News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma National Guard Soldier Harnesses Fighting Spirit
July 20, 2023 — An Oklahoma Army National Guard member, Spc. Justin Budd harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way. Battling with anger issues throughout his youth, Budd found purpose in Mixed Martial Arts, enabling him to transform his life. ... MORE

Spc. Justin Budd, a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, harnessed his fighting spirit in an unconventional way.

137th Special Operations Wing supports Tinker Air Show
July 11, 2023 — Members of the 137th Special Operations Wing joined the Oklahoma Air National Guard Recruiting team to share the Wing's history and Oklahoma Air National Guard information with people attending the 2023 Tinker Air Show, July 1-2, 2023... MORE

The U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels, perform at the Tinker Air Show on July 1, 2023, at Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City. The Blue Angels joined members of the joint and total force at the Tinker Air Show to showcase the diverse aspects of aviation. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Erika Chapa)

Oklahoma ANG TACPs support Air Defender 2023
June 30, 2023 — Members of the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, Oklahoma National Guard, supported exercise Air Defender 2023, providing joint all-domain command and control to the combined force air component commander June 12-23, 2023, throughout the U.S. European Command area of responsibility... MORE

From right: U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Richie Thammavongsa, Staff Sgt. Henry Castagnetta, and Senior Airman Jarret Tyra, all tactical air control party specialists with the 146th Air Support Operations Squadron, 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma National Guard, determine the distance to a point using a pocket laser range finder as the team rehearses reconnaissance operations during exercise Air Defender 2023 (AD23) in Germany June 19, 2023. Exercise AD23 is a German-led exercise that integrates both U.S. and Allied air-power to defend shared values, while leveraging and strengthening vital partnerships to deter aggression around the world. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Brigette Waltermire)

45th FAB Soldiers take on Western Strike 2023
June 29, 2023 — Members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Field Artillery Brigade, along with support elements from 90th Troop Command, contended with the harsh summer elements and forested terrain at Fort Chaffee for exercise Western Strike, June 16-30, 2023... MORE

An Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldier with the 45th Field Artillery Brigade, provides security from the turret of a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System during exercise Western Strike at Fort Chaffee, Arkansas, June 21, 2023. Western Strike is a highly immersive and fully instrumented training comparable to a combat training center that aims to prepare units like the 45th FAB for overseas operations. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Rayon)

Oklahoma state senator joins OKANG
June 26, 2023 — Tom Woods, an Oklahoma state senator, took the oath of enlistment on Monday, June 26, 2023... MORE

U.S. Air Force Maj. Rex Alan Star, left, Arkansas Air National Guard, issues the oath of enlistment to Tom Woods, an Oklahoma state senator, at the Oklahoma State Capitol on June 26, 2023, Oklahoma City. Woods said he enlisted into the Oklahoma ANG for the opportunity to serve more Oklahomans than who he currently serves in his congressional district. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman Erika Chapa)

Oklahoma Guardsmen win Cyber Shield; a modern cyber warfare training exercise
June 16, 2023 — With technology continuing to advance at an unprecedented pace along with its associated threats, members of the Oklahoma National Guard joined approximately 800 military and civilian cyber professionals from 35 states, including international partners, for this year’s Cyber Shield, June 2-16. This year's exercise, won by the Oklahoma team for the second year in a row, was centered on critical infrastructure protection, incident response, network defense with a specific tie to U.S. Transportation Systems Sector and other crucial aspects of cybersecurity... MORE

Members of the Oklahoma National Guard cybersecurity team work together to defend networks during Cyber Shield 2023, held at the Professional Education Center in Little Rock, Arkansas, June 10, 2023. With technology continuing to advance at an unprecedented pace along with its associated threats, members of the Oklahoma National Guard joined approximately 800 military and civilian cyber professionals from 35 states, including international partners, for this year’s Cyber Shield, June 2-16, 2023. This year's exercise, won by the Oklahoma team for the second year in a row, was centered on critical infrastructure protection, incident response, network defense with a specific tie to U.S. Transportation Systems Sector and other crucial aspects of cybersecurity. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

1-158th Field Artillery Regiment prepare HIMARS for Western Strike 2023
June 14, 2023 — Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, Oklahoma Army National Guard, had the opportunity to train alongside members of the U.S. Air Force during a Joint Aircraft Inspection and High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems Rapid Infiltration (HI-RAIN) training mission at the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport, June 14, 2023... MORE

Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade, back a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) into a C-17 aircraft in preparation for transport at the Lawton-Fort Sill Regional Airport June 14, 2023. The Soldiers were loading the HIMARS into C-17 aircraft assigned to the 97th Air Mobility Wing out of Altus Air Force Base as part of a joint exercise to practice the Soldiers’ and Airmen’s skills to rapidly and safely transport the launchers and equipment across large distances. (Oklahoma Army National Guard photo by Spc. Caleb Stone)

Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers begin Innovative Readiness Training mission in Hawaii
June 12, 2023 — More than 30 Oklahoma Army National Guard engineers assigned to the 3120th Engineer Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, arrived at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, June 11, where for the next few weeks they will be renovating the Girl Scouts of Hawaii’s Camp Kilohana... MORE

Sgt. Hunter Konemann, a Mustang, Oklahoma resident serving as a carpentry and masonry specialist with the 3120th Engineer Support Company, 120th Engineer Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard, builds support beams for a deck at the Girl Scouts of Hawaii's Camp Kilohana near Pahokuloa Training Area, Hawaii, June 14, 2023.

The Soldiers of the 3120th ESC are taking part in an Innovative Readiness Training program to improve their skills as Army engineers while providing the Girl Scout camp with improvements. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Task Force Tomahawk arrives in Africa, assumes responsibility of crisis response mission
June 7, 2023 — Task Force Tomahawk, comprised of Citizen-Soldiers from the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, has successfully arrived in Africa, marking a significant milestone in America's ongoing commitment to protect and support its personnel and facilities across the continent... MORE

Lt. Col. Brent Weece, commander, Task Force Tomahawk, shakes hands with the commander of Task Force Wolfhound, New York National Guard, during the transfer of authority ceremony between the two units at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, June 3, 2023. (photo provided by Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa)

219th Engineering Installation Squadron Stays Mission Ready With Tower Rescue Training
June 6, 2023 — The 219th Engineering Installation Squadron, 138th Fighter Wing recently conducted tower rescue training, a crucial aspect of their mission preparedness... MORE

Airman 1st Class Gregory Crowder and Joe Kuhn, 219th Engineering Installation Squadron cable and antenna systems technicianans, right, climb up an antenna tower during tower rescue training at Tulsa Air National Guard Base, Okla., June 3, 2023. The training simulates a scenario where an Airmen would pass out while still attached to the tower, requiring their wingmen on the ground to pull them away from the tower as they are lowered to safety. (U.S. Air National Guard Photo by Airman 1st Class Addison Barnes)

Video by 1st Sgt. Mireille Merilice

U.S. Soldiers, Partners and Allies Forge Ahead

145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Sept. 9, 2024 | 0:58

U.S. Soldiers, partners and allies forge ahead for progress during Saber Junction, a training exercise held at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center in Hohenfels, Germany, Sept. 9, 2024. Saber Junction 2024 is a multinational airborne exercise led by the U.S. Army in Europe, showcasing the abilities of 173rd Airborne Brigade to swiftly deploy across Europe alongside our allies and partners, underscoring the commitment to readiness, interoperability and collective defense to maintain regional stability and security. (Oklahoma National Guard video by 1st. Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)