Kentucky Guard

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.

Longest-serving director of Bluegrass Station retires
January 17, 2025 — Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Collins retires after 16 years as the director of Bluegrass Station (BGS) in Lexington, Kentucky, on Dec. 10, 2024. Collins served in the Kentucky National Guard for 38 years and became the director of BGS in August of 2008... MORE

Retired U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Stephen Collins, left, is presented with a special operations forces challenge coin and hat by U.S. Army Col. Jess Marasalis, the program executive officer for Special Operations Forces, at his retirement ceremony at Bluegrass Station in Lexington, Kentucky on Dec. 10, 2025.

Kentucky military police deploy overseas
January 16, 2025 — Kentucky Army National Guard Soldiers with the 617th Military Police Company, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, say goodbye to their loved ones at a deployment ceremony held in Richmond Jan. 4, 2025. Soldiers of the 617th will be deploying to the Middle East to conduct military police operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve... MORE

U.S. Army Capt. Angel Pagan, commander of the 617th Military Police Company, speaks to the Soldiers and family at the 617th Military Police Company deployment ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Richmond, Kentucky on Jan. 4, 2025.

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

National Guard supports Kentucky wreath laying ceremony
December 10, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard supported the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs wreath laying ceremony with participation by the 202nd Army Band and members of HHC, 63rd TAB color guard. U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, the adjutant general of Kentucky, laid the wreath in honor of prisoners-of-war and missing-in-action... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton, adjutant general of Kentucky, salutes the wreath he hung in honor of prisoners-of war and missing-in-action at the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs wreath laying ceremony at the Capitol Rotunda in Frankfort, Kentucky on Dec. 9, 2024. The Kentucky National Guard supported the ceremony by providing music from the 202nd Band and a color guard from the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Andy Dickson)

Embracing Heritage: Spc. Brianna Hunter’s Choctaw Journey
November 27, 2024 — Spc. Brianna Hunter, a Soldier with the Kentucky Army National Guard, embraces her Choctaw heritage despite challenges posed by the blood quantum system, which defines Native American identity based on ancestry fractions. Through her research, writing, and personal journey, she aims to inspire others to connect with their cultural roots and take pride in their heritage... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Brianna Hunter poses in front of the Murray State University newsroom wearing a hand-beaded necklace from the Mississippi Band of Choctaws at Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky on Nov. 25, 2024. Hunter is one-eighth Choctaw, serves in the Kentucky National Guard and is the editor-in-chief for the Murray State University newspaper and has written an article for the newspaper on her Native American Indian heritage. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Andy Dickson)

Frankfort leaders visit National Guard center
November 27, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard hosted a tour for community leaders at the Boone National Guard Center to showcase its dual federal and state missions, disaster preparedness, and civil support capabilities. Leaders learned about initiatives like the 120-county outreach and the Guard's collaborative efforts during emergencies, fostering greater understanding and potential legislative advocacy for service members... MORE

The Kentucky National Guard directorate of military support (DOMS) and members of Leadership Frankfort pose for a group photo on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Kentucky on Nov. 21, 2024. The Kentucky National Guard invited the group Leadership Frankfort to engage with local commerce leaders on the dual mission of the National Guard. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Andy Dickson)

Children of Kentucky National Guard Members Attend Annual Youth Camp
November 19, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard Youth Camp has been a tradition for 19 years, helping children of National Guard members develop leadership skills, teamwork, and make new friends. For more information, visit the Kentucky National Guard website or contact the Public Affairs Office... MORE

Children of Kentucky National Guard members gathered for a four-day camp at Camp Loucon in Leitchfield, Kentucky, from July 28-31, 2024. The camp, designed for kids ages 9-15, provided them with a unique opportunity to connect with peers who shared similar experiences, gain insights into basic military fundamentals, and draw inspiration from their mentors. (U.S. Army National Guard phoyo by Staff Sgt. Destini Keene)

Kentucky women’s basketball honors female service members
November 19, 2024 — Female service members were celebrated by the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team during their Heroes Day and Salute to Veterans game on Nov. 12, 2024. Among those honored were U.S. Army Col. Brandye Williams, commander of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and U.S. Army Maj. Eileen Miller, plans officer for the 149th... MORE

Female service members were celebrated by the University of Kentucky women’s basketball team during their Heroes Day and Salute to Veterans game on Nov. 12, 2024. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Capt. Kaitlin Baudendistel)

Kentucky Soldiers compete to be Commonwealth's Best Warrior
November 6, 2024 — Soldiers from across the Commonwealth competed in multiple events for the Kentucky Army National Guard's Best Warrior competition at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Nov. 3-6, 2024. The 75th Troop Command hosted the four-day event, which put participants through various grueling challenges that tested their Soldier knowledge and skills... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Todd Musgrove, an infantryman with Detachment 1, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-149th Infantry Regiment, high-crawls to his objective during the 2025 Kentucky Best Warrior Competition held at Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Kentucky, Nov. 6, 2024. This competition showcases the adaptiveness, resilience, and lethality of our forces, affirming the readiness of National Guard citizen-Soldiers to meet the nation’s challenges.

Growing safety culture in Kentucky National Guard
October 24, 2024 — Nearly 40 Soldiers and civilian technicians attended the annual Safety Training Workshop on Oct. 21-23, 2024. The workshop held at Kentucky Dam Village State Resort Park in Gilbertsville focused on ensuring Soldier and civilian safety in the workplace through proactive management and prioritizing risk management, safety culture, and effective reporting... MORE

The workshop provided an emphasis on ensuring units in the Kentucky National Guard have the tools to mitigate risk, report mishaps and build a safety culture.

