An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

News from the Oklahoma National Guard

NEWS | Aug. 6, 2025

OKGuard, RSU agreement builds future leaders

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
SLIDESHOW | 2 images | 250804-Z-NK138-1235 Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
250804-Z-NK138-1235 1 of 2
Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
Download Download Image Link Image Details
Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
250804-Z-NK138-1234 2 of 2
Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino (left), adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh (right), president of Rogers State University, sign a memorandum of agreement for the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s Guard Officer Leadership Development program at RSU, one of the four programs throughout the state. The GOLD program is designed to develop and prepare individuals for commissioned officer roles in the OKARNG, equipping them with the skills needed to lead Soldiers effectively. From 1917 to 1971, RSU was known as the Oklahoma Military Academy which has a storied history within Oklahoma as a premiere military academy. The OMA Alumni association is still heavily involved with the university and GOLD program and has scholarship opportunities available to candidates. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Richard Beam)
Download Download Image Link Image Details

The past and future of military leadership converged at Rogers State University as Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, and Dr. Don Raleigh, RSU president, signed a memorandum of agreement formalizing the Guard Officer Leadership Development program on campus.

Once known as the Oklahoma Military Academy from 1917 to 1971, RSU’s grounds have long echoed with the cadence of Soldiers preparing to lead. That legacy now continues as RSU serves as one of four sites across the state to host the GOLD program — a direct investment in developing the next generation of Oklahoma Army National Guard officers.

With strong support from the OMA Alumni Association, including scholarships available to candidates, the program reflects a shared commitment to preparing Citizen-Soldiers to lead with excellence.

More than a century after its founding as a premiere military academy, Rogers State is once again shaping the leaders of tomorrow.

See more photos at https://www.flickr.com/photos/oklanationalguard/albums/72177720328217729.

Playlist:
Video by Sgt. Haden Tolbert
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
Oklahoma National Guard
Feb. 19, 2026 | 1:03
Video reel: Oklahoma National Guard leadership held a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Thursday, Feb. 19, 2026, for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center, a nearly 35,000-square-foot facility at the Oklahoma City Military Complex in Oklahoma City. Amenities within the wellness center include a fully equipped workout space for resistance training and agility, indoor and outdoor meditation spaces, a chapel, conference rooms, classroom spaces, and a teaching kitchen. The facility also houses OKNG programs and services, including Behavioral Health, Chaplain, Equal Employment Opportunity, Family Programs, Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F), Integrated Primary Prevention, Resilience, Suicide Prevention, Substance Abuse Prevention and Risk Reduction, and Sexual Assault Prevention and Response.
More

Up Next

Now Playing
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
Play Button
1:04
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
Play Button
1:04
From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition
Play Button
1:22
OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition
OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition
Play Button
1:22
OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition
OKGuard military police unit deploys overseas to Middle East
Play Button
0:35
OKGuard military police unit deploys overseas to Middle East
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Play Button
2:13
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Play Button
1:00
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Play Button
2:12
Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Reel: Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
Play Button
1:00
Reel: Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's UAS Capabilities
137th SOW operated alongside 35th FW at Misawa Air Base
Play Button
1:01
137th SOW operated alongside 35th FW at Misawa Air Base
OKANG medical technicians train emergency response with 35th FW flight medicine
Play Button
1:13
OKANG medical technicians train emergency response with 35th FW flight medicine
Oklahoma National Guard, OK-TF1 and special operations partner for helocast training
Play Button
1:16
Oklahoma National Guard, OK-TF1 and special operations partner for helocast training
138th Fighter Wing and Tulsa Airport Partner to Test Drone Defenses
Play Button
0:49
138th Fighter Wing and Tulsa Airport Partner to Test Drone Defenses
Oklahoma Guardsmen face-off against drones in survivability exercise
Play Button
1:34
Oklahoma Guardsmen face-off against drones in survivability exercise
More Videos
Staying Connected
Hosted by Department of War Information Activity - WEB.mil Veterans Crisis Line number. Dial 988 then Press 1