Kentucky Guard

A Kentucky Soldier’s story of resilience
August 25, 2022 — Due to the flooding that hit Thomassy's family’s home in July, she lost everything, forcing her and her husband and children to live in a camper that was provided by her grandfather and is sitting in her neighbor’s front yard. But despite all that, and even not having uniforms to wear since hers were washed away in the flood waters, she only took a week off before returning to work, showing her dedication and selfless service... MORE

Army Sgt. Kathleen Thomassy-Mills poses with her family. Their home was destroyed in the flooding in Eastern Kentucky July 28, 2022. (

Kentucky refueler keeps flood rescue mission going
August 17, 2022 — Kentucky Guardsman worked for 48 hours by himself during the height if the Eastern Kentucky flood response to keep all the helicopters fuels and in the air... MORE

Army Sgt. William ‘Cecil’ Harris, a fuel Supply specialist with Detachment 1, Carlie Co. 2-238th Aviation- ‘Wildcat DUSTOFF’ poses for photo in front of his HEMMTT fuel truck which is capable of holding 2,500 gallons of fuel, which he used to help fuel the flood response mission in Eastern Kentucky.

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.

Kentucky National Guardsman Graduates Naval War College
August 15, 2022 — Kizziar took the opportunity to attend the Advanced Strategist Program at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island, graduating on March 1, 2022. It is a 13-month course for U.S. Naval officers that focuses on advanced military strategy both on land and sea. Army and Air Force officers are given the opportunity to attend the course to provide cross-service interactions and training to strengthen the bonds between branches of the military in the multi-domain joint environment... MORE

Army Maj. Randall Kizziar graduated from the Advanced Strategist Program at the Naval War College in Newport, Rhode Island on March 1, 2022.

Kentucky Soldier’s passion drives him to help flood victims
August 13, 2022 — One of those Soldiers that stepped into help was Spc. Andrew Melton with Delta Company, 1-149th Infantry. He was in charge of the POD for Breathitt County at the First Church of God in Hazard... MORE

He was in charge of the POD for Breathitt County and the surrounding areas during the flooding in Eastern Kentucky.

Soldier perseveres to become a first in Kentucky National Guard
August 12, 2022 — Pfc. Tristian Hines, of Somerset, Ky., who will be joining the 1-149th Infantry, he was Ranger qualified before he even received his unit’s patch at First Formation July 21, 2022... MORE

Hines arrived at his unit Ranger and Airborne qualified thanks to the Ranger Training Leadership Initiative (RTLI) program, a program in which only National Guard Soldiers qualify for.

Soldier uses local ties to help bring community back from flooding
August 12, 2022 — For Army Staff Sgt. Matthew Dyal from 577th Engineer Company, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, he was eager to answer that call for help. He has been working at several point of distribution (POD) sites, making sure residents receive water and supplies. He has been wearing multiple hats while in charge of a very large POD at Letcher County Central High School in Whitesburg... MORE

The Soldiers are part of a point of distribution site at Letcher County Central High School.

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)

Kentucky Air Guardsman part of Air Force team that won Halo esports competition
August 9, 2022 — Trey Christenson, a technical sergeant in the Kentucky Air National Guard, was attending an esports gaming competition at the beginning of May 2022 to see some friends compete, when a chance meeting led him to assist the United States Air Force team in taking the win by the end of the month during the first official Halo Infinite esports competition in the Department of Defense... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Trey Christensen, an air transportation specialist for the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, was part of an Air Force team that competed in the 2022 Halo Infinite World Finals in San Antonio, Texas, May 11-31, taking home first place. (Courtesy photo)

Spaulding concludes distinguished military career after 35 years of service
August 8, 2022 — Chief Master Sgt. Gary L. Spaulding was retired from the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, June 12, 2022, concluding a 35-year career of distinguished service to the Commonwealth and nation... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Gary L. Spaulding, right, military personnel management officer for the Kentucky Air National Guard, receives a plaque from Maj. Gen. Charles M. Walker, director of the Office of Complex Investigations at the National Guard Bureau, during Spaulding’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., June 12, 2022. Spaulding served 35 in the Kentucky Air Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

National Guard Army Aviation rescue operations in Eastern Kentucky floods
August 3, 2022 — As rain continues to hit most of the eastern part of the state, Kentucky Army Aviation crews carry on their mission of search and rescue and move on to air dropping supplies to Kentuckians in need. Pilots and crews from the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade have worked non-stop since July 28, 2022 to support communities using a combination of UH-60 Blackhawk helicopters and UH-72 Lakota helicopters. ... MORE

Kentucky Army National Guard's Detachment 1, Charlie Company 2/238th Aviation Regiment, MEDEVAC, conduct hoist and land rescue mission for victims of flooding in eastern Kentucky on July 28, 2022. Pilots and crew with the MEDEVAC have been working constantly for days to rescue victims trapped on house roofs, trees, and other high points to avoid floodwaters. (Courtesy photos by Detachment 1, Charlie Company 2/238th Aviation Regiment, MEDEVAC)

