GUARDIAN North Dakota Fall/Winter 2017
Volume 10, Issue 3
WELCOME HOME Dozens of Soldiers and Airmen Return from Overseas Deployments Page 13
Inside This Issue Features
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Pre-deployment Training
For three weeks in August, the North Dakota National Guard’s 191st Military Police Company (Forward) trained at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, for an upcoming protective services detail (PSD) mission in Afghanistan. The Fargo-based unit is alerted to deploy in February 2018.
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Leadership Changes
Soldiers of the North Dakota Army National Guard welcomed new state-level leaders Dec. 9 during two separate changes of responsibility ceremonies at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck.
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Real-World Training
In September, more than 60 Soldiers with the North Dakota National Guard’s 164th Forward Support Company mobilized to the National Training Center in Fort Irwin, California, for a 3-week rotation. The exercise was the unit’s culminating event after 10 months of training.
Departments Guardian Snapshots ..................... Page 16 News Briefs ..................................... Page 18 Sound Off! ..................................... Page 19
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Commander in Chief North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann Chief of Public Affairs Maj. Amber Balken Editor 2nd Lt. Jennifer Anderson Contributors Chaplain (Col.) John Flowers Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiel Skager Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen Staff Sgt. Brett Miller Sgt. Ashley Johlfs Spc. Kristin Berg Spc. Cody Graham Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubhisch Mr. Jonathan Haugen Mr. Bill Prokopyk The North Dakota Guardian is an authorized publication for members, families and retirees of the N.D. National Guard. • Contents of the North Dakota Guardian are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army or Air Force. • Editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of the Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard ( JFND) Public Affairs Officer. • Printed by United Printing, a private firm in no way connected to the U.S. Government under exclusive written contract with the JFND. Reproduction is by the offset method with a circulation of approximately 4,900. • The North Dakota Guardian is published by the JFND Public Information Office, Box 5511, Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511, 701.333.2007
ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS
Contributions to the North Dakota Guardian are encouraged! Send articles, photos and art to Editor, JFND PIO, Box 5511, Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511. Electronic submissions are preferred. Please e-mail stories in Word format to: jennifer.m.anderson121.mil@mail.mil Phone: 701-333-2195 Fax: 701-333-2017 Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible.
On the Cover
Sgt. Sandra Dewey, of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), is greeted by friends and family Nov. 16, 2017, at the Hector International Airport in Fargo, North Dakota, upon her return from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
VIEW FROM THE TOP A MESSAGE FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
a season of change
Y
Your state and nation asked a lot of you last year. As always, the Soldiers and Airmen of the North Dakota National Guard answered the call and made us all proud of their performance. Whether supporting law enforcement for an unprecedented protest, providing world-class logistics to commanders in Afghanistan, protecting the skies over the National Capital Region, or providing support to Air Force and joint operations around the world, we set the standard for others to follow. In 2017, the N.D. Army National Guard deployed its third largest group of Soldiers, with the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, since the Global War on Terror began and the 119th Wing deployed its largest group since the Korean War. The 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion in November returned from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. The unit was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division Sustainment Brigade and commanded multiple detachments comprised of Soldiers from across the nation, including two movement control teams, a mortuary affairs detachment and 10 Department of the Army Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members. As always, the Soldiers performed their mission with great distinction and made North Dakota very proud. Flying missions returned to the skies of Fargo as the 119th Wing began flying the MQ-9 Reaper out of Hector Field. This is the first and only MQ-9 that flies out of a municipal airport. Stationing the Reapers at the 119th Wing provides opportunities for hands-on training for our maintenance professionals, allowing them to work right at home instead of training at other bases.
