News from the Oklahoma National Guard

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)

Oklahoma Army National Guard hosts Best Warrior
November 12, 2024 — Sixteen Soldiers from the Oklahoma Army National Guard competed in the 2025 OKARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 6-8, 2024... MORE

(left-right) Spc. Wesley McLin, a resident of Moore, Oklahoma, and Sgt. Bryce Hill, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, complete the ruck march phase of the Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, Nov. 8, 2024. Both Soldiers are assigned to the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and participated in the OKARNG Best Warrior Competition which aims to test and recognize the skills, endurance and professionalism of the best Soldiers and NCOs within the organization. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

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)

Video by Spc. Cambrie Cannon, Sgt. Haden Tolbert

Oklahoma Guardsmen face-off against drones in survivability exercise

Oklahoma National Guard

June 12, 2025 | 1:34

Soldiers assigned to the 45th Infantry Brigade took part in the first of a series of counter-unmanned aircraft exercises at Camp Gruber Training Center on June 12 and 13. This exercise focused on Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th IBCT being forced to avoid, react to, and counter reconnaissance drones and first-person view drones deployed to harass them as they battled opposing force role players.