News from the Oklahoma National Guard

1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment hosts 2nd Annual family day, live-fire demonstration
May 24, 2023 — Soldiers assigned to the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team hosted their second annual family day and live-fire demonstration during the battalion’s annual training at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, May 20... MORE

Staff Sgt. Lyndell Shawnee, a member of the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team shows his three daughters around an M119 howitzer after a family day live-fire demonstration on May 20, 2023 at Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The event was hosted by his unit in order to strengthen the bonds between the unit’s Soldiers and their families. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Pfc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)

How the Heck do you run properly
May 24, 2023 — Cpt. Christopher Buck shows our very own Sgt. Reece Heck how proper running form will decrease your running time and prevent long-term injuries... MORE

Thumbnail image for "How the Heck do you run properly" video

TF Tomahawk finishes post mobilization training, departs overseas
May 22, 2023 — Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard, including Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, Col. Brad Carter, Col. Andrew Ballenger and Command Sgt. Maj. John Hernandez, bid farewell to members of Task Force Tomahawk as they officially depart overseas to the Horn of Africa... MORE

Oklahoma NG hosts Wellness Day event
May 17, 2023 — As part of the Oklahoma National Guard's marking of Mental Health Awareness Month, members of the OKNG attended the annual Wellness Day event in Norman, Oklahoma, on May 9, 2023.The event brought together members of the Army and Air National Guard, creating a unique opportunity for collaboration and learning. The focus of the day was centered... MORE

Col. Lindy I. White, divison chief, health and wellness, delivers opening remarks during the Oklahoma National Guard Health and Wellness Event at the Armed Forces Reserve Center, Norman, Okla., 09 May, 2023. The health and wellness event focused on the five pillars of health; physical, occupational, social, spiritual and financial wellness. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Brig. Gen. Harrison retires
May 11, 2023 — Brigadier General Harrison hung up his uniform on May 6, 2023, after a moving retirement ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, after 39 years of service... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jon Harrison, former assistant adjutant general for Oklahoma, speaks during his retirement ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Lexington, Oklahoma, May 6, 2023. Harrison built a distinguished career over the course of 39 years and earned many awards for his service, including the Legion of Merit and Bronze Star Medal. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

146th ASOS trains under new mission set
May 10, 2023 — Tactical air control party specialists with the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron performed familiarization training for a new career field mission set at Fort Sill, Okla., May 10, 2023. The TACP Airmen conducted land navigation across rugged terrain to a broad area of land where they performed reconnaissance operations that would help develop intelligence on strategic level threats for the air component commander... MORE

An Airman crosses through a field of grass

137th SOW hosts students, community partners for fly-in
May 4, 2023 — The 137th Special Operations Wing hosted a fly-in event at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, May 4, 2023. This event demonstrated to high school students, community partners and honorary commanders from around the state how every unit on base contributes to deploying Oklahoma Citizen Airmen around the world... MORE

high school students look through night vision goggles excitedly

Oklahoma Guardsmen compete to be Best Warrior
May 2, 2023 — Twelve of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s best Citizen-Soldiers gathered to battle it out for the title of Best Warrior at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 20-23. At the end of the competition, Sgt. Evan Bias, a cavalry scout from Tuttle, Oklahoma, took home the title of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year, and Spc. Carson Downum, a horizontal construction engineer from Claremore, Oklahoma, earned the title of Soldier of the Year... MORE

Command Sgt. Major John Hernandez (left), state command sergeant major for Oklahoma, and Sgt. Evan Bias, a cavalry scout assigned to 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, pose at the awards ceremony for the 2023 Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, April 23. The annual competition brings Soldiers together to demonstrate their proficiency in a variety of warrior tasks and drills such as land navigation, marksmanship, an obstacle course, and a 12-mile ruck march, all culminating in an interview with a panel of sergeants major. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

137th SOW hosts Oklahoma JROTC state drill championships
April 17, 2023 — The Oklahoma JROTC held their 2023 state drill championship meet at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, April 8, 2023... MORE

two junior rotc cadets exhibit color guard drill demonstration skills

South African native earns US naturalization before military deployment
April 12, 2023 — A South African native currently serving in the Oklahoma Army National Guard is preparing to deploy overseas while also studying for his naturalization test... MORE

Private 1st. Class Dewald Ekron, Bravo Company, 1st Battalion, 179 Infantry Regiment, Oklahoma National Guard, stands before conducting actions on the objective during pre-moblization training at Ft. Riley, Kan., 25 March 2023. Ekron, a South Africa native, moved to the United States in 2017 to pursue farming. More than 1,000 Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen, including a company each from Nebraska and Indiana, will deploy overseas as Task Force Tomahawk in support of operations within U.S. Africa Command’s area of responsibility. While there, they will provide security support at five installations across multiple East African countries. (Oklahoma National Guard by Sgt. 1st Class Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Video by Pfc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah

Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers compete in the Sergeant Major’s Match and Governors Twenty Marksmanship Competition

Oklahoma National Guard

Sept. 15, 2023 | 1:06

The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s top marksmen were locked, loaded and aimed for excellence for the Sergeant Major’s Match and Governor’s Twenty marksmanship competition, Sept. 14-17.

The competitions consisted of accuracy matches on the M4 carbine and the M17 pistol, and tests a Citizen-Soldier’s ability to shoot from various positions and distances, taking them out of their comfort zone.

The Sergeant Major’s Match includes closer targets, faster reloading, and more weapons manipulation. The Governor’s Twenty focuses more on long-distance precision and accuracy.