News from the Oklahoma National Guard

700th BSB Soldiers train to operate, defend logistics hub
July 24, 2024 — Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, took part in a field exercise at Glenwood Training Area where the logistics Soldiers trained on multiple Soldier skills, July 13-14, 2024... MORE

The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 700th Brigade Support Battalion sets up a brigade support area at Glenwood Training Area in Midwest City, Oklahoma, July 13, 2024. The 700th BSB used their drill weekend to set up the BSA where they trained on their field crafts, including perimeter security, setting up a mobile kitchen trailer, and various warrior tasks. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

OKGuard’s Thunderbird Challenge Program empowers Oklahoma youth
July 18, 2024 — The Thunderbird Challenge Program, an initiative of the Oklahoma National Guard, is making a significant impact in the lives of at-risk Oklahoma youth by providing tools and opportunities to change their lives for the better... MORE

Art by a Thunderbird Challenge Program cadet hangs on the wall.

Oklahoma ANG F-16s deploy to Polish Air Base for Aviation Detachment Rotation
July 16, 2024 —  Six U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing at Tulsa Air National Guard (ANG) Base, Oklahoma, arrived at Łask Air Base, Poland, today, July 16, 2024.The aircraft arrived in preparation for the next 52nd Operations Group Det 1 Aviation Detachment Rotation beginning July 24.R)... MORE

Six U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons assigned to the 138th Fighter Wing at Tulsa Air National Guard (ANG) Base, Oklahoma, will began operations at Łask Air Base, Poland

138th Fighter Wing wins prestigious Disney Award
June 25, 2024 — The 138th Force Support Squadron services flight won the Senior Master Sgt. Kenneth Disney Award for their exemplary nature in food service in the Air National Guard on March 14, 2024... MORE

138th Fighter Wing Services Flight, October 14, 2023, at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla. Services Flight is responsible for planning, preparing, and cooking meals for Airmen. This includes breakfast, lunch, and dinner, ensuring they are nutritious, balanced, and meet Air Force standards. (Oklahoma Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. C.T. Michael)

45th Field Artillery Brigade holds change of command
June 20, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Field Artillery Brigade held a change of command ceremony at the Mustang Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang, Oklahoma, June 15, 2024, signifying the end of Col. Johnnie Dale Moss’ tenure and welcoming Lt. Col. William Kale Rogers as the new commander... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, passes the brigade colors to Lt. Col. William Kale Rogers, incoming commander of the 45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard during a change of command ceremony held at the Mustang Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang, Oklahoma on June 15, 2024. The changing of command signifies the transfer of responsibility from outgoing commander Col. Johnnie Dale Moss, to incoming commander Rogers. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Pfc. Brooklyn Clark)

Oklahoma Army National Guard member reaches highest rank for warrant officers
June 17, 2024 — An Oklahoma Army National Guardsman has been promoted to chief warrant officer 5, one of the rarest held positions in the state. Oklahoma City native, Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teneshea Jones who serves at the Oklahoma National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters in Oklahoma City as a senior human resource warrant officer was promoted to chief warrant officer 5, June 2, 2024... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Teneshea Jones, of Oklahoma City, is pinned with her new rank of chief warrant officer 5 during her promotion ceremony in Oklahoma City, June 2, making her the first African American female to achieve the rank. Jones currently serves as the senior human resource warrant officer in the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters. Less than one percent of warrant officers achieve the rank of chief warrant officer five, making it one of the rarest ranks to attain within the OKARNG. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Anthony Ackah-Mensah)

Oklahoma National Guard’s STARBASE OKC hosts STEM summer camp
June 14, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard’s STARBASE Oklahoma City hosted a science, technology, engineering and math summer camp at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, June 10-14, bringing excitement and educational opportunities to the children of Oklahoma National Guard members living in the Oklahoma City area... MORE

Larry Tettleton, an instructor with STARBASE Oklahoma City, teaches campers how to program a small robot during the STARBASE OKC summer camp at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, June 10, 2024. More than 50 children of Oklahoma National Guard members and Will Rogers Air National Guard base employees attended the camp where they took part in science experiments, built and coded robots to complete simple tasks, learned about computer aided design, and met with National Guard members to hear how STEM education helped propel them on successful careers in the military. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade welcomes new commander
June 14, 2024 — The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, held a change of command ceremony at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, June 11, 2024, marking the end of Col. Andrew Ballenger's tenure and welcoming Col. Khalid Hussein as the new commander... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, passes the unit colors to Col. Khalid Hussein, incoming commander of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, during a change of command ceremony held at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, June 11, 2024. Command of the 45th IBCT passed from Col. Andrew Ballenger, who led the unit since 2022 through numerous deployments and training exercises. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

1st Lt. Makya Stell wins NetWars, continues OKGuard legacy of cyber excellence
June 12, 2024 — 1st Lt. Makya Stell, a signal officer with the 205th Signal Company, made history and continued the OKGuard's legacy of cyber excellence while winning the annual NetWars competition at Cyber Shield... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guardsman 1st Lt. Makya Stell, assigned to the 205th Network Signal Company, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, wins the annual “NetWars” games during the Cyber Shield training event held at the Virginia National Guard State Military Reservation in Virginia Beach on June 8th, 2024. Stell was the first woman to have ever won the “NetWars” games as an individual player. SANS NetWars focuses on the practical application and assessment of hands-on cybersecurity training. The cyber range enables individuals to apply the knowledge they gained during training week in an isolated environment that prepares them for exercise week. Cyber Shield is the longest-running and largest Department of Defense cyber exercise composed of approximately 900 N.G. and Army Reserve Soldiers, Airmen, civilian cyber professionals, and international partners from across the globe. (North Carolina National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Hannah Tarkelly).

Oklahoma National Guard breaks ground on trench warfare lane
June 5, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard broke ground on a new state-of-the-art one-way attack trench warfare lane at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma on June 2... MORE

Leaders from the Oklahoma National Guard break ground on the Oklahoma National Guard’s new one-way attack trench warfare lane at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma on June 2, 2024. After reviewing how the war in Ukraine has developed over the last two years, Oklahoma National Guard leadership elected to construct a trench warfare lane to ensure its Citizen-Soldiers are ready to face large-scale combat operations against near-peer enemies like Russia and China. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Conner McBride)

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