Maj. Brett Green (left) and 1st Sgt. Izzet Kessler, both members of the Ohio Army National Guard's 5th Battalion, 54th Security Force Assistance Regiment, 54th Security Force Assistance Brigade, learned how to train foreign military forces at the U.S. Army's new Combat Advisor Training Course this summer at Fort Benning, Ga. The OHARNG's new 5-54th SFAR was activated Sept. 1, 2018, along with four subordinate companies.

Courtesy photo
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Staff Sgt. John S. Worcester, a communications navigations and defensive systems technician with the 179th Airlift Wing, worked to maintain the LC-130 — a ski-equipped variant of the C-130 Hercules operated by the U.S. Air Force in the Arctic and Antarctica — in support of Operation Deep Freeze earlier this year at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. Operation Deep Freeze is a partnership between the Air Force and the National Science Foundation that provides logistical support to the scientific research being conducted in Antarctica.

Photos courtesy of Staff Sgt. John Worcester
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Students from local area schools celebrate with crafts and games at the annual Children's Holiday Party Dec. 6, 2018, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and civilian employees raised money throughout the year for the event as a way to give back to the community.

Staff Sgt. Michael Carden, ONG

Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman (left), Ohio adjutant general, presents Maj. Gen. Stephen E. Markovich, outgoing commander of the Ohio Air National Guard, with his retirement certificate during a ceremony Dec. 7, 2018, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Markovich, retiring after 38 years in the military, served in various positions throughout his career including state surgeon for the Ohio Air National Guard.

Staff Sgt. Michael Carden, ONG
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Photo by U.S. Army photo by Charles Rosemond

Ohio air defenders
rule the skies during Operation
Combined Resolve XI

An Air Defense Artillery Humvee Avenger weapons system assigned to Battery C, 1st Battalion, 174th Air Defense Artillery Regiment sits emplaced during exercise Combined Resolve XI Dec. 7, 2018, at Hohenfels Training Area, Germany. Combined Resolve XI is a biannual exercise that serves as the combat training center certification exercise for regionally allocated forces. This iteration of the exercise takes place in two phases at the Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels training areas between Nov. 26-Dec. 14, 2018, and Jan. 13-25, 2019.

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Members of the 179th Airlift Wing gather for a formation at the commanders All Call during a unit training assembly, Dec. 8, 2018, in Mansfield, Ohio. The All Call provided an opportunity to review the year's accomplishments and recognize outstanding individuals, including the wing's Airman, noncommissioned officers (multiple categories) and field grade officer of the year.

Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood, ONG
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Lt. Col. Charles Buchanan, commander of the 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment, Ohio Army National Guard, presents the Order of the Shield of Sparta to Amy Lake, wife of Cpl. Andrew Lake of Company C, 1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment at the battalion's annual ball Dec. 8, 2018, at the Kalahari Resort in Sandusky, Ohio. The Order of the Shield of Sparta award is presented by the National Infantry Association and recognizes spouses of Soldiers who have contributed significantly to supporting their Soldier in ways that stand out in the eyes of Army Infantry leadership.

Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mann, ONG

Happy 382nd Birthday
to the National Guard!

On Dec. 13, 1636, the first militia regiments in North America were organized in Massachusetts. The birth of the National Guard's oldest organized units is symbolic of the founding of all the state, territory, and District of Columbia militias that collectively make up today's National Guard, which has been supporting community, state and federal missions continuously since then.
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A contingent of Ohio National Guard senior leaders, including Maj. Gen. Mark E. Bartman (left), Ohio adjutant general, prepare to cut the cake during a ceremony celebrating the National Guard’s 382nd birthday Dec. 13, 2018, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Over 150 years after the birth of the National Guard, the Ohio National Guard would be established July 25, 1788, in the city of Marietta, Ohio.

Bill Pierce, ONG
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Rep. Rick Perales of Ohio House District 73 presents Brig. Gen. Rebecca L. O’Connor with a commendation on Dec. 13, 2018, in the Ladies’ Gallery of the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, for being the first woman promoted to the rank of brigadier general in the Ohio Air National Guard. O’Connor is the Ohio Air National Guard chief of staff at Joint Force Headquarters in Columbus, and is responsible for overseeing and leading the Ohio Air National Guard staff and supporting their subordinate units.

Photo courtesy of
Ohio House of Representatives
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Col. James R. Camp (left), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Air, and Col. Jeff Csokmay (right), state judge advocate for the Ohio National Guard, accept a delivery of more than 400 boxes of Girl Scout chocolates from Michiel DeVito, Morale, Welfare and Recreation Family Advocacy Program manager at Defense Supply Center Columbus, Dec. 13, 2018, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. MWR provides programs and services designed to foster readiness and enhance the lives of warfighters, Families, civilians, retirees and other eligible patrons. More than 2,500 boxes of candy have been given to military members throughout the state of Ohio this year.

Bill Pierce, ONG
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Lt. Col. Robert “Zippy” Dunlap is doused with water from a fire hose as he completes his final flight on the C-130H Hercules, before his retirement from the 179th Airlift Wing, Dec. 13, 2018, in Mansfield, Ohio. A long-standing military tradition for departing aircrew members taking their final flight calls for them to be doused with water and champagne in celebration of their flying service.

Tech. Sgt. Joe Harwood, ONG

State Partnership Program

Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr., the Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, looks down the sights of a machine gun during a tour of a Hungarian patrol boat Sept. 19, 2018, in Budapest, Hungary. Senior leaders from the Ohio National Guard traveled to Hungary for key leader engagements with members of the Hungarian Defence Forces as part of the State Partnership Program, a U.S. Department of Defense initiative that links U.S. states with a partner country for the purpose of improving bilateral relations with the United States. The ONG has partnered with Hungary for 25 years.

Staff Sgt. Michael Carden, ONG
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HAPPY HOLIDAYS FROM
THE OHIO NATIONAL GUARD

The Ohio National Guard wishes all our Soldiers, Airmen, civilian employees and Families a joyous, healthy and prosperous New Year. As we reflect on 2018 and look ahead to 2019, we will continue to give our best in service to our communities, state and nation. Always Ready, Always There!

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MESSAGES FROM SOLDIERS AND AIRMEN
TOP SNAPSHOTS of 2018
TOP STORIES of 2018