News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma Guardsman named US National Guard Region V NCO of the Year
May 29, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Brock Wilson, an Oklahoma City resident serving in the Oklahoma Army National Guard has been named the US National Guard Region V Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. ... MORE

Staff Sgt. Brock WIlson, an Oklahoma City resident and Oklahoma Army National Guard member is recognized as the US National Guard Region V Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Gauret Stearns)

Oklahoma National Guard breaks ground on new museum
May 16, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard broke ground on the new Oklahoma National Guard Museum in Oklahoma City in a ceremony attended by veterans and current National Guard members on May 16... MORE

(Left to right) Chris Benge, president, Oklahoma National Guard Museum Foundation, Denise Neil, executive director, Oklahoma National Guard Museum, Rep. Judd Storm, Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, the adjutant general for Oklahoma, Sen. Brenda Stanley, Rep. John Talley, and Sen. Julia Kirt break ground during a ceremony to commence the construction of the Oklahoma National Guard Museum in Oklahoma City, May 16, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Oklahoma National Guard holds annual Wellness Day event
May 15, 2024 — Members of the Oklahoma National Guard gathered to participate in a Wellness Day event at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, May 7, 2024... MORE

Capt. Essence Campbell, human relations/equal opportunity officer, participates in the “Social Wellness: Mentorship” breakout session during a Wellness Day event at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, May 7, 2024. Planned annually during mental health awareness month, the Wellness Day aims to educate and equip Soldiers and community partners with tools to promote holistic health and readiness for its service members. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma National Guard assists in Sulphur tornado relief
May 13, 2024 — Members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard are assisting residents of Sulphur, Oklahoma recover from a devastating EF3 tornado that tore through the town on April 27. ... MORE

Sgt. Andrew Serna, a Dallas, Texas resident serving with Delta Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard, operates a forklift during tornado recovery efforts at the Murray County Expo Center in Sulphur, Oklahoma, May 9, 2024. Serna is one of the Oklahoma National Guard members activated to assist in warehouse operations supporting the emergency relief effort after an EF3 tornado devastated Sulphur on April 27. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma Guard recruiting battalion hosts fitness challenge for local CTE schools
May 13, 2024 — Oklahoma Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion hosts physical training challenge for local career technical education schools at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma, May 3, 2024... MORE

45th FAB conducts inaugural Mental Health and Suicide Awareness Ruck March
May 13, 2024 — Service members from the 45th Field Artillery Brigade conducted a ruck march to bring awareness to mental health and suicide prevention in Mustang, Oklahoma, on May 5, 2024. ... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen march during the 45th Field Artillery Brigade’s inaugural suicide prevention ruck march held at Wild Horse Park in Mustang, Oklahoma, May 5, 2024. The 45th FAB hosted the ruck march to raise awareness about suicide prevention and the resources available to Guardsmen, veterans and the local community. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Elliot Kim)

Oklahoma Guard transportation unit awarded Meritorious Unit Commendation
May 8, 2024 — Members of the 1245th Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard were presented the Meritorious Unit Commendation in a ceremony held at the Ada Readiness Center in Ada, Oklahoma, May 4, 2024... MORE

Master Sgt. Robert Yates, first sergeant of the 1245th Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard during the company’s 2018-2019 deployment, attaches a Meritorious Unit Commendation ribbon to the company’s guidon during a ceremony at the Ada Readiness Center, Ada, Oklahoma, May 4, 2024. The unit was awarded the commendation in recognition of their accomplishments during their 2018-2019 deployment to Kuwait in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma National Guardsmen face new adversary as they compete for the state's Best Warrior
May 8, 2024 — Competitors found themselves facing a new challenge at Oklahoma's 2024 Best Warrior Competition when they were introduced to an emerging and rapidly growing threat many of them haven't faced... MORE

A unmanned aircraft systems operator pilots a UAS over the 2024 Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 26, 2024. This year's competition saw UAS from the OKARNG's counter-UAS school integrated into the Best Warrior Competition for the first time. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard hosts inaugural Culinary Excellence Challenge
May 3, 2024 — Sometimes a Soldier’s weapon isn’t just a rifle, sometimes it’s a spatula, and that’s one of the unique weapons of choice for Oklahoma Army National Guard cook and culinary specialists competing in the inaugural OKARNG Culinary Competition held at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 26-27. The competition put a team of cooks from across the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team against members of 90th Troop Command’s 903rd Quartermaster Field Feeding Platoon in a battle to be named the best culinary team in the Oklahoma Army National Guard. ... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard cook and culinary specialist serves food to a Guardsman during the inaugural OKARNG Culinary Excellence Challenge at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 27, 2024. The OKARNG hosted its inaugural state-level culinary competition to bring Soldiers together to demonstrate their proficiency in a variety of culinary tasks and drills, fostering a culture of esprit de corps, resiliency, and personal growth for OKARNG Culinary Specialists. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Elliott Kim)

Oklahoma Army National Guardsmen compete for the state’s Best Warrior
April 30, 2024 — Staff Sgt. Brock Wilson and Spc. Johnson Holcomb claimed the titles of Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Soldier of the Year at the 2024 Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, held at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 25-28... MORE

Cpl. Tommy Ratliff, a Bartlesville, Oklahoma resident and member of the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, fires a M240 during the 2024 Oklahoma Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gruber Training Center, April 26, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

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