February 2020 Gallery
Photo by Sgt. Christine Lorenz, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
From immigrant to Citizen-Soldier:
A commander’s uncommon journey
Capt. Sulaiman Bah is awarded an Army Commendation Medal to recognize his time as commander of the 945th Engineer Company during a ceremony Jan. 11, 2020, in Norwalk, Ohio. An immigrant from Sierra Leone in western Africa, Bah commanded the unit for the past 2½ years and in the civilian world works as a facilities engineer for the Ohio Department of Transportation.
OHARNG | 16TH EB ~ READ STORY
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Shane Hughes, 178th Wing Public Affairs
A Lifesaver:
Airman earns Ohio Cross for heroic rescue
Master Sgt. Ryan K. Tucker of the 178th Wing was presented with the Ohio Cross during the Ohio National Guard Joint Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 14, 2020, in Columbus, Ohio. Tucker received the state’s highest military award for lifesaving actions he took to help rescue a woman at a gas station after she had been critically wounded.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
Air Guard officer honored with Wayt Leadership Award
Col. Matthew Moorman (center), 178th Medical Group commander, stands for a photo alongside Maj. Gen. John C. Harris Jr. (left), Ohio adjutant general, and Ohio Lt. Gov. Jon Husted after receiving the Maj. Gen. Gregory Wayt Visionary Leadership Award at the Ohio National Guard Joint Senior Leaders Conference Feb. 14, 2020, at the Greater Columbus Convention Center in Columbus, Ohio. Named for a former Ohio adjutant general, the award is presented for demonstrated leadership by an Ohio National Guard leader who exhibited qualities including an ability to think globally and execute strategies.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker, 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
180 FW member excels in, loves challenges of avionics field
Staff Sgt. Mario Bynum is an integrated avionics technician with the 180th Fighter Wing in Swanton, Ohio, ensuring that the unit’s F-16 pilots are able to receive necessary information through high-tech communication systems and flight controls. Avionics technicians maintain more than 10 integrated systems including attack control radar, infrared and laser instruments and displays, flight controls, navigation, radio and satellite communications, as well as defensive and offensive identification and electronic warfare systems.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Jason Countryman, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment
1-148th Soldiers compete at National Guard sniper competitions
Sgt. Benjamin Amstutz (left) and Sgt. Joshua Sterndale, of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 148th Infantry Regiment, work to engage targets as far as 780 meters in distance during the 49th Winston P. Wilson and 29th Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting Sniper Championships Feb. 15-20, 2020, at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling, Ark. Hosted annually by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, the competitions offer service members an opportunity to test sniper skills and weapon systems in a battle-focused environment.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Cultural performance highlights African-American/Black History Month celebration
Balla Sy (left), one of the founding members of GOREE (Giving Others Resources, Education and Empowerment) Drum and Dance troupe, and Shamba Muhammad play djembes during a West African cultural performance Feb. 24, 2020, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. GOREE’s performance highlighted the Ohio National Guard’s 2020 African-American/Black History Month program, which highlighted the roots of modern American dance in West African tradition featuring the country of Senegal.
Photo by Stephanie Beougher, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Ohio Army National Guard cuts ribbon for new Defiance recruiting office
Col. Dan Shank (center, with scissors), Ohio assistant adjutant general for Army, cuts the ribbon to open the new Ohio Army National Guard recruiting office Feb. 27, 2020, in Defiance, Ohio. Holding the ribbon are Pfc. Noah Crigger (from left), a Defiance native and member of Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, 174th Air Defense Artillery Brigade; Lt. Col. Sy Gladden, OHARNG Recruiting and Retention Battalion commander; Staff Sgt. Brandon Oreglia, OHARNG recruiter assigned to the Defiance office; Defiance County Commissioner Ryan Mack; Defiance Mayor Mike McCann, Command Sgt. Maj. Sheldon Chambliss, Ohio Army National Guard state command sergeant major; and Pvt. Carlee Smiddy, a Defiance native and member of the 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Freedom and Opportunity: A Togolese-American story
Sgt. Kouami Honkpo, an incentives specialist in the Ohio National Guard Education and Incentives Office, grew up in Lomé, Togo in West Africa, which he left to come to Ohio and pursue the freedom and opportunity available in the U.S. Although he has not yet deployed during his military career, Honkpo said one of his motivations for joining the U.S. military was for the opportunity to help spread democracy and freedom throughout the world.