News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma National Guard partnered with OHP to assist motorists in winter weather
February 16, 2021 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard, in partnership with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, responded to severe weather conditions in Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams made up of nearly 90 Soldiers... MORE

Staff Sgt. Josh Jacox, 2120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineering Battalion, Oklahoma Army National Guard and Spc. Parker Sargent, electrician specialist, 2120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineering Battalion, Oklahoma Army National Guard, assist motorists and Oklahoma Highway during a wreck in Stroud, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma Army National Guard, in partnership with the Oklahoma Highway Patrol, responded to severe weather conditions in Stranded Motorist Assistance Recovery Teams (SMART) made up of nearly 90 Soldiers. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Emily White)

Oklahoma National Guard partnering with OHP to assist motorists in winter weather
February 12, 2021 — At the request of the Oklahoma Department of Public Safety, the Oklahoma National Guard is activating nearly 90 National Guard members and pre-positioning them at locations across Oklahoma in advance of a severe winter storm expected to impact the state early next week... MORE

Sgt. Joseph English, of Newalla, Oklahoma, ties a fluorescent ribbon to a wrecked car, marking it as searched and clear of passengers while he and other Soldiers patrolled a section of Interstate 35 north of Perry, Okla., Dec. 28, 2015.

English, a military policeman with the 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and other Soldiers from the Brigade assisted the Oklahoma Highway Patrol with motorist assistance during a severe winter storm on Dec. 27 and 28. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guardsman donates stimulus check to local business
February 3, 2021 — Capt. Jeffrey Morefield, commander of A Battery, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, Oklahoma National Guard, deployed with his unit in support of Operation Spartan Shield in December 2019. While he was away, he watched from a secure location in the Middle East as COVID-19 spread around the world... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Capt. Jeff Morefield, left, commander of Battery A, 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, Oklahoma Army National Guard, donated his entire stimulus check to local business owner Jennifer Webster, right. The donation spurred a cascade of giving to local businesses within the Edmond, Oklahoma area.

Camp Gruber to conduct prescribed burns
February 3, 2021 — The Oklahoma National Guard’s Camp Gruber Training Center has announced their intention to initiate prescribed (controlled) burns this spring and summer... MORE

A safety crew participates in a prescribed burn.

45th Infantry Brigade Thunderbirds at the Capitol
January 21, 2021 — When our nation called for Guardsmen to defend the U.S. Capitol, nearly 400 Soldiers from the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team thunderbirds answered the call and rapidly mobilized, arriving in Washington on Sunday, January 17, 2021... MORE

An American flag and thunderbird patch are displayed on the uniform of a U.S. Soldier with the Oklahoma National Guard while providing security near the U.S. Capitol building, Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2021. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and District authorities leading up and through the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Air National Guard: Defending America on the Capitol Grounds
January 20, 2021 — Airmen from the Oklahoma Air National Guard joined their Oklahoma Army National Guard counterparts to form a joint task force to provide on-the-ground support in Washington D.C. for the 59th Presidential Inauguration... MORE

A U.S. Airman with the Oklahoma National Guard provides updates to his team while providing security near the U.S. Capitol building, Washington, D.C., Jan. 20, 2021. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and District authorities leading up and through the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

“Brothers” in Arms: Serving at the Capitol
January 19, 2021 — Two Oklahoma Army National Guard Citizen-Soldiers are serving together in our Nation’s Capitol as both figurative and literal “brothers in arms.” Sgt. Kade Silvers and Sgt. Corbin Silvers, both from Enid, Oklahoma, are brothers who have taken time away from their civilian employers to serve with the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and help preserve the integrity of the 59th Presidential Inauguration... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard members and brothers Sgt. Kade Silvers, right, and Sgt. Korbin Silvers, both of Enid, Oklahoma, pose at the U.S. Capitol building before beginning their shift monitoring the inner ring of security around the Capitol, Jan. 19, 2021. At least 25,000 National Guard men and women have been authorized to conduct security, communication and logistical missions in support of federal and District authorities leading up to and through the 59th Presidential Inauguration. (U.S. National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)

More National Guard troops head to DC for inaugural support
January 14, 2021 — WASHINGTON – National Guard troops from Wisconsin, Nebraska, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Maine are heading to the nation's capital to support law enforcement through the presidential inauguration next week, joining fellow Guard members from more than a dozen other states.As of Jan. 14, there were about 7,000 National Guard members on the ground in the... MORE

Virginia Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to Bravo Troop, 2nd Squadron, 183rd Cavalry Regiment, 116th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, stand guard Jan. 11, 2021, in Washington, D.C. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from multiple states have traveled to Washington to support to federal and district authorities leading up to the 59th presidential inauguration.

Oklahoma National Guard to support 59th Presidential Inauguration
January 13, 2021 — The Oklahoma National Guard has announced they will be sending approximately 400 Oklahoma National Guard Citizen-Soldiers and Airmen to our nation’s capital to support the 59th presidential inauguration... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard gives back to local communities
December 24, 2020 — Oklahomans helping Oklahomans, for the Oklahoma National Guard it’s more than just a saying – it’s a way of life. That mantra is what leads Guardsmen to serve our state and nation, and this fall it led to Oklahoma National Guard members and their families collecting more than 1,200 packages of new socks and underwear for homeless shelters across the state... MORE

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