News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma National Guardsmen depart to support 60th Presidential Inauguration
January 16, 2025 — The Oklahoma National Guard is sending approximately 100 Guardsmen to our nation’s capital to support the 60th Presidential Inauguration. The Oklahoma Guardsmen join nearly 8,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from approximately 40 states and territories to augment the District of Columbia National Guard... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard Soldiers board a C-130 at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, Jan 16, 2025. The Oklahoma Guardsmen join nearly 8,000 National Guard Soldiers and Airmen from approximately 40 states and territories to augment the District of Columbia National Guard. With a long-standing tradition of supporting presidential inaugurations, the National Guard plays a crucial role in balancing safety, security, and other duties during the peaceful transition of power (Oklahoma National Guard Photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts).

1120th Engineer Utilities Detachment departs for Africa
January 15, 2025 — Family and friends gathered at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, on Jan. 13, 2025, to bid farewell to Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers preparing to deploy on a humanitarian mission to the Horn of Africa... MORE

Soldiers assigned to the 1120th Engineer Utilities Detachment, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, stand in formation during their farewell ceremony at the Muskogee Readiness Center in Muskogee, Oklahoma, Jan. 13, 2025. Approximately 50 Soldiers will deploy overseas to support U.S. Africa Command in engineering and utilities projects across the Horn of Africa.

138th Fighter Wing Participates in Readiness Exercise
January 14, 2025 — The 138th Fighter Wing participated in a basewide readiness exercise at the Tulsa Air National Guard Base on Jan. 12, 2025... MORE

Lt. Col. Zachary Williams, 125th Fighter Squadron, prepares to depart from the flight line during a base wide exercise at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., Jan. 12, 2025. During the exercise, the Airmen were evaluated on their ability to maintain mission operations while operating in a simulated deployed environment, performed duties such as post-attack reconnaissance (PAR) team routes, simulated attacks, and tactical combat casualty care procedures. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Addison Barnes)

Army Increases Tuition Assistance, Adjusts Credentialing Program
December 17, 2024 — WASHINGTON - The Army announced policy updates to voluntary education programs for active-duty, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers. The new guidance includes a $500 increase and a two-semester-hour increase for tuition assistance and changes to the credentialing assistance program. “The Army recognizes the value of the tuition assistance and... MORE

The Army announced policy updates Dec. 11, 2024, for the tuition assistance and credentialing assistance educational programs for Active-Duty, Reserve, and National Guard Soldiers. The changes include increased semester hour and dollar amount caps for TA and a reduction in the dollar amount cap for CA.

OKGuard Family Program Office recognized for Hurricane Helene support
December 17, 2024 — Oklahoma City -- Members of the Oklahoma National Guard's Family Program Office were presented with certificates of appreciation from the Florida National Guard Family Program Office on Dec. 9, 2024, for providing remote relief to more than 750 FLNG Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance. The support lessened... MORE

Warren Griffis (left), Jennifer Roberts (middle), both members of the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, stand with Col. Yolanda Murray (right), director of manpower and personnel for the OKNG, after being presented certificates of appreciation from the Florida National Guard Family Program Office for providing remote relief to more than 750 FLNG Soldiers affected by Hurricane Helene by offering resource referral assistance. The support lessened the burden of the Florida National Guard while enabling their Guardsmen to focus on responding to the devastation. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Pat Haynes awarded Thunderbird Medal
December 17, 2024 — Pat Haynes, a volunteer for the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, was presented with the Thunderbird Medal for her dedication to supporting the families and children of Oklahoma's service members... MORE

Pat Haynes, volunteer for the Oklahoma National Guard Family Program Office, is awarded the Thunderbird Medal for dedicating countless hours to the Oklahoma National Guard, utilizing her extensive training and experience as a child and family counselor to support OKNG efforts. The Thunderbird Medal is the Oklahoma National Guard’s highest award presented to a civilian. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

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)

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.