News from the Oklahoma National Guard

OKGuard gains new chaplain candidate
December 13, 2024 — Oklahoma National Guard's 2nd Lt. Michael Bolgrin commissioned as a chaplain candidate in a ceremony held at 90th Troop Command in Oklahoma City, Oct. 30, 2024. Bolgrin has served in the OKNG for 16 years, and felt the call to chaplaincy after his 2017-2018 deployment to Afghanistan... MORE

138th Fighter Wing hosts 8th Annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day
December 12, 2024 — TULSA, Okla. - On Friday, December 6, the Oklahoma National Guard's 138th Fighter Wing hosted the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation and Aerospace Day.More than 1,000 students and adults in the aerospace industry visited the base and participated in several events, including aircraft and military vehicle static displays, a panel discussion,... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Deianira Conte, 138th Fighter Wing, speaks with students at the eighth annual Oklahoma Women in Aviation & Aerospace Day at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Dec. 6, 2023. More than 1,000 students and adults in the aerospace industry came to participate in the event which included aircraft and military static displays, a panel discussion, guest speakers, and more. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Brothers by Birth and Soldiers by Choice: Twins commission together in OKGuard
December 11, 2024 — Twins at birth, brothers in arms: Chad and Cory Watson of Owasso, Oklahoma, recently made history by commissioning together as second lieutenants in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. Both now serve as infantry officers in the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team’s 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment... MORE

Twin Brothers Chad (Left) and Cory Watson (Right), members of 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, made unique history by commissioning together as second lieutenants in the Oklahoma Army National Guard at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, Oct. 20, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

OKGuard tackles wildfires with Task Force Firehawk
December 11, 2024 — Task Force Firehawk, the Oklahoma National Guard’s Wildland Firefighting program, is blazing a trail in protecting the state’s forests and grasslands while equipping Guardsmen with a unique skill set... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier constructs a firebreak at the Wildland Firefighting Course at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Aug. 21, 2023. Soldiers volunteered for the course to earn their Red Card Certification and have the knowledge and experience to respond to wildfire incidents both in state and around the nation. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

New Oklahoma National Guard Soldier continues family legacy
November 26, 2024 — Continuing her family’s legacy of service in the Oklahoma Army National Guard, Pvt. Kristen Buck enlisted as a religious affairs specialist, assigned to Headquarters Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team... MORE

Pvt. Kristen Buck takes the Oath of Enlistment, officiated by her father, Maj. Christopher Buck, after enlisting in the Oklahoma Army National Guard as a religious affairs specialist, Oct. 15, 2024. Kristen continues her family's legacy by following in her father's footsteps, who has been a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard for the past 25 years. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Selfless Service in Action: How the OKGuard supported Hurricane Helene relief efforts
November 22, 2024 — Oklahoma National Guard members with 90th Troop Command’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, provided relief efforts for North Carolina residents following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard members with 90th Troop Command’s Detachment 1, Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 149th Aviation Regiment, provided relief efforts for North Carolina residents following the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted an Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) request to the Oklahoma National Guard for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greenville, South Carolina. The helicopter and its crew of Oklahoma Guardsmen arrived in Greenville, South Carolina on October 6, 2024. While on ground, the team moved more than 97,000 pounds of equipment including generators, fuel, hay, food, water, clothing, blankets and more over the course of 18 days. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ivan Diaz)

138th Fighter Wing opens new small arms range complex
November 19, 2024 — The 138th Fighter Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard celebrated opening of the unit's new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, on Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex will allow for CATM training on base for Wing members and local partners. The complex includes a range with 14 lanes, a classroom, and cleaning and maintenance... MORE

Brig. Gen. Michael Meason, Oklahoma National Guard assistant adjutant general, fires the first shot in the new small arms range complex at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Oct. 22, 2024. The new complex was a multi-million construction project that spanned over a one year and seven month time period. (Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

Oklahoma National Guard hosts Leadership Oklahoma
November 19, 2024 — Members of Leadership Oklahoma gathered to learn about the Oklahoma National Guard and its role in local and national affairs at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Nov. 14, 2024... MORE

Members of Leadership Oklahoma gathered to learn about the Oklahoma National Guard and its role in local and national affairs at the Army Aviation Support Facility #2 in Tulsa, Nov. 14, 2024. The visit included briefs from both Air and Army National Guard representatives on the reach and readiness of the Oklahoma National Guard, and culminated in a ride on a UH-60 Black Hawk. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Chickasaw Nation Governor reflects on service in the Oklahoma National Guard
November 14, 2024 — Before serving nearly 40 years as the Governor of the Chickasaw Nation, Governor Bill Anoatubby served in his first leadership position as a member of the Oklahoma National Guard... MORE

Portrait of Bill Anoatubby, governor of the Chickasaw Tribe

Oklahoma National Guard Launched Effect Program, industry leaders propel cUAS modernization
November 14, 2024 — In a collaborative effort to bolster defense efforts against aerial threats, Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered with state, education and industry partners to discuss Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) at the Tulsa Tech campus in Jenks, Oklahoma, Nov. 7, 2024... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Col. Shane Riley, director of the OKNG's Launched Effects program during a meeting at the Tulsa Tech campus in Jenks, Oklahoma, Nov. 7, 2024. The meeting served as a collaborative effort to bolster defense efforts against aerial threats, bringing together Oklahoma National Guard leaders and state, education and industry partners to discuss Counter Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

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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