This past August, we withdrew our presence in Mott, Carrington, Bottineau, Grafton, Rugby and Mayville. I appreciate the support we received from the community leaders as we vacated these community-owned facilities. I am also incredibly grateful for the final formation ceremonies held in many of these communities to celebrate our time together. These special events allowed us to thank the communities for their support and provided an opportunity to recognize those in the community who served in the military. As we move into 2018, our operations tempo won’t slow down. We will welcome more Soldiers and Airmen home from deployment, and we will deploy more throughout the year. We will continue to
Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann enhance readiness and work hard to meet our end-strength goals. I have no doubt that with the professional and dedicated Guardsmen in the N.D. National Guard, we will meet the challenges of 2018 and be ready and available when called upon by our governor or president. Thank you for serving our communities, state and nation. Thank you to our families, retirees and friends who support us and allow us to serve. I wish you all the best in 2018. It is an honor to serve alongside you.
Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiel Skager, Joint Force Headquarters
A North Dakota Guardsman monitors activity Jan. 27 near the oil pipeline protest camps established in southern Morton County. Nearly 1,500 Airmen and Soldiers served on state active duty between September 2016 to April 2017 to assist law enforcement in maintaining public safety during the protest events.
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191st Military Police company conducts pre-deployment Training Story and photos by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
For three weeks in August, the North Dakota National Guard’s 191st Military Police Company (Forward) trained at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, for an upcoming protective services detail (PSD) mission in Afghanistan. The Fargo-based unit is alerted to deploy in February 2018. A PSD is a unique and specialized mission. The 29-Soldier team must have tactical knowledge and professionalism, ensuring their assigned “principal,” or high-valued individual, is safe from all threats. During their mission, PSD members potentially will transport multiple personnel, but their only priority is protecting the principal. In the event of an enemy attack, other personnel will be responsible for defending themselves. The 191st Military Police Company has trained extensively on that key aspect, because it goes against everything the Army teaches Soldiers. “If the team was to take contact right now, of course they would get the colonel (the principal assigned for the exercise) out,” said Sgt. 1st Class Cody Johnson, 191st Military Police Company (Forward) noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “If parts of our team didn’t
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make it to the vehicles before they left, they stay. Then we either have to send another group to get them or we have to get the principal to safety and come back for them. They could be left on their own to defend themselves.” The Combined Arms Collective Training Facility (CACTF) at Camp Ripley provides realistic and efficient training, with instant video and audio feedback. Twenty-four buildings and over 200 cameras allow users to record live training from almost any vantage point. Buildings in the facility include a hotel, school, gas station, police department with five jail cells, a 42-room government building with a tunnel and elevator shaft, office buildings and various styles of residences. Special effects, such as sound effects, smoke and various scents, are used to enhance the training. “It’s basically a small town,” Johnson said. “It allows our guys to maneuver through a city-type environment, going in and out of buildings. We can use wax bullets out here, so we can get the most realistic training possible. We have to communicate with our guys using sirens, horns, screeching breaks and verbal
and visual cues. This training center in Camp Ripley brings outstanding realism to our training.” The training challenges Soldiers not only on precise movements, but to overcome complacency and refine the ability to respond quickly. “You might go into a meeting with a principal for an hour while your Soldiers maintain their sector without losing focus,” said Sgt. 1st Class Nick Suko, a squad leader with the 191st Military Police Company (Forward). “This is where mistakes are made and you realize those things and begin to train and build on them. The training is getting dynamic as the weeks go on. Everything is coming together.” Additional schools were offered to some of the Soldiers earlier this year. A weeklong anti-terrorism evasive driving course and the Army’s 3-week PSD course, both held in Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, provided in-depth training to help Soldiers prepare for their upcoming deployment. “The Army’s PSD school taught our Soldiers the uniqueness of our mission,”
Johnson said. “It’s all about one person and getting that person out safely. Since we received our alert, we’ve trained extensively on our vehicle formations and our departures and arrivals from a vehicle and a helicopter. We’ve practiced vehicle and walking formations, which are used to block people that may interfere with your principal. We’ve trained on everything down to vehicle positioning, to learn how to protect our principal in every instance.” Michael Rozin, owner of Rozin Security Consulting and former head-of-security for the Tel Aviv Airport in Israel, conducted a weeklong training in November for the Soldiers assigned to the PSD mission. The training covered the behavior analysis program, where the Soldiers learned suspicious indicator recognition and assessment (SIRA) to identify pre-attack indicators. The training is not required by the Army, but unit leadership found it beneficial as it teaches Soldiers to act before an incident occurs, rather than react after the fact. “The PSD deployment is a great mission because we are operating at a higher level,” Johnson said. “We will work with generals, ambassadors and other government VIPs that come through. We will get to learn about the government side of overseas operations, which will enhance our skill sets. Our subject matter experts will be able to train other Soldiers after we return from deployment, which provides the 191st Military Police Company with another capability to support the state and nation.”
