Senior Master Sgt. Ralph Branson / 121st Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs
121st ARW welcomes home deployers
Airmen from the 121st Air Refueling Wing are welcomed home to Rickenbacker Air National Guard Base in Columbus, Ohio, May 31, 2026. The returning contingent — which deployed to the Indo-Pacific Command area of responsibility — provided vital KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling capabilities for global operations.
Airman 1st Class Josh Kaeser / 178th Wing Public Affairs
178th Security Forces Airmen strengthen physical readiness during tactical training
Members assigned to the 178th Security Forces Squadron move a simulated casualty to a safe location during a tactical training event in Springfield, Ohio. Practicing these rigorous extraction techniques is vital for boosting readiness, ensuring the unit can effectively protect and evacuate personnel from hostile environments.
OHANG | 178TH WING | PHOTOS
Sgt. Karl Mason / 196th Public Affairs Detachment (Mobile)
2026 OHARNG Best Warrior Competition yields top Soldier, noncommissioned officer
Sgt. Zachary Cline, left, a military police noncommissioned officer with the 323rd Military Police Company, and Spc. Mark Filicky, a horizontal construction engineer with the 1192nd Engineer Company, pose for a photo after earning the titles of 2026 Ohio Army National Guard State Noncommissioned Officer and Soldier of the Year, respectively, during the OHARNG Best Warrior Competition at Camp James A. Garfield Joint Military Training Center in Newton Falls, Ohio, April 12, 2026. The state BWC is an annual, multiday, multievent challenge that tests participants’ physical fitness, land navigation skills, weapons marksmanship, military knowledge and mental resiliency.
Staff Sgt. Sarah Stalder Lundgren / 180th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Airman’s journey reflects a blend of grit, grace, purpose
Staff Sgt. Catherine “Katie” Carene didn’t set out to become a trailblazer. But as a previous Air National Guard Outstanding Airman of the Year in the noncommissioned officer category, the fleet management and analysis specialist with the 180th Fighter Wing is now a role model for all and a driving force behind operational excellence.
Courtesy photos
Service that starts at home
In the Sommer family, service was the tradition. Ryan Sommer’s father, grandfather, uncles and almost every man in his family tree have worn the uniform at one point in their lives. Growing up surrounded by these examples shaped how he viewed service, long before he could define it.
Ohio Governor’s Office photo
Ohio National Guard, Angola formalize State Partnership Program agreement
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine signed a State Partnership Program agreement between the Ohio National Guard and the Republic of Angola at the Ohio Statehouse in Columbus, Ohio, April 9, 2026. The agreement formalizes Angola as Ohio’s newest partner nation, expanding international engagement efforts through joint training, military exchanges and leader development in support of regional stability and shared security objectives.