OHIO NATIONAL GUARD
ONLINE PUBLICATION
Featuring the BG video newscast
Volume 42, Number 3
July-September 2024
Video by Staff Sgt. Mikayla Gibbs / 121st Air Refueling Wing
Airman pursues two dreams by joining the military and utilizing the ONGSP to earn a degree
Senior Airman Nichole Reng-Caudle, a weather forecaster with the 164th Weather Flight, 121st Air Refueling Wing, talks about her experience serving in the Ohio Air National Guard. Reng-Caudle credits the Ohio National Guard Scholarship Program for helping her obtain her degree and pursue two dreams at the same stage of her life.
OHANG | 121ST ARW | WATCH FULL NEWSCAST | WATCH THIS SEGMENT
Photo by Sgt. Olivia Lauer / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs | Video by Staff Sgt. Thomas Moeger / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard Soldier’s mission to help fellow veterans was driving force behind PACT Act
Ten years after an overseas deployment, Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson, a combat medic in the Ohio Army National Guard, developed a rare autoimmune disease and lung cancer from toxic burn pit exposure. While enduring his own illness, Robinson and his family helped lead advocacy efforts for veterans who suffered similar conditions and were not receiving adequate health care through the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Three years after being diagnosed, Robinson died at age 39, leaving behind his wife, Danielle, and daughter, Brielle. His efforts and legacy continue to live on. On Aug. 2, 2022, Congress passed the Sgt. 1st Class Heath Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act, which enables veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits to receive health care through the VA.
OHARNG | 371ST SB | WATCH FULL NEWSCAST | WATCH THIS SEGMENT | PHOTOS | STORY
Video by Staff Sgt. Jillian Maynus / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio Air National Guard defender named state, nationwide Outstanding Airman of Year
Senior Airman Gavin Woken, a security forces defender with the Ohio Air National Guard’s 121st Air Refueling Wing, is the Outstanding Airman of the Year for Ohio and subsequently was named the OAY for the entire Air National Guard. Woken was recognized for his efforts in various international exercises as well as his commitment to military and civilian service.
OHANG | 121ST ARW | WATCH FULL NEWSCAST | WATCH THIS SEGMENT
Video by Staff Sgt. Thomas Moeger / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard hosts 2024 Freedom to Serve Campaign celebration
The Ohio National Guard hosts its Freedom to Serve Campaign celebration at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio, July 1, 2024, to share the stories of four Ohio Soldiers from the 5th United States Colored Troops who earned the Medal of Honor during the Civil War. Freedom to Serve honors the 76th anniversary of President Harry Truman signing executive orders that directed the integration of the U.S. military and federal workforce, as well as the passage of the Women’s Armed Services Integration Act.
OHARNG | HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHTS | FULL FREEDOM TO SERVE VIDEO | WATCH FULL NEWSCAST | WATCH THIS SEGMENT
LINEAGE LINKUP
featuring
the Ohio Army National Guard’s 838th Military Police Company, organized July 10, 1899, in Youngstown, Ohio. READ MORE
HISTORICAL HIGHLIGHT
New organizational emblem for 123rd ACS
On Sept. 11, 2003, the Department of the Air Force approved a new organizational emblem for the Ohio Air National Guard’s 123rd Air Control Squadron, located in Blue Ash, Ohio.
READ MORE
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD NEWS
Airman Kylie Davidson / 179th Cyberspace Wing Public Affairs
Airman competes in Miss Ohio Scholarship Program
Staff Sgt. Grace Riegel, a public affairs specialist at the 179th Cyberspace Wing, competed for Miss Ohio in Mansfield, Ohio, June 8-15, 2024. The Miss Ohio Scholarship Program consists of five phases of competition: private interview, onstage question, health and fitness, talent and evening gown.
08.21.24 ~ OHNG
Carleeann Smiddy / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio Adjutant General's Department recognizes 2024 State Employee of Year
Pamela Marsh, a maintenance repair worker for the Ohio National Guard, receives the Ohio Adjutant General’s Department 2024 State Employee of the Year Award from OHNG senior leadership during the department’s annual town hall meeting at the Ohio State Highway Patrol Training Academy in Columbus, Ohio, Aug. 21, 2024. Marsh has been with the agency for a little over two years and has been a significant contributor at both the Woodlawn and Kettering readiness centers in Southwest Ohio, assisting with the facilities’ maintenance and being a positive influence on workplace morale.
08.10.24 ~ OHNG
Staff Sgt. Amber Mullen-Schweitzer / Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
GuardCare 2024 provides free medical care to citizens of Greene County, Ohio
The Ohio National Guard and other government civilian and military medical professionals partnered with local and state public health agencies to conduct "Greene County GuardCare 2024: Warriors for Health" at the Greene County Career Center in Xenia, Ohio, Aug. 10-11, 2024. During the weekend event, more than 1,000 Ohioans received free, comprehensive medical care including screenings, physicals, immunizations, optometry services, dental care, hearing tests, lab draws, nutrition counseling, mental and behavioral health services, women’s health services and physical therapy.
Senior Airman Nicholas Battani / 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
OHNG Airmen participate in Exercise Northern Lightning 2024
Ohio Air National Guard Airmen participated in 2024 Northern Lightning alongside more than 1,000 service members from nearly 25 units across the country at the Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center, Aug. 5-18, 2024. During this two-week exercise, OHNG Airmen had the opportunity to demonstrate their ability to integrate with joint forces, focusing on air-to-air and air-to-ground combat, dissimilar aircraft air tactics and offensive and defensive counter air, with realistic surface-to-air and air-to-air threats.
PHOTOS: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 | STORIES: 1, 2, 3, 4 | VIDEOS: 1, 2, 3
Staff Sgt. Thomas Moeger / 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
323rd MP Company participates in Exercise Northern Strike
Soldiers from the 323rd Military Police Company trained on a variety of combat tasks and battle drills this summer as part of as part of Exercise Northern Strike 2024-2 at various locations across Michigan, including Camp Grayling, Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center and Rogers City. Throughout the exercise, the 323rd trained with fellow Ohio Army National Guard unit Company B, 2-19th Special Forces Group.
Tech. Sgt. Alexis Wade / 179th Cyberspace Wing Public Affairs
Side by Side: Father and son share a journey in military service
Senior Master Sgt. Steve Dotson, a bioenvironmental engineering specialist, and his son Staff Sgt. Braydon Dotson, a cyber defense operations specialist, both assigned to the 179th Cyberspace Wing, participate in the Blackfeet Tribal Health - Operation Walking Shield Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) medical mission together at Browning High School in Browning, Mont., July 24, 2024. While they each had different roles at the IRT, both men were extremely grateful to have this opportunity to serve together.
OHIO NATIONAL GUARD ONLINE PUBLICATION
Volume 42, Number 3 ~ July-Sept. 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