News from the Oklahoma National Guard

Oklahoma Guardsmen face-off against drones in survivability exercise
June 18, 2025 — 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... MORE

Sgt. Corey Fountain, a tactical unmanned aircraft system repairer assigned to Detachment 1, Delta Company, 545th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, prepares a small first-person view drone to be launched during a UAS exercise at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, on June 12, 2025. The exercise, hosted by the 45th IBCT and featured numerous UAS and counter-UAS systems, focused on preparing infantry Soldiers to react to UAS threats. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma Guardsmen forge combat-ready leaders in Light Leaders Course
June 17, 2025 — Thunderbirds from the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team participated in the Light Leaders Course from June 3-11, 2025, at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma, pushing through an intensive leadership development program designed to sharpen small unit tactics and develop agile, adaptable and deployment-ready combat leaders... MORE

Sgt. Daniel Leikin, a ranger instructor assigned to the Army National Guard Warrior Training Battalion, evaluates Soldiers conducting planning during Light Leaders Course on June 8, 2025 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma. Light Leaders Course is an intensive, leadership development program designed to sharpen small unit tactics and develop agile, adaptable and deployment-ready combat leaders. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

WRANGB hosts arrival ceremony for OA-1K Skyraider II
June 8, 2025 — The 137th Special Operations Wing held a welcome ceremony for the arrival of OA-1K Skyraider II aircraft to Will Rogers Air National Guard Base, June 7, 2025, Oklahoma City. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective, versatile aircraft that will provide essential support for operations outlined in the 2025 Interim National Defense Strategy. WRANGB now serves as the home for the Skyraider II’s formal training unit under the 492nd Special Operations Wing... MORE

A group of Airmen stand in formation in front of an American flag and two aircraft

Oklahoma National Guard lays ground work to honor WWII sacrifice, victory
June 5, 2025 — Eight decades after the 45th Infantry Division marked its final day of combat during World War II, the Oklahoma National Guard has returned to Italy to begin preserving the history of the Thunderbirds who gave the last full measure of devotion in the fight for freedom... MORE

Lt. Col. Luke Kimbrel, commander of the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Greg Kratochwill, command chief warrant officer for the Oklahoma National Guard, survey a hillside near Oliveto, Italy, on May 6, 2025, where in 1943 2nd Lt. Ernest Childers led an assault against German troops that would result in him being presented with the Medal of Honor for his valorous actions. The hill, now called Heroes’ Hill by locals, is one the many sites Oklahoma National Guard leadership is evaluating for possible monuments and memorials commemorating the 45th Infantry Division’s World War II service. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Dachau concentration camp unveils plaque honoring liberators of the 45th Infantry Division
May 29, 2025 — Members of the Oklahoma National Guard and the 45th Infantry Division Association unveiled a new memorial plaque at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site on April 29, honoring the Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division who liberated the camp 80 years ago. ... MORE

A plaque commemorating the Soldiers of the 45th Infantry Division who helped liberate the Dachau Concentration Camp on April 29, 1945, and honoring the memory of Holocaust victims, is displayed at the Dachau Concentration Camp Memorial Site in Germany. Unveiled on the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation, the April 29, 2025 ceremony included members of the Oklahoma National Guard, 45th Infantry Division Association, a Holocaust survivor, a 20th Armored Division veteran, and representatives from the Bavarian Memorial Foundation and the Comité International de Dachau. (Oklahoma National Guard Photo by Staff Sgt. Anthony Jones)

Oklahoma Guardsman receives Star of Valor for saving fellow Soldier
May 20, 2025 — 1st Sgt. Matthew Klemann was awarded the Oklahoma Star of Valor in a ceremony held at the Armed Forces Reserves Center in Norman, Oklahoma, May 18, 2025... MORE