Kentucky Air Guard Special Tactics rescue 19 after devastating floods
August 1, 2022 — Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron rescued 19 stranded residents and two dogs in the aftermath of historic flooding that claimed at least 28 lives in Eastern Kentucky in July 2022... MORE

An Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Special Tactics Squadron search for flood victims from a helicopter in Eastern Kentucky on July 30, 2022. In response to devastating flooding, the unit coordinated 29 rotary-wing relief missions, rescued 19 people and two dogs, and recovered four bodies. Their command-and-control efforts also facilitated the assistance or recovery of 40 people. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

Lalonde retires after three decades in the Kentucky Air Guard
July 30, 2022 — After more than 30 years of service to the Kentucky Air National Guard, Col. David S. Lalonde was officially retired in a ceremony held in Louisville, Kentucky, May 14, 2022... MORE

Col. Robert Hamm, left, former commander of the 123rd Operations Group, presents Col. David Lalonde, director of Air operations at Joint Forces Headquarters—Kentucky, with the Legion of Merit during Lalonde’s retirement ceremony, held May 14, 2022 at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Ky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Clayton Wear)

2/147th Bravo Co. Renegades take over Camp Grayling Airfield to Conduct Annual Training
July 26, 2022 — Fifty-six Soldiers from Bravo Co. 2/147th and two medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, or HHC, loaded five UH-60 helicopters on July 9th in Frankfort, Ky., and made their way north to Camp Grayling Airfield on Michigan's northern peninsula to conduct annual training... MORE

Fifty-six Soldiers from Bravo Co. 2/147th and two medics from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, or HHC, loaded five UH-60 helicopters on July 9th in Frankfort, Ky., and made their way north to Camp Grayling Airfield on Michigan's northern peninsula to conduct annual training.

Military Reserve Exchange Program National Guard & Reserve Growing Partnerships to Last a Lifetime
July 26, 2022 — The Military Reserve Exchange Program (MREP) was hosted at Camp Nymindegab, Denmark July 1-8, 2022 by the Danish Home Guard (DHG). Over 50 reservists and National Guard members from 18 different states and Puerto Rico, combined with around 90 military members from four countries including, Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania took part in this joint, multinational program. The MREP, selects United States National Guard and Reserve members from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marines. The selected participants are part of a one-for-one exchange of personnel from a NATO allied country... MORE

Participants for MREP 2022 work together on team building exercises at Camp Nymindegab July 7, 2022. MREP is a program that houses almost 130 participants from 6 different nations, to increase interoperability, strengthen partnerships, and to enhance professional development between allies.

TAG Match
July 26, 2022 — The event brings together the state's top marksmen to participate as individuals as well as a team. All team members had to be from the same battalion or equivalent type unit... MORE

TAG match individual competition portion of the annual "TAG Match" on July 23rd, 2022 on Wendell H. Ford Training Center.

Kentucky National Guard Welcomes New Military Judge
July 25, 2022 — Military attorneys from all branches of the Department of Defense attended the Military Judge Course at The Judge Advocate General’s Legal Center and School where they received advanced schooling required to qualify as military judges at courts-martial. Army Lt. Col. Richard Couch, a JAG Officer for the Kentucky National Guard and Assistant Clay County Attorney in Manchester, Kentucky was officially robed during an investiture ceremony July 1, 2022... MORE

Army Col. Jason Shepherd (left), Army Lt. Col. Richard Couch, and Army Col. Natalie Lewellen participated in an robing ceremony after Couch completed the Military Judge Course at The Judge Advocate General's Legal Center and School in Charlottesville, Va. on July 1, 2022. (Photo courtesy of the Judge Advocate Generals Legal Center and School).

Kentucky National Guard Youth and Child Camp 2022
July 22, 2022 — Summer camp fun meets military tradition as children of Kentucky’s National Guard (KYNG) attend the week long Child and Youth Camp at Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp in Nancy, Ky. on July 18-22. At the camp, kids ages 9-15 meet and relate to kids with similar experiences, learn about basic fundamentals in the military, and are inspired by their mentors... MORE

Campers attend the Kentucky National Guard (KYNG) Child and Youth Camp at the Lake Cumberland 4-H Camp in Nancy, Ky. on July 18-22, 2022. The Child and Youth Camp is a KYNG sponsored, 4-H supported weeklong camp for children who have ties to the KYNG. (U.S. Army phot by Pfc. Georgia Napier)

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.

New wing chaplain returns to his roots for Air Guard ministry
July 16, 2022 — The Kentucky Air Guard’s newest chaplain, Capt. James Detwiler, is a native of Eminence, Kentucky, who spent four years on active duty before returning home to provide religious ministry to Airmen in the Commonwealth... MORE

Capt. James Detwiler is the newest chaplain at the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing. He previously served as a base chaplain at F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyo., and is a Kentucky native who graduated from the University of Kentucky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Joshua Horton)

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