OHIO NATIONAL GUARD
ONLINE PUBLICATION
Featuring the BG video newscast
Volume 42, Number 1
January - March 2024
Photo by Spc. Everett Sharp / 37th Infantry Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs | Video by Spc. Olivia Lauer / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard 2023 Year in Review
Ohio National Guard members’ missions in 2023 included service to their local communities, state and nation. Check out the sights, sounds and highlights from 2023.
Photo by Spc. Carleeann Smiddy / 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment | Video by Staff Sgt. Aven Santiago / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio ARNG master combatives trainer fights in independent MMA
Sgt. Jeremiah Slagle is a master combatives trainer and military police officer in the Ohio Army National Guard, and also is an independent mixed martial artist. As master combatives trainer, Slagle runs and coordinates various state combatives courses and competitions for the Ohio ARNG.
Photo and video by Ralph Branson / 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
A Tuskegee Tale
Sgt. Thomas Newton, a documented Tuskegee Airman, talks about his time serving with the 332nd Fighter Group at Lockbourne Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio from 1946 to 1949, sharing his stories about Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Jr. and Sgt. “Marvelous” Mal Whitfield. In December 2023, Newton returned to what is now known as Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base to be the guest of honor during a ceremony celebrating the 75th anniversary of desegregation in the U.S. military.
OHANG | 121ST ARW | WATCH FULL NEWSCAST | WATCH THIS SEGMENT | STORY PHOTO GALLERIES: One, Two, Three, Four
Photo and video by Staff Sgt. Thomas Moeger / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Catholic priest becomes first in 20 years to be commissioned as a chaplain
Father P.J. Brandimarti, a Catholic priest with the Diocese of Columbus, recently received a direct commission as a Catholic chaplain in the Ohio Army National Guard. Brandimarti’s commissioning made him the first Catholic priest to join the Ohio ARNG Chaplain Corps in more than 20 years.
LINEAGE LINKUP featuring
the Ohio Army National Guard’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 137th Aviation Regiment, organized and federally recognized on March 5, 1990, in Worthington, Ohio.
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT
Herbert last Ohio governor to have served in National Guard
Thomas J. Herbert served as the 56th Governor of Ohio, from 1947 to 1949, and was the last governor also to have served in the Ohio National Guard. He commanded the first aviation unit in state history — the 112th Observation Squadron, 37th Division Aviation
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD NEWS
01.06.24 ~ OHANG
180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
ANG recognizes Outstanding Airmen of Year
The 2024 Ohio Air National Guard Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners were announced in January 2024. The selectees have gone above and beyond in the previous year, demonstrating superior leadership, job performance and personal achievement.
Airman of Year:
Senior Airman Gavin Woken, 121st ARW
Noncommissioned Officer of Year:
Tech. Sgt. Austin Bly, 180th FW
Senior NCO of Year:
Master Sgt. David Frashier, 121st ARW
Company Grade Officer of Year:
Capt. Michael Andrewes, 251st CEIG
First Sergeant of Year:
Master Sgt. Samantha Cannon, 121st ARW
Tech. Sgt. Wendy Kuhn / 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
121st Airmen return from deployment
Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing are welcomed home from an overseas deployment upon their return at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, Feb. 2, 2024. The 121st Air Refueling Wing provides combat-ready Airmen to provide security and defense of the state and nation.
Staff Sgt. Jill Maynus / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
1-145th Armored Regiment receives Joint Light Tactical Vehicle
Wheeled vehicle mechanics and maintainers of the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment were trained on the Joint Light Tactical Vehicle at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in Newton Falls, Ohio, Oct. 31, 2023. The fielding of this current generation of tactical vehicles is part of a Department of the Army directive to modernize National Guard equipment.
04.12.24 ~ OHARNG
Ohio National Guard Heritage Center
Ohio ARNG facility memorialization selections announced
Seven Ohio Army National Guard facilities will be dedicated in honor of former members who valiantly served the nation in the 20th century. The selections were made as part of the Army Memorial Program, which provides a permanent, lasting honor to distinguished personnel who served with valor and distinction.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Aleah Castrejon / 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Ceremony honors retiring Ohio ANG general’s contributions, achievements over 3 decades
Maj. Gen. James R. Camp is honored during a retirement ceremony, culminating more than 30 years of service to the Ohio National Guard and U.S. Air Force, at the at the Nationwide Hotel and Conference Center in Lewis Center, Ohio, Feb. 3, 2024. A command pilot with over 4,000 flying hours and multiple overseas deployments, his most recent assignments were as commander of the Ohio Air National Guard, Ohio assistant adjutant general for Air and commander of the 179th Airlift Wing.
Spc. Olivia Lauer / 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Signal company deploys in support of U.S. Central Command
About 30 members of the 1137th Signal Company (Tactical Installation and Networking-Enhanced, or TIN-E), located in Springfield, Ohio, are honored during the unit's call to duty ceremony at the First Christian Church in Springfield, Jan. 12, 2024. While deployed, the Soldiers will provide installation, recovery, repair and maintenance of telecommunications network lines and infrastructure throughout the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility.
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD ONLINE PUBLICATION
Volume 42, Number 1 ~ January-March 2024
Adjutant General: Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr.
Director, Government and Public Affairs: Mr. Joseph R. Gabriel
State Public Affairs Officer: Capt. Jenna L. Walton
Deputy Director, Communication: Ms. Heidi M. Griesmer
Editor: Mr. Steve Toth
Layout and Design: Ms. Cindy Ayers Hayter
Historian: Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mann
Editorial/Electronic Design Support: Ms. Carleeann Smiddy
Video Editor/Producer: Staff Sgt. Thomas Moeger