News from the Oklahoma National Guard

OKARNG sergeant major looks back on Khobar Towers bombing, talks mental health
June 25, 2021 — For many Oklahomans, June 25 is just another day on the calendar to get through before Independence Day parties can begin. However, for one Oklahoma Army National Guard sergeant major, it is a solemn date of remembrance... MORE

Terrorist attacked the Khobar Towers housing complex June 25, 1996, using a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device. The attacked killed 19 people, including many U.S. military members, and injured countless others.

OK Air Guard to conduct large-scale readiness exercise
May 28, 2021 — The Oklahoma Air National Guard will conduct a large-scale readiness exercise at the 138th Fighter Wing in Tulsa, Oklahoma beginning on June 1... MORE

Tulsa Air National Guard Alert Mission (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael)

45th Infantry Division Museum to hold annual Memorial Day Ceremony
May 28, 2021 — The 45th Infantry Division Museum will be hosting its annual Memorial Day Ceremony, Monday, May 31 at 10 a.m... MORE

The 45th Infantry Division Museum annually hosts the Memorial Day Ceremony to honor those who paid the ultimate sacrifice defending the freedom of the United States. The ceremony also recognizes the families of those who served, veterans, and those who continue to wear the uniform as many gathered to pay tribute and pass along the tradition of remembrance.

Oklahoma National Guardsman honored at inaugural Oklahoma Medal of Valor and Oklahoma Purple Heart award ceremony
May 19, 2021 — Governor Kevin Stitt presented the Oklahoma Medal of Valor to Oklahoma Army National Guard Sgt. Pedro Gonzales, III, and the Oklahoma Purple Heart to Tulsa Police Sgt. Craig Johnson, Tulsa Police Officer Aurash Zarkeshan and Oklahoma City Police Officer Zachary Barby during a ceremony in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma State Capitol, May 18... MORE

Governor Kevin Stitt presents Oklahoma Army National Guard Sgt. Pedro Gonzales III with the inaugural Oklahoma Medal of Valor during a ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, May 18, 2021. The Oklahoma Medal of Valor is the state of Oklahoma’s highest award of honor presented to a member of a public safety agency or member of the public. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

137th SOW welcomes new commander
May 13, 2021 — The Oklahoma Air National Guard’s 137th Special Operations Wing hosted a change of command ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City earlier this month... MORE

Col. Christopher D. Gries assumes command of the 137th Special Operations Wing from Maj. Gen. Michael Thompson, adjutant general for Oklahoma, at a change of command ceremony at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base (WRANGB) in Oklahoma City, May 1, 2021. Gries was formerly the 137th Operations Group commander and became the 18th wing commander at WRANGB. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Andrew M. LaMoreaux)

Oklahoma Army National Guard aviation practices for the worst
May 12, 2021 — Fire trucks and ambulances swarmed the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 12, 2021 - thankfully they were only there for training... MORE

Firefighters from the Tulsa, Oklahoma Fire Department and EMSA personnel extract a simulated casualty played by an Oklahoma Army National Guard Citizen-Soldier from a mock helicopter crash during pre-accident training at the Oklahoma National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility 2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, May 12, 2021. Pre-accident training prepares Army aviation units to respond to accidents ranging from slip and falls to mass casualty events. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

63rd Civil Support Team trains with City of Altus
May 6, 2021 — Members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s 63rd Civil Support Team partnered with first responders and emergency personnel from the City of Altus for a 72-hour field exercise, May 4-6... MORE

Members of the 63rd Civil Support Team, Oklahoma National Guard, partner with first responders as part of a 72-hour field exercise in Altus, Oklahoma, May 4-6, 2021.

This multi-day training event is one of several exercise scheduled around the state this year designed to test Guard members, emergency management personnel and first responders ability to quickly work to together during natural and man-made disasters. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Geoff Legler)

Chief details National Guard contributions in a year of trial
May 5, 2021 — ARLINGTON, Va. –Over the past year, National Guard members were called on time and again to help their fellow U.S. citizens. They deployed to operations around the world, National Guard Bureau Chief Army Gen. Daniel Hokanson told the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense yesterday."The year 2020 was unprecedented and historic," Hokanson said... MORE

The Louisiana National Guard's 3rd Battalion of the 156th Infantry Regiment, 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, take part in their deployment ceremony in Lafayette, La., Nov. 10, 2020. This unit joins the approximately 2,000 Louisiana guardsmen deploying to the Middle East to support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.

Oklahoma National Guard helps at federal vaccination clinic
April 29, 2021 — TULSA, Okla. – Nearly 30 Oklahoma National Guardsmen are supporting a community vaccination clinic as part of the state’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.The Guard members are transporting vaccines, preparing them on-site and supporting administration from two STRIKE teams, ensuring communities with a high risk of exposure and infection are not... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Airman 1st Class Jaquee Dixon, medical technician, 138th Fighter Wing, prepares COVID-19 vaccines at a community vaccination clinic in Tulsa April 21, 2021. The clinic runs from April 21 to June 15.

Phillips 66 honored by Department of Defense for extraordinary support
April 28, 2021 — Oklahoma Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, a Department of Defense program, announced today Phillips 66 Executive Vice President of Marketing and Commercial Brian Mandell received the ESGR Pro Patria Award in recognition of the extraordinary support of Phillip’s 66 employees who serve in the Oklahoma Guard and Reserve... MORE

(L to R) Kerry Creager, Phillips 66 Manager Indirect Tax and Bartlesville Veterans Network Local Sponsor; Maj Larry Murray, Phillips 66 Nominator and Oklahoma Air National Guard Officer; Colonel Robin Cavanaugh, Vice Commander, 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard; Brian Mandell, Phillips 66 Executive Vice President of Marketing and Commercial; Ben Hur, Phillips 66 Vice President Midstream Commercial and Business Development; Raymond Knapp, Chair, Oklahoma Committee, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (photo credit: Phillips 66, Shaan Ahmad)

Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert

From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center

Oklahoma National Guard

Feb. 19, 2026 | 1:04

Oklahoma National Guard leadership held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center, a nearly 35,000-square-foot facility at the Oklahoma City Military Complex in Oklahoma City. Amenities within the wellness center include a fully equipped workout space for resistance training and agility, indoor and outdoor meditation spaces, a chapel, conference rooms, classroom spaces, and a teaching kitchen. The facility also houses OKNG programs and services, including Behavioral Health, Chaplain, Equal Employment Opportunity, Family Programs, Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F), Integrated Primary Prevention, Resilience, Suicide Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Risk Reduction, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.