Kentucky Guard

Man o’ War C-130 returns to ‘Old Kentucky Home’ for retirement
December 22, 2025 — A military cargo aircraft named for a famous thoroughbred racehorse has returned to its old Kentucky home for retirement... MORE

A historic C-130H Hercules taxies onto the flight line at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 22, 2025, ending the 33-year-old transport’s final flight. The plane, which has flown millions of miles around the world over the past three decades, initially was assigned to the Kentucky Air Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing straight from the Lockheed-Martin factory in 1992 before being reassigned to the Delaware Air Guard in 2021, when the Louisville unit began transitioning to the new C-130J Super Hercules. Named after the famous thoroughbred racehorse “Man o’ War” during its time in Kentucky, tail number 1231 was the 2000th C-130 to roll off the assembly line. It will now be placed on static display for retirement at its original Kentucky home, complete with restored livery and its unique Man o’ War markings. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Dale Greer)

Kentucky honors Veterans with wreath laying ceremony
December 22, 2025 — Members of the Kentucky National Guard joined the Kentucky Department of Veterans Affairs to honor Veterans during a wreath laying ceremony at Kentucky’s Old State Capitol in Frankfort, Dec. 11, 2025... MORE

Eight wreaths are placed outside Kentucky's Old State Capitol in observance of Wreaths Across America in Frankfort, Dec. 11, 2025.

Kentucky Guardsmen forge firepower for Florida
December 18, 2025 — Four Kentucky Guardsmen traveled to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, to qualify 15 Florida Guardsmen as HIMARS crewmembers, Oct. 31 – Nov. 16, 2025. The 13M MOS instructors bolstered the Florida unit’s combat readiness by qualifying Soldiers for a critical artillery role and supported the U.S. Army's broader expansion of its artillery forces... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Jean Augustin from the 3rd Battalion, 116th Field Artillery Regiment of the Florida Army National Guard participates in a field training exercise during a military occupational specialty transition course at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, held Oct. 31 through Nov. 16, 2025.

Kentucky Guard Airmen score top Medical Service Awards
December 17, 2025 — Four members of the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Medical Group have been recognized for excellence in the 2024 Air National Guard Medical Service Awards... MORE

Tech. Sgt. Cristen E. Lane, an aerospace medicine technician for the 123rd Medical Group, speaks with a patient at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 6, 2025. Lane has been named Air National Guard Aerospace Medicine Non-Commissioned Officer of the Year for 2024 by the National Guard Bureau. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Angelee Barnett)

Kentucky Air Guard Marksmanship Team places 3rd in Adjutant General's Match
December 16, 2025 — The Kentucky Air National Guard Marksmanship Team placed third overall in the 2025 Adjutant General’s Match at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training Center in Greenville, Ky., with three Airmen claiming the “Governor’s Twenty” tab for scoring in the top 20 percent of all competitors... MORE

The Kentucky Air National Guard Marksmanship Team earned third place in Adjutant General’s Match, a marksmanship competition held at the Wendell H. Ford Regional Training center in Greenville, Ky., July 11 to 13, 2025. The event tested Soldiers and Airmen with realistic, combat-focused shooting scenarios designed to sharpen weapons proficiency and lethality. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Angelee Barnett)

123rd Airlift Wing earns 21st Outstanding Unit Award, 6th Metcalf Trophy for excellence
December 15, 2025 — The 123rd Airlift Wing has earned its 21st Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award and its sixth Curtis N. “Rusty” Metcalf Trophy for excellence, officials announced during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base on Dec. 14, continuing the unit’s legacy as the most decorated tactical airlift wing in the United States Air Force... MORE

Col. Matthew Quenichet, commander of the 123rd Airlift Wing, pins the unit’s 21st Air and Space Outstanding Unit Award streamer to the wing guidon during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Dec. 14, 2025. The new honor, previously known as the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award, continues the unit’s legacy as the most decorated tactical airlift wing in the United States Air Force. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Joshua Horton)

Raymond retires, concluding more than two decades of military service
December 14, 2025 — Chief Master Sgt. Krome Raymond, senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Mission Support Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base Sept. 7... MORE

Col. Kevin Krauss, left, commander of the 123rd Mission Support Group, presents a certificate of retirement to Chief Master Sgt. Krome Raymond during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville, Ky., Sept. 7, 2025. Raymond, senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Mission Support Group, served 22 years in both the active-duty Air Force and Kentucky Air Guard during three periods of enlistment spread over 38 years. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Airman Annaliese Billings)

Kentucky National Guard supports Feeding Kentucky network during lapse in federal appropriations
December 9, 2025 — Kentucky National Guard Airmen and Soldiers completed a two-week food-bank-support mission across the Commonwealth, sorting and packing over 25,000 food boxes for Kentuckians in need from Nov. 10-26, 2025... MORE

The Soldiers stepped up and answered the call with helping food insecurity needs caused by the 43-day government shutdown.