Chief Information Officer retires after 30 years
September 27, 2024 — Col. John B. Blackburn retired after more than 30 years of service during a ceremony held in his honor at the Wellman Auditorium on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Sept. 27, 2024... MORE

Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton, Adjutant General-Kentucky, awards Col. John B. Blackburn, the Silver Order of Mercury during his retirement ceremony

751st Troop Command All Hazards Exercise
September 27, 2024 — Soldiers in the 751st Troop Command conducted an all-hazards exercise in southeastern Kentucky on Sept. 14, 2024. 71 Soldiers from multiple aviation companies and detachments trained with interagency partners in order to provide realistic training, empower junior leaders, and improve overall readiness for domestic operations... MORE

Soldiers with the 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade pose for a photo with members of Wolfe County search and rescue team and Red Star Wilderness emergency medical services at the Disney Training Center in Artemus, Kentucky on Sept. 14, 2024.

Kentucky National Guard connects regions in natural disaster prep
August 28, 2024 — Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s communication/IT support section’s (G6) Mission Command shop mobilized to western Kentucky to conduct an emergency deployment readiness exercise, Aug. 12-16, 2024... MORE

Emergency management officials from across the state attended a road show event at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort on August 12. Soldiers from the Kentucky Army National Guard’s Communication/Information Technology Mission Command mobilized through parts of western Kentucky August 12-16 for a natural disaster response exercise alongside local emergency management officials. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Milt Spalding)

Kentucky Guard advocates for unified cybersecurity strategy at state local issues conference
August 17, 2024 — Maj. Gen. Haldane Lamberton and Lt. Col. Dayna Sanders addressed local leaders and representatives at the Governor’s Local Issues Conference in Louisville, Aug. 8... MORE

Maj. Gen. Haldane B. Lamberton speaks to municipality representatives during the Governor's Local Issues Conference

National Guard facilities detachment deploys for base mission in Kuwait
August 12, 2024 — Engineer Soldiers said their farewells at a deployment ceremony at the Springfield Army National Guard armory in Springfield, Kentucky on August 5. Approximately 15 engineers from the 613th Engineer Facilities Detachment (FACDET), 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, prepared to depart their armory for a 9-month mobilization to Camp Buehring, Kuwait to conduct base directorate of public works (DPW) operations... MORE

Sgt. 1st Class Cory Valdivieso, an engieer with the 613th Engineer Facilities Detachment, 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, hugs his family at the Springfield Army National Guard Armory in Springfield, Kentucky on August 5, 2024. Approximately 15 Soldiers of the 613 FACDET are departing for Kuwait for base directorate of public works mission at Camp Buehring. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Andy Dickson)

Kentucky aviation conducts aerial gunnery at Grayling
August 8, 2024 — Soldiers of Bravo Company, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation, 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, Kentucky Army National Guard, conducted their annual aerial gunnery qualifications at Camp Grayling Army Airfield from July 13-20, 2024. The mission comprised of 62 Soldiers accompanied by five UH-60 Black Hawks, two fuel trucks, one Light Medium Tactical Vehicle, and nine M240H machine guns to support gunnery operations. The aerial gunnery qualification is an annual requirement to ensure the unit is always combat ready and fully mission capable... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Austin Banks fires the M240 machine gun during mounted gunnery in a UH-60 Blackhawk at Camp Grayling Army Airfield in Grayling, Michigan on July 16, 2024. Banks is a crew chief in Bravo Company 2/147th Assault Helicopter Battalion, 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade, who was conducting aerial gunnery during their annual training. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Dickson)

63rd Theater Aviation Brigade welcomes new commander
July 9, 2024 — The 63rd Theater Aviation Brigade conducted a change of command ceremony June 23, 2024, that saw Col. Michael D. Armstrong relinquish command to Lt. Col. Gabriel D. Spicer... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Michael Armstrong relinquished command to Lt. Col. Gabriel Spicer during the change of command with Soldiers, family, and friends present.

Kentucky Wildcats host MREP Soldier
July 2, 2024 — Over the last few weeks, the 2/138th hosted Lieutenant Andreas Märtson, a signal officer from Estonia, through the Military Reserve Exchange Program (MREP). Previously a professional basketball player in Estonia, Märtson got to visit the Joe Craft Center on the University of Kentucky’s campus during the cultural outing day Thursday, June 20th. During the visit, Märtson and Soldiers from the 2/138th Field Artillery Battalion (FAB) watched the Wildcats practice, met the team and head coach Mark Pope, and toured the facility... MORE

The Kentucky Wildcats hosted Lieutenant Andreas Martson, an Estonian Signal Officer training with the 2/138th through the Military Reserve Exchange Program (MREP) on June 20th, 2024. Martson and members of the 2/138th observed the Wildcats practice and met the team during Martson's cultural day. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Capt. Kaitlin Baudendistel)

Engineer battalions receive Dedication Plaque
June 27, 2024 — The 201st and 206th Engineer Battalions from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade were recently honored with the prestigious "Dedication Plaque" during Engineer Regimental week in the Essayons Room at Fort Leonard Wood, April 24, 2024... MORE

The 201st and 206th Engineer Battalions from the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade were recently honored with the prestigious "Dedication Plaque" during Engineer Regimental week in the Essayons Room at Fort Leonard Wood, April 24, 2024

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