Kentucky Guard

Kentucky National Guard supports Louisville food bank
November 20, 2025 — Airmen and Soldiers from the Kentucky National Guard packed 1,920 boxes with free groceries at the Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville, Kentucky, over the past week, providing healthy meals to area residents who are struggling to afford basic sustenance... MORE

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brandon Tagarook, left, of the Kentucky Army National Guard’s 202nd Army Band, and U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Alex Koehler of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group pack boxes with free groceries at the Dare to Care Food Bank in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 13, 2025. The boxes, containing canned fruit and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta and other nutritious foods, will be given to Kentuckians who are struggling to purchase basic groceries. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Dale Greer)

Two Kentucky Guardsmen Reach World CrossFit Finals, Embody Army’s H2F Principles
September 30, 2025 — Two Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers, Col. Eddie Simpson and 1st Lt. Erik Thomas, competed in the 2025 World CrossFit Games Finals in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 21–24, showcasing peak fitness and championing the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness program to improve Soldier readiness and lethality... MORE

1st Lt. Erik Thomas competes during the 2025 CrossFit Games

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 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.

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.

Simpson, Thomas Qualify for 2025 CrossFit Games, Championing Army's H2F Program
May 21, 2025 — Col. Eddie Simpson and 1st Lt. Erik Thomas, both members of the Kentucky Army National Guard, qualified for the 2025 CrossFit Games. Competing in August in Columbus, Ohio, they credit their success to years of dedication and the Army’s Holistic Health and Fitness (H2F) program... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Eddie Simpson (left) and 1st Lt. Erik Thomas pose for a post-workout photo at CrossFit Frankfort in Frankfort, Kentucky, May 15, 2025.

Ronnie Barnes promotes to brigadier general
April 21, 2025 — Friends, family, and fellow Soldiers packed the Wellman Armory auditorium to honor newly promoted U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Ronnie Barnes’ April 17, 2025. He has served in the Kentucky National Guard for more than 30 years and has shown strong leadership and commitment to the Commonwealth... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Ronnie Barnes, flanked by his wife Sabrina (right), and daughter Makenzie, was promoted to brigadier general.

Kentucky National Guard honors top recruiters and mission makers at ceremony
December 30, 2024 — Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Recruiting and Retention Battalion were honored during the battalion’s Mission Makers ceremony in Louisville, Dec. 14, 2024... MORE

Soldiers from the KYARNG RRB were awarded various honors at battalion’s 2024 Mission Makers ceremony

Jones Promoted to Colonel
October 7, 2024 — Kentucky Army National Guard's Kevin Jones was promoted to the rank of colonel in a ceremony held at the Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Oct. 7... MORE

Col. Kevin Jones is promoted by his daughters, Samantha and Sandra.

Kentucky National Guard hosts Ecuadorians for interagency operations exchange
August 23, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard hosted Ecuadorian military and civilian officials for a subject matter expert exchange focusing on interagency operations and communications in a domestic operational environment Aug. 5-9... MORE

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Carolyn Peabody, a member of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team, discusses the unit’s personal protective equipment with a group of Ecuadorian military and civilian emergency management officials during a tour of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 6, 2024. The Ecuadorians were visiting as part of the State Partnership Program to learn more about the Kentucky Guard’s emergency response capabilities and interagency cooperation across the state. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

New headquarters building promises enhanced capability for Kentucky Guard
August 16, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard dedicated a state-of-the-art office building in Frankfort, Kentucky, Aug. 13, 2024, to serve as home to Joint Force Headquarters, marking a new era of increased operational capability, officials said... MORE

Officials cut the ceremonial ribbon to dedicate a new Kentucky National Guard Joint Force Headquarters building at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 13, 2024. The 63,000 square-foot, $15.9 million facility marks a new era of increased operational efficiency, with the top command elements of both the Kentucky Army and Air National Guard being located at the same site for the first time. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky National Guard celebrates 232nd birthday
June 24, 2024 — June 24, 2024, marks the 232nd birthday of the Kentucky National Guard, which was formed by Gov. Isaac Shelby as one his first official acts in 1792. On Thursday, dozens of Soldiers and Airmen gathered in Louisville, Kentucky, to celebrate the occasion and look back over the past two centuries... MORE