Kentucky National Guard senior leaders hold annual leadership conference
December 9, 2025 — Senior leaders from the Kentucky National Guard met at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, Dec. 1–3, 2025, for an off-site conference focused on leadership, readiness and organizational alignment... MORE

Dr. Sami Sweis, assistant professor of international studies at Centre College, speaks to Kentucky National Guard senior leaders during a conference at Kentucky State University in Frankfort, Kentucky, Dec. 1, 2025.

Durham takes command of 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
November 24, 2025 — U.S. Army Col. Brandye Williams relinquished command of Kentucky's 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade to Col. Terry Durham during a change-of-command ceremony at Madison Central High School’s football field in Richmond, Ky., Oct. 18, 2025... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Terry Durham receives the colors of the 149th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) as he assumes command during a ceremony in Richmond, Ky., Oct. 18, 2025.

Kentucky Guard partners with Djibouti to enhance disaster preparedness
November 24, 2025 — A team of Soldiers and an Airman from the Kentucky National Guard completed a subject matter expertise exchange with key Djiboutian organizations to bolster disaster preparedness, July 31 through Aug. 9, 2025... MORE

U.S. Air Force Master Sgt. Dylan Rhodes briefs Search and Rescue Enterprise to members of the Djiboutian Armed Forces in August 2025.

Recruiters sign mission commitments for upcoming fiscal year
November 22, 2025 — Leaders from the Kentucky National Guard's Recruiting and Retention Battalion signed recruiting mission commitments for the upcoming fiscal year at Joint Force Headquarters, Sept. 30, 2025... MORE

The signed commitments set on the table during the Recruiting and Retention Battalion’s signing of mission commitments for FY26 at Joint Force Headquarters, Sept. 30, 2025

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)

Kentucky's Medical Detachment commander retires
November 19, 2025 — U.S. Army Col. Christopher Howell concluded a career of 37 years of service during a retirement ceremony, Oct. 18, 2025... MORE

U.S. Army Col. Christopher Howell delivers remarks during his retirement ceremony at Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Oct. 18, 2025.

Cyber Bluegrass 2025 Strengthens Kentucky’s Cyber Defense
November 19, 2025 — The Kentucky National Guard hosted the inaugural Cyber Bluegrass, a cyber exercise held at the State Emergency Operations Center on Boone National Guard Center, Nov. 4–6. The three-day event brought together nearly one hundred participants, including cyber professionals from across Kentucky, the FBI, Kentucky Emergency Management, and the North Carolina National Guard’s Cyber Task Force... MORE

Soldiers and civilians take part in Cyber Bluegrass at the Emergency Operations Center on Boone National Guard Center in Frankfort, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025.

Kentucky National Guard responds to fatal civilian plane crash
November 5, 2025 — Firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard were among hundreds of emergency workers who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport here Nov. 4... MORE

Master Sgt. Kyle Miller was one of eight firefighters from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Airlift Wing who responded to a fatal civilian plane crash just south of Louisville Muhammad Ali International Airport in Louisville, Ky., Nov. 4, 2025.

Avenger Triad ’25: Strengthening Protection and Fires Communication Capabilities for V Corps
October 29, 2025 — V Corps conducted a command post exercise from both its headquarters in Fort Knox, Kentucky, and its forward headquarters in Poznan, Poland... MORE

U.S. Army Kentucky National Guard Soldiers review Fire support plans from the 52nd Air Defense Artillery Brigade in the “FIRES cell”, the tactical hub for precision lethality during Avenger Triad 25, Oct. 30, 2025, Camp Kosciuszko, Poland.

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 Windage tests Mission Support Group for Agile Combat Employment
September 28, 2025 — Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123d Mission Support Group recently completed a field exercise designed to prepare them for operating the new Deployable Combat Wing model in a contested environment... MORE

Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard’s 123rd Mission Support Group support Exercise Kentucky Windage 2025 aboard a CH-47 Chinook helicopter over Fort Indiantown Gap, Pa., May 22, 2025.

Tellis retires after more than 38 years of service in Air Force, Air Guard
September 27, 2025 — Chief Master Sergeant Chris Tellis, senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Contingency Response Group, retired from military service during a ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville June 7, concluding a career spanning more than 38 years... MORE

Chief Master Sgt. Chris Tellis, right, outgoing senior enlisted leader for the 123rd Contingency Response Group, receives his certificate of retirement from Brig. Gen. Bruce Bancroft, Kentucky’s adjutant general for Air, during Tellis’ retirement ceremony at the Kentucky Air National Guard Base in Louisville Ky., June 7, 2025.

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