Kentucky Guard

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Category: 138th Field Artillery Brigade

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.

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.

138th Operational Fires Command completes first corps-level Command Post Exercise with US Army V Corps
May 29, 2025 — Soldiers from the Lexington, Kentucky-based 138th Operational Fires Command (OFC), Kentucky Army National Guard, recently participated in a corps-level Command Post Exercise (CPX) with U.S. Army V Corps, held in early May 2025 at both Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Kosciusko in Poland. ... MORE

Soldiers from the 138th Operational Fires Command integrate with 41st Field Artillery Brigade and U.S. Army V Corps during Command Post Exercise hosted in both Fort Knox, Kentucky, and Camp Kosciusko, Poland, early May 2025.

National Guard answers the call as near-historic flooding isolates Nelson County community
May 9, 2025 — Heavy rainfall between April 2–6, 2025, caused near-historic flooding in Kentucky, with Boston, Ky., in Nelson County among the hardest-hit areas. Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard’s Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, joined local firefighters and Georgia Task Force 6 to rescue 32 people and dozens of pets. The Guard later delivered critical supplies to the isolated town. Residents praised the support and unity shown during the disaster, while Guard members emphasized their commitment to serving communities in crisis... MORE

Spc. Nathan Ashworth unloads supplies to help the residents of Boston, Ky., Apr. 7, 2025. Soldiers with Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade based in Bardstown, work with local officials to aid Nelson Countians stranded because of flood waters. The catastrophic flooding is the result of several days of heavy rainfall across the commonwealth. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Milt Spalding)

Kentucky Guard holds first leadership conference of its kind
February 21, 2025 — More than 400 Kentucky Army National Guard staff sergeants and promotable sergeants gathered at Kentucky State University for a two-day leader development event Feb. 8-9... MORE

Brig. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general for Kentucky spoke to the audience of staff sergeants during the two-day leader development program event held at Kentucky State University in Frankfort Feb. 8-9, 2025.

Ky. Army National Guard artillery aligning with active-duty corps
February 6, 2025 — The 138th Field Artillery Brigade will redesignate as the 138th Operational Fires Command in support of the U.S. Army V Corps, located at Fort Knox, Kentucky. The OFC will be the first unit of its kind in a pilot aimed to solve challenges faced while applying lethal and non-lethal fires in large scale combat operations... MORE

Soldiers in the 138th Field Artillery Brigade supported Operation Spartan Shield and Inherent Resolve under the directive of CENTCOM.

Guardsmen recognized at Kentucky State of the Commonwealth
January 17, 2025 — Two of our Army Guard Soldiers were honored by Gov. Andy Beshear during last night’s State of the Commonwealth address in the House Chambers at our state capitol. Sgt. Grayson Johnson and Spc. William Price each received the Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge as a result of drone attacks at Tower 22 in Jordan last year. The Soldiers received a standing ovation from the governor, members of the Kentucky House and Senate and the Kentucky Supreme Court as well as guests and visitors... MORE

Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear recognizes two veterans, Sgt. Grayson Johnson and Spc. William Price, at the State of the Commonwealth in the Kentucky House Chambers in Frankfort, Kentucky on Jan. 8, 2025.

Kentucky National Guard supports Bardstown Christmas Parade, strengthens community bonds
December 23, 2024 — Soldiers from Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, supported the 2024 Bardstown Christmas Parade Dec. 5, 2024, by providing a color guard and assisting local police. The event featured over 100 entries, including the Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy cadets and Ethan, the canine star of the upcoming film Ethan Almighty, as the grand marshal... MORE

Kentucky National Guard Soldiers with Charlie Battery, 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade took part in the 2024 Bardstown Christmas Parade, Dec. 5, 2024. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Milt Spalding)

Thunder support, change of command and responsibility
June 25, 2024 — The 103rd BSB says farewell to one command team and welcomes another during a dual-ceremony at Campbellsville University Harrodsburg Athletic Center in Harrodsburg, June 14, 2024... MORE

Lt. Col. Dayna Sanders assumed command of the battalion from Lt. Col. Esther Platt.

Kentucky guardsmen support 250th anniversary parade
June 15, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard 103rd Brigade Support Battalion out of Harrodsburg, proudly supported the 250th anniversary of Harrodsburg, Kentucky, by providing 71 Soldiers, four vehicles, color guard, and marching during the parade throughout downtown on June 8, 2024. ... MORE

Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers with the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, prepare to post the colors for the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Harrodsburg at the Old Fort Harrod State Park in Harrodsburg, Kentucky on June 8, 2024. The 103rd BSB supported the 250th anniversary of the settlement of Harrodsburg by participating in posting the colors, marching in the parade, and providing a static display of military vehicles. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Dickson)

Civilian employers get inside perspective to Guardsmen training
June 13, 2024 — Employers of Soldiers from the Bravo Battery, 2/138th Field Artillery Battalion flew from Boone National Guard Center to Fort Knox on a Blackhawk to observe their annual training on June 13, 2024... MORE

he employers and ESGR met at Boone National Guard Center to talk about what their service members do when they are called up to service.

