Ohio National Guard Photo Gallery - December 2014 |
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Command Sgt. Major Rodger Jones waits for the next pitch while in his catcher’s crouch during a game against the Mariners at Westerville North High School’s Bernowski Field in Westerville, Ohio. Jones has been a member of a Columbus-area 35-and-over league since joining the National Adult Baseball Association in 2011. Photo courtesy of Candy Jones |
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Firefighters from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 5694th Engineer Detachment participate in a training class with firefighters from various European countries' militaries in support of Black Sea Rotational Force 14 (BSRF-14)-Operation Platinum Lion. The Ohio firefighters participated in the event as part of their 2014 annual training earlier this year, becoming the temporary fire protection force during a two-week rotation serving at Novo Selo Forward Operating Station, Bulgaria. Sgt. Brian Johnson, ONG |
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Col. Ben Capriato (center), 16th Engineer Brigade commander, receives his eagle O-6 rank shoulder epaulettes from his wife, Shannon (left), and daughter, Amanda, during a Dec. 5, 2014, promotion ceremony at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Capriato took command of the 16th Engineer Brigade last September. Todd Cramer, ONG |
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Soldiers from the Ohio Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Task Force Shiloh, located in Woodlawn, Ohio, are deploying in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Recognized during a call to duty ceremony Dec. 6, 2014, in Fairfield, Ohio, Task Force Shiloh’s mission will be to provide air defense support to homeland defense operations in the Washington, D.C. area. |
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Lt. Col. Steven Breitfelder (right), commander 123rd Air Control Squadron, receives the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award from Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman, Ohio assistant adjutant general for Air, Dec. 6, 2014, at Blue Ash Air National Guard Station, in Blue Ash, Ohio. The unit received the award for key roles in Operations Enduring Freedom and Noble Eagle, participating in multiple joint exercises and volunteering in the local community. Master Sgt. Seth Skidmore, ONG |
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State Rep. Bob Hackett, representing Ohio's 74th House District, addresses Airmen, Family and friends of the 178th Wing during a welcome home ceremony Dec. 7, 2014, at the Springfield Air National Guard Base in Springfield, Ohio. Twenty Airmen were honored for deploying overseas in the past year. Master Sgt. Seth Skidmore, ONG |
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The Ohio National Guard welcomes home 157 Soldiers from the 1191st Engineer Company during a ceremony Dec. 8, 2014, at Christ’s Community Church in Portsmouth, Ohio. While in Afghanistan, the unit conducted retrograde engineer operations, which included the tear down of many of the coalition forces’ smaller operating posts. |
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Parker Headings, a student in Mr. Whip's and Mr. Habayeh's West Jefferson Middle School class, receives a gift from Santa Dec. 11, 2014, during the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory Children's Christmas Party in Columbus, Ohio. Special needs children from Fairhaven School and West Jefferson Middle School in Madison County attended this year's event, which was funded primarily by donations from armory employee dress-down day participants. Staff Sgt. George B. Davis, ONG |
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The National Guard celebrates The organization traces its origin to Dec. 13, 1636, when the first militia regiments in North America were mustered into service in Massachusetts.
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Gen. Frank J. Grass (center), chief, National Guard Bureau, celebrates the National Guard's 378th birthday by cutting a cake with Citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen last week at the Army National Guard Readiness Center, on the Arlington Hall campus in Arlington, Va. Among the Guard members joining in the celebration was Ohio Air National Guard Tech. Sgt. Kristin Shultz (to the right of Grass), currently performing a Title 10 active-duty tour with NGB. National Guard Bureau photo |
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Ohio National Guard Soldiers and Airmen support pregame ceremonies for the Cleveland Browns' game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Dec. 14, 2014, at FirstEnergy Stadium in Cleveland. Guard members volunteered to provide flag details for every Browns home game this year, this one being the last of the season and featured the first regular season professional start for Browns rookie quarterback Johnny Manziel during a Bengals' 30-0 victory. Photo courtesy of 1st Lt. Nathan Wallin |
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Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Task Force Shiloh, based in Woodlawn, Ohio, are currently at Fort Bliss, Texas, preparing for their upcoming mission in support of Operation Noble Eagle. Task Force Shiloh's mission will be to provide air defense support to homeland defense operations in the National Capital Region, around the Washington, D.C. area. Photo courtesy of Fort Bliss |
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Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. (center), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, receives his new shoulder rank epaulettes from Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst (left), Ohio adjutant general, and his wife, Angela, during a Dec. 19, 2014, promotion ceremony at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Harris, who has been in his position since January 2011, establishes policies, priorities and oversight for the readiness of more than 11,000 Soldiers in the Ohio Army National Guard. Todd Cramer, ONG |
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On behalf of the Soldiers and Airmen Sincere thanks for your support and contributions throughout the year. Warm holiday greetings and best wishes for the New Year.
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Col. Mark D. Auer (center), 179th Operations Group commander, receives the Legion of Merit from Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman (right), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Air, and Maj. Gen. Deborah A. Ashenhurst, Ohio adjutant general, during a Dec. 29, 2014, award ceremony at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. While assigned to the Illinois NationalGuard in 2009-13, Auer led efforts in developing the Air National Guard Advanced Joint Terminal Attack Controller Training System simulator, standing up a new mission qualification schoolhouse, streamlining the training process and rewriting of relevant publications and tactics, which significantly changed the overall strategy and capabilities of the tactical air control career field. Bill Pierce, ONG |
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Happy New Year! The Ohio National Guard wishes everyone good health and prosperity in 2015, and to look forward with confidence at the opportunities that the future holds for all of us. Ohio National Guard graphic |