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Medical doctor direct commissions into the Kentucky National Guard
October 18, 2022 — A new medical doctor direct commissioned into the Kentucky Army National Guard in a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky. on Oct. 18, 2022. Capt. Sara Powell took the oath of the commissioned officer with her husband, parents, and daughter watching. Powell will be the new brigade surgeon for the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade in Richmond, Ky... MORE

Army Capt. Sara Powell takes the oath of commissioned officers from Chief Warrant Officer Tim Collins at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky. on Oct. 18, 2022. Powell is the medical facility director at St. Joseph Hospital in Mt. Sterling, Ky. and has commissioned to be the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade surgeon. (U.S. Army photo by Andy Dickson)

Flemingsburg Police Department Honored by Department of Defense
October 12, 2022 — The Flemingsburg Police Department today received the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award, the highest recognition of employers for their support of their employees who serve in the National Guard and Reserve. The award was made to Police Department Chief Brian Bowling by Governor Andy Beshear on behalf of the Department of Defense in a ceremony at the state Capitol... MORE

The Flemingsburg Police Department is awarded the Secretary of Defense Freedom Award at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. on Sept. 29, 2022. The Freedom Award is given to civilian employers of the Guard and Reserves by the ESGR for exceptional commitment to servicemembers' military careers. (U.S. Army photo by Andy Dickson)

Chief Warrant Officer retires after 39 years
October 11, 2022 — Chief Warrant Officer Charles Harris is retiring from the Kentucky National Guard after 39 years of military service and service as an intelligence officer and state security manager. During his career, Harris earned many titles, from being promoted to a colonel, joining the warrant officer corps, and then doctor when he earned his Ph.D. in strategic intelligence... MORE

Chief Warrant Officer Charles Harris (left) thanks his wife, Megan, for her support at his retirement lunch on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky. on Sept. 30, 2022. Harris is retiring after 39 years of military service as a military intelligence officer. (U.S. Army photo by Andy Dickson)

Kentucky National Guard celebrates its newest officers
September 26, 2022 — Seven Kentucky National Guard Soldiers were commissioned to second lieutenant in a ceremony in the rotunda at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky. on Sept. 24, 2022. Officer Candidate class 64-22 received their commissions with family and friends present after attending the 18-month Officer Candidate School held by the 238th Regional Training Institute (RTI) in Greenville, Ky... MORE

Army Maj. Jack Rachau introduces the newly commissioned officers in a ceremony at the Kentucky State Capitol Rotundra in Frankfort, Ky. on Sept. 24, 2022. The new officers will be pinned by family and friends at the ceremony as part of commissioning tradition. (U.S. Army photo by Andy Dickson)

Mounkes takes command of Kentucky Air Guard as new assistant adjutant general
September 13, 2022 — David J. Mounkes was promoted to the rank of brigadier general and officially took charge of the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 13, 2022, at the 123rd Airlift Wing... MORE

Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, left, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, administers the oath of office to Brig. Gen. David J. Mounkes, assistant adjutant general for Air, during a promotion and change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 13, 2022. Mounkes assumed command of the Kentucky Air Guard at the event, taking on the role of assistant adjutant general for Air from Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson, who is retiring. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky Guard signal leaders swap knowledge, build relationships with counterparts in partner nation Djibouti
September 12, 2022 — Although the early-morning sun was still low in the sky, temperatures were already hovering near 100 degrees, as a small group of Kentucky National Guard signal leaders made their way in utility vehicles across the rugged, barren terrain of sunbaked Djibouti, a small country in East Africa... MORE

Wilkinson concludes career as special tactics officer who rose to become top Air Guardsman
September 12, 2022 — Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson concluded his military career at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Aug. 18, 2022, drawing an end to 28 years of service that saw him rise through the ranks to become the state’s top Air Guardsman... MORE

Brig. Gen. Jeffrey L. Wilkinson, center, outgoing assistant adjutant general for Air, renders his final salute to Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, left, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, during Wilkinson’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 13, 2022, as Brig. Gen. David Mounkes, incoming assistant adjutant general for Air, looks on. A career special tactics officer, Wilkinson served the Air Force and Air National Guard for more than 28 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Wing completes aircraft modernization with arrival of eighth C-130J Super Hercules
September 11, 2022 — The 123rd Airlift Wing welcomed its eighth C-130J Super Hercules aircraft to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, Aug. 25, 2022, completing the unit’s transition from legacy C-130H transports... MORE

A C-130J Super Hercules aircraft arrives at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., from Lockheed-Martin Corp. In Marietta, Ga., Aug. 25, 2022. The plane is the eighth J-model to be delivered to the 123rd Airlift Wing since November, completing the unit’s transition from legacy-model C-130H transports. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Chloe Ochs)

Security Forces conduct specialized law-enforcement training
September 10, 2022 — Twenty-two Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron recently conducted a week of training San Luis Obispo, California, focused on supporting law enforcement... MORE

Members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron a conduct riot-control exercise at Camp San Luis Obispo, Calif., May 18, 2022. The event was part of law-and-order training completed by more than 20 unit members over six days in central California. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

123rd Airlift Wing welcomes new command chief
September 10, 2022 — The 123rd Airlift Wing welcomed a new wing command chief, Chief Master Sgt. Steven D. Best, to the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, May 3, 2022... MORE

Command Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best engages with service members from the 123rd Airlift Wing, after assuming the role of wing command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard in Louisville, Ky., May 3, 2022. Best has served with the wing since 1998 in the 123rd Logistics Readiness Squadron, and was awarded First Sergeant of the Year for the wing in 2015. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Chloe Ochs)

Military Police head for deployment
September 7, 2022 — The detachment from the 438th MP Co. will be heading to Kosovo for a year-long mission to provide Military Police Liaison Officer Support to Operation Joint Guardian and will join up with their fellow 438th MP’s who deployed to Kosovo... MORE

This detachment from the 438th MP Co. will be heading to Kosovo for a year-long mission to provide Military Police Liaison Officer Support to Operation Joint Guardian and will join up with their fellow 438th MP’s who are also deployed to Kosovo.

Kentucky Engineer Soldier takes advantage of flood recovery resources available to aid in cleanup.
September 1, 2022 — Sgt. Ronnie Banks is a maintenance section leader with the 207th Engineer Company and a full-time technician as a production controller at FMS 6, which flooded when the North Fork Kentucky River rose to over 43 feet on July 28... MORE

The Armory sits on the North Fork Kentucky River, whose waters rose to over 43 feet.

Kentucky National Guard Soldier helps neighbors during flooding
August 29, 2022 — One of those Soldiers was Staff Sgt. David Hall, a wheeled vehicle mechanic for the 207th Engineers. Hall watched rushing flood waters rise and destroy the first story of his house from a hill behind his home which sits about 20 yards from Troublesome Creek... MORE

Hall watched rushing flood waters rise and destroy the first story of his house from a hill behind his home which sits about 20 yards from Troublesome Creek.

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.

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