Kentucky Guard

Survivors Set Sail to Remember
June 22, 2016 — As family members awaited boarding the vessel, many families took the time to capture an image by the “Survivors of American Heroes” flag, hung in the middle of the conference room. One of those families were from Powell County, Kentucky, and had brief moments of nostalgia about their fallen hero, Bobby Jo Martin Jr., from the 82nd Airborne... MORE

149th Brigade Support Battalion delivers
June 16, 2016 — The team that operates the Tactical Water Purification System (TWPS) is the only one of its kind remaining in the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

His team is capable of producing 1,500 gallons of clean water per hour.

Soldier commemorates battalion history in new guidon stand
June 16, 2016 — First Kentucky Brigade was the only Confederate element from the state of Kentucky during the Civil War. The brigade was formed by former Vice President, Major General John Breckinridge. Historians have two theories as to why the First Kentucky Brigade had the nickname of the Orphans: first – the brigade went through multiple commanders in its five-years of service; second – they were unable to return home during the war due to Kentucky's political stance. ... MORE

Partnering for success
June 16, 2016 — The Kentucky National Guard has partnered with the LMPD for multiple Thunder Over Louisville events. Soldiers of the 223rd began their operations at the opening ceremony and provided security until the last spectators departed safely. ... MORE

Bettering our Communities
June 11, 2016 — Comforts, best practices and a wealth of knowledge were exchanged June 11, at the small regional hospital located in Elma, Washington. The Kentucky National Guard’s CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP), assisted the hospital staff with the set-up and use of Summit Pacific’s decontamination kit – the first time the staff ever opened the kit... MORE

Kentucky CERFP assist Oregon in Cascadia Rising
June 8, 2016 — NGB strategically placed these CERFP teams in each of the 10 FEMA regions throughout the U.S., and June 7-9, members of the Oregon and Kentucky National Guard CERFP, along with the Utah Homeland Response Force (HRF) and aviation assets from the Idaho National Guard, exercised their abilities to respond to a simulated 9.0-magnitude earthquake and the aftermath of a tsunami during Cascadia Rising 2016... MORE

Cascadia Rising simulates a 9.0-magnitude earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone, which tests the Oregon and Kentucky National Guard’s CBRNE Enhanced Response Force Package (CERFP) ability to work alongside local, state and federal first responders and public safety officials during a disaster response effort.

Operation Immersion
May 23, 2016 — The four-day event required participants to abandon their comforts by way of conducting intense pre-sunrise physical fitness training, consuming Meals Ready to Eat, and executing mock combat missions, thus allowing them a real-world view of the deployment process for a Kentucky National Guard Soldier... MORE

Operation Immersion offers participants the opportunity to experience the stresses that Soldiers encounter during basic training, mobilization, deployment, and demobilization. (

Family Readiness Group Volunteers Honored at Keeneland
April 24, 2016 — With a combined service of 54 years, Heather Dollar, Patty Wininger, and Pam Feltner have dedicated themselves to supporting not only their families but the families of their National Guard units. Each volunteer had her own story, but together they told a powerful account of duty, honor, and family... MORE

Combat medics get refresher training and more
November 18, 2015 — In order to stay up-to-date on the best trauma practices, medics receive refresher training every two years. Luckily for Kentucky National Guard medics, the refresher training is offered at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center, which is cost efficient and convenient for the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

According to the sustainment training staff, this practical exercise and the use of UH-60 Black Hawk medevac helicopters is unique to the Kentucky National Guard

Earning the title 'Best Warrior'
November 6, 2015 — The three Guardsmen received ribbons and trophies in a brief awards ceremony Nov. 8, at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, following the competition. ... MORE

Winners are Spc. Jacob Heath, Soldier of the Year; Sgt. Christopher Cole, NCO of the Year; and 1SG Josh Baker, Senior NCO of the Year.

Proud of the Progress - Former aviation maintenance operator excited for future of new AASF
October 19, 2015 — Canon enlisted in the Army in 1955 and retired in 1990. In 1959, the Kentucky aviation assets found a new home in Frankfort, Kentucky, at the Capital City Airport. Then, 18-or-so-years later in 1971, Canon witnessed a state-of-the-art facility erected at Boone National Guard Center – the Army Aviation Support Facility... MORE

Kentucky National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility

Kentucky Guardsmen compete in biathlon finals
March 5, 2015 — JERICHO, Vt. - For the first time, the Kentucky Guard sent a team to ski and shoot against the best of the best biathlon athletes in the National Guard. Guardsmen from 23 other states joined Kentucky at the 40th National Guard Biathlon Championships at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vt., Feb. 28 to March 5. ... MORE

As first time competitors, the Kentuckians only fear was finishing last in the races.

