GUARDIAN
North Dakota
Volume 8, Issue 6
July 2015
2015 Legislative Session How the Outcomes Impact N.D. Service Members PG. 9
Standing Tall, Looking Good Army Introduces New Uniform PG. 16
GOOD MEDICINE
North Dakota Airmen Enhance Skills with High-Tech Training PG. 14
Inside This Issue Features
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Enhancing Communities
North Dakota Airmen traveled to Maine in May for a specialized mission as part of the Department of Defense’s Civil-Military Innovative Readiness Training Program, which provides services to communities while training National Guard and Reserve personnel for their war-time duties.
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Military Education
About 30 high school and college educators, administrators and coaches last month were escorted by Army Guard aviators from locations across the state to Camp Grafton Training Center, where they were shuttled to various sites on post to look in on drill-weekend training with the Recruit Training Company.
Annual
18 Training From clearing a gas mask to pouring concrete, unit public affairs representatives provide a look into some of the annual training activities conducted this summer by North Dakota Army Guard units throughout the state.
Departments Guardian Snapshots ..................... Page 20 News Briefs ..................................... Page 22 Sound Off! ..................................... Page 23
Interact With Us! See even more N.D. National Guard highlights at our social media sites, and share your thoughts! www.youtube.com/NDNationalGuard www.flickr.com/photos/NDGuard 2 · Guardian · july 2015
www.twitter.com/NDNationalGuard www.facebook.com/NDNationalGuard
Commander in Chief North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Amber Balken Editor Sgt. Jennifer Joyce Contributors Lt. Col. Davina French Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion Capt. Jeff Hoffer Chief Master Sgt. Scott Terry Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp Sgt. 1st Class Brady Lyson Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen Staff Sgt. Brett Miller Tech. Sgt. Brady Schneider Sgt. Ashley Johlfs Senior Airman Desiree Moye Spc. Aaron Jones Spc. Paige Longie 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.joyce2.mil@mail.mil Phone: 701-333-2195 Fax: 701-333-2017 Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible.
On the Cover
Lt. Col. Lynette Schmidt, of the 119th Medical Group, hangs artificial blood and fluids to administer to a high-tech human simulator mannequin June 3 during a training scenario at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota. The training was conducted by the Simulation in Motion-North Dakota (SIMND) Program, which is operated by the North Dakota Department of Health and the University of North Dakota, in an effort to provide realistic, pre-hospital and emergency care to medical personnel throughout the state.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
VIEW FROM THE TOP A MESSAGE FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
Fostering a resilient force
W
We have all heard of the term resiliency, we have all more than likely been through resiliency training at some points in our careers. What does it really mean, and why is there such an emphasis on building resilient Airmen and Soldiers? Merriam-Webster defines resilience as the ability to become strong, healthy or successful again after something bad happens. There are events that can cause stress in our work and personal lives, things that no one is immune to. Stress has powerful effects on your physical and mental health, and it comes in all forms. Serving in the National Guard brings a unique stress that most Americans will never know. We ask you to be a citizen-SoldierAirmen, serving your state and country part-time, whether called upon by the state to help with natural disasters or when called upon by the country to serve a deployment. You serve your state and your nation all while maintaining a civilian career, a family and a life. This anomaly is something less than 1 percent of Americans experience. How we deal with our stress has a profound impact on the readiness of the National Guard. Building resiliency enables our ability to overcome life’s challenges, face and cope with adversity and adapt to change, and grow from setbacks. Resilience combines mental, emotional, and physical skills to be at our best in combat, and in managing work and home life. One of the major sources of resiliency relationships we have with our family, friends and colleagues. Knowing when we need help and asking for it is an important part of resilience. Support isn’t just there for when times are tough, sharing good news also is important for building relationships and increasing happiness. As members of the National Guard, it is our job to look out for our fellow Guardsmembers. Realize when something is wrong and remember the ACE model to address the situation. Ask: Be courageous enough to ask something is wrong, and ask direct questions.