Maj. Gen. Thomas H. Mancino, adjutant general for Oklahoma, presents 1st Sgt. Matthew Klemann, Echo Company, 700th Brigade Support Battalion, with the Oklahoma Star of Valor award at the Armed Forces Reserves Center in Norman, Oklahoma, May 18, 2025. The medal is Oklahoma’s second-highest military award and honors Oklahoma National Guard members who perform heroic or valorous acts in non-combat situations. Klemann received the Star of Valor for his quick and courageous action in administering the Heimlich maneuver during a retirement ceremony in 2021. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Cambrie Cannon)

Nebraska National Guardsmen take 2025 National Guard Region V Best Warrior Competition
May 17, 2025 — Nebraska National Guardsmen Sgt. Luke Entz and Spc. Alexander Thomson, both infantrymen from Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 134th Infantry Regiment, were named winners of the 2025 National Guard Region V Best Warrior Competition on May 16 in Oklahoma City. The competition took place May 12-15 at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, and featured 12 competitors from six states, including Oklahoma, Texas, Louisiana, Nebraska, Kansas and Missouri... MORE

Nebraska National Guardsman Spc. Alexander Thomson, Headquarters Company, 2nd Battalion (Airborne), 134th Infantry Regiment was named the 2025 National Guard Region V Soldier of the year during an awards ceremony held May 16, 2025 in Oklahoma City. The Region V Best Warrior Competition is an annual event that tests Soldiers and non-commissioned officers on their physical and mental endurance, tactical proficiency and overall Soldiering skills. The winning NCO and Soldier of the year will go on to represent Region V at the National Guard Best Warrior Competition later this year, where they will compete against top Soldiers from all 54 states and territories. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Spc. Brooklyn Clark)

DFT Provides Training While Enhancing Welfare
May 14, 2025 — Training and the welfare of service members are just two of the vital aspects of keeping the 138th Civil Engineer Squadron, and the Air Force, mission ready. Recently, the 138th CES participated in a Deployment For Training in Seward, Alaska, that helped facilitate both of these things... MORE

Members from the 138th Fighter Wing and the Seward Military Resort take a group photo during a deployment for training in Seward, Alaska, April 19, 2025. During the DFT, the 138th CES completed vital training while enhancing the resort’s ability to provide support to service members and their families. (Oklahoma Air National Guard Photo by Master Sgt. Rebecca Imwalle)

137th SOW OKANG Airmen maneuver through TRADEWINDS25
May 13, 2025 — Mission Ready Airmen assigned to the 137th Special Operations Wing mission sustainment team, Oklahoma Air National Guard, strengthened critical self-sustaining skills and assessed their ability to operate in multiple expeditionary environments across the Caribbean during TRADEWINDS25, April 21-May 5, 2025... MORE

Skyraider II at Will Rogers ANGB, Ushers in New Era of Special Operations Training
April 22, 2025 — The 492nd Special Operations Wing, in partnership with the 137th SOW, Air National Guard, welcomed the first missionized OA-1K Skyraider II earlier this month. The Skyraider II is a cost-effective, versatile aircraft that will provide close air support, armed intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR), and precision strike capabilities — all essential for operations outlined in the 2022 National Defense Strategy... MORE

A U.S. Air Force OA-1K Skyraider II is parked on the flightline at Hurlburt Field, Florida, Jan. 28, 2025. The OA-1K Skyraider II is a new, flexible, cost-effective crewed aircraft adaptable to deliver capabilities in support of defense priorities. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Natalie Fiorilli)

Video by Sgt. Reece Heck

From Anger to Triumph: How an Oklahoma National Guard Soldier found redemption in MMA

Oklahoma National Guard

July 12, 2023 | 1:39

Spc. Justin Budd, a member of the Oklahoma Army National Guard from Tulsa, Oklahoma, 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.

CG Information:

Spc. Justin Budd
Professional Mixed Martial Arts Fighter
Combat Engineer, 244th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 245th Airfield Operations Battalion, 90th Troop Command
(00:10-00:14)