Wing is one of nine Air National Guard bases chosen to receive upgraded, fifth-generation radars for the F-16 Viper... MORE

Lt. Col. David S. Gritsavage, F-16 pilot, 138th Fighter Wing, performs a flyby during his 5,000th hour of flight time in an F-16, Sept. 21, 2021, at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla. Gritsavage is one of few pilots to accomplish this feat in an F-16, and the first to cross that threshold at the 138th Fighter Wing.

(Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael)

Video by Airman Kaedin Teel

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260501-Z-ND196-1001 - 137 SOW and 210 EIS integrate for Exercise Thunderwolf

137th Special Operations Wing

May 1, 2026 | 2:29

Airmen assigned to the 210th Engineering Installation Squadron, Minnesota Air National Guard, integrated with Airmen assigned to the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma ANG, for a joint readiness exercise designed to validate the ability of engineering installation Airmen to rapidly deploy, establish and sustain critical electronic information systems and communications infrastructure at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 27 - 30, 2026. Each unit integrated their technical expertise in a simulated deployed environment to enhance rapid-response capabilities and ensure that command and control networks are operational anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Air National Guard video by Airman 1st Class Kaedin Teel) This video contains music licensed through the Pixabay Audio Library.