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N.D. Air National Guard Welcomes Newest General Officer Story and photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Todd Branden, a native of Audubon, Minnesota, was promoted Oct. 7 to the rank of brigadier general, becoming one of only two Air Force general officers within the North Dakota National Guard. A ceremony was held for Branden in front of an audience of friends, family and fellow Guard members at the Air National Guard base in Fargo, where he became the newest “one-star” to lead the Airmen of the 119th Wing, also known as the Happy Hooligans. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, presided over the ceremony. “Today we promote our newest Air National Guard general officer,” Dohrmann said. “Everything Todd has done so far has gotten him to this point to include participating in the major transitions experienced by 119th Wing. From receiving new aircraft to standing up new missions, he has guided and supported our Airmen along the way. We are promoting him based on his potential to lead at the highest level within our organization, and I am confident that he will continue to lead with honor and distinction.”
Branden enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in 1979 as a traffic management specialist, and earned his commission in 1995 from the Air National Guard Academy of Military Science. He has served in multiple leadership positions at the 119th Wing to include the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron commander, 119th Mission Support Group deputy commander, and, most recently, the 119th Mission Support Group commander. In his new duty position as the North Dakota National Guard assistant adjutant general, Air, Branden will be responsible for coordinating with the adjutant general for all matters pertaining to the Air National Guard, such as readiness, training, mobilization, policies, recruiting, equipping and morale for more than 1,000 Airmen. A 1984 graduate of North Dakota State University, Branden earned Bachelor of Science degrees in business administration and physiology. He resides in Audubon with his wife, Marla. They have two children; Nate, who serves as a cyber security journeyman with the 119th Wing, and Victoria.
Photo by Senior Airman Kristoffer Kaubisch, 119th Wing Brig. Gen. Todd Branden is pinned by his wife, Marla, daughter, Victoria, and son, Staff Sgt. Nate Branden Oct. 7, 2017, during his promotion ceremony at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo.
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A SEASON OF CHANGE N.D. Army National Guard Welcomes New State-Level Leaders Story by Mr. Bill Prokopyk, Public Affairs Office; Photos by Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Soldiers of the North Dakota Army National Guard welcomed new state-level leaders Dec. 9 during two separate changes of responsibility ceremonies at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck. Brig. Gen. Bob Fode, Army Component commander for the North Dakota National Guard, presided over both ceremonies. Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien assumed the duties as the N.D. Army National Guard’s command sergeant major from Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Heim. Heim, who’s held the position since May 2015, was presented the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal for his service as the top noncommissioned officer in the N.D.Army National Guard. As state command sergeant major, Lien is the principle senior advisor to the Army commander, advising on the performance, training, fitness and professionalism of the N.D. Army National Guard’s enlisted Soldiers. He also will advise senior leadership on an array of topics, including recruiting, retention, training, resiliency, family support, community events, education and employment. “This is a monumental day for the North Dakota Army National Guard,” Fode said. “It’s important to pause and formally honor the service and contributions of two key senior
leaders like Sizer and Heim and to salute them for their outstanding leadership at all levels of the N.D. National Guard.” In a later ceremony, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kiel Skager assumed responsibilities as the command chief warrant officer for the N.D. Army National Guard. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelly Sizer, who relinquished the duties she’s held since May 2013, was honored for a
military career spanning nearly 40 years. She was awarded the Federal Legion of Merit and the North Dakota Legion of Merit Medal for her service. “Chief Sizer has been an incredible asset to this organization during her career,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. “She has always served with a genuine passion to better the organization and to enhance the lives of our Guardsmen. She will be greatly missed.” As command chief warrant officer, Skager, of Mandan, will serve as the personal advisor to the North Dakota adjutant general and the N.D. National Guard Army Component commander and staff. He is responsible for all issues pertaining to policies, programs and actions impacting the warrant officer corps, including professional development, promotions, assignments, incentives, morale, discipline, performance, strength and recruiting programs. Army National Guard warrant officers are highly specialized professionals, trainers and leaders, who operate, maintain, administer and manage the Army National Guard’s technical systems, support activities and equipment. They are among the best-trained experts in their fields.
