Home World Sensations

5 Critical Updates On The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team: The Oklahoma Guard’s Focus On Next-Gen Combat (2025)

• minute read
Contents

The 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), famously known as the "Thunderbird Brigade," is currently undergoing a significant operational and leadership transition, with a sharp focus on modernizing its combat readiness for 2025 and beyond. As an integral component of the Oklahoma Army National Guard (OKARNG), the brigade is not resting on its storied history, but is instead embracing new challenges, from counter-drone warfare to forging a new generation of combat-ready leaders. The most recent updates, including a change of command and specialized training exercises, highlight a strategic shift aimed at enhancing both unit "lethality" and "survivability" in complex, near-peer conflict scenarios.

The latest activities of the 45th IBCT, headquartered in Norman, Oklahoma, demonstrate a proactive approach to maintaining a high state of readiness. From intensive field artillery exercises to the implementation of new Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) training, the Oklahoma Guardsmen are preparing for a future operational environment that demands high-tech expertise and adaptive leadership. This deep dive explores the five most critical, recent updates defining the brigade's trajectory.

The New Commander: Colonel Khalid Hussein's Profile and Priorities

A major development for the Thunderbird Brigade was the formal change of command ceremony held in June 2024 at the Camp Gruber Training Center near Braggs, Oklahoma. The ceremony marked the end of Col. Andrew Ballenger's tenure and welcomed Col. Khalid Hussein as the new commander of the 45th IBCT. Col. Hussein brings a wealth of experience, having served with the brigade in combat, and has immediately set a clear, two-pronged strategic focus for the unit.

Colonel Khalid Hussein: Key Biographical Profile

  • Current Role: Commander, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, Oklahoma Army National Guard.
  • Hometown: Edmond, Oklahoma.
  • Enlistment: Enlisted in the Oklahoma Army National Guard in April 1994.
  • Initial Service: Served as an infantry rifleman before attending Officer Candidate School (OCS) to earn his commission.
  • Prior Assignment: Served as the Oklahoma National Guard director of military support.
  • Combat Experience: Has had the "honor and privilege" of serving in combat with the Soldiers of the 45th IBCT.
  • Commander's Mandate: His primary training objectives for the brigade are to maximize lethality and survivability.

Focus on Counter-UAS (C-UAS) Training: Modernizing Survivability

Recognizing the evolving threat of small, unmanned aerial systems (drones) in modern warfare, the 45th IBCT has launched a new, critical series of training exercises. In June 2025, Soldiers from the brigade took part in the first of these specialized Counter-UAS exercises at Camp Gruber.

This training is directly tied to Col. Hussein’s objective of increasing the brigade’s "survivability." The exercises are designed to teach Guardsmen how to detect, identify, and defeat drone threats, which have proven to be a significant hazard in recent global conflicts. By integrating this advanced training into their readiness cycle, the Thunderbird Brigade is ensuring its personnel are prepared for a technologically complex battlefield environment.

Forging Future Leaders: The Light Leaders Course (LLC)

Another major training event in June 2025 was the Light Leaders Course (LLC), held at the Camp Gruber Training Center. This course is essential for developing the next cohort of combat-ready non-commissioned officers (NCOs) and junior officers, which is a key priority for the brigade leadership. The LLC complements the brigade's overall focus on "lethality" by ensuring that small-unit leaders are proficient in critical infantry tactics and decision-making under stress.

The training regimen is rigorous, pushing leaders from various subordinate units—including the 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment and the 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment—to hone their skills in areas like land navigation, troop leading procedures, and tactical combat casualty care.

Enhancing Firepower: Artillery Readiness in Early 2025

The 45th IBCT's commitment to "lethality" was further demonstrated by the intensive artillery readiness enhancement exercises conducted in early 2025. Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment (1-160th FA), a crucial component of the brigade's structure, convoyed across Oklahoma to participate. This training ensures that the brigade's indirect fire support is practiced, precise, and ready to deliver massed fires when called upon. Maintaining proficiency in field artillery is non-negotiable for a combat team's ability to dominate a battlespace.

Historical Context and Future Training Outlook

The 45th IBCT, which comprises over half of the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s personnel strength, carries a distinguished history, including major deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, notably in support of Operation Resolute Support. This history of active service informs its current rigorous training schedule.

The brigade’s annual training (AT) cycle for the current year is scheduled to conclude around August 15. Looking ahead, the planning for the next AT cycle is already underway, with the brigade preparing for a major training rotation. Past training has included rotations at the National Training Center (NTC) at Fort Irwin, California, which is a premier venue for large-scale, realistic combat simulations. Participation in such high-fidelity training events, like Exercise Thunderstruck, ensures the 45th IBCT remains certified as a deployable, combat-capable force, ready to answer both state and federal calls to action.

The Thunderbird Brigade's Structure and Legacy

The "Thunderbird Brigade" nickname is a nod to the unit's heritage, and its current modular structure allows it to integrate seamlessly into active-duty operations. The brigade's headquarters is situated at the Norman Armed Forces Reserve Center, but its subordinate units are spread across armories throughout Central and Eastern Oklahoma.

The core subordinate units that make up the 45th IBCT include:

  • 1st Battalion, 179th Infantry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
  • 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
  • 1st Battalion, 160th Field Artillery Regiment
  • 700th Brigade Support Battalion
  • 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion (or equivalent structure)

The continued focus on cutting-edge training, new leadership, and a clear vision for "lethality and survivability" solidifies the 45th IBCT's position as a premier combat brigade within the U.S. Army National Guard, ready for any mission at home or abroad.

5 Critical Updates on the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team: The Oklahoma Guard’s Focus on Next-Gen Combat (2025)
45th infantry brigade combat team
45th infantry brigade combat team

Detail Author:

  • Name : Mr. Ryleigh Reichert
  • Username : amanda.hettinger
  • Email : altenwerth.boyd@yahoo.com
  • Birthdate : 1999-04-30
  • Address : 12936 Elnora Springs East Ollie, ND 53049-1065
  • Phone : +1 (520) 761-2435
  • Company : Green-Lakin
  • Job : Nonfarm Animal Caretaker
  • Bio : Provident esse quo consequatur consequatur blanditiis. Optio labore voluptatum tenetur voluptatum nisi eos et et. Deserunt tenetur nobis labore optio distinctio voluptatem.

Socials

facebook:

  • url : https://facebook.com/nhessel
  • username : nhessel
  • bio : Est pariatur et iure id inventore et. Dignissimos magnam natus dolorem qui.
  • followers : 1476
  • following : 2029

tiktok:

Random Posts