Kentucky Guard

Disney Training Center first 'net-zero' site for Kentucky Guard
June 7, 2012 — Nestled in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky, an array of blue, glass-like panel covered buildings sparkle in the afternoon sun. And the more the sun shines, the greater the benefit to the area. The panels harness the power of the sun and produce electricity for the Kentucky National Guard’s Harold T. Disney Training Center. The buildings at the site, near Barbourville, Ky., are unique, and may even be considered an oddity, as they sit in Kentucky’s coal country. But the 851 solar panels at the training center represent an impact the Guard is making for the Commonwealth and the environment... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Chaz Martin, the non-commissioned officer in charge of the Harold L. Disney Training Center, discusses solar panel installation at the site in Artemus, Ky., with a representative of Photon Magazine, June 7, 2012. Photon Magazine visited areas in Kentucky to collect information on solar energy efforts in the Commonwealth.

Kentucky's CERFP best in nation, shatters records during evaluation
May 24, 2012 — Kentucky National Guardsmen assigned to the Chemical Kentucky’s Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and High Yield Explosive Enhanced Response Force Package can call themselves the nation’s best after an evaluation May 24 at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind. “This is our culmination event and we wanted to be the best CERFP in the country,” said Lt. Col. Joseph H. Gardner, commander of the Kentucky National Guard’s Richmond-based 103rd Chemical Battalion... MORE

Lt. Col. Dan A. Manning, a physician assistant, assesses a mock casualty as part of the Kentucky National Guard Chemical Radiological Nuclear High-Yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package training May 23 at Muscatatack Urban Training Center, Butlerville, Ind.

Kentucky’s National Guardsmen Work Together for CERFP Evaluations
May 24, 2012 — The Kentucky National Guard’s Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear high-yield Explosives Enhanced Response Force Package is a mouthful, even for its members. But whether they wear Army ACUs or Air Force ABUs, the Guardsmen assigned to the CERFP are “one team, one fight,” according to 1st Lt. Amy Holmes. “During our training, we have the opportunity to get to know our whole team,” said Holmes, an Air Guard nurse assigned to the 123rd Airlift Wing, and CERFP member... MORE

A mock casualty is stabilized by members of the Kentucky National Guard's Chemical Biological Radiological Nuclear high-yield Explosive Response Force Package's Search and Extraction team May 23, at the Muscatatuck Urban Training Center in Butlerville, Ind. The joint CERFP includes Army and Air guardsmen who can provide immediate response capabilities to the Commonwealth of Kentucky in the event of a CBRNE incident.

Female soldier finds fulfillment in Afghanistan
May 21, 2012 — Previously, Corson served as a part of Kentucky ADT 1 in eastern Afghanistan, returning after spending a short time at home between missions... MORE

Corson is a soldier with Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 4, whose mission is help local farmers in the Kandahar province through agricultural and business education.

Kentucky Military Police guards derby trophy
May 5, 2012 — Louisville’s legendary Churchill Downs hosted the Kentucky Derby, May 6, for the 138th time – but for 19-year-old Pfc. Kara Denise Bucklew, a Military Policeman assigned to the 223rd Military Police Company, this was her first Run for the Roses. “The experience has been quite enjoyable,” said Bucklew. “I had the chance to meet a lot of different people and see a lot of different things that I would not normally get the chance to see if it weren’t for me being here with the Kentucky National Guard.” ... MORE

Kentucky Army Guardsman Pfc. Kara Denise Bucklew, a military policeman with the 223rd Military Police Company, guards the winner's trophy for the Kentucky Derby in the Director's Room on Millionaire Row at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., May 5, 2012.

Building a better environment: Kentucky’s ADT 4 works to improve living conditions in Afghanistan
May 3, 2012 — “They’re [ADT 5] going to have it made. With the three buildings that we have in mind right now, it’s going to be a huge boost for them because they’re not going to be so spread out,” said Master Sgt. John Black, a 45-year-old Frankfort, Ky., native, residing in Lawrenceburg, Ky. “Everything’s going to be in close proximity and everybody’ll be working pretty much side-by-side… not like us, all spread out everywhere.”... MORE

The member of the Kentucky National Guard's Agribusiness Development Team 4was helping build hardened structures to make life more comfortable for ADT 4, and eventually ADT 5 as well.