Don’t assume that your friend will reach out to you. Care: After you do ask, listen and care for your friend. Calmly control the situation and encourage them to seek professional help. Escort: Go with your friend to the chaplain, chain of command or behavioral health professional. Never leave your friend until they have received appropriate help. Be available and be supportive. The National Guard provides many avenues for our Soldiers and Airmen to ask for help. Chaplains, mental health providers, online resources, such as Military One Source and Vets for Warriors, are among the many resources that give service members the anonymous ability to call in or engage in online chats to access immediate help. As you’ll see in this issue, the Air National Guard and the Air Force have launched smartphone apps, called the Ready Airmen and Wingman Tool Kit. Although these apps were built by the Air force, they can be used by any service member and have direct links to support entities here in North Dakota.
Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk North Dakota Adjutant General
The Army National Guard is also developing an app called Ready 54, whil will soon be available to the force. Building resiliency starts with you. Take care to exercise regularly and get enough sleep, so that you can control stress more easily. The stronger you feel physically and emotionally, the easier it is for you to overcome challenges. When you need help, ask for it. The North Dakota National Guard is a family and we are here to help.
Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatuk present the Sacrifice for Freedom Tribute to the Linde family May 21, 2014, during a ceremony at the State Capitol Building in Bismarck, North Dakota. www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 3
BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS Airmen Enhance Community Relations through Readiness Training By Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing Photos by Chief Master Sgt. Scott Terry
Master Sgt Richard Duysen, left, and Senior Airman Andrew Van Sickle, both of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, level wet concrete placed for footings of a new 10,000-square-foot dining facility at the Camp William Hinds Boy Scout Camp near Raymond Township, Maine, during a temporary duty assignment May 3-18, 2015. The project was part of the Department of Defense Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program that provides assistance to communities for improvements while simultaneiously allowing Guardsmen and Reservists to accomplishing war-time tasking training.
Innovative programs are necessary when it comes to helping the needs of the underserved in American communities. A program, which involves primarily National Guard and Reserve personnel, allows services to be performed in a partnership between community organizations and the military. The CivilMilitary Innovative Readiness Training (IRT) Program helps make improvements in those communities. The service is provided for projects that don’t have the money necessary to be completed otherwise. The IRT program assists in projects that benefit the communities while providing training to National Guard and Reserve personnel for their war-time tasking. It was in this capacity that 35 North Dakota Air National Guard members traveled to the Camp William Hinds Boy
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Scout Camp, near Raymond Township, Maine, to provide their assistance to the camp and community May 3-18 through the IRT Program. The group was comprised of civil engineers trained in heavy equipment operation; plumbing; electrical; power production (generators); heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC); and structural carpentry. Fire fighters and communications specialists also participated. “The big benefit for us is the real-world, hands-on construction experience for our drill-status Guard members,” said Chief Master Sgt. Scott Terry, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), who was part of the group of Airmen who traveled to Maine.
“Deployments for training are especially important for strengthening our squadron’s morale and camaraderie. We all get to know each other a lot better on a personal basis, as well as learning the capabilities of our newer members,” said Maj. Matthew Tronnes, the 119th CES officer-in-charge for the project. While a previous group set up tent accommodations for temporary duty military personnel at the Boy Scout camp, the group from North Dakota began the initial phase of a ground-up construction project of a 10,000-square-foot dining facility. The initial phase completed by the N.D. Air National Guard included clearing trees, excavating a hole for the facility’s foundation and pouring the concrete footings. “The dining facility will be the heart of the camp for the next 80 years when it is completed, and they (119 CES) literally laid the cornerstone for the foundation of the facility with such pride and professionalism that I could really tell they wanted the job to be done right,” said Eric Tarbox, the executive and CEO of the Boy Scouts of America Pine Tree Council. The group also performed several smaller improvements to the camp, such as re-routing water lines from a well house, fixing various electrical problems, consolidating camp generators — allowing them to operate more efficiently — and building cabins. They even started a platform for a new communications tower in the Raymond Township. During the excavation process the North Dakota Airmen came across a large boulder that needed to be removed, and they utilized it to leave their mark upon the camp by carving the historic Happy Hooligan tail-flash sticker on it. “We have placed those stickers all over the world on deployments and now we have left one at the camp that should last a long time. I am sure follow-on units will add their mark to it,” said Senior Master Sgt. Tim Laney, of the 119th CES. “Nearly all Guardsmen have a separate civilian job, and they are able to share their knowledge and experience to greatly improve what our squadron is able to accomplish,” Tronnes said. “We have some very experienced construction people in our unit that work in unrelated Air Force specialties. Tech. Sgt. Elliot Steinbrink, who is a fire
fighter in our unit, but is a construction project manager in his civilian full-time job (is one of them). Guys like him are tremendous assets on a project like this,” Terry said. Senior Master Sgt. Robert Schiedecker, of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, was even presented a coin of appreciation by a group of Marine Corps Reserve members, whom he guided through a cabin build. “Our only real hold-up was material, because it was being donated by local businesses,” Laney said. “Not only were we able to gain this
valuable training, but we were able to put our skills to work,” Tronnes said. “We also were able to make a huge contribution in constructing a radio tower site for the City of Raymond, and we received many comments about how much work we got done in a short amount of time. More importantly, they were impressed with the quality of our work.” “The Pine Tree Council would not be able to build such a stunning camp without the help of the IRT Program, and we can now offer the beauty of Maine in an affordable adventure for those who come here,” Tarbox said.