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ARMY TR
164th Forward Support Company Comp
Story and Photo by 2nd Lt. Jennifer And
In the heart of southern California’s Mojave Desert lies Fort Irwin, home of the National Training Center (NTC), one of the U.S. Army’s three combat training centers. The military reservation, known for its challenging conditions and harsh environment, spans across roughly 1,000 square miles of sandy, barren terrain. Thousands of active-duty and reserve component Soldiers, as well as multinational service members, cycle through NTC each year in rotational training units (RTUs) to conduct largescale exercises in order to garner joint- and combined-arms training. During these exercises, observer controllers (OCs) heavily scrutinize units and provide feedback, which assists commanders in developing trained and competent Soldiers. In September, more than 60 Soldiers with the North Dakota National Guard’s 164th Forward Support Company (FSC)
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mobilized to NTC for a 3-week rotation. The exercise was the unit’s culminating event after 10 months of training. The 164th FSC, which aims to provide habitual, sustained logistic support to the 164th Engineer Battalion and its supported companies, was sourced for the rotation in October 2016 to support the 14th Brigade Engineer Battalion, 2nd Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, based out of Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Washington. “This (rotation) is a unique experience for Soldiers,” said Capt. David Stein, who served as the 164th FSC commander from Oct. 1, 2016, to Sept. 30, 2017. “It shows them Army life outside of the North Dakota National Guard and it allows us to cross train with the active component so we can better enhance our competencies.” Combat training centers provide ample space to conduct unified land operations
training, which stresses interagency, intergovernmental, multinational and multi-component integration. Elements, at various echelons, are able to perform realworld warfighting functions, but have the advantage of receiving almost immediate feedback. “This exercise is good test to see how combat ready we are,” Stein said, adding that 164th FSC Soldiers were both excited and nervous while preparing for the unique annual training. “This is an experience that a majority of the unit hasn’t had. Soldiers are excited to perform the (MOS) duties they signed up for and to conduct more realistic Army training.” To prepare for training in a fast-paced, high-stress operational environment, the 164th FSC spent nearly a year’s worth of drill weekends focusing on basic Soldier skills, with a heavy emphasis on radio communication and driver’s training, in
RAINING
pletes Combat Training Center Rotation
derson, 816th Military Police Company
addition to unit-specific technical training to hone in on their mission-essential tasks. “The 164th FSC highlights the ingenuity of the National Guard,” said Maj. Matthew Voeller, 164th Engineer Battalion officer-in-charge. “Between maintenance, recovery, field feeding and fueling, this unit really demonstrates the variance in our capabilities.” Soldiers operating in support functions also had the opportunity to perform their military occupational specialties (MOS) during the NTC rotation. Pfc. Theresa Ebertz, of Minot, is attached to the 164th FSC as a combat medic. When the unit’s area of operation was under (notional) attack, she was responsible for suppressing fire and then rendering aid to casualties, a critical function of her MOS that she doesn’t often get to practice on drill weekends as a traditional Soldier. “It’s been a really good experience,” she
said of her first NTC rotation. “We get to perform the tasks that we don’t necessarily get to exercise much. It’s been very realistic and valuable training – we get the realworld effect so that when we are doing this in the real world, we’re prepared.” The combat training center rotation wasn’t the first for some members of the 164th FSC. Sgt. 1st Class Rob Lawson, distribution platoon sergeant, previously has been to NTC three times. During each of his previous missions, however, he performed in an oppositional forces (OPFOR) role. He said that participating in a rotation as part of the “blue force,” or allied force, was an excellent opportunity for him and his Soldiers in his section. “We get so focused on our main missions on drill weekends, making sure we can perform our individual MOS tasks,” Lawson said. “But being at NTC brings us back to practicing our basic
Soldier skills like first aid, pulling security and calling for support, all while working with other units to make sure we’re successful as an FSC and supporting the overall mission.” Combat training centers provide assets, such as space for large-scale exercises, that aren’t readily available in the state. Although the 164th FSC was the N.D. Army National Guard’s only unit to conduct training at a combat training center during Fiscal Year 2017, other units within the organization have been sourced for future rotations. The Williston-based 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) has been sourced for a rotation this spring at the Joint Readiness Training Center ( JRTC) in Louisiana and the Jamestownbased 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) has been sourced for an NTC rotation this summer.