Kentucky National Guard remembers recently fallen Soldiers on Memorial Day
May 29, 2024 — For the U.S. Armed Forces, Memorial Day transcends picnics and pool days. It is a solemn day of remembrance for those who gave the ultimate sacrifice to protect our nation’s freedom. For the Kentucky National Guard, it is important to remember those who have sacrificed while preparing for duty stateside and overseas. ... MORE

The Army and Air Kentucky National Guard performed the presentation of colors at the Memorial Day ceremony held at Boone National Guard Center on May 27, 2024. The ceremony was followed by the playing of the National Anthem.

138th Field Artillery Brigade Incorporates Artificial Intelligence
February 29, 2024 — In the current landscape, the term Artificial Intelligence (AI) pervades virtually every facet of our daily lives. It is being used in autonomous driving vehicles, enhanced facial recognition software, and optimizing marketing and social media campaigns. The military is starting to see the advantages of machine learning on land, sea, air, space and cyber domains. The evolution of technology and the incorporation of non-conventional tactics on the battlefield require similar innovation and creativity... MORE

Maj. Tyler Brown, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Jody Lyddane, Staff Sgt. Matthew Beverly, Staff Sgt. Earnest Cansler III, Staff Sgt. Zane Caudill pose for a team photo at the Combined Air & Space Operations Center, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar.

Departure Ceremony for Kentucky Guardsmen deploying to Southwest Asia
August 14, 2023 — Friends, family, and the community gathered to bid farewell to more than 100 Kentucky National Guard Soldiers assigned to the 138th Field Artillery Brigade, “Kentucky Thunder,” at the Clive M. Beck Center on the Transylvania University campus Aug. 13... MORE

Col. Steve Mattingly speaks to Soldiers with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade during a departure ceremony in Lexington, Ky., Aug. 13, 2023. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by 1st. Sgt. Scott Raymond)

Field Artillery participate in XCTC
July 15, 2023 — Soldiers with 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade, conducted numerous training events during their Exportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise June 16-30... MORE

A round gets fired off out of the M109 Paladin as part of the 2nd Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade's training events during their Exportable Combat Training Capabilities exercise June 16-30.

Kentucky National Guard Supports Thunder Over Louisville
April 24, 2023 — For the 34th year in a row, Kentucky National Guard Soldiers and Airmen were called on to help ensure the success of the Bluegrass's largest one-day festival known as Thunder Over Louisville, April 22, 2023. The mission of the Kentucky National Guard was very clear: supplement Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) to provide additional security and traffic control and man the cannons on the George Rogers Clark Memorial Bridge... MORE

The 138th Field Artillery Brigade played a role in Thunder Over Louisville by firing their 105mm Howitzer cannons from the Clark Memorial Bridge in sync with the National Anthem. April 22, 2023. This was the 34th Thunder that has been held. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Georgia Napier.)

Senior enlisted advisor visits Kentucky soldiers
December 13, 2022 — The National Guard Senior Enlisted Advisor visited Kentucky to meet Soldiers and answer questions in Lexington, Frankfort, and Louisville, Ky. on Dec. 4, 2022. Senior Enlisted Advisor (SEA) Tony Whitehead visited Soldiers with the 138th Field Artillery Brigade (FAB); 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade (TAB); Headquarters and Headquarters Detachment (HHD), 75th Troop Command (TC); the 223rd Military Police Company; and the 202nd Army Band before the holiday season to take questions about the senior enlisted advisor to the Chief, National Guard Bureau position... MORE

Command Sgt. Maj. David Page (left) introduces Army Spc. Garner Offutt (center) to Senior Enlisted Advisor Tony Whitehead (right) as the Kentucky National Guard's Soldier of the Year for 2023 in Lexington, Ky. on Dec. 3, 2023. Whitehead is visiting Kentucky National Guard soldiers and airmen before the holidays. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Andrew Dickson)

Thunder Six promoted to colonel
October 27, 2022 — Army Lt. Col. Steve Mattingly, 138th Field Artillery Brigade commander (Thunder Six) was promoted to the rank of colonel in a ceremony at the Federal Hill Mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown, Ky. on Oct 6, 2022. Mattingly knows his way around the 138th FAB. He began his military career as an enlisted Soldier in 1998 as a Forward Observer. Since then, he has served as the Bravo Battery 2/238th Field Artillery Battalion commander and 1-623 Field Artillery Battalion commander, among multiple other positions throughout the brigade. In 2021, Mattingly took command of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade. He has been serving in the brigade for 24 years. While more common in the National Guard than active duty or any other branch of service, it’s still quite notable... MORE

Army Lt. Col. Steve Mattingly was promoted to the rank of colonel in a ceremony at the Federal Hill Mansion at My Old Kentucky Home State Park in Bardstown Ky. on Oct 6, 2022. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Carla Raisler)

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.

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.

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