News from the Oklahoma National Guard

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)

Oklahoma National Guard departs for D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission
December 1, 2025 — Friends, family and Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered Monday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang, Oklahoma for a ceremony held for members of the Oklahoma National Guard’s Task Force Thunder... MORE

Friends, family and Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered for a farewell ceremony held in Mustang, Oklahoma, Monday, Dec. 1, 2025, for nearly 160 Oklahoma Guardsmen for their upcoming mission to Washington, D.C. in support of the D.C. Safe and Beautiful mission. Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt authorized Oklahoma Guardsmen as part of Task Force Thunder to volunteer for the mission, which is scheduled to last approximately 90 days. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Oklahoma National Guard opens new Joint Operations Center
November 20, 2025 — Leaders with the Oklahoma National Guard held a ceremony for the opening of the new Oklahoma National Guard Joint Operations Center, Thursday, in Chandler, Oklahoma... MORE

Leaders with the Oklahoma National Guard held a ceremony for the opening of the new Oklahoma National Guard Joint Operations Center, Thursday, Nov. 20, 2025, in Chandler, Oklahoma. The facility, named after the late Benjamin T. Walkingstick will serve as a collaborative mission command facility dedicated to supporting emergency response efforts across the state. It will be utilized by the Oklahoma National Guard Joint Force Headquarters during domestic responses such as fires, floods, tornadoes and more. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

OKGuard military police unit deploys overseas to Middle East
October 21, 2025 — Friends, family and Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered Tuesday at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang, Oklahoma for a farewell ceremony held for members of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 745th Military Police Detachment, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command... MORE

Soldiers with Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 745th Military Police Detachment, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, 90th Troop Command file into their seats during a farewell ceremony held for them at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Mustang, Oklahoma, Oct. 21, 2025. Friends, family and Oklahoma National Guard leaders gathered to see the nearly 50 Soldiers as they deploy to the Middle East in support of Operation Spartan Shield, a U.S. military operation in U.S. Central Command’s area of operations aimed at building partner capacity and enhancing security in the Middle East. (Oklahoma National Guard photo by Sgt. Haden Tolbert)

Thunderbird Trail: Preserving Sacrifice, Strengthening Connection
September 26, 2025 — Standing among rows of white marble headstones at the Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial, Soldiers of the Oklahoma National Guard bent to place sand from the beaches of Anzio into the carved names of Thunderbirds who never returned home. For today’s Citizen-Soldiers, the gesture was a bridge across generations, connecting their service to the sacrifice of those who fought for freedom more than 80 years ago... MORE

Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans and Italian representatives break ground at a future memorial site to honor the 45th Infantry Division in Paestum, Italy, Sept. 9, 2025. A delegation of Oklahoma National Guard members and veterans toured key locations from the 45th Infantry Division’s campaign in Italy against German forces during World War II, continuing the development of the Thunderbird Trail. The initiative is aimed at preserving the Division's role in World War II through a memorial trail tracing its footsteps through Italy, France and Germany, ensuring their sacrifices are never forgotten. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Danielle Rayon)

Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 Tests Oklahoma Guard's Unmanned Aerial System Capabilities
September 15, 2025 — CAMP GRUBER TRAINING CENTER, Okla. - Oklahoma Army National Guard’s 45th Infantry Brigade Soldiers put their tactics, techniques and procedures to the test Sept. 13 during Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0, the capstone event in a succession of counter-unmanned aircraft exercises held this year at Camp Gruber Training Center.The exercise tested concepts... MORE

Unmanned aircraft systems fly overhead during Exercise Thunderstruck 2.0 at Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma, on September 13, 2025.

137th SOW operates alongside 35th FW at Misawa Air Base
September 6, 2025 — Components of the 137th Special Operations Wing, Oklahoma Air National Guard, integrated with the 35th Fighter Wing to complete annual training at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Aug. 12-18, 2025... MORE

Two uniformed men with decorated patches on their sleeves point at a map.

Video by Spc. Danielle Rayon

Oklahoma National Guard seeks new chaplains

Oklahoma National Guard

Nov. 19, 2023 | 2:38

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma National Guard is seeking to bolster its chaplaincy ranks and recruit individuals with a calling to ministry to serve as chaplains. The role of chaplains is critical in providing religious support to Soldiers and advising command on the religious impact on missions. Currently, the Oklahoma National Guard's chaplaincy is only at about half strength, with all chaplains and chaplain candidates identifying as Protestant Christians. The organization is actively seeking a more diverse chaplain corps, including individuals from different faiths and denominations. Notably, there is currently no Catholic chaplain in the state of Oklahoma. "We absolutely would love to have a far more diverse chaplain corps than we do," said Chaplain Lt. Col. David Jordan, full-time support chaplain for the Oklahoma National Guard. The Guard emphasizes the opportunity it offers for chaplains to live and serve in their communities regularly, transitioning to military service when needed for disaster response or other missions. Chaplain Lt. Col. Jordan-full-time support chaplain for the Oklahoma National Guard 00;00;01;05