Above, Senior Airman Jacob Dibble, in yellow, operates a concrete vibrating tool as 119th Civil Engineer Squadron members pour concrete footings for a 10,000 square foot dining facility at the Camp William Hinds Boy Scout Camp, near Raymond Township, Maine. Left: Senior Airman Brandon Grund, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, operates an excavator as he helps to dig an area being used for concrete footings of a new 10,000 square foot dining facility at the Camp William Hinds Boy Scout Camp, near Raymond Township, Maine, during a temporary duty assignment May 3-18, 2015.
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Part 1 of 3 Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
Guard 101: State’s Educators Learn More About Training, Opportunities for Students Eyeing Military Service Story and photos by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters Author’s note: This is the first of a three-part series examining the North Dakota National Guard’s recruiting and retention operations, the challenges recruiters face in building and maintaining the force, and some of the lesserknown benefits of enlistment and extended military service. As this article goes to print — on June 29 — the N.D. Army National Guard is at 88.9 percent of its force structure requirements, which totals about 3,060 of its needed 3,443 Soldiers. The state is ranked last out of the National Guard’s 54 states and territories in Army force structure. In addition to offering referral bonuses for those who bring in new enlistees, recruiters also have been finding new ways to strengthen relationships within the community to find the N.D. Army National Guard’s future citizen-Soldiers.
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Laurie Foerderer was a long way from her art classroom after school let out this summer, but the Century High School teacher could appreciate the vistas she saw from up above the shores of Devils Lake in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter. Down below, masses of digital green pulsated between clusters of woodland — Army National Guard Soldiers negotiating obstacles and training sites. On this canvas, Foerderer was introduced to the brush strokes and broader art of National Guard service. She and 30 other high school and college educators, administrators and coaches were escorted by Army Guard aviators June 13 from locations across the state to Camp Grafton Training Center. Upon landing, they were shuttled to various sites on post to look in on drill-weekend training with the Recruit Training Company (RTC), a unit
comprised of the organization’s newest Soldiers, most who have not yet attended Basic Combat Training. “I was terrified about getting on a Black Hawk, although my son has been on it; that’s what he does,” Foerderer said. The Bismarck teacher has two sons in the N.D. Army National Guard: Spc. Andrew Sorum, an aircraft mechanic with the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment; and Sgt. Michael Sorum, an equipment operator for the 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal). Additionally, she has two nephews who serve, as well as a future daughter-in-law from within the Guard’s ranks. Because of those connections to military service, Foerderer was relatively familiar with the National Guard’s mission, but after receiving an invitation from area recruiter Sgt. 1st Class Raymond Dingeman to get a close-up view of the training her family members and
Above, Capt. Brett Nelson, 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI) training officer, gives a group of North Dakota educators a tour of the engineer schoolhouse. Here, the visitors get a look at electrical labs used by RTI students during military occupational specialty, or MOS, training and testing. Left, North Dakota educators from across the state bounded down the rappel tower at Camp Grafton Training Center June 13 while touring the post to learn more about how the North Dakota National Guard trains its citizen-Soldiers.
handful of students experience, she jumped at the chance. “What an opportunity. Civilians don’t get to do this, and I just had to. It’s nice for staff to come up here (to Camp Grafton) and see what goes on,” she said. The visitors didn’t just sit on the sidelines while viewing some of the more adrenaline-soaked facets of Guard training, either. They also got hands-on experiences, testing their wills on the rappel tower, picking off targets at the Engagement Skills Trainer and touