News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Broken Arrow business receives 2021 SECDEF Employer Support Freedom Award
September 23, 2021 — Good leaders recognize others. Great leaders appreciate them. This was the case for a local company’s exceptional service to those who serve in uniform. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve presented Cameron Glass Inc. with the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award to recognize their unwavering support for Oklahoma National Guard and Reserve employees at the Broken Arrow Armed Forces Reserve Center, Sept. 21, 2021... MORE

Jim Cameron (left), owner of Cameron Glass, and Chris Ashworth, employee of Cameron Glass and also an Oklahoma National Guardsmen, pose with the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award after an award ceremony at the Broken Arrow Armed Force Reserve Center, Sept. 21, 2021. Ashworth nominated Cameron Glass for their exceptional support and accommodations for Oklahoma Guardsmen and their families. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard Airman donates breast milk to Louisiana baby in need
September 20, 2021 — When nearly 500 Oklahoma Air and Army National Guardsmen answered the call to provide emergency relief to individuals impacted by Hurricane Ida, one Airman saw this as an opportunity to give back despite still breastfeeding. Oklahoma Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Macey Winegarner, a Mustang, Oklahoma resident and air transportation non-commission officer with the 137th Special Operations Wing, heard about the disaster relief mission and felt compelled to volunteer and serve. ... MORE

Oklahoma Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Macey Winegarner, an air transportation non-commissioned officer with the 137th Special Operations Wing, holds her six month old in Mustang, Oklahoma, Sept. 13, 2021. Winegarner donated 120oz of breast milk during Hurricane Ida to a mother in need. (Oklahoma National Guard Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard completes Hurricane Ida relief mission
September 16, 2021 — Following the devastation to Southern Louisiana brought by Hurricane Ida, nearly 500 Oklahoma Army and Air National Guard members volunteered to give up their Labor Day weekends in order to come to the aid of their Louisiana neighbors. Over the course of two and a half weeks, Task Force Oklahoma provided much-needed food, water, ice and other supplies to more than 77,000 families at more than 30 points of distribution sites across 14 parishes... MORE

Oklahoma National Guardsmen Spc. Michael West, left, and Spc. Gage Stone, right, truck drivers with Alpha Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, give supplies to a resident of a neighborhood in LaPlace, Louisiana, Sept. 7, 2021. Oklahoma National Guardsmen drove throughout neighborhoods to distribute supplies directly to Louisiana residents, allowing for essential aid to reach the local populace quickly. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Senior Airman Alex Kaelke)

Oklahoma National Guard Okmulgee Readiness Center completes remodel
September 14, 2021 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the reopening of the newly renovated Readiness Center in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Sept. 7. The more than 24 thousand square foot building, home to the Oklahoma Army National Guard's 777th Aviation Support Battalion, closed in June of 2020 to undergo $6.3 million in renovations... MORE

The Oklahoma Army National Guard held a ribbon cutting ceremony to commemorate the reopening of the newly renovated Readiness Center in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, Tuesday, Sept. 7, 2021.

The more than 24 thousand square foot building, home to 777th Aviation Support Battalion, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command, closed in June 2020 to undergo $6.3 million in renovations. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Leanna Maschino)

Oklahoma National Guardsmen distribute food, water to Louisiana neighborhoods after Hurricane Ida
September 14, 2021 — With the Hurricane Ida relief effort well underway, Oklahoma National Guardsmen travel throughout neighborhoods in southern Louisiana to distribute food, water, and ice to residents, Sept. 7, 2021. Virtually all residents of LaPlace, Louisiana have some extent of damage to their properties. The destructive impact of hurricanes like Ida may never be completely understood by many Oklahomans, but Oklahoma National Guardsmen are doing their best to lessen the devastating blow by delivering goods in neighborhoods using light military tactical vehicles... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard distributes supplies to Louisiana Citizens
September 14, 2021 — Oklahoma Army and Air National Guardsmen volunteered to help the residents of Louisiana by dispersing food and other supplies, choosing to serve when it matters most, Sunday, Sept. 5, 2021. “It’s pretty nice being out here,” said Pfc. Christian Gonzalez, member of Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. “My dad was out here with Hurricane Katrina 16 years ago, and here I am 16 years later helping out as well. It’s a pretty good deal to be out here, helping the people in the state of Louisiana.”... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Charles Spalding (left), a platoon sergeant with the 3120th Engineer Company, and Spc. Terrelle Bowens (right), a signal support systems specialist with the 205th Signal Company, both members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard, distribute supplies to citizens at a point of distribution site in Reserve, Louisiana, Sept. 5, 2021. The Oklahoma National Guard is operating 13 PODs across seven parishes that supply local families with tarps, meals ready to eat, ice and water as part of Hurricane Ida relief efforts. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Senior Airman Alex Kaelke)