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North Dakota’s ‘Best Warriors’ Compete for Top Honors Story by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters; Photos by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, 116th Public Affairs Detachment The North Dakota Army National Guard’s top Soldiers forged through an exhausting four days of military challenges to test their Army skills and aptitudes, spirit and durability. Seventeen Guardsmen from across the state fought through adversity to try to outscore their fellow competitors during this year’s Best Warrior Competition Aug. 17-20 at Camp Grafton Training Center, near Devils Lake, North Dakota. When the winners were announced during the final day’s awards ceremony, two Army Guardsmen earned the opportunity to advance and represent North Dakota in future competitions. Sgt. Timothy Sybrant, of Lincoln, North Dakota, a member of the Jamestown-based 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), was the winner of the Best Warrior Competition in the noncommissioned officer category. In the enlisted-level competition, Spc. Brandon Wendland, of Fargo, North Dakota, a member of the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge), took top honors. “You all have exhibited strong leadership skills just by volunteering to participate in this competition. You are all winners,” Brig. Gen. Robert Fode, North Dakota National Guard Army Component commander, said to the competitors during the awards ceremony. “You are the future of this
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organization. You are the next leaders; you are the ones to set the standard for those who are next to come into the North Dakota National Guard. Remember to continue to do the best you can, every time you go out and do it, no matter what it is.” The Best Warrior Competition this year began by having the Soldiers test their endurance during an Army Physical Fitness test, or APFT. From there, they donned their Army Service Uniforms to be inspected while answering a series of militaryrelated questions posed by a board of sergeants major. The Guardsmen’s first day of competition culminated by locating positions using a compass on a land navigation course at night. The following days continued to be filled with difficult events and challenges. Competitors fired weapons for qualification scores at Camp Grafton’s southern training area, near McHenry, North Dakota. They also completed another land navigation course, this time being inserted into the training area by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The remainder of the weekend tested the Soldiers’ physical and mental toughness with road marches, a confidence course and rappel tower, a written exam and evaluations on a number of Warrior Tasks (general military tasks all Soldiers must know). “The Best Warrior Competition is an event we, as senior enlisted leaders, look forward to every year. We had 17 highly qualified and strong competitors who represented their units this year. They performed well and stayed motivated through some very tough events,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Brad Heim, former state command sergeant major. “In the past, our winners were afforded the opportunity to be coached by a sponsor, or a former ‘Best Warrior’ winner, during regional and national competitions. Those rules have changed, so our winners now have to rely upon their fellow state competitors for mentorship and advice. That hasn’t been a problem, and it’s been great to see our Soldiers come together
as a team to encourage one another throughout these competitions.” Soldiers representing their units must first win in their respective major commands in order to vie for the “Best Warrior” title during the statelevel competition. That preparation can include months of physical training and poring over various military manuals and study guides. “We typically do a company-level competition and send those winners to the battalion board. We’ve been prepping for quite a while. My unit is really good about sending their best (to the state-level competition),” Sybrant said. “I think the entire event this year was all challenging. They (the sergeants major) amped it up compared to last year. It was phenomenal.” For participating in the event, each Best Warrior Competitor was awarded the State Commendation Medal as the weekend came to a close. The winners were presented the State Meritorious Service Medal. The winners now will prepare for the regional competition, which will be held at Fort Richardson, Alaska, in May 2018. While there, they will compete against Guardsmen from seven other states: Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. Regional winners advance to compete in the All-Guard Competition and, if they win there, have the opportunity to compete in the All-Army Competition. Should the winners not be able to compete, they will be replaced by the runners-up from the state competition. This year, Spc. Cody Miller, of West Fargo, North Dakota, a member of the Fargo-based 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, was the runnerup in the enlisted category. Sgt. Sumner Boschert, of Fargo, a member of the Fargo-based 426th Signal Company, took the runner-up position at the noncommissioned officer level.
