138th Field Artillery Brigade

This is the official webpage of the 138th FAB.

Constituted Jan. 21, 1839 in the Kentucky Militia as the Louisville Legion and organized at Louisville. The unit mustered into federal service May 17, 1846 as the first Kentucky Volunteer Infantry and mustered out of federal service May 17, 1847 at New Orleans, Louisiana. May 7, 1860 the unit reorganized in the Kentucky State Guard as the 1st Infantry Regiment (Louisville Legion) to consist of the Louisville Battalion and the Marion Rifle Battalion. 1st Infantry Regiment reorganized in July 1861 at Camp Joe Holt. Indiana, ‘with men of Union sympathy’ as the 3rd Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Louisville Legion). Sept. 9, 1861 the unit mustered into federal service as the 5th Kentucky Volunteer Infantry (Louisville Legion) and mustered out of federal service Sept. 14, 1864 at Louisville. Between 1864 and 1904 the unit reorganized three separate times to fit the changing needs of the unit.

The Kentucky State Guard re-designated March 19, 1912 as the Kentucky National Guard. Under the name change the unit was called into federal service June 18, 1916 for service on the Mexican border and mustered into federal service June 25, 1916 at Fort Thomas. From 1968 to 1969, Kentucky Thunder served a 12-month tour in the Vietnam War. The unit has participated in every major conflict to date since 1839. The unit’s campaign participation includes Mexican War, Monterey, Buena Vista, Civil War (Union service), Shiloh, Murfreesborough, Chickamauga, Atlanta, West Virginia 1861, Mississippi 1862, Kentucky 1862, Tennessee 1862, Louisiana 1862, Indiana 1863, Tennessee 1863, Kentucky 1864, South Carolina 1865, Civil War (Confederate service), Henry and Donelson, War with Spain, Puerto Rico, World War I, Streamer without inscription, World War II, New Guinea, Leyte (with arrowhead), Luzon, Ryukyus, Algeria-French Morocco (with arrowhead), Tunisia, Sicily (with arrowhead), Naples-Foggia (with arrowhead), Anzio (with arrowhead), Rome-Arno, Normandy, Northern France, Southern France (with arrowhead), Rhine Land, Ardennes-Alsace, Central Europe, OEF and OIF. The unit headquarters is currently located in Lexington.

Follow the 138th FAB on Facebook:
https://www.facebook.com/KentuckysThunder/

138th FA BDE NEWS

Kentucky Artillerymen step up, help battle buddy in need
August 15, 2022 — Three years ago, Spc. Akir Jackson was involved in an automobile accident in January 2019 and sustained a traumatic brain injury. Since the accident, he has been bound to a wheelchair and unable to walk. Recently, Jackson got a bigger motorized wheelchair but it was going to be too big to access his house and fellow Guardsmen stepped in to help... MORE

Several Kentucky National Guard Soldiers, as well as, a few civilians, donated their time to help build a needed ramp so Spc. Akir Jackson could access his home with his new electrical wheelchair.

Guarding from a Distance: One Kentucky Officer’s Non-Traditional Approach to serving the Commonwealth
August 10, 2022 — An in-depth look at one Kentucky Officer’s Non-Traditional Approach to serving the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

Career photos spanning the 20 plus careeer of of Col. Shaune Jones, Kentucky National Guard (Courtesy Footage)

Guard Soldiers train with Unmanned Aerial System team
July 22, 2022 — The RQ-11B Raven is a Small Unmanned Aircraft System (SUAS) that provides reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition and force protection for the battalion commander and below during day and night operations. The Raven is roughly 4.2 pounds and has a wingspan of 4.5 feet. It can operate up to 10km away depending on battery and signal strength but can also be handed off while in the air to another operator at a distant end. The video feed comes back to the team on the ground and then can be streamed through a Global Broadcast System (GBS) for command staff to watch live... MORE

The training was conducted by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joe Alexander and Sgt. 1st Class Bryan Welch from 1st Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division out of Fort Campbell, Ky.
and Staff Sgt. Gaylon Johnson, who is the only master trainer in the KYARNG.