Oklahoma Guard distributing critical supplies to Louisianans
September 14, 2021 — Soldiers and Airmen with the Oklahoma National Guard are helping their Louisiana neighbors by supplying citizens affected by Hurricane Ida with much needed items at points of distribution sites, Sept. 4... MORE

Sgt. Stephen Bruke, a Mustang, Oklahoma resident and Oklahoma Army National Guard, hands out water at a point of distribution site in Gramercy, Louisiana, Sept. 4. . The Oklahoma National Guard operates 13 PODs across seven parishes that supply local families with tarps, meals ready to eat, ice and water. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Reece Heck)

Oklahoma’s 63rd Civil Support Team bids farewell to company commander, welcome a new leader
September 2, 2021 — Oklahoma National Guardsmen, first-response community partners and family members gathered to bid farewell to the 63rd Civil Support Team’s outgoing commander and welcomed their incoming commander during a change of command ceremony at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum, Sept. 1, 2021. Soldiers and Airmen assigned to the 63rd CST honored outgoing commander Lt. Col. Carl Bennett and welcomed incoming commander Maj. Barrett Alexander under the Survivor Tree, a living symbol of resilience to terrorist threats that helped craft the formation of the CST program... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Maj. Barrett Alexander (left), incoming commander with the 63rd CST, receives the unit guidon from Col. Lars Ostervold (right), commander of the 90th Troop Command, during a change of command ceremony at the Oklahoma City Memorial and Museum, Sept. 1. The passing of the guidon signifies the formal transfer of authority and responsibility of the unit to the new commander.

Oklahoma Guardsmen earning US citizenship
August 12, 2021 — Two service members that were born in other countries work toward U.S. citizenship through their service with the Oklahoma Army National Guard. The soldiers are Spc. Stephen Ezenwosu of Nigeria and Pfc. Isadora Desrochers of Canada. Both are medics with Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Spc. Stephen Ezenwosu and Pfc. Isadora Desrochers, medics with Headquarter Company, 1st Battalion 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, train at the National Training Center near Fort Irwin, CA, July 2021. Ezenwosu and Desrochers joined the OKNG on their path to become U.S. citizens. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Caleb Stone)

Oklahoma National Guard mothers, sons serve together
August 9, 2021 — NORMAN, Okla. – Stories of fathers and sons serving in a military unit together are commonplace, as are stories of brothers, but rarely can the same be said about mothers and sons. The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team had two such exceptions serving together during the brigade’s training rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin,... MORE

Lt. Col. Tanya Roland and her son, Sgt. Paul Roland, serve together in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team during a rotation at the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, July 11, 2021.

Video by Spc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah

SWOSU GOLD Soldiers and student honored for saving fellow student’s life

Oklahoma National Guard

March 13, 2025 | 1:22

Four Southwestern Oklahoma State University Guard Officer Leadership Development (GOLD) program officer candidates and one student lifeguard were honored on Wednesday, March 12, 2025, for their heroic actions in saving a fellow GOLD candidate during a training exercise on Jan. 28, 2025, in Weatherford, Oklahoma.

Spc. Avrie Nowakowski, Spc. Diego Ortiz, Pfc. Rhyson Golightly, and Spc. Austin May were among the officer candidates who received the Army Achievement Medal for their actions.

Statton Mantz, the student lifeguard involved, received the Thunderbird Medal, the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian