Kentucky Guard

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Category: 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade

Kentucky Guard serves at Derby
May 8, 2023 — Soldiers from the 617th Military Police Company provided security for the Derby from outside the track, conducted traffic control and augmented the Louisville Metro Police Department. Inside the Downs, the Soldiers of the 617th kept a close eye on the Kentucky Derby trophy as it was transported throughout the building and eventually to the winner’s circle prior to the race... MORE

Sgt. Matt Broce, with the 617th Military Police Company, puts the Kentucky Derby Trophy back in the box after showing it in the winner’s circle prior to the Kentucky Derby in Louisville, Ky., May 6, 2023. The trophy is six pounds of solid gold and is awarded to the first-place winner of the Derby.

Kentucky engineer platoon leader wins outstanding platoon leader award
April 28, 2023 — A Kentucky Army National Guard platoon leader was awarded the 2022 Lt. Orville Munson Award at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri on April 28, 2023. 1st Lt. Jason Ball, a platoon leader with the 2061st Multi-Role Bridge Company, received the award from U.S. Army Col. Joseph C. Goetz, the commandant of the U.S. Army Engineer Regimental School. The Munson award is given annually to honor an engineer lieutenant or warrant officer platoon leader in the Active Army and Army National Guard in recognition of outstanding contributions to military engineering by demonstrated technical and leadership ability... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Jason Bell poses with his wife, Dr. Michelle Baltam, after receiving the Lt. Orville Munson Award at the U.S. Army Engineer Regimental School at Fort Leonardwood, Missouri on April 28, 2023. The award is given annually to honor an engineer lietuenant or warrant officer platoon leader in the Active Army and Army National Guard in recognition of outstanding contributions to military engineering by demonstrated technical and leadership ability. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Dickson)

Kentucky Guard hosts career fair, connects with community
April 14, 2023 — Some of the vendors that were present were Amazon, Fed Ex, UPS and Atlas Air. There were also colleges from around the area that included Northern Kentucky University, Thomas Moore University and Gateway Community and Technical College... MORE

Over 50 vendors and colleges were present for the career fair at the Kentucky National Guard’s Readiness Center in Northern Kentucky Apr. 14, 2023. Soldiers and civilians were invited to talk to the many companies like Fed EX, Atlas Air, Amazon and CVG Airport Police about protentional job opportunities.

Honor Guard certifies new Soldiers
March 22, 2023 — Around ten Soldiers from units around Kentucky learned the proper way to fold the flag and present it. They also worked on drill and ceremony and even practiced taps on the bugle... MORE

Soldiers from around the commonwealth were educated, graded and assessed in the ways of the Kentucky National Guard Honor Guard March 20-26.

Time capsule left by decorated Kentucky Guard MP unit found in Fort McCoy barracks nearly two decades after unit left for Operation Iraqi Freedom
March 20, 2023 — In November 2004, the 617th Military Police Company of the Kentucky National Guard was one of many military units completing their mobilization at Fort McCoy for deployment. It was in that month the unit wrapped up their training at Wisconsin’s only Army installation and prepared to head off to Iraq for a year deployment for Operation Iraqi Freedom. Before they left, however, some members of the unit decided they'd put together a “time capsule” of sorts in a plastic drawer they got from the Fort McCoy Exchange, put some mementos in it, and stash it away in the walls of one of the hundreds of barracks on the installation’s cantonment area... MORE

Soldiers with the Kentucky National Guard’s 617th Military Police Company are shown ikn November 2004 at Fort McCoy, Wis. The unit, before they were deployed to Iraq, were mobilized at Fort McCoy and had left a time capsule in a barracks at McCoy that was discovered in late 2022 by contractors working on Fort McCoy barracks. The company placed the makeshift time capsule in the walls of the barracks thinking they’d come back to it after their deployment completed in 2005 but they forgot about it. The 617th completed their mobilization at Fort McCoy from October to November 2004 and then their demobilization a year later. The unit also is one of the most decorated combat National Guard military police units after completing that deployment. (Contributed photo)

Kentucky’s Civil Response Team Hosts Multi-agency Exercise
March 17, 2023 — Around 20 Soldiers from the 75th Troop Command’s, 41st Weapons of Mass Destruction Civil Support Team (CST), along with Soldiers from CSTs from seven other states’ National Guards, Louisville Metro Police Department (LMPD) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), conducted the one-day exercise in preparation for the Kentucky Derby festivities March 14... MORE

During their search, they had to assess victims, test the air quality and investigate suspicions packages.