Field Artillery Showcases firepower
June 30, 2022 — The 1/623rd utilized this requirement to showcase its capabilities to McCreary County’s Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps (JROTC) and demonstrated a joint training effort by certifying a crew from the 238th Regional Training Institute and hosting Joint Terminal Attack Controllers (JTAC) from the 123rd Airlift Wing, Kentucky Air National Guard. ... MORE

The 1/623rd utilized this requirement to showcase its capabilities to McCreary County’s Junior Reserves Officers Training Corps (JROTC) and demonstrated a joint training effort by certifying a crew from the 238th Regional Training Institute and hosting Joint Terminal Attack

Guarding Thunder over Louisville: a Behind the Scenes Look at the Kentucky National Guard's Involvement in one of the State's Most Significant Annual Events
April 30, 2022 — On April 23rd the Louisville waterfront hosted the 33rd annual Thunder Over Louisville in coordination with the Kentucky Derby Festival. The Kentucky National Guard supported the event in several capacities from the air and on the ground. This is a behind-the-scenes story of the KYNG Thunder Over Louisville mission... MORE

Several units from three Kentucky National Guard Brigades and the 123rd Air Lift Wing supported local agencies in a variety of ways during the 50th Anniversary of Thunder over Louisville Air Show, on April 24, 2022, on Louisville’s Great Lawn.

Kentucky Guard brings “Thunder” back to Louisville
April 23, 2022 — More than 450 Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen supported this year’s event by manning the cannons on the Clark Memorial Bridge, providing security and traffic control, as well as participating in the airshow... MORE

Thunder Over Louisville kicks off the two week celebration leading up to the Kentucky Derby.

History is made during change of command
April 15, 2022 — With Davies becoming the battery commander, it makes her the first female Field Artillery commander in the history of the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

The unit guidon representing an historic exchange of command was handed off to Army Capt. Taylor Davies as she assumed command of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery Brigade in a ceremony Mar. 27.

Leading in the Guard requires more than just Bull$#!t.
January 31, 2022 — Guest Commentary by Lt. Col. Steve Mattingly, 138th Field Artillery Commander Successfully leading a part-time force requires authentic leaders that know their $#!T. The military profession is more accustomed to authoritarian leadership however the evolving nature of our American culture coupled with civilian competition for our volunteer force requires a paradigm shift for an authentic leader. The end goal of Army leadership hasn’t changed; inspire, influence, provide purpose, direction and motivation to accomplish a mission or improve your organization. The manner in which leaders lead is more critical now than ever... MORE

Kentucky Guardsmen talk with cub scouts
November 18, 2021 — Two Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers belonging to Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, along with four Cadets from the University of Kentucky’s Reserve Officer Training Corps’ ‘Kentucky Rangers’ spent time demonstrating military equipment. At the event Soldiers showcased the iconic military Humvee and taught the Scouts how to fold and care for the American flag. ... MORE

Soldiers from the 138th met with the Scouts at a military appreciation night in Lexington, Ky on November 18, 2021

Cyber Shield is a Kentucky kind of thing
September 29, 2021 — This year, cyber professionals from the Kentucky National Guard, the Commonwealth Office of Technology, Louisville Metro Government, and law enforcement partners all joined the cyber fight... MORE

Cyber Shield 2021, Kentucky Army National Guard group photo

138th FA BDE Organization

138th Field Artillery Brigade (Lexington)

https://www.facebook.com/KentuckysThunder

2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery (Lexington)
https://www.facebook.com/TaskForceLongrifles

1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery HIMARS (Glasgow)

103rd Brigade Support Battalion (Harrodsburg)
https://www.facebook.com/103RDBSB/

138th Field Artillery Brigade

138th FA BDE NEWS

138th FA BDE Organization

138th Field Artillery Brigade (Lexington)

Kentucky National Guard Links