U.S. Air Force Airman Makenna Rollins, left, a supply technician in the Kentucky Air National Guard, and U.S. Army Sgt. Jensen Humphrey, right, a paralegal specialist in the Kentucky Army National Guard, assist U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, adjutant general of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, in cutting a cake to mark the 232nd birthday of the Kentucky Guard during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., June 20, 2024. The Kentucky Guard, which was established by Gov. Isaac Shelby on June 24, 1792, is comprised of more than 6,000 Soldiers and over 1,100 Airmen stationed across the Commonwealth. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky, Tennessee emerge victorious at 2024 Region III Best Warrior
April 30, 2024 — Soldiers from Kentucky and Tennessee earned top honors in the 2024 Army National Guard Region III Best Warrior Competition in Greenville, April 14-19, 2024. Hosted by the Kentucky National Guard, the event put Soldiers from ten states and territories through a week of grueling challenges to see which Soldier and which NCO would finish with the most points. Spc. Noah Green, a combat engineer assigned to 890th Sapper Company, Tennessee Army National Guard, earned the top honor as Region III Soldier of the Year, while Sgt. Robert Buck, a horizontal construction engineer assigned to 130th Engineer Support Company, Kentucky Army National Guard, was named NCO of the Year... MORE

Nineteen competitors from 10 states and territories competed for the titles of Soldier and NCO of the Year for Region III.

Tri-state cadets compete at Fort Knox challenge
April 29, 2024 — Cadets from Indiana, Kentucky and Michigan gathered at Fort Knox recently to take part in the Tri-State Challenge hosted by the Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy. The students competed in a variety of events including basketball, softball, chess, and a spelling bee among other events... MORE

Bluegrass ChalleNGe Academy cadets celebrate as their team wins a volleyball match Friday, April 26.

Kentucky Guardsmen, Ecuador's special forces unite in urban warfare exchange
April 10, 2024 — Kentucky infantry soldiers and Ecuadorian military special forces exchanged urban operations tactics in Latacunga, Ecuador, from March 18-22, 2024, enhancing interagency relations and military readiness through the Kentucky National Guard State Partnership Program... MORE

Ecuadorian Army Col. Gustavo Iturralde, commander of Ecuador's 9th Special Forces Brigade, talks with Kentucky Army National Guard in Latacunga, Ecuador, March 18, 2024.

Enduring state partnership strengthens leader development through exchange
April 10, 2024 — Members of the Ecuadorian military visited the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, February 24-28, 2024, for a leadership exchange focused on military officer development. This engagement, part of a long-term strategy to foster relationships and share tactical insights, underscored the commitment of both nations to continue building a strong partnership through shared experiences and learning, with a focus on officer development, cultural exchange, and overcoming operational challenges... MORE

Kentucky Army National Guard officer candidates mix with Ecuadorian Army, Navy, and Air Force cadets for a group photo at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, Feb. 24-28, 2024.

Honoring a legacy: a tribute to LTC Jeff Cole
November 20, 2023 — Leaders of the Kentucky National Guard, joined by over 100 attendees, dedicated the Middlesboro armory to Lt. Col. Jeff Cole, on Nov. 17, 2023. The ceremony in Middlesboro honored Cole's legacy as an exemplary Soldier, leader, family man, and man of faith... MORE

Christi Cole Pope speaks to attendees at an armory naming ceremony in Middlesboro, Kentucky, on Nov. 17, 2023.

Kentucky National Guard selected as top command
October 31, 2023 — The Kentucky National Guard has been awarded the 2023 Association of the United States Army’s trophy for best National Guard command... MORE

A C-130-J Super Hercules aircraft awaits the next sortie on the flight line of the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 14, 2023. The Louisville-based 123rd Airlift Wing was just awarded its 20th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award — a record among C-130 airlift units. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

More than flying: One Kentucky officer's story
July 31, 2023 — As a first-generation Soldier and aviator in her family, she is pioneering an Army career while also balancing her civilian career as a nurse. After speaking with a friend from nursing school who was also in the Guard, Frederick decided to join the Kentucky National Guard in 2018. ... MORE

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Cassandra Frederick, platoon leader and UH-60 Black Hawk pilot assigned to Bravo Company, 2/147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, inspects the rotors of a UH-60 Black Hawk on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., July 27, 2023

Kentucky Logistics Director Promoted to Colonel
June 30, 2023 — Army Lt. Col. Phillip Robinson was promoted to the rank of colonel by his wife and children during a ceremony at the Wellman Armory auditorium June 28,... MORE

Robinson is the director of logistics for the Kentucky National Guard on the full-time side and is the commander of the 238th Regional Training Institute on the M-DAY (traditional Soldier) side.

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