Twenty-one Soldiers assigned to Kentucky's 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS), were recently awarded the Army Sea Duty Ribbon (ASDR) for their support to a joint mission alongside the U.S. Navy 5th Fleet during the unit’s deployment to the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) area of operations during fiscal year 2024.

Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard and the Djiboutian Armed Forces met in Kentucky from July 21–23, 2025, to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their partnership and strengthen ongoing cooperation. The event brought together representatives from the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard, Kentucky Emergency Management, Urban Search and Rescue, the Office of Homeland Security, the Cabinet for Economic Development, the Chamber of Commerce, U.S. National Guard Bureau, and a delegation from Djibouti.

Kentucky National Guard’s Task Force Aviation helped fight a wildfire July 8 that was threatening the Dević Monastery, a centuries-old Serbian Orthodox religious site in the Drenica Valley.

Soldiers and Airmen of the Kentucky National Guard engaged in multiple events last week as part of a long-term cyber resilience initiative to exchange knowledge and information, strengthen partnerships, enhance cyber capability, and improve preparedness for cyber incidents, Aug. 11-15, 2025.

The Kentucky National Guard honored U.S. Army Capt. Bee Osborne, Kentucky’s first Army aviator, and celebrated the 110th anniversary of Army aviation during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, Aug. 15, 2025.

Three Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Explosive Ordnance Disposal Flight have been recognized for excellence by the National Guard Bureau.

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron joined with the Portuguese military to strengthen operational readiness and assist with base repairs during a two-week field training assignment to the Azores in June.

The Kentucky National Guard’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and high-yield explosives (CBRNE) Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) recently completed a rigorous external evaluation, demonstrating its capability to respond to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosive incidents, July 29 through Aug. 1, 2025.

U.S. Army Col. Natalie Lewellen, a former state judge advocate for the Kentucky National Guard, was promoted to brigadier general at the Herbert R. Temple Jr. Army National Guard Readiness Center in Arlington, Virginia, on April 18, 2025. Her promotion recognized a career of dedicated service and leadership. Currently, Lewellen serves as the Deputy General Counsel – Army at the National Guard Bureau.

The Kentucky Army National Guard honored Roger Cunningham and Nick Feldman by appointing them as honorary guardsmen for their construction work with the Facilities Management Office (FMO) during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, Aug. 5, 2025.

U.S. Army Lt. Col. Terry Durham was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at the Bowman Field Readiness Center Aug. 6, 2025.