Kentucky Guard

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)

The Kentucky National Guard celebrates resilience with Gold Star families at Survivors' Day at the Races
November 12, 2024 — The Kentucky National Guard partnered with Kentucky Survivor Outreach Services to host the 14th annual Survivors' Day at the Races on Nov. 3, 2024. The event, held at Churchill Downs in Louisville, Ky., was an opportunity for Gold Star families to gather for a day of camaraderie, remembrance, reflection, and celebration... MORE

Gold Star family members gather in the Woodford Reserve Winners Circle at Churchill Downs during Survivors' Day at the Races to present a trophy to the winning horse in Louisville, Kentucky, Nov. 3, 2024. The United States Army Survivor Outreach Services team partners with Churchill Downs each year for this event.

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.

Wounded Kentucky Guardsman receives new “smart home”
October 31, 2024 — Kentucky Army National Guard Maj. John Rock and his wife, along with six of their nine children, cut the ribbon on their new home, Oct. 28, 2024. The new “smart home” was made possible by the Tunnel to Towers Foundation. The home features several ADA improvements and is mortgage-free to the family... MORE

Kentucky National Guardsman, Maj. John Rock and his family cut the ribbon on their new ADA compliant home, Oct. 28, courtesy of the Tunnel to Towers Foundation, a non-profit organization founded following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001.

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.

Quenichet takes command of 123rd Airlift Wing
October 13, 2024 — Col. Matthew Quenichet took charge of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing during a change-of-command ceremony in Louisville, Oct. 11, 2024... MORE

Col. Matthew Quenichet (right), incoming commander for the 123rd Airlift Wing, accepts the wing guidon from Brig. Gen. David Mounkes, the Kentucky National Guard’s assistant adjutant general for Air, as Quenichet assumes command of the wing during a change-of-command ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Oct. 11, 2024. Quenichet replaces Col. Bruce Bancroft, who has led the unit since 2021 and will be moving into a new leadership role at Joint Force Headquarters—Kentucky. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

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 Air National Guard deploys Airmen to North Carolina for Helene response
October 1, 2024 — 11 Airmen of the Kentucky Air National Guard deployed to Hickory, North Carolina, on Oct. 1, 2024, to support local authorities in the wake of Hurricane Helene. The members of the 123rd Airlift Wing's Fatality Search and Recovery Team will be responsible for assisting with the humane recovery of casualties following unprecedented flooding from the storm, which has claimed more than 130 lives... MORE

Members of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s Fatality Search and Recovery Team prepare equipment for deployment form the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 30, 2024, in response to massive flooding across North Carolina following Hurricane Helene. The 11-Airman team left Louisville Oct. 1 and will operate from Hickory, N.C, where they will assist coroners and other local officials in the recovery of flood casualties. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Phil Speck)

Zamora takes command of 123rd Contingency Response Group
September 30, 2024 — Lt. Col. Aaron Zamora assumed command of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group in a change-of-ceremony Aug. 26, 2024, replacing Col. Ryan Adams, who led the unit since 2021... MORE

Lt. Col. Aaron Zamora, right, incoming commander of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Contingency Response Group, accepts the group guidon from Col. Bruce Bancroft, 123rd Airlift Wing commander, during a change-of-command ceremony at Amedee Army Airfield, Calif., Aug. 26, 2024. The ceremony took place at the end of a week-long exercise that tested the 123rd CRG’s capability to conduct a Joint Task Force-Port Opening, an operation designed to safely and effectively distribute cargo and supplies to austere areas affected by catastrophic events or conflict. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

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.

Wing completes Readiness Exercise Validation
September 23, 2024 — The 123rd Airlift Wing successfully completed its first major graded inspection in four years during the August Unit Training Assembly, capping a multi-day evaluation that rated its ability to deploy and operate in a contested environment... MORE

Members of the 123rd Airlift Wing’s security forces and civil engineer squadrons respond to a simulated drone crash during a Readiness Exercise Validation inspection conducted at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Aug. 23, 2024. The multi-day exercise tested the wing’s ability to operate in a degraded environment. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Chloe Ochs)

Simms retires after 27 years of service in Air Force, Air National Guard
September 21, 2024 — Chief Master Sgt. Bradley W. Simms, a loadmaster and senior enlisted leader for the 165th Airlift Squadron, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard base in Louisville, Kentucky, July 20, 2024, concluding a career of more than 27 years... MORE

Lt. Col. Josh Ketterer, right, commander of the 165th Airlift Squadron, presents a Certificate of Retirement to Chief Master Sgt. Bradley Simms, a loadmaster and the squadron’s senior enlisted leader, during Simms’ retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., July 20, 2024. Simms retired from the 123rd Airlift Wing after more than 27 years in the military. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Annaliese Billings)

Combat Medics train for recerts
September 19, 2024 — Combat medics from around Kentucky attended Tactical Combat Casualty Care recertification training to maintain their military occupational specialty skills at Boone National Guard Center Sept. 7-20... MORE

Kentucky Guardsmen Host State Partner Djibouti
September 6, 2024 — A small contingent of logistics officers from the Djiboutian Armed Forces (FAD) visited the 1792nd Combat Support Sustainment Battalion during their visit to the Commonwealth Aug. 19-22, 2024... MORE

The visit was part of the National Guard's State Partnership Program, which started in 2015 between Kentucky and Djibouti. During the visit, they toured the CSSB's armory, field maintenance shop 10 and the famous Corvette Museum

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 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)

Schmidt draws 37-year career of service to a close
August 23, 2024 — Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Schmidt, fire chief for the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire and Emergency Flight, officially retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Kentucky, July 19, closing out a career spanning more than 37 years... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Anthony Schmidt, right, fire chief for the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron’s Fire and Emergency Flight, receives a certificate of retirement from Lt. Col. Jarret Goddard, commander of the 123rd Civil Engineer Squadron, during Schmidt’s retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., July 19, 2024. Schmidt is retiring after more than 37 years of service to the Kentucky Air National Guard. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Kentucky's 2113th Welcome Home
August 20, 2024 — The Solders of the 2113th Transportation Company hosted their welcome home during a ceremony at the Paducah-McCracken County Convention and Expo Center in Paducah, Ky., Aug. 17... MORE

The unit spent 9 months deployed to the Central European region

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