Under the desert sun of Fort Irwin, Calif., Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, endure intense annual training designed to sharpen their combat readiness, April 8-15, 2026. Through demanding live-fire exercises using the M142 HIMARS, Soldiers learned to operate with greater speed, precision and coordination under realistic battlefield conditions.

Historic artifacts discovered in a hidden time capsule inside a Fort McCoy barracks building are now on public display at the Fort McCoy History Center following a new exhibit completed in April 2026 by the Fort McCoy Public Affairs Office. The exhibit features items that were hidden by Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s 617th Military Police Company in 2004 before the unit deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The collection was unexpectedly discovered nearly two decades later during renovation work in a World War II-era barracks building at Fort McCoy.

Staff Sgt. Jonathan Miller returned to the 152nd Kentucky Derby to lead the joint-service trophy detail at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., May 2, 2026. Transitioning from trophy carrier to noncommissioned officer in charge, Miller’s experience highlights a commitment to the Commonwealth’s traditions and exemplifies how NCOs steward the profession through developing the next generation of leaders.

The 940th Military Police Company traveled to Ecuador May 10-19 for Exercise EL GATO, marking the 30th anniversary of Kentucky’s partnership with Ecuador through the National Guard Bureau’s State Partnership Program. More than a training exercise, the event showcased the unit’s versatility and demonstrated Kentucky’s enduring commitment to interoperability and security cooperation with Ecuador.

Soldiers of Kentucky’s Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, executed a trans-Atlantic live-fire event at the National Training Center during Exercise Arcane Thunder 26. Using the Starshield satellite network to receive real-time targeting commands directly from Germany, the event validated the Army’s global multi-domain capabilities.

During a recent deployment to Southeastern Europe, U.S. Army 1st Lt. Dustin Haubner and his MEDEVAC unit integrated with NATO forces to enhance regional medical support and interoperability. Through joint training exercises with Bosnian and Romanian counterparts, the unit established a strategic healthcare framework that ensures long-term medical sustainment and improved emergency response capabilities for personnel stationed at Camp Butmir.

Cadets from Kentucky’s Appalachian and Bluegrass Youth ChalleNGe academies recently competed in a two-day intrastate field training exercise at the Harold L. Disney Training Center in Artemus, testing teamwork, leadership and program skills. The event featured athletic and academic competitions including softball, flag football, chess, a spelling bee, land navigation and an obstacle course. The exercise is designed to showcase cadets’ development and build confidence through friendly competition, and they plan to make it a recurring tradition held once per training cycle.

Soldiers of the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 207th Engineer Company, 201st Engineer Battalion, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, completed several engineering projects across the commonwealth from May 17-20, demonstrating the professionalism, technical skill and teamwork of the unit’s horizontal and vertical engineers.

Nearly 150 Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers gathered for a departure ceremony at the Boyd County Community Center in Catlettsburg, Ky., May 30, 2026, and will be deploying to Southwest Asia in support of Operation Spartan Shield.

Under the desert sun of Fort Irwin, Calif., Soldiers with 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, endure intense annual training designed to sharpen their combat readiness, April 8-15, 2026. Through demanding live-fire exercises using the M142 HIMARS, Soldiers learned to operate with greater speed, precision and coordination under realistic battlefield conditions.

U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class James Troxell of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery, was promoted to the rank of master sergeant during a ceremony, April 14, 2026.