Utah sends two Soldiers and an Airman to the Region VII Best Warrior Competition

May 25, 2023 | By Staff Sgt. Jordan Hack

Utah National Guard Public Affairs Office

ng.ut.utarng.list.pao@army.mil

As we work together to get through a national crisis during these unprecedented times, communication is more important than ever. The Utah National Guard's Public Affairs Office is committed to ensuring timely and relevant information is made available to our service members, their families, employers and our local communities.

Our website has quickly become a one-stop online resource. During the past year, we have added a significant amount of information, videos, workouts and many other resources. We remain committed to getting you the most important and relevant information.

The Utah National Guard continues to be a premiere organization with amazing Soldiers, Airmen, and families. We are always looking to share your story. Please feel free to contact our office at any time at ng.ut.utarng.list.pao@army.mil or (801) 432-4407.

For additional photos, videos, and other digital media content, please visit and subscribe to our Flickr and DVIDS pages below:

Utah National Strategic Plan 2023

Annual Reports
2021 Reports
- 2021 Annual Report
- 2021 History Report
2020 Reports
- 2020 Annual Report
- 2020 History Report
2019 Reports
- 2019 Annual Report
- 2019 History Report
2018 Reports
- 2018 Annual Report
- 2018 History Report
2017 Reports
- 2017 Annual Report
- 2017 History Report
2016 Reports
- 2016 Annual Report
- 2016 History Report
2015 Reports
- 2015 Annual Report
2014 Reports
- 2014 Annual Report
2022 Reports
- 2022 Annual Report
2023 Reports
- 2023 Annual Report

News Stories

“Iron sharpens iron” – Utah Guardsman fosters competitive spirit at national Best Warrior Competition
August 2, 2022 — TULLAHOMA, Tenn. - Summer heat and southern humidity set the stage for the 2022 All Guard National Best Warrior Competition, July 25-29. Fourteen of the Army National Guard’s best Soldiers arrived in Tennessee fresh off a winning performance at their respective regional competitions. With a Soldier of the Year and Noncommissioned Officer of the Year to be named, every Soldier had promise and potential to win it all. In the end, only two would emerge victorious. Winning Soldier of the Year, Sgt. Spencer Fayles, a combat medic with the 144th Area Support Medical Company, Utah National Guard, carried Utah into the winner’s circle. ... MORE

A soldier uses the fireman's carry to mve another soldier.

Utah National Guard supports the 24th annual Spanish Fork Flag Retirement Ceremony
July 15, 2022 — Streams of people entered the Spanish Fork Fairgrounds. Some in patriotic red, white and blue colors, others in military, scout, police and fire uniforms. There were local city and county officials and Spanish Fork City royalty, as well as Little Miss Spanish Fork Royalty and Queens, all entering as the evening sun started to lower over the distant mountains. Young children walked hand in hand with their parents past the large U.S. flag that waved in the wind above the arena... MORE

An American flag is draped over a fire during a flag retirement ceremony

Utah Guard hosts 60th annual Freedom Academy
July 15, 2022 — Nearly every year, 61 years running, the Utah National Guard has hosted Freedom Academy, an immersive week-long experience tailored and designed to promote the ideals and principles of the United States of America to high school students. Each summer, late in the season, student delegates from across the state of Utah assemble on Camp Williams for an unforgettable week of hands-on experience with prominent Utah government leaders, businesses, and military capabilities, while hearing stories of adversity and triumph from refugees and local leaders. The curriculum is designed to serve the academic, social, spiritual, and recreational needs of the delegate. The aim is to have each student return to their schools for their senior year and share the experience and spirit of patriotism with their friends and classmates. Freedom Academy 2022 took place July 10-15 at Camp Williams... MORE

High school students stand in front of a KC-135 Stratotanker airplane for a group photo.

Utah National Guard opens new Special Operations Live-Fire Shoot House
July 11, 2022 — The Utah National Guard’s new Special Operations Forces Live-Fire Shoot House (SOF LFSH) located at Camp Williams, Utah, officially opened, July 11, 2022... MORE

Soldiers from the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) perform a demonstration of advanced urban combat during the opening of the SOF LFSH.

Utah Air National Guard EOD flight responds to an emergency
June 30, 2022 — Members of the 151st Civil Engineering Squadron, Explosive Ordnance Disposal flight were tasked with inspecting and detonating contaminated and compromised depleted uranium rounds found at the Tooele Army Depot on June 23, 2022... MORE

U.S. Air Force National Guard Master Sgt. Derin Creek and Staff Sgt. Cody Bialcak, Explosive Ordnance Disposal Techinicians, safely remove over 500 depleted uranium rounds on June 23, 2022 at Tooele Army Depot, UT.

Utah and Moroccan Paratroopers Exchange Jump Wings
June 27, 2022 — Paratroopers from the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Utah National Guard, and the Royal Moroccan Army received foreign jump wings during a wing exchange ceremony at Agadir, Morocco, June 27, 2022... MORE

Soldiers stand in a formation and receive their foreign airborne wings.

