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News from the Oklahoma National Guard

NEWS | March 14, 2025

OKGuard, SWOSU, Weatherford sign agreements fostering greater cooperation

OKLAHOMA CITY – Leadership with the Oklahoma National Guard, the city of Weatherford and Southwestern Oklahoma State University sign new agreements, building on years of shared commitment.

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, signed a memorandum of agreement with SWOSU president, Dr. Diana Lovell, and a memorandum of understanding with Weatherford Mayor Mike Brown, laying the foundation for continued partnership.
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VIDEO | 00:39 | OKGuard, SWOSU, Weatherford sign agreements fostering greater cooperation

The memorandum of agreement signed with Lovell outlines each party’s commitment to the continuation of the Guard Officer Leadership Development program, allowing commissioning opportunities for current-serving Oklahoma Army National Guard Soldiers and SWOSU students.

The SWOSU GOLD program was created on November 8, 2007 to develop future commissioned officers in the OKARNG geared to improve and develop the student’s sense of community. The program further develops the Army values in student-leaders and gives opportunities to apply those values in the local community.

In addition, the memorandum Mancino signed with Mayor Brown officially establishes a 50-person detachment located in Weatherford. This detachment marks one of the first moves for the OKARNG getting back into the communities.

The Oklahoma National Guard is composed of more than 8,000 citizen Soldiers and Airmen from across the state.

“The heart and blood of Oklahoma is the rural communities,” Mancino said. “We need to tap into that.”
(front row, left to right) Mayor Mike Brown, mayor of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Dr. Diana Lovell, Southwestern Oklahoma State University president, and Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, gather after signing agreements at Weatherford city hall in Weatherford, Oklahoma, March 12, 2025. The ceremony celebrated the signing of agreements, fostering cooperation between the city, university and the Oklahoma National Guard. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Tyler Brahic)
SLIDESHOW | 3 images | 250312-A-YN655-5563 (front row, left to right) Mayor Mike Brown, mayor of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Dr. Diana Lovell, Southwestern Oklahoma State University president, and Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, gather after signing agreements at Weatherford city hall in Weatherford, Oklahoma, March 12, 2025. The ceremony celebrated the signing of agreements, fostering cooperation between the city, university and the Oklahoma National Guard. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Tyler Brahic)
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
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