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COMING AND GOING Happy Hooligans Continue to Support Air Expeditionary Force Rotations Story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Senior Master Sgt. David Mehus, of the 119th Services Flight, holds his young son’s hand Nov. 1, 2017, during his homecoming at the Hector International upon his return from a six-month deployment to southwest Asia.
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Since April 2017, more than 400 Airmen from the North Dakota Air National Guard have deployed to locations around the globe – the organization’s largest group to mobilize since the Korean War. Unit members from various support areas in the 119th Wing have been sent to five bases, primarily in southwest Asia, to seamlessly fill their roles at those locations as part of an Air Expeditionary Force (AEF) rotation. Units belong to specific AEF deployment vulnerability periods, which are planned ahead of time. During these periods, the Department of Defense uses personnel resources at various bases to make up an AEF Wing at a deployed location. U.S. Air Force active-duty and reservecomponent personnel fill “taskings” at various bases during their deployment rotations. The taskings are based off vacancies the bases must fill. To fill the vacancies, bases put out requests to units for personnel who hold specific job skills and training. Tasking assignments are involuntary, partial mobilizations that allow some flexibility for the unit and its members to designate who will deploy within functional areas on base. While one functional area might have six people suited for the deployment and have a tasking for three — which allows for unit discussion and personal volunteerism — another functional area might not have any flexibility, because of limited on-hand personnel. The 119th Logistics Plans and Integration Office closely monitors unit taskings and the ever-changing requirements for deployments, and
they depend heavily unit deployment managers (UDMs), who volunteer to help streamline the deployment process. “We successfully filled 97 percent of our taskings, with only four out of 148 unfilled for medical reasons, which can only happen with a lot of people doing good work from around the whole base,” said 2nd Lt. Mike Schuldt, the 119th Logistics Support Group installation deployment officer. “Without the great work of the UDMs, there is no way we could have accomplished these
deployments.” Unit members gain unique experience during deployment, performing duties that are similar to their home station duties and some that are quite different. “The work I did was on a much larger scale there (at the deployed location) than at home,” said Lt. Col. Nate Brenneman, a comptroller in the 119th Wing Finance Office, who deployed as a budget officer with the 380th Air Expeditionary Wing. “The work required the same skill set and training for us, but we did things that we
didn’t often do back at our base. So, we had to adapt and learn some things on the fly.” The deployed unit members are returning in the same order they departed, so many of those who left in April returned in October, while Airmen who left later in the summer have yet to return. “My deployment was a very rewarding experience, and probably one of the highlights of my career,” Brenneman said. “If you get a chance to go on a deployment, I recommend doing it.”
Maj. Shaun Carlson, of the 119th Force Support Squadron, reunites with his daughter Nov. 1, 2017, at the Hector International Airport in Fargo upon his return home after a six-month deployment to southwest Asia.
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THEY'RE BACK! 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Returns from Afghanistan Deployment About 60 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers with the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) in November returned from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan. There, the Soldiers served in support of Operation Freedom Sentinel by conducting combat logistics operations and providing command and control structure for assigned or attached logistical units. Under the leadership of Lt. Col. Brock Larson, of Bismarck, and Command Sgt. Maj. Cory Everson, of Devils Lake, the unit was assigned to the 1st Cavalry Division’s Sustainment Brigade and commanded multiple detachments comprised of Soldiers from across the nation, including two movement control teams, a mortuary affairs detachment and 10 Department of the Army Civilian Expeditionary Workforce members. Previously based in Devils Lake, North Dakota, the unit recently was relocated to Bismarck. A formal ceremony, called a Freedom Salute, was held Jan. 5 in their honor at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck, where the Soldiers’ family members and community supporters also were recognized for their contributions to a successful deployment.
Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Scott Noyes, of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), embraces his son upon returning from a 10-month deployment to Arghanistan.
U.S. Army Spc. Kallie Kappes, of the 136th CSSB, meets her niece for the first time Nov. 16, 2017, at the Hector International Airport in Fargo.
Sgt. 1st Class Stephanie Kuehn, of the 136th CSSB, is greeted by her dog, Winston, Nov. 16, 2017, at the Bismarck Municipal Airport after 10 months away from home.
Lt. Col. Brock Larson embraces his wife, Sharlene, Nov. 15, 2017, at the Bismarck Municipal Airport upon his return from a 10-month deployment to Afghanistan, during which he served as commander of the 136th CSSB.
GSnapshots UARDIAN
Photo by Mr. Jonathan Haugen, Visual Information Office
See More, and Download Photos! Visit www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Tech. Sgt. Zachary Parkman, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, checks unit member identification credentials for base entry Jan. 11 at the gate of the North Dakota Air National Guard Base, Fargo, in a temperature of minus 3 and winds gusting to 30 mph.
Col. Paul Harron, North Dakota Army National Guard chief of staff, tests out the state's new UH-72 Lakota flight simulator Nov. 29 at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck.
Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiel Skager, Joint Force Headquarters
Staff Sgt. Laura Fajardo, of 68th Troop Command, visits with North Dakota Veterans Home residents Dec. 15 in Lisbon, North Dakota, during a holiday visit.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, right, attaches an Air Force Outstanding Unit Award streamer onto the 119th Wing guidon as Col. Britt Hatley, 119th Wing commander, lowers the unit flag and Chief Master Sgt. Duane Kangas, the 119th Wing command chief master sergeant, center, looks during a recognition ceremony Jan. 6 at the N.D. Air National Guard Base. It is the 19th time the North Dakota Air National Guard has been recognized with the award, which has been done by only one other unit in the U.S. Air Force.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Share your photos! Submit your photos to be considered for inclusion in the N.D. Guardian! Email high-resolution photos to 2nd Lt. Jennifer Anderson, N.D. Guardian editor, at jennifer.m.anderson6.mil@mail.mil
Tech. Sgt. Garrett Havens, of the 119th Communications Flight, works on communications equipment Dec. 3 at the N.D. Air National Guard Base, Fargo, N.D., Dec. 3, 2017.
NewsBriefs 119th Wing Sends Equipment for Hurrican Relief By Maj. Amber Balken, 119th Wing The North Dakota Air National Guard in September loaded and sent approximately 80 tons of equipment to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support hurricane relief efforts. Twenty Airmen from the 119th Wing packed and loaded a Disaster Relief Beddown System (DRBS) onto six C-130s Hercules aircraft for transport to the U.S. Virgin Islands. The DRBS package consists of temporary emergency shelter designed to house 150 people with a place to sleep, and includes showers, laundry facilities, latrines, water purification, generators and power distribution. “These kits contain billeting, self-help laundry and a reverse osmosis water purification unit (ROWPU), which can produce up to 2,200 gallons per hour of potable water,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Laney, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron unit
deployment manager. “Prior to the DRBS delivery, we are also sending eight generators along with latrines and a big refrigerator unit.” Three members of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron accompanied the DRBS to the U.S. Virgin Islands then handed off the system to units already in place. “I could not be more proud of the men and women of the 119th wing in pulling together to provide Disaster Relief Beddown System assistance to the people impacted by Hurricanes Maria and Irma,” said Col. Britt Hatley, 119th Wing commander.
