December 2020 Gallery
Photo courtesy of Gov. Mike DeWine’s office
Ohio Guard members help prepare for pending COVID-19 vaccine distribution
An Ohio National Guard member wears special gloves while practicing to pack glass vials in dry ice. Ohio will soon get an initial shipment of the COVID-19 vaccine at its Receive, Store and Stage warehouse, and about two dozen Ohio National Guard members have been working with the Ohio Department of Health to develop the logistics plan to receive and repackage the vaccine for distribution. They have been conducting daily drills for several weeks to safely and effectively handle the vaccine, which must be removed from ultracold storage and repackaged with dry ice in under two minutes.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
Newly promoted Maj. Gen. Stivers pins on second star during ceremony
Brig. Gen. Steve Stivers was promoted to the rank of major general during an intimate promotion ceremony Dec. 11, 2020, at the Maj. Gen. Robert S. Beightler Armory in Columbus, Ohio. Stivers, who is one of the highest-ranking National Guard members to simultaneously serve as a member of Congress, has represented Ohio’s 15th District in the U.S. House of Representatives since 2011.
Graphic by National Guard Bureau Public Affairs
Happy birthday, National Guard: 384 years of service
Since Dec. 13, 1636, when the first militia regiments were formed in Massachusetts, there’s been a National Guard ready to protect and defend. The 384-year legacy of service continues with Citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen who make up today’s 450,000-member National Guard, supporting contingency operations overseas as well as critical domestic operations here at home. Always Ready, Always There.
WATCH VIDEO
NATIONAL GUARD BIRTHDAY SITE
READ ADJUTANT GENERAL’S MESSAGE
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. Beth Holliker, 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Serving her fellow veterans: 180th FW Airman holds leadership post in BGSU student veterans chapter
Staff Sgt. Kathryn Dobbs, an aerospace medical technician assigned to the 180th Fighter Wing, is vice president of the Bowling Green State University chapter of the Student Veterans of America organization, which is committed to supporting the university’s nearly 700 military-affiliated students through educational, financial and career support programs.
OHANG | 180TH FW | READ STORY
Photo by Sgt. Thomas Moeger, 1487th Transportation Company
Looking Back:
1487th Transportation Company TOA ceremony
Soldiers of the 1487th Transportation Company participate in a transfer of authority ceremony at the culmination of a nearly yearlong deployment, Dec. 17, 2020. Conducting more than 700 missions while deployed, the 1487th provided transportation assets and support to various units throughout the U.S. Central Command area of operations, and handed over the mission to the New Mexico Army National Guard’s 720th Transportation Company.
Photo courtesy of Ohio Special Forces Preparatory Detachment, 19th Group
Earning the Green Beret: Becoming a National Guard Special Forces team member
Two Ohio Army National Guard Soldiers passed the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) earlier this year, qualifying them to attend the 53-week Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC). The two spent about six months with 19th Special Forces Preparatory Detachment (SFPD) conducting physically demanding training including running, ruck marching, pushups, situps and land navigation as part of their assessment and then endured the strenuous 21-day SFAS course.
OHARNG | 73RD TC | READ STORY
Video by Ohio National Guard
Happy Holidays
and a Peaceful New Year
The Ohio National Guard wishes all our Soldiers, Airmen, civilian employees and Families a Merry Christmas, happy holidays and a Happy New Year.
~ Always Ready, Always There!
Ohio National Guard photos
The best Christmas gift:
1487th Transportation Company returns home
Soldiers from the 1487th Transportation Company, based in Piqua, Ohio, are welcomed home as they return from a nearly yearlong deployment, Dec. 24, 2020. While deployed, the 1487th provided transportation assets and support to various units throughout the U.S. Central Command area of operations. See photos and stories from the 1487th’s deployment on the unit’s Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) page.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Chad Menegay, Ohio National Guard Public Affairs
First Ohio National Guard members get COVID-19 vaccine
The U.S. Department of Defense is allocating doses of the vaccine to the Ohio National Guard as part of a pilot program for Soldiers and Airmen who are currently performing full-time National Guard duty under Title 10 and Title 32 of the U.S. Code, in support of the state’s COVID-19 response operations. The first of about 500 Ohio Guard members on duty began receiving the vaccine just before Christmas.
Photo by 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
180th Fighter Wing Airmen return from overseas duty
Airmen from the 180th Fighter Wing are welcomed home by loved ones upon their return from deployment in late December 2020. Several members of the unit, based in Swanton, Ohio, returned in the timeframe from around Christmas to New Year’s Day.
OHANG | 180TH FW | MORE PHOTOS
Ohio National Guard graphic
Happy New Year from the Ohio National Guard!
This has been one of the most extraordinary, challenging years in our nation’s history. Your Ohio National Guard Soldiers, Airmen and State Defense Force members have been serving in a variety of critical roles in the fight against COVID-19, as well as deploying in support of our country’s defense, at home and overseas. We are prepared to continue serving our fellow citizens in 2021, and to give our best effort to our communities, state and nation. Always Ready, Always There!