News from the Oklahoma National Guard

From scrap paper to state-of-the-art: Oklahoma National Guard unveils new Wellness Center
February 19, 2026 — What began as a simple sketch on a piece of scrap paper has become a reality for Oklahoma Guardsmen and local first responders. Oklahoma National Guard leadership held a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Thursday for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center, a nearly 35,000-square-foot facility at the Oklahoma City Military Complex... MORE

Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, Col. Lindy White and Capt. E.J. Johnson, Oklahoma Army National Guard, are joined by Oklahoma Representative Chris Kannady, Flintco Construction, Larson Design Group, and Oklahoma Army National Guard Construction and Facilities Maintenance Office, during the ribbon cutting ceremony for the Oklahoma National Guard Wellness Center in Oklahoma City, Feb. 19, 2026. The 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. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma National Guard general nominated for top Air Force legal post
February 18, 2026 — The Oklahoma National Guard is proud to announce that one of its own, Air Force Brig. Gen. Christopher A. Eason, has been confirmed for appointment to the grade of major general and assignment as The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force and Space Force. Brig. Gen. Eason will be the first Air National Guardsmen to hold this post since its establishment on January 25, 1949. ... MORE

Official Portrait of Brig. Gen. Christopher A. Eason

A Culinary Dynasty: 903rd Quartermaster Company secures third consecutive state title
February 11, 2026 — The 903rd Quartermaster Company has once again proven they are the culinary force to be reckoned with, taking home first place for the third consecutive year in the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s annual Culinary Excellence Competition held at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Norman, Oklahoma on February 7... MORE

(left to right) Spc. Jasman Lover-Said, Spc. Lindi Corless, Sgt. Juliana Martinez, Spc. Brayden Buffalohead and Sgt. 1st Class Emmanuel Okonkwo, all members of the 903rd Quartermaster Company, pose with their individual and team trophy after winning the third annual Oklahoma Army National Guard Culinary Excellence Competition, in Norman, Oklahoma, Feb. 8, 2026. This win for the 903rd marks the third time in a row a team representing the 903rd has placed first in the competition designed to recognize outstanding OKARNG cooks. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

OKNG Soldiers take part in annual Mechanic of the Year competition
February 11, 2026 — Guardsmen from across the Oklahoma Army National gathered to compete for the title of Mechanic of the Year at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Norman, Oklahoma, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2026 and Feb. 10, 2026... MORE

Spc. Emmett Jones (left) and Spc. Layton Richmond (right) from the 1245th Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command, Oklahoma Army National Guard diagnoses an issue on a Light Medium Tactical Vehicle during the OKARNG’s 2026 Best Mechanic competition at the Combined Support Maintenance Shop in Norman, Oklahoma, Feb. 7, 2026. Guardsmen from across the state took part in a series of stations designed to test their skills in diagnostics, technical proficiency, including electrical circuits, measuring and inspection, and the use of the Army’s maintenance management system. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma Guard Help Welcomed in DC Amid Freezing Temperatures
February 10, 2026 — OKLAHOMA CITY – While life as usual has resumed for most Oklahomans after Winter Storm Fern, for Oklahoma Guardsmen deployed in support of D.C. Safe and Beautiful, winter storm response is still in full-swing.Lingering subfreezing temperatures in Washington have allowed now rock-hard snow to lock into place, creating road hazards and blocked... MORE

Oklahoma National Guardsmen deployed in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission as part of Task Force Thunder clear snow and ice from walkways around Washington, D.C., after Winter Storm Fern.

Oklahoma National Guard Deploys Motorist Assistance Teams Ahead of Winter Storm
January 23, 2026 — Governor Kevin Stitt has authorized the activation and deployment of Oklahoma National Guard stranded motorists assistance and recovery teams (SMART) following a request by the Office of Emergency Management in preparation for severe winter weather beginning Friday and lasting into the weekend... MORE

Making a Difference: Guardsmen Serve the Nation’s Capital
January 7, 2026 — For Soldiers and Airmen supporting the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission, service in the Nation’s Capital has become more than a duty; it has become an opportunity to strengthen public trust, support civil authorities and gain real-world experience while protecting the community they serve... MORE

Memorial Ceremonies in France Honor 45th Infantry Division
December 8, 2025 — In the hills of northeastern France, far from home but not from history, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard stood shoulder to shoulder with French citizens to honor the legacy of the 45th Infantry Division, their predecessors who helped liberate the region during World War II... MORE

(From right) Lt. Col. Neal Harvey, Brig. Gen. Brad Carter, assistant adjutant general-Army for Oklahoma, and Lt. Col. Caleb Emde prepare to lay a wreath during a ceremony honoring the 45th Infantry Division Soldiers laid to rest at Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Epinal, France, Sept. 24, 2025. The delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in northeastern France against German forces during World War II. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. John Stoner)

OKGuard deepens community ties with new training facility in Weatherford
December 4, 2025 — Leaders from the city of Weatherford, Oklahoma, Southwestern Oklahoma State University and the Oklahoma Army National Guard, gathered Wednesday to commemorate the establishment of the Weatherford Regional Training Facility with a ribbon-cutting ceremony... MORE

Brig. Gen. Colby Wyatt, director of the joint staff for the Oklahoma National Guard, speaks to a crowd in Weatherford, Oklahoma, Dec. 3, 2025, during a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the establishment of the Weatherford Regional Training Facility. The new co-use facility, which is part of a broader effort to expand Oklahoma Guard presence and reintegrate units back into rural communities, will serve as an emergency management hub for western Oklahoma and will be utilized by both Weatherford officials and Alpha Battery, 158th Field Artillery Regiment, 45th Field Artillery Brigade. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Leanna Maschino)

OKGuard leader retires after 34 impactful years
December 4, 2025 — Friends, family and leaders from across the Oklahoma National Guard filled the room at the Oklahoma City Military Complex, Oct. 30, 2025, to celebrate the remarkable career of Col. Floyd Kevin Roland, whose legacy of mentorship, innovation and service helped shape generations of Citizen-Soldiers... MORE

Col. Kevin Roland receives the Legion of Merit from Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, during his retirement ceremony at the Oklahoma City Military Complex in Oklahoma City, Oct. 30, 2025. Roland served 34 years in the military, starting in the Marine Corps before joining the Oklahoma Army National Guard, where he served in numerous impactful roles. Though retired from military service, Roland will continue to serve in a civilian role as the State Youth Programs Director, where he will oversee Thunderbird Challenge Program, Sooner Job Challenge and STARBASE Oklahoma. (Oklahoma National Guard Photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Video by Pfc. Haden Tolbert

Oklahoma National Guard aviation assists in combating wildfires

145th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

July 19, 2022 | 1:50

Aircraft from the Army Aviation Support Facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma assist Oklahoma Forestry Service in fighting a wildfire in Blaine County, Oklahoma, July, 2022. The Oklahoma National Guard supported the Oklahoma Forestry Services by providing areal firefighting using a UH-60 Black Hawk and LUH-72 Lakota. (National Guard video by Pfc. Haden Tolbert)

CG Information

Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Johnson (00:16- 00:21)
Pilot, UHM-60 Black Hawk

Brian Ryles (00:26 - 00:30)
Forest Ranger, Oklahoma Forestry Service