“Transporting the DRBS was truly an Air National Guard-wide endeavor. From the Hooligans of the 119th Wing, who prepared, palletized and loaded a DRBS onto C-130s, to forward staging at the Georgia Air National Guard’s 165th Airlift Wing, and finally, delivery to St. Thomas.” The emergence of the Global War on Terrorism and events such as Hurricane Katrina facilitated the requirement of a rapidly-deployable, sustainable and expandable housekeeping set to house military personnel in areas with little or no infrastructure.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
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www.ndguard.com Photo by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
Volk Assumes Full Command of 136th CSSB By Spc. Cody Graham, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Lt. Col. Brock Larson relinquished command of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) Forward Detachment Jan. 7 to Lt. Col. Cody Volk in front of family, friends and fellow Guardsmen during a ceremony held at the Ramada Inn in Bismarck, North Dakota. Larson commanded the 136th CSSB since October 2015. Volk has been commanding the rear eetachment of the 136th CSSB since March 2017 and plans to implement a seamless transition while adding the forward detachment under his command. “This is a unique change of command in that Lt. Col. Larson and I both were commanding in the 136th CSSB prior to today,” Volk said. Volk a Dickinson native, work full time for the N.D. National Guard as a supervisory logistics management specialist and resides in Bismarck with his wife, Christy, and their four children. Larson now commands the Bismarck-based Recruiting and Retention Battlion. He resides in Bismarck with wife, Shar, and their two children.
18 · Guardian · fall/winter 2017
Photo by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Lt. Col. Cody Volk salutes Col. Jim Olson, 68th Troop Command commander, Jan. 7 as he assumes command of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion.
Chaplains’ Corner:
SoundOff!
Wondering Why? Remain Faithful Through Uncertainty By Chaplain (Col.)John Flowers, 119th Wing
As a chaplain, I am called upon to be with people in the midst of unspeakable grief. Like you, I often wonder why tragedies happen. I can’t answer the question of why there is pain and suffering. But I can briefly share how I try to think about such things. At our state veteran’s home in Lisbon, there is a small display of artifacts from the military service of North Dakota veterans. Among the many items of interest are two things that caused me to consider how and why things happen in the world. First, there is a certificate in memory of a sailor who grew up in North Dakota, joined the navy, and was killed at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941. He was stationed aboard the battleship Utah. In 1941, the USS. Utah was an obsolete training ship. Even today, the ship remains obscure and forgotten. The enemy targeted the Utah that morning by mistake,
thinking it was an active battleship. The Utah rolled over in eleven minutes, killing 64 of her crew, including a boy from North Dakota. Why? It seems so senseless and useless. His family bore the grief of his loss for as long as they lived. His death served no military purpose. It exemplifies sheer waste and folly. Why did God allow such a thing happen? A second item is a small New Testament with a chunk of shrapnel sticking into it. A North Dakota paratrooper carried this New Testament in his left breast pocket when he jumped into Normandy on D-Day. As he descended, he was hit in the left breast by a piece of shrapnel from a German 88mm gun. The jagged hunk of steel is still embedded in the New Testament where it struck. If you look in the display case, you will see that the hot metal pierced through the little Bible and came to rest with the point touching on Ephesians 2:8: “By grace are you saved through faith.”
These two stories illustrate the random waste of warfare on the one hand, and God’s guiding protection on the other hand. Why does one man die, seemingly by chance, and another man is spared, seemingly by chance? Is it just a coincidence that the shrapnel came to rest on that particular verse? Or did God have a hand in it? Is it possible that the sinking of the Utah saved hundreds of lives that might have been lost had the enemy targeted another battleship? I don’t know the answers, and I never will in this life. But I just can’t believe that life is a random jumble of events without any purpose or direction. I choose to trust in a wise and loving God who somehow, over time, works things out for the best. So for now, my heart breaks and I weep with those who weep. I wonder why. But I fight to keep trusting that God has a plan. One day, I am confident I will see how it all worked out.
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 19
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing Tech. Sgt. Nicholas Mitchell, a fire fighter assigned to the North Dakota Air National Guard's 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, North Dakota Air National Guard, is greeted by his son Jan. 23, 2018, at the Hector International Airport in Fargo upon his return from a six-month deployment to southwest Asia.