Kentucky citizen-soldiers help empower women in Afghanistan
April 28, 2012 — To organize the program, Ensminger worked in partnership with soldiers on a local coalition base near the villages and local Afghan officials. Training dates and times were advertised over the radio... MORE

While the children's mothers trained on various agriculture aspects and Afghan laws pertaining to women, their children received organized education and school supplies with help from ADT 4

Tractor training in Afghanistan
April 25, 2012 — In southern Afghanistan’s Zharay district, Kandahar province, ADT 4 recently helped empower local agricultural leaders with some good old-fashioned tractor training... MORE

The two civilian agricultural specialists from Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 4 assisted putting together the training with local agricultural leaders to help educate farmers in the area.

Thunder Over Louisville
April 21, 2012 — ‘Always ready, Always there.' In addition to helping communities around the state when the need arises, the National Guard also takes part in celebratory and festive events, like the Thunder Over Louisville firework show which is a big part of the National Guard’s ongoing community relations. “If your family only shows up when something goes wrong, you don’t know that they’re going to be there for you when something good happens,” said Army National Guard Spc. Ashley K. Thompson, a signal support systems specialist with the Headquarters Battalion 138th Fires Brigade stationed in Lexington, Ky. ... MORE

Former high school teacher takes lessons to Afghanistan as part of Kentucky’s Agribusiness Development Team 4
March 31, 2012 — Parsons is a retired agriculture teacher of nearly 28 years at Garrad County High School in Lancaster. He is now deployed to southern Afghanistan’s Kandahar province with ADT 4 after officially retiring in January 2012... MORE

The three are members of Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 4, whose mission to empower and help local leaders teach improved agricultural and business techniques to farmers in the region. Rush also served previously in Kuwait during 2005 with Parsons' son Matt.

Kentucky ADT 4’s veterinarian training programs score big with Afghan locals
March 24, 2012 — Goode serves as the ag team leader for Kandahar province’s Arghandab district with Kentucky National Guard’s Agribusiness Development Team 4 in southern Afghanistan... MORE

So far the U.S.-funded program has helped combat animal diseases by vaccinating an estimated 30,000 livestock.

Kentucky Deployed Soldiers Closer than Brothers
March 16, 2012 — “Closer than blood ever could be,” described Spc. Preston Perry, a 21-year-old Benton, Ky. native now residing in Lexington, Ky. of his relationship with Spc. Howard Summers, a 21-year-old Chicago, Ill. native now residing in Paducah... MORE

The two soldiers, who have been best friends for the last five years since originally meeting in Paducah, joined the Army National Guard together, and are serving in Afghanistan as part of Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 4.

From rescue and recovery to boarding windows, NCO proud to help in own 'backyard'
March 7, 2012 — Homes flattened. Trees ripped from the ground. Vehicles tossed around like Matchbox cars. Even a combat tour couldn’t prepare Kentucky National Guard Sgt. Sean Durbin for the complete devastation he walked into, March 2, in West Liberty, Ky., after a tornado ripped through and destroyed most of the city... MORE

Guardsmen help man find courage after disaster
March 7, 2012 — In the hallowed shell of what was his West Liberty, Ky., apartment, Daniel Leach took a deep breath and grabbed a plastic garbage bag from Kentucky National Guardsman Pfc. Mary Lewis. One by one he took shirts, then pants then skirts off of their hangers – pausing to wipe the tears from his eyes every few moments. The clothing was just the way his mother left them... MORE

West Liberty, Ky., resident Daniel Leach points to where he viewed an EF3 tornado ravaging his hometown before it slammed into his apartment building. Leach went through what was left of his apartment and belongings, March 7, five days after the storm ripped through his Eastern Kentucky community, March 2, killing five residents.