National Guard commemorates last War of 1812 battle
January 9, 2015 — In a sugar cane field along the meandering Mississippi River just outside New Orleans 200 years ago, Citizen-Soldiers fought along side Choctaw Indians, free African-Americans and criminal privateers, prevailing against the most powerful army in the world. The Battle of New Orleans was the last major conflict of the War of 1812. The outcome ended the last war with England, preserved a claim to the Louisiana Territory, triggered migration and settlement along the Mississippi River and rebuilt the spirit of the American people. ... MORE

The 2nd Kentucky were part of a living history encampment near Chalmette Battlefield with hundreds of other reenactors for the weekend of events.

Task Force Summit’s commander inducted into Order of Saint Barbara
January 5, 2015 — At the annual gathering of the 138th Field Artillery Brigade Dec. 13, 2014, officers and enlisted alike gathered at the Saint Barbara’s Military Ball to celebrate Christmas and the completion of yet another year’s worth of missions. Among those missions, few had more of an impact on the overall Army mission than that of the 103rd Brigade Support Battalion, 138th Field Artillery Brigade’s Task Force Summit, which returned home from Afghanistan in April of this year. The unit spent nine months overseas supporting the Special Operations Command’s withdrawal and relocation of mission-critical equipment as Operation Enduring Freedom came to a close... MORE

Watts, who commanded the Task Force in Afghanistan, was inducted into the Honorable Order of Saint Barbara Dec. 13, 2014.

Kentucky Airmen return from West Africa mission
November 19, 2014 — Approximately 40 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard returned home in the early morning hours of Nov. 19 from a deployment to West Africa. The Guardsmen were based in Senegal where the 123rd Contingency Response Group established a cargo processing hub in support of Operation United Assistance, the international effort to battle Ebola... MORE

The Airmen had just returned from a deployment to West Africa.

Churchill Downs, Humana, Kentucky Guard support Survivors Day at the Races
November 2, 2014 — For the fifth year in a row, Churchill Downs was the setting for the largest event in the Nation honoring surviving family members of fallen military Service members. More than 800 brothers, sisters, moms and dads of those lost since 9/11 were treated to a day at the races at the storied horse racing track in Louisville, Nov. 2. Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs Commissioner Heather French Henry joined Adjutant General, Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini in recognizing the family members during an afternoon luncheon in Millionaires’ Row. Henry told the families that remembering the fallen is one of the most patriotic missions for Americans, and days like this one are about legacies that we will not forget... MORE

Surviving family members of fallen U.S. service members are joined by Heather French Henry, commissioner of Kentucky’s Department of Veterans Affairs, the vice chief of the National Guard, Lt. Gen. Joseph L. Lengyel, Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Edward W. Tonini in the winners’ circle at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2014, to present a trophy to the winning jockey of a race race named in honor of the fallen. The families gathered at the track for the fifth annual Survivors Day at the Races organized by Survivors Outreach Services.

Kentucky Guardsmen deploy to West Africa
October 3, 2014 — More than 60 Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard deployed Oct. 2 to Senegal to establish a cargo-processing hub in support of Operation United Assistance, the international effort to battle Ebola in West Africa... MORE

Kentucky Guard honors newest officers, warrant officers
September 7, 2014 — After completing a rigorous 18-month training program with Kentucky’s Officer Candidate School, including a final phase at Fort McClellan, Alabama, 16 Guardsmen earned their second lieutenant gold bars and were sworn in as commissioned officers... MORE

Kentucky honors newest officers, warrant officers

Kentucky Guardsmen help secure Valhalla for 96th PGA
August 10, 2014 — An estimated 55,000 spectators per day lined the course and filled makeshift parking lots with their vehicles for the week-long event. In order to secure the club property and the surrounding streets, Louisville Metro Police Department requested the assistance of the Kentucky National Guard... MORE

More than 40 Guardsmen assisted Louisville Metro Police Department with security details at the club for the PGA Championship.

Kentucky Guardsman carries on father's legacy
June 8, 2014 — was December 2006 when the family learned of the death of Staff Sgt. Thomas Clemons. While serving with Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 123rd Armor on patrol near Ad Diwaniyah, Iraq, Clemons succumbed to a severe heart attack. Just a month earlier he was home on leave telling the stories of the war... MORE

Staff Sgt. Thomas Clemons at the unit's armory in Leitchfield, Ky., June, 8, 2014. Clemons enlisted into the same unit his father served in before his death in Iraq in 2006.

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