Utah National Guard Engineers Train at Dinosaur National Monument
June 22, 2022 — Soldiers from the 1457th participated in an annual training exercise they won't soon forget. Engineers from the 116th Engineer Company and support personnel for the Forward Support Company– about 125 Soldiers in all– contributed to rehab and upgrade projects across several sites at Dinosaur National Monument, near Vernal... MORE

A Soldier in 3rd Platoon, 116th Engineer Company, 1457th Engineer Battalion, Utah National Guard guides an excavator operator while installing a new cattle guard at Dinosaur National Monument, June 13, 2022

Utah Army and Air National Guard provide medical aid to Moroccan civilians
June 22, 2022 — Medical providers from the Utah National Guard’s Medical Readiness Detachment, 144th Area Support Medical Company, and 151st Medical Group, Detachment 1, joined providers from the U.S. Army’s 30th Medical Brigade, to set up a Humanitarian Civic Assistance operations center, in Taliouine, Morocco, on June 21, 2022... MORE

U.S. Army Spc. Rebecca Sipe and a Maj. Boyd Bandy clean the teeth of a Moroccan man at the Humanitarian Civic Assistance (HCA) center in Taliouine, Morocco June 22, 2022

Utah’s Apache Helicopters Arrive in Morocco
June 20, 2022 — Approximately 60 Soldiers from the 1st Attack Reconnaissance Battalion, 211th Aviation Regiment, Utah Army National Guard, landed at the Agadir Al-Massira International Airport, Morocco, June 20... MORE

U.S. Soldiers from the 1-211th Aviation Regiment, Utah Army National Guard, unload an AH-64 Apache helicopter on June 20, 2022, at Agadir Al-Massira International Airport, Morocco.

Utah, Moroccan, and Tunisian Paratroopers Jump Together at African Lion 22
June 19, 2022 — Paratroopers from the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Utah Army National Guard, the Royal Moroccan Army, and the Tunisian Land Army boarded a Moroccan C-130 in Grier Labouihi, Morocco, June 19, and conducted both military free-fall and static-line jumps... MORE

U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Andrew M. Rohling, commander of Southern European Task Force, Africa, accompanied by Soldiers assigned to the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne), Utah Army National Guard, and Royal Moroccan Army soldiers stand at the back of a Moroccan C-130 for a group photo during the friendship airborne operation in Grier Labouihi, Morocco, as part of African Lion 22, June 19, 2022.

Press Releases

New Command Chief Warrant Officer for Utah Army National Guard
November 21, 2023 — Official Statement 23-037, Nov. 16, 2023Contact: Lt. Col. Chris Kroeber (801)... MORE

Utah Air National Guard unveils new Utah Jazz nose art on KC-135
July 11, 2023 — In collaboration with the Utah Jazz, NBA Basketball Team, the Utah Air National Guard, is proud to announce the unveiling of the captivating new nose... MORE

Military leaders host Governor Spencer Cox at a multinational military exercise in Morocco
June 15, 2023 — Military leaders from the Utah National Guard, the U.S. Africa Command, Southern European Task Force-Africa, and the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces... MORE

Utah National Guard reopens historic Officers Club after renovation
May 24, 2023 — The Utah National Guard will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony commemorating the completion of its historic renovation of the Camp Williams Officer’s... MORE

The Triple Deuce will conduct field artillery live-fire demonstration during Recruiting and Family Day event
May 18, 2023 — The 2nd Battalion, 222nd Field Artillery, Utah Army National Guard, will hold its 3rd Recruiting and Family Day at Camp Williams. This highly... MORE

Utah National Guard will conduct day-and-night live-fire artillery exercises at Camp Williams
March 29, 2023 — The Utah National Guard’s 145th Field Artillery Battalion is scheduled to participate in live-fire, artillery-training exercises from 6:00 a.m. until midnight, Mar. 31 and April 1 and will conclude April 2 by noon at Camp Williams, Utah... MORE

Utah National Guard and the Honorary Colonels Corps hosts 61st Annual Bronze Minuteman Awards Dinner
March 29, 2023 — The Utah National Guard and the Honorary Colonels Corps will host the 61st Annual Bronze Minuteman Awards Dinner Thursday, March 30, 2023, at Salt Lake City’s Little America Hotel... MORE

Maj. Gen. (Ret.) Jeff Burton (center), the previous adjutant general of the Utah National Guard, receives the Bronze Minuteman award

Addressing concerns over weekend flight patterns in West Jordan
March 27, 2023 — The Utah National Guard is aware of helicopter flights this past weekend that deviated from standard military flight patterns and caused concerns in the communities surrounding the South Valley Regional Airport. The Utah National Guard did not fly helicopters this past weekend. ... MORE

Utah National Guard’s 1457th Forward Support Company to participate as finalists in national Connelly Food Services competition
February 23, 2023 — The Utah National Guard’s 1457th Forward Support Company is scheduled to compete as finalists in the U.S. Army’s Phillip A. Connelly Award competition at Camp Williams, Utah, Feb. 24-25, 2023... MORE

Utah National Guard’s CST and EOD teams to support NBA All-Star Events
February 16, 2023 — The Utah National Guard’s 85th Weapons of Mass Destruction – Civil Support Team will be supporting law enforcement and other public safety agencies during the 72nd NBA All-Star weekend in Salt Lake City, Utah, Feb. 17-19, 2023... MORE