September 2019 Gallery
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Joshua Mann, Ohio Army National Guard Historian
112th Engineer Battalion staff connects to their past
Members of the 112th Engineer Battalion Staff recently toured the Cleveland Grays Armory Museum in downtown Cleveland, to connect to the unit’s past. The 112th perpetuates the lineage of the Cleveland Grays, with service including the Civil War, both World Wars and the War on Terrorism.
Photo by Pfc. Armin Hadzic, Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina
179th AW supports Silver Arrow exercise in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Airmen from the 179th Airlift Wing instruct members of the Armed Forces of Bosnia-Herzegovina on procedures in securing a Humvee while inside one of the wing’s assigned C-130H Hercules aircraft, Sept. 10, 2019, during the Silver Arrow training event in Tuzla, Bosnia-Herzegovina. From Sept. 9-12, members of the U.S. Air Force and Army as well as the Maryland and Ohio National Guards shared tactics, techniques and procedures with members of the AFBiH on public affairs and strategic communication, cargo loading and unloading procedures, and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) operations.
Photo by Sgt. Devin Lewis, 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team Public Affairs
9/11 Memorial Run
Soldiers of the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team participate in a 9/11 Memorial Run to honor the 18th anniversary of the tragedy, Sept. 11, 2019, at Fort Bliss, Texas. The 30th ABCT, which comprises about 4,000 Soldiers from the North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio (1st Battalion, 145th Armored Regiment) and West Virginia National Guards, is preparing to support Operation Spartan Shield in the Middle East.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Wendy Kuhn, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
121st ARW Family Day brings the noise
A young girl shields her ears while standing on the airport apron during the 121st Air Refueling Wing Family Day event Sept. 15, 2019, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. Friends and Family of the wing’s Airmen took part in activities throughout the day that included lunch, games, rides, aircraft static displays and various performances.
Photo by Senior Airman Amber Mullen, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard senior leaders conduct annual visit to Hungary to plan future focus, goals for ongoing partnership
A contingent of Ohio National Guard senior leaders visited Hungary Sept. 7-10, 2019, to hold discussions and mark another successful training year in a quarter-century partnership with the Hungarian Defence Forces. The Ohio National Guard conducts regular engagements focused on sharing best practices and learning from Hungary, its state partner for the last 26 years through the Department of Defense State Partnership Program.
Video by Airman 1st Class Kevin Long
Happy 72nd birthday to the U.S. Air Force!
On Sept. 18, 1947, the Air Force was officially established as a separate branch of the U.S. military. “Frontiers of Blue… This is 72!,” is the theme for this year’s Air Force birthday, and focuses on heritage, warfighting capability and innovation. In this photo, an F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the Ohio National Guard’s 180th Fighter Wing, flies over the skies of the Florida panhandle during a Combat Archer training exercise.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker, 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
State command chief flies high with the 180th Fighter Wing
Chief Master Sgt. Thomas Jones (left), Ohio Air National Guard state command chief, takes part in an F-16 Fighting Falcon orientation flight and pre-training with the 180th Fighter Wing, Sept. 18, 2019, in Swanton, Ohio. Orientation flights are conducted with key military, civilian and political leaders to provide a better understanding of and foster support for a unit’s mission, aircraft and capabilities.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Lawmakers, staff get firsthand look at Guard
State legislators and staff members take part in an orientation flight and familiarization tour Sept. 19, 2019, at Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio. During the day, they were briefed on the roles and missions of the Ohio National Guard and learned about some of the equipment used by OHNG Soldiers and Airmen, including the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter in the background.
Photo courtesy of 178th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
The Ohio National Guard honors POW/MIA Recognition Day Sept. 20.
About 82,500 Americans remain missing or unaccounted for from wars fought since World War II to the present, including nearly 3,700 Ohioans. We honor prisoners of war and those missing in action for their service to our nation. Pulling from the Buckeye Guard archives, we recount the story of retired Col. Mike Roberts, a former commander of the 178th Fighter Wing in Springfield, Ohio, who spent several weeks as a POW in Iraq when his F-16 Flying Falcon was shot down in the early days of Operation Desert Storm.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Nic Kuetemeyer, 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
121st Air Refueling Wing hero is Air National Guard Firefighter of the Year
Staff Sgt. Michael Ginikos, a crew chief in the fire department at the 121st Air Refueling Wing, is the winner of the 2018 Chief Albert Fitzpatrick Award for Air National Guard Firefighter of the Year. Ginikos, a Westerville, Ohio native, was chosen as the standout candidate from applicants nationwide.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
New historical marker ties railroad to Camp Perry’s history
The Ohio National Guard and the Ohio History Connection unveiled a historic marker that ties the significance of the railroad system to Camp Perry’s past during a Sept. 27, 2019, ceremony at Camp Perry Joint Training Center, near Port Clinton, Ohio. Camp Perry, which currently consists of 640 acres, was the primary training center for the Ohio National Guard for much of the 20th century, and rail accessibility was a deciding factor in the site’s selection.
Photo by Sylvia Schoewe, Civilian Marksmanship Program
Ohio Guard’s best shots take home awards, earn Governor’s Twenty tab
The Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Championship Competition Matches were held Sept. 21-22, 2019, at Camp Perry Joint Training Center in Port Clinton, Ohio. About 150 Ohio National Guard members competed in individual pistol and rifle matches, as well as a rifle team match. New this year, the top 10 individual placers earned the Governor’s Twenty award, which recognizes Soldiers and Airmen who have attained the highest degree of proficiency with their individual weapons.
U.S. Army graphic
Honoring Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day Sept. 29
Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day is observed in the U.S. on the last Sunday of September, recognized as the day when America honors surviving parents and families of fallen service members who died while defending the nation. It provides us with an opportunity to acknowledge not only the sacrifice, but also the selfless service surviving family members give to our nation.
Photo by Bill Pierce, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio National Guard Unity Day celebration: A spice of life
Caroline Anderson (second from left), human capital senior analyst for the Ohio National Guard State Human Resources Division, serves up pad thai, a stir-fried noodle dish commonly served as street food and at most restaurants in Thailand as part of that country’s cuisine, during the first Unity Day celebration Sept. 23, 2019, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. The cultural celebration included food, music and notable cultural fun facts designed to enhance cross-cultural awareness and promote harmony among military members, their Families, and the civilian workforce.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITY /DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION PROGRAM | READ STORY
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio Army National Guard has new state command sergeant major
Command Sgt. Maj. Dwight S. Chambliss accepted responsibility as the Ohio Army National Guard state command sergeant major from Command Sgt. Maj. Rodger M. Jones during a change of responsibility ceremony Sept. 30, 2019, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Jones is set to retire Nov. 30, with 38 years of military service including the past 34 in the Ohio Army National Guard.