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)

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)

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. (

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.

Guardsmen aid in water shortage
July 5, 2022 — The Soldiers with the 2061st Multi-Role Bridge Company as well as the 206th Engineer Battalion, 201st Engineer Battalion, and 103rd Chemical Battalion have been working with Kentucky Emergency Management on efficient ways to source water from local rivers due to the recent low levels from Old Town Lake, which is the town’s water source... MORE

Soldiers from within the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade began transporting water from the Trade Water River to Old City Lake, near Marion. Army Palletized Load System (PLS) vehicles transported non-potable storage tanks daily with the goal of moving up to 80,000 gallons of water to the reservoir to minimize decreasing lake concerns. In addition, bottled water was also distributed at the Old Marion Armory to town residents.

My Sapper School Experience
May 18, 2022 — Sapper Leader Course is the premier leadership school for the Engineer Regiment. The 28-day training is broken up into two, two-week phases. The first phase -- General Subjects focuses heavily on Engineering tasks from expedient demolitions, engagement area development, obstacle emplacement, obstacle breaching, along with mobility and counter-mobility operations. Additionally, there are physical fitness events, mountaineering, air operations, and land navigation blocks of instruction during this phase... MORE

A SAPPER Soldier is responsible for tasks such as building and repairing roads and bridges, laying and clearing mines.

Always ready, not just a slogan for Kentucky Soldier
January 18, 2022 — As the tornadoes that hit western Kentucky bore down on the small farms and towns, residents ducked into their bathrooms, closets or any other place they could find to ride out the massive storm. For many, their hiding spots were ripped from their foundations and left some bruised and battered. One of those residents hiding from the storm was a young Kentucky National Guardsman with the 2113th Transportation Company. He survived the storm, only to be called on a few hours later join his unit to help the many others in need... MORE

Pfc. Cody Warmath's family's home in Benton Ky., suffered severe damage during the the tornado that hit Dec. 10, 2021 but he still chose to volunteer to be activated with the 2113th Transportation Company out of Paducah, Ky

Ballistic Missile Attack On Kentucky's 206th Engineer Battalion
January 11, 2022 — Two years ago, January 8, 2020: Al Asad Airbase in Iraq withstood an Iranian ballistic missile attack. Many remember the worldwide tension that followed. Fewer are aware that Kentucky Army National Guardsmen were serving at Al Asad at that time. The 206th Engineer Battalion played an essential role in putting the base back together after the attack. In a first for the Kentucky National Guard, we’ve produced a podcast documenting the story of the 206th, the early morning attack, and the activity during the days that followed... MORE

Kentucky’s 438th MP’s head to Kosovo
January 6, 2022 — The 438th Military Police Company based out of Murray, Ky., will be heading to Kosovo for a year-long mission to provide Military Police Liaison Officer Support to Operation Joint Guardian... MORE

The 438th MP Co., based out of Murray, Ky, will be heading to Kosovo for a year-long mission to provide Military Police Liaison Officer Support to Operation Joint Guardian.

"We Just Went" - Kentucky Guardsman jumps into action to help neighbors
December 14, 2021 — One of those guardsmen activated, Spc. Zach Neisz, a resident of Dawson Springs living only about 8 miles north of where the tornadoes touched down... MORE

Neisz who lives in Dawson Springs spent the first 27 hours after the storm aiding local law enforcement, helping extract people from their home.

Guardsman mechanic pursues future as a nurse
October 25, 2021 — Mobilized due to COVID-19 to augment Pikeville Medical Center staff handling non-clinical duties, Sgt. Janay McClain with the 2061st Multi-Role Bridge Company is taking her love in helping others to a new level... MORE

Kentucky Army National Guard Sgt. Janay McLain, squad leader with 2061st Multi-Role Bridge Company, poses for a photograph while holding her nursing school acceptance letter with Pikeville Medical Center administrators in Pikeville, KY October 25, 2021. The Kentucky National Guard has been requested to provide support to hospital staff across the Commonwealth. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Matt Damon)

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