Ohio Military Reserve completes 2026 annual training
The Ohio Military Reserve completed its routine, annual training, March 5-8, for its homeland threat and emergency preparedness missions as assigned by the Ohio adjutant general.
Members of the OHMR’s 4th Civil Support and Sustainment Brigade participated in exercises in coordination with public and private partners at the Col. Robert Haubrich Armory in Columbus. OHMR partners participating in the training included members of Ohio Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, the American Red Cross, and Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief.
“We are grateful to partner with OHMR as we fulfill our mission for the governor and the people of Ohio,” said Maj. Gen. Mathew S. Woodruff, Ohio adjutant general. “The OHMR strengthens the state’s readiness and resilience by serving as a force multiplier, providing logistics, humanitarian assistance and emergency management support.”
In addition to annual training, the OHMR recertified its capability to operate community points of distribution, known as CPODs. The Ohio EMA Logistics Branch provided training and oversight while the OHMR conducted the exercise. CPODs would be needed in a disaster if the infrastructure broke down and food, water, and other supplies could not be distributed through normal means. OHMR training also supported sheltering and mass feeding operations, which demonstrated whole community interoperability among disaster relief partners.
“By all measure, Annual Training 2026 was a tremendous success for Ohio Military Reserve members and the citizens of Ohio,” said Col. (Ohio) Gary Lehman, OHMR commander. “We are grateful for the support we received during AT26 from the Ohio National Guard, Ohio Emergency Management Agency, American Red Cross, the Ohio Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and other Ohio Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster partners and participants.”
Authorized under Ohio Revised Code Chapter 5920, the OHMR is Ohio’s own state defense force. It operates under the governor of Ohio as commander in chief and is subordinate to the Ohio adjutant general, as part of the Ohio Organized Militia. It does not support federal military missions.
The OHMR has been activated for major statewide missions, including the 2019 tornado recovery efforts and the COVID-19 pandemic, where it played a vital role in logistics, food distribution, medical support and other assigned missions.