Guard fuels efforts one gallon at a time
March 6, 2012 — The sound of falling debris, scratching metal and diesel-powered engines filled the demolished streets of West Liberty, Ky., March 6, as contractors erected power lines and telephone poles following the deadly EF3 tornado that tore across 95 miles of Appalachia, March 2. Keeping the efforts going were two Kentucky National Guardsmen assigned to the 299th Chemical Company, 103rd Chemical Battalion. Spc. Gary Lucas and Pfc. Lance Cox were instrumental in supplying diesel fuel to the city – the lifeline for the recovery... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Pfc. Lance S. Cox, a refueler assigned to the Maysville, Ky.-based 299th Chemical Company, fules a Humvee, March 6, in West Liberty, Ky., during tornado relief efforts. Elements from the 103rd Chemical Battalion responded hours after a tornado ravaged West Liberty, March 2, and continued to provide law enforcement and humanitarian support in the week after the storm. Cox's mission was to refuel anything that needed diesel fuel to include generators at the local hospital and incident command trailers as well as military and power company trucks.

Guardsman credits service for saving his life, glad to help storm victims
March 6, 2012 — In 2010, Kyle Gray was in a poor situation. With no place to turn, he packed up his belongings and moved from California to Kentucky and joined the National Guard. "The Guard kinda saved my life," he said... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Pfc. Kyle Gray, 301st Chemical Company, pulls nails out of a piece of plywood, March 6, during tornado relief efforts in West Liberty, Ky. Gray boarded up broken windows and holes for West Liberty resident Thomas Coder, a retired Air Force veteran, after a tornado damaged most of his home, March 2.

Emergency Operations Center crucial to relief efforts Partnership built during exercises, succeeds during disaster
March 3, 2012 — Kentucky’s Emergency Operations Center, the heart of recovery and relief efforts at the Boone National Guard Center buzzed with activity March 3 after Gov. Steve Beshear declared a statewide emergency March 2, allowing local officials immediate access to state resources to assist with public security. “Without the EOC, there would be a lack of command and control,” said Kentucky National Guard Lt. Col. Jeffery Hughes, director of military support, Joint Operations Center... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Col. Charles K. Harris, J2 Intelligence and Security officer, briefs the Kentucky Emergency Management at the Emergency Operations Center at Boone National Guard Center, March 3, following tornadoes and storms that ripped through Kentucky, March 2.

Kentucky Guard engages in search and rescue operations after tornadoes
March 3, 2012 — Kentucky National Guard soldiers and airmen converged on the remains of West Liberty, Ky., March 3, to assist local fire and law enforcement in recovery and relief efforts, in the wake of the series of tornadic storms that ripped through the state, March 3. Soldiers from the Morehead, Ky.,-based 301st Chemical Company arrived on the scene Friday, hours after the tornado flattened the town, and assisted local officials with the evacuation of the citizens. On Friday, the operation changed to search and rescue... MORE

Kentucky National Guard service members engage in a search and rescue mission in West Liberty, Ky., for survivors after torrential storms and violent winds destroyed much of the community there, March 2.

Guard responds immediately after tornadoes
March 3, 2012 — Before the first winds crossed the Commonwealth of Kentucky March 2, the Kentucky National Guard made preparations to keep its citizen-soldiers safe and ready to assist in the event local officials would request assistance. Once the sun rose March 3, the need for Kentucky’s Guardsmen was evident across more than 40 of the 120 counties. From the sky, in a Kentucky Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter, Kentucky’s Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson surveyed the damage and visited with residents in the small community of East Bernstadt, Ky., located in Laurel County... MORE

Staff Sgt. Joshua Matlock, with the Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 623rd Field Artillery (HIMARS), accompanies Kentucky's Lt. Gov. Jerry Abramson as they view the debris that covered the area of East Bernstadt, Ky., March 3.

Kentucky Guard supports local communities in eastern Kentucky
March 3, 2012 — Kentucky’s motto, “United we stand, divided we fall,” set the stage at ground zero after severe tornadoes ravaged several communities in eastern Kentucky, March 2. Local law enforcement officials, the Kentucky State Police, and soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard are working diligently in an effort to assist local community residents recover from the massive destruction caused by the natural disaster... MORE

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