Kentucky Guard > News - Tag Kentucky National Guard

Kentucky Army Aviation helps keep the National Guard in the air
September 24, 2012 — It is often thought that a warrant officer in an Army Aviation unit is only a pilot. That is certainly not the case. The aviation field also demands that experts are on hand as maintenance technicians to ensure that those pilots have a working aircraft to fly. In the Kentucky National Guard, some aviation warrant officers are not only keeping Kentucky Guardsmen in the air, but also are working to keep pilots in quality aircraft nationwide... MORE

Soldiers at the Army Aviation Support Facility prepare for a test flight in a OH-58 helicopter in Frankfort, Ky., Sept. 24, 2012. The Kentucky Guard provides maintenance support to all OH-58s in the National Guard.

Guardsman excited to lead, honored at commissioning
August 25, 2012 — Surrounded by 10 of his fellow classmates, 2nd Lt. Martin A. Goldey looked out across the grounds of the Kentucky Capital. Goldey and his comrades, Kentucky’s newest commissioned officers, spent 18 months getting to this point. For Goldey, honor graduate, his commissioning ceremony from the Kentucky National Guard’s Officer Candidate School class 54-12 was bittersweet... MORE

Second Lt. Martin A. Goldey, Distinguished Honor Graduate of Officer Candidate School Class 54-12, poses for a quick photo on his graduation day at the Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 25.

Having a ‘ball’ after it all
August 25, 2012 — Sounds of saxophones, trombones and drums from the speakers filled the ballroom at the Capital Plaza Hotel Aug. 25. The lights elegantly reflected off of the dinner glasses and the golden ranks of freshly graduated second lieutenants of the Kentucky National Guard. Class 54-12 of the 238th Regiment’s Officers Candidate School ended a weekend of commissioning festivities with a military ball... MORE

Newly commissioned officers Derek Dillman and Christopher Cook dance along with Alycia Lynch at the military ball honoring the recent Officer Candidate School graduates at the Capital Plaza Hotel in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 25, 2012.

Kentucky Guard pins OCS class 54-12
August 25, 2012 — Eleven second lieutenants raised their right hands and swore an oath of office to become the Kentucky National Guard’s newest officers at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Aug. 25. Officer Candidate class 54-12 endured a rigorous 18-month training program in order to graduate as the new group of Kentucky National Guard leaders. The officer candidates were tested in key areas such as physical fitness, leadership abilities, land navigational skills, and operational orders... MORE

Col. William A. Denny, Commander for the 238th Regiment, administers the oath of office to OCS class 54-12 during the Officer Commissioning Ceremony at the Kentucky State Capitol in Frankfort, Ky., Aug 25. The 238th Regiment graduated 11 new officers to serve in the Kentucky National Guard.

California, to Kentucky, to Afghanistan
June 25, 2012 — Moreno has come a long way in the past few years since his journey began in California. There, he suddenly found himself unemployed from his job in Construction Management by the recession. To fully understand Moreno’s journey and how he ended up in Afghanistan, however, the story gets a little longer. ... MORE

The Danville, Calif. native now serves with ADT 4's Security Platoon, helping provide protection for the mission of educating local farmers.

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.

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.

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.

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

Spc. Matthew Sellers, Horizontal Engineer for the 207th Engineer Battalion, based in Hazard, Ky., shakes hands with Kenna Spears, district leader for Advance Auto Parts in Salyersville, Ky., March 3. Kentucky National Guardsmen from Hazard assisted local residents by directing traffic, aiding in search and rescue missions, and handing out supplies.

Yama Sakura 61: Ichi Dan!
February 2, 2012 — U.S. Army soldiers and Japan Ground Self Defense Force members participated in the 2012 Yama Sakura 61 exercise at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan, Jan. 23 – Feb. 6. Yama Sakura is an annual, simulation computer driven joint-bilateral exercise between the JGSDF from Middle Army and the U.S. Army Pacific... MORE

Maj. Miranda Killingsworth, civil affairs planner with U.S. Army Pacific Contingency Command Post, works on an operational chart during Yama Sakura 61 at Camp Itami in Osaka, Japan.

Unbridled service in Japan
February 2, 2012 — What started off as a whirlwind of a mission evolved into a great working and learning experience for the 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment as they embarked on a mission to Camp Itami located on the outskirts of Osaka, Japan. Members of the Kentucky National Guard’s 133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment provided direct public affairs support to the Yama Sakura 61 exercise at Camp Itami from Jan. 23-Feb. 3... MORE

Members of the Yama Sakura 61's Public Affairs Office tell the stories of the personnel associated with the exercise. Members include: Mr. Hideo Kawada, Sgt. 1st Class Michael Oliver, Maj. Randall Baucom, Spc. Josh Bennett, Airman 1st Class Laura Yahemiak, Staff Sgt. Fredrick Varney, Spc. Brandy Mort and Staff Sgt. Rebecca Wood.

Yama Sakura 61 begins with opening ceremony
January 30, 2012 — Yama Sakura 61, an annual bilateral exercise with the Japan Ground Self Defense Force and U.S. Army Pacific officially began, Jan. 30, at Camp Itami, Japan. The Yama Sakura exercise is a simulation-driven joint bilateral command post exercise designed to enhance U.S. and Japan combat readiness and interoperability while strengthening bi-lateral relationships... MORE

U.S. Army Pacific Commander Lt. Gen. Francis Wiercinski and Middle Army Commander of the Japan Ground Self Defense Force Lt. Gen. Ryuichiro Arakawa shake hands during the bilateral press conference Yama Sakura 61 Jan. 30.

Last tour of duty: Deployed soldier reflects on storied career
January 29, 2012 — “The Soldiers, I think are smarter. They’re required to be because of all the equipment that we have, advanced technology…the battlefield is ever-changing, and you’ve got to be flexible with it. Clearly, I think the soldiers we have today are maybe not better soldiers, but more skilled than when I was a young soldier. You kind of have to be in today’s Army. It takes a lot,” Lile added. ... MORE

The two are currently deployed on Kentucky's Agribusiness Development Team 4, which seeks to improve the lives of Afghan farmers by teaching better farming and post-harvest techniques.

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