Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Byrne (left), a recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer with Alpha Company, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and Spc. Vincent A. Bird (right), a military police officer with the 32nd Military Police Company, revel in their victory with their trophies after being named as the 2025 Wisconsin Army National Guard Best NCO and Soldier of the Year respectively during a ceremony held at Fort McCoy, Wis., March 9, 2025. - Staff Sgt. Brandon M. Byrne (left), a recruiting and retention non-commissioned officer with Alpha Company, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, and Spc. Vincent A. Bird (right), a military police officer with the 32nd Military Police Company, revel in their victory with their trophies after being named as the 2025 Wisconsin Army National Guard Best NCO and Soldier of the Year respectively during a ceremony held at Fort McCoy, Wis., March 9, 2025. The State Best Warrior Competition is an annual event where participants compete in various warrior skill challenges, including weapons proficiency, land navigation, physical fitness tests, combat first aid, tactical maneuvers, communications, and professional development exercises. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Cesar Salazar Jr.)

Former members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 229th Engineer Company in Platteville, Wis., gathered for a unit reunion Aug. 1 at Moundview Park in Platteville. The unit was involved in numerous local training areas — projects today referred to as innovative readiness training — such as athletic fields, campsites and parking pads for military fuel tankers. Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs photo by Vaughn R. Larson - Former members of the Wisconsin Army National Guard’s 229th Engineer Company in Platteville, Wis., gathered for a unit reunion Aug. 1 at Moundview Park in Platteville. The unit was involved in numerous local training areas — projects today referred to as innovative readiness training — such as athletic fields, campsites and parking pads for military fuel tankers. Wisconsin Department of Military Affairs photo by Vaughn R. Larson

Col. Paul Gapinski receives the colors of the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Brig. Gen. Matthew Strub, Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for Army, during a formal change of command ceremony Nov. 4 at the Richards Street Armory, Milwaukee. The passing of the colors is symbolic of the responsibility of the unit passing from one commander to the next. Gapinski follows Col. Eric Leckel, who most recently led the brigade headquarters on a deployment to the Horn of Africa. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Katie Theusch - Col. Paul Gapinski receives the colors of the 157th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade from Brig. Gen. Matthew Strub, Wisconsin’s deputy adjutant general for Army, during a formal change of command ceremony Nov. 4 at the Richards Street Armory, Milwaukee. The passing of the colors is symbolic of the responsibility of the unit passing from one commander to the next. Gapinski follows Col. Eric Leckel, who most recently led the brigade headquarters on a deployment to the Horn of Africa. Wisconsin National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Katie Theusch