Kentucky Guard

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... MORE

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.

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... MORE

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.

Kentucky Airmen sharpen war-fighting at Combat Readiness Center field exercise
July 21, 2025 — More than 50 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Security Forces Squadron and 123rd Contingency Response Group joined with members of the Colorado Air Guard and the Ecuadorian Air Force to sharpen their war-fighting skills during a field exercise at the Combat Readiness Training Center, May 21-29, 2025... MORE

An Airman from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group lays prone to fortify a defensive position at the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center in Alpena, Michigan, May 24, 2025.

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... MORE

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.

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... MORE

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.

Bosslift gives employers an inside perspective on Kentucky Air Guard mission
July 14, 2025 — The 123rd Airlift Wing flew a group of civilian employers to Barkley Regional Airport in Paducah, Kentucky, aboard a C-130J Super Hercules aircraft May 14 to see how Kentucky Air Guardsmen would respond to a major earthquake... MORE

Staff Sgt. Tyler Phillips, a loadmaster from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 165th Airlift Squadron, explains his duties to a civilian employer during an orientation flight over Kentucky aboard a C-130J Super Hercules as part of a "Bosslift" held May 14, 2025.

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... MORE

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.

Sign unveiled for Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway
July 11, 2025 — A portion of U.S. Highway 127 in Frankfort has been officially designated the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway. The dedication coincided with the 233rd anniversary of the founding of the Kentucky militia. The designation was approved by the Kentucky General Assembly through a joint resolution earlier this year. The mile-long stretch between Louisville Road and Devil’s Hollow Road was renamed during a ceremony at Boone National Guard Center, where new signage was unveiled, June 24, 2025... MORE

A portion of US Route 127 in Franklin County—known as the West Frankfort Connector, from the intersection with US 60 (Louisville Rd) to KY Route 1005 (Devil’s Hollow Rd)—has officially been designated the Kentucky National Guard Memorial Highway, in recognition of the brave men and women who have served and sacrificed for our Commonwealth and nation. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st. Class Benjamin Crane)

Kentucky National Guard Field Artillery gets back to the basics
July 11, 2025 — Soldiers of 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery got back to the basics, mastering artillery fundamentals and training for evolving threats posed by unmanned aerial systems (UAS) during their annual training, June 6-21, 2025... MORE

After setting the howitzers, the unit conducted a dry fire mission to ensure the weapons were functioning properly.

1-149th Infantry “Mountain Warriors” participate in Exportable Combat Training Center exercise
July 10, 2025 — Soldiers of the Kentucky National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry conducted annual training to sustain mission-essential task proficiency at the Exportable Combat Training Center in Fort Pickett, Va., June 19, 2025... MORE

Soldiers of 3rd Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 149th Infantry, practice assault tactics using blank fire ammunition on a training range as a part of the Exportable Combat Training Center (XCTC) exercise at Fort Pickett, Virginia, June 19, 2025.

123rd CRSS, Chapman earn top national awards in Contingency Response field
July 7, 2025 — The Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Support Squadron was selected as the Expeditionary Operations Unit of the Year for 2024 in the National Guard Bureau’s Global Air Mobility Support System Awards. Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chapman was recognized as the Junior Expeditionary Operations Performer of the Year... MORE

Staff Sgt. Nicholas Chapman, a command-and-control specialist in the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Contingency Response Squadron, was named the Junior Expeditionary Operations Performer of the Year for 2024 in the National Guard Bureau's Global Air Mobility Support System Awards.

Bearny appointed command chief for 123rd Airlift Wing
June 30, 2025 — Chief Master Sgt. Blair Baerny accepted the guidon of the 123rd Airlift Wing during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13, signifying his appointment as the unit’s new command chief and highest-raking enlisted Airman... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Blair Baerny, the newly appointed command chief for the 123rd Airlift Wing, speaks during a change-of-responsibility ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville Ky, April 13, 2025. Baerny replaces Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best , who was named state command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Best named top enlisted leader of Kentucky Air National Guard
June 29, 2025 — Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best officially assumed the post of state command chief for the Kentucky Air National Guard during a ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13... MORE

U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Steven Best, right, accepts the guidon for Joint Force Headquarters—Kentucky/Air from U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of the Kentucky National Guard, signifying Best’s assumption of the role of state command chief during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 13, 2025. Best replaces U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate, who is retiring. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

State command chief Tongate retires after 28 years of service to Kentucky Guard
June 29, 2025 — Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate concluded 28 years of service to the Kentucky National Guard with a retirement ceremony in Louisville, Kentucky, April 13... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. James Tongate, right, Kentucky Air National Guard state command chief, is presented with the Kentucky Distinguished Service Medal by U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Kentucky’s adjutant general, during Tongate’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., April 13, 2025. Tongate served the U.S. military for 33 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Kentucky National Guard Honors Five Spiritual Leaders for Lifelong Service
June 26, 2025 — The Kentucky National Guard paid tribute to its spiritual leaders during a ceremony held at the Wellman Armory auditorium June 25, celebrating decades of service, compassion, and commitment... MORE

The ceremony also included Lamberton awarding four former state chaplains with the Order of Martin of Tours medallion for their many years of faithful service.

Kentucky Guardsman Interprets Native Language, Cyber Skills
June 13, 2025 — Kentucky Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Daniel Jarillo-Gutierrez and over 900 Soldiers, Sailors, Guardians and civilian experts participated in Cyber Shield 2025, a cybersecurity exercise held in Virginia from May 30 to June 13. They collaborated to share best practices and build a unified defense against cyber threats. Using his trilingual skills – English, Spanish, and cyber expertise – Jarillo-Gutierrez worked with Ecuadorian participants to strengthen Kentucky’s partnership with Ecuador by enhancing both nations’ cybersecurity capabilities during this exercise... MORE

Staff Sgt. Daniel Jarillo-Gutierrez, an information technology specialist assigned to Joint Force Headquarters with the Kentucky Army National Guard participates in exercise Cyber Shield 2025 with Ecuadorian state partners in Virginia Beach, Virginia, June 4, 2025.

Kentucky Soldiers take part in Region III Best Warrior Competition
June 10, 2025 — Two Kentucky Army National Guardsmen represented the state in the Region III Best Warrior Competition (BWC) at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina, April 21-26... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Syrus Butts, a cannon crewmember with Bravo Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery, participates in the shoot, move, communicate and survive events of the Best Warrior Competition (BWC), Region III phase, held at the Clinton House Range, Clinton, South Carolina, April 24, 2025.

Calm in the Chaos: Flight Medic Training Turns Real
June 5, 2025 — Soldiers of the Louisiana Army National Guard’s 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team and its assigned units reacted to a real-world emergency that occurred during a medical evacuation training exercise on May 14, 2025... MORE

Staff Sgt. Ashley Renye performs during a culminating training event to medically evacuate Soldiers at Fort Cavazos, Texas, May 14, 2025.

Gold Star families unite on the Ohio River for a day of remembrance
June 5, 2025 — Hundreds of Gold Star families came together from across the region to ride aboard the Belle of Cincinnati for the 11th annual Riverboat Ride on the Ohio River, June 1, 2025... MORE

Gold Star family members gather aboard the Belle of Cincinnati during the 11th annual Riverboat Ride on the Ohio River in Newport, Ky., June 1, 2025.

123rd Airmen honored by Kentucky, North Carolina for 2024 hurricane response
June 4, 2025 — Eleven members of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team were recently honored with medals from two states for meritorious service following Hurricane Helene in 2024... MORE

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