Featured Stories

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment, 138th Field Artillery Brigade bears the guidon in front of formation as their M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) display the Kentucky flag. Soldiers in the unit were awarded the Army Sea Duty Ribbon (ASDR) for their efforts during a joint mission with the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet during a deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. (Courtesy photo)
Soldiers awarded Army Sea Duty Ribbon
July 30, 2025
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.

Colonel Amina Mohamed Moussa of the Djiboutian Armed Forces presents a gift to Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, during a key leader engagement in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 23, 2025. The gesture highlighted the mutual respect and ongoing partnership between Kentucky and Djibouti through the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jose Pena)
Kentucky and Djibouti celebrate decade-long partnership
July 29, 2025
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.

Task Force Aviation of Kentucky National Guard, assigned to the 256th IBCT and KFOR RC-E drops water over a wildfire threatening the Devic Monastery in Kosovo, July 8, 2025. Crews worked 19 hours to suppress the fire using helcopter water buckets. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Laura Bradley)
Kentucky National Guard Helps Fight Wildfire of Historic Kosovo Monastery
July 14, 2025
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.

Recent News

U.S. Army Col. Gabriel Spicer is pinned with new rank by his daughter during his promotion ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 24, 2025. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ryan Wilhoit)
Kentucky Aviation officer promoted to colonel
Aug. 6, 2025
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Gabriel Spicer was promoted to the rank of colonel during a ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility located on Boone National Guard Center, July 24, 2025. Spicer, who has served in the Kentucky National Guard for more than 20 years, was surrounded by family, friends, and fellow Soldiers as he was pinned with the silver eagle insignia of a colonel — a rank achieved by only a small fraction of officers.

U.S. Army Sgt. Trevor Denner of Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, coordinates a sling load delivery of rockets to a training area at Camp Buehring, Kuwait. The 1-623d was awarded the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation in April 2025 for exceptional service during its recent overseas deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. (Courtesy photo)
1-623d Field Artillery Awarded Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation
Aug. 4, 2025
The 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment (HIMARS) of the Kentucky Army National Guard was awarded the prestigious Kentucky Governor’s Outstanding Unit Citation in April 2025 for exceptional service during its recent overseas deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve.

Medical personnel from the Kentucky National Guard Medical Detachment (MEDDET) and 1163rd Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) conduct overseas deployment training at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany in April 2025. The mission enhanced Soldier medical readiness and strengthened partnerships with active-duty and host-nation medical personnel. (Courtesy photo)
Kentucky Guard medical personnel enhance readiness and partnerships overseas
Aug. 1, 2025
Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard's Medical Detachment (MEDDET) and the 1163rd Medical Company Area Support (MCAS) participated in training rotations at Landstuhl Regional Medical Center (LRMC) in Germany in April 2025. Their efforts enhanced Soldier medical readiness and strengthened partnerships with active-duty and host-nation medical personnel.

Col. Murphy’s rank is pinned by her son, Brennan, and Brig Gen. Natalie Lewellen during a promotion ceremony at the Wellman Auditorium at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Jul 22, 2025. Murphy has served since 1997, most recently with the Office of Special Victims’ Counsel. (U.S. Army photo by Milt Spalding)
JAG officer gets her wings
July 31, 2025
Surrounded by family, friends and colleagues, U.S. Army Lt. Col. Elizabeth Murphy was promoted to colonel during a ceremony July 22 at Wellman Auditorium at Boone National Guard Center. Murphy, a judge advocate currently on a Title 10 tour with the National Guard Bureau Office of Special Victims’ Counsel, recently transferred from the Indiana National Guard to the Kentucky National Guard Murphy began her military career in 1997 with the Michigan Army National Guard and has earned numerous awards throughout her service.

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to 1st Battalion, 623d Field Artillery Regiment, 138th Field Artillery Brigade bears the guidon in front of formation as their M142 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems (HIMARS) display the Kentucky flag. Soldiers in the unit were awarded the Army Sea Duty Ribbon (ASDR) for their efforts during a joint mission with the U.S. Navy’s 5th Fleet during a deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield and Operation Inherent Resolve. (Courtesy photo)
Soldiers awarded Army Sea Duty Ribbon
July 30, 2025
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.

Colonel Amina Mohamed Moussa of the Djiboutian Armed Forces presents a gift to Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, during a key leader engagement in Frankfort, Kentucky, July 23, 2025. The gesture highlighted the mutual respect and ongoing partnership between Kentucky and Djibouti through the State Partnership Program. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Jose Pena)
Kentucky and Djibouti celebrate decade-long partnership
July 29, 2025
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.

Soldiers assigned to the Kentucky Army National Guard participate in a radio communications knowledge exchange with Djiboutian soldiers at the Djiboutian signal corp compound in Djibouti City, Djibouti, July 14, 2025. The state partnership program conducts military-to-military engagements in support of U.S. defense security goals, facilitating cooperation across all levels of international civil-military affairs, and encouraging relationship building at the state level. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Marcus Hardy-Bannerman)
Cyber, radio exchange deepens US, Djibouti military cooperation
July 18, 2025
Horn of Africa (CJTF-HOA), and the Kentucky Army National Guard teamed up with Djiboutian forces for a cybersecurity and radio communications fundamentals skills-sharing initiative that blended instruction, live demonstrations, and practical exercises.

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton and Pfc. Alexander Stark cut the cake together at the celebration of the 233rd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard in Frankfort, June 24, 2025. The most senior and junior Soldiers cutting the cake together is a tradition that symbolizes the passing of experience and values from one generation to the next. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Benjamin Crane)
Kentucky Guard celebrates 233rd birthday
July 17, 2025
Soldiers, Airmen and community leaders gathered to celebrate the 233rd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, June 24, 2025. The birthday celebration was held in conjunction with the dedication of the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway, and special recognition of the Kentucky National Guard Marathon Team.