News from the Oklahoma National Guard

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)

Oklahoma Army National Guard recruiter shows strength in community connection
April 23, 2024 — Over the past 18 months, one Oklahoma Army National Guard recruiter has achieved national recognition, with most of his success being tied to the strong relationship he has within the local school system... MORE

Sgt. McCale Biley, the Oklahoma National Guard's top recruiter for 2023, fills out paperwork in his office.

Oklahoma Army National Guard Chaplain Corps welcomes new candidate
April 18, 2024 — The Oklahoma Army National Guard chaplain corps welcomed a new member as 2nd Lt. Dakota Carrington swore in during an Oath of Office ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol, Tuesday, April 16, 2024. ... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard 2nd Lt. Dakota Carrington swears in as a chaplain candidate during an oath of office ceremony at the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City, April 16, 2024. Carrington is the newest addition to a chaplain corps dedicated to serving a two-fold mission by providing religious support to individual Soldiers as well as advising commanders on the religious impact of missions. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

OK Legislature honors Oklahoma National Guard Day
April 10, 2024 — OKLAHOMA CITY - Members of the Oklahoma Legislature gathered Tuesday morning in a joint session for Oklahoma National Guard Appreciation Day.Major General Thomas H. Mancino, the adjutant general for Oklahoma, addressed the audience and declared April 9, 2024, Oklahoma National Guard Appreciation Day. This day recognizes the National Guard's courage... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, receives a standing ovation after his speech during Oklahoma National Guard Appreciation Day held at the Oklahoma State Capitol, April 9, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by 1st. Sgt. Mireille Merilice-Roberts)

Students and community leaders attend 137th SOW’s Student Flight Fest
March 29, 2024 — Students, educators and community leaders from across the state attended the 137th Special Operations Wing 2024 Student Flight Fest Invitational on March 28, 2024, at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma. The invitational allowed for attendees to diversify their understanding of what opportunities the Oklahoma Air National Guard has to offer and engage with Guardsmen who can provide a different perspective into the 137th SOW mission... MORE

An attendee listens intently as an MC-12W pilot with the 185th Special Operations Squadron, Oklahoma Air National Guard, explains the capabilities of the aircraft during the 137th Special Operations Wing 2024 Student Flight Fest Invitational event held at Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, Oklahoma, March 28, 2024. The invitational allowed for students, educators and other visitors from across the state to broaden their understanding of what the OKANG has to offer through aircraft displays, interactive stations, and discussions with Airmen and Soldiers from diverse career fields.

Oklahoma National Guard to assist McCurtain County amid influx of eclipse tourism
March 18, 2024 — At the request of McCurtain County Emergency Management, the Oklahoma National Guard plans to have members of the 63rd Civil Support Team available to assist local government agencies during the time surrounding the April 8, 2024 eclipse... MORE

Future of drone defense takes flight at inaugural Oklahoma National Guard Counter-UAS Symposium
March 14, 2024 — The quote "This isn't a new weapon, it's a new world,” from the film “Oppenheimer”, set the tone for the inaugural Oklahoma National Guard Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) Symposium at Oklahoma State University’s Hamm Institute for American Energy in Oklahoma City, March 12-13, 2024... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, speaks during the inaugural Oklahoma National Guard Counter-Unmaned Aircraft Systems Symposium in Oklahoma City, March 12, 2024. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Reece Heck)

Oklahoma National Guard Counter-UAS School trains with industry
March 13, 2024 — The Oklahoma National Guard, in collaboration with various industry partners from across the state, conducted a test of the cutting-edge capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at Camp Gruber Training Center, Feb. 22, 2024... MORE

The Oklahoma National Guard, in collaboration with various industry partners from across the state, conducted a test of the cutting-edge capabilities of unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) at Camp Gruber Training Center, Feb. 22, 2024. The budding program addresses the National Guard’s need to adapt to the ever-changing battlefield technologies, including the integration of artificial intelligence, countering the unmanned systems threat, and countless other emerging technologies. This initiative aims to equip and train the OKNG alongside civilian aerospace industry experts and local partners to enhance mission readiness in aviation and aerospace technologies of the future. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Cpl. Danielle Rayon)

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.