News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Thunderbird Challenge Program teaches cadets no obstacle too big to overcome
November 4, 2024 — Countless servicemembers have trained at Camp Gruber Training Center throughout the years, but on Friday, CGTC hosted a unique group of future leaders - cadets from the Thunderbird Challenge Program. ... MORE

Thunderbird Challenge Program cadets climb over an obstacle during TCP’s field day at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Oct. 25, 2024. The Thunderbird Challenge Program is a 22-week tuition-free program operated by the Oklahoma Military Department and Oklahoma National Guard that provides Oklahoma students in need of school credit recovery with military-based structure, high school or GED classes, college courses, job training and essential life skills. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard welcomes newly commissioned leaders
October 28, 2024 — Thirteen newly minted Oklahoma Army National Guard second lieutenants received their first salutes as commissioned officers during a ceremony at Camp Gruber Training Center on Oct. 20... MORE

The Oklahoma Army National Guard celebrated the graduation of Officer Candidate School class 69 and 70 at Camp Gruber Training Center in Braggs, OK on Oct. 20, 2024. The ceremony honored 13 Soldiers who successfully completed all the requirements of the OCS program, making them newly commissioned 2nd Lieutenants in the Oklahoma National Guard. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

Oklahoma National Guard helicopter, crew to support Hurricane Helene relief efforts
October 9, 2024 — At the direction of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and with approval from Governor Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma National Guard is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in South Carolina. The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a request to Oklahoma for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greenville, South Carolina... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard CH-47 Chinook is readied by Oklahoma National Guard members at the OKARNG Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma on Oct. 6 before deploying to South Carolina in support of Hurricane Helene relief efforts.

At the direction of the Oklahoma Department of Emergency Management and with approval from Governor Kevin Stitt, the Oklahoma National Guard is supporting Hurricane Helene relief efforts in South Carolina.

The North Carolina Department of Emergency Management submitted, through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a request to Oklahoma for one CH-47 Chinook helicopter with hoist equipment and aircrew to support Task Force South in Greensville, South Carolina. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Ivan Diaz)

OKGuard provides remote support to Hurricane Helene victims
October 4, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office provided remote relief for more than 750 Florida National Guard Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance... MORE

Warren Griffis, with the Oklahoma National Guard’s Family Program Office, calls Florida Army National Guard Soldiers on Oct. 1, 2024 as part of OKNG efforts to provide relief for Florida National Guard Soldiers impacted by Hurricane Helene. Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard’s Family Program Office arranged OKNG support by contacting more than 750 Florida National Guardsmen and their families who were affected by Hurricane Helene, lessening the burden of the Florida National Guard while enabling their Guardsmen to focus on responding to the devastation. (Oklahoma National Guard Photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma National Guard Hosts Wildland Fire UAS Integration Exercise
October 2, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard partnered with Southwestern Oklahoma State University, the Oklahoma Highway Patrol and Weatherford Fire Department to host a multi-agency wildland firefighting unmanned aerial systems integration exercise at Crowder Lake near Weatherford, Oklahoma, Sept. 25-26... MORE

Sgt. Donald Underwood, an unmanned aerial systems operator with Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, operates a UAS during a multi-agency wildland firefighting unmanned aerial systems integration exercise at Crowder Lake near Weatherford, Oklahoma, Sept. 25-26. The exercise brought the Oklahoma National Guard, state and local agencies and several private UAS companies together to develop a common operating picture, ensuring all public safety teams have a shared view of a multi-agency response to events like wildland firefighting. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

OKNG officer earns promotion to brigadier general
September 27, 2024 — Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest brigadier general at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Sept. 26, 2024. Brig. Gen. Robert H. Walter, assistant adjutant general - Army for Oklahoma, was pinned Thursday by his wife and daughter... MORE

Brig. Gen. Robert Walter, assistant adjutant general - Army for the Oklahoma National Guard, raises his right hand during his oath of office at his promotion ceremony in the Blue Room at the Oklahoma Capitol on Sept. 26, 2024. Walter advises and assists the adjutant general in preparing Oklahoma Army National Guard units for domestic operations and mobilization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard welcomes new chaplains
September 27, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard Chaplain Corps welcomed new members as Capt. Stephanie Jenkins and 2nd Lt. Jesse Johnston took the Oath of Commissioned Officers during a commissioning ceremony in Oklahoma City, on Sept. 25, 2024... MORE

Capt. Stephanie Jenkins and 2nd Lt. Jesse Johnston take the Oath of Commissioned Officers as a newly commissioned chaplain and chaplain candidate in the Oklahoma Army National Guard during a commissioning ceremony in Oklahoma City, on Sept. 25, 2024. The mission of a chaplain is two-fold, impacting both individual Soldiers and overall mission readiness. This role includes providing religious support for Soldiers as well as advising the command on religious impacts of missions within the organization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Oklahoma Guard leadership mentors new command teams
September 18, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard hosted the annual Company Commander and First Sergeant Pre-Command Course at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 14, 2024... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard company commanders and first sergeants in their first year of command attend the 2024 OKARNG Company Commanders and First Sergeants Pre-Command Course at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center, Norman, Oklahoma, Sept. 14, 2024. The course reinforces lessons learned at Army-wide leadership courses and mentors the new command teams on OKARNG-specific systems and procedures. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Sergeants Major Hosts Dual Retirement After Combined 61 Years of Service
September 18, 2024 — Friends, family and fellow Guardsmen gathered at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center to celebrate a joint retirement ceremony for Command Sgt. Maj. John Workman of Glenpool, Oklahoma and Sgt. Maj. Michael Hearon of Mead, Oklahoma, both members of 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez (right), state command sergeant major for Oklahoma Army National Guard presents gifts to Command Sgt. Maj. John Workman (Left) of Glenpool, Oklahoma and Sgt. Maj. Michael Hearon (Middle) of Mead, Oklahoma, both members of 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, during their joint retirement ceremony held at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Sept. 14, 2024. Together Workman and Hearon have a combined 61 years of service, including their final assignment as members of the command team for Task Force Tomahawk during their deployment to the Horn of Africa from 2023-2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Seminole Native Receives his star
September 13, 2024 — Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest general officer during a promotion ceremony held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024... MORE

Family, friends and fellow service members gathered to celebrate the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s newest general officer, Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general - Army, Oklahoma National Guard, during a promotion ceremony held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Thursday, Sept. 12, 2024. Carter’s current role as assistant adjutant general - Army consists of advising and assisting the adjutant general for Oklahoma on the preparation of OKARNG units for homeland defense and federal mobilizations. Additional roles include oversight of training, administration, logistics and personnel actions, where he directs the immediate staff and provides guidance to the staff and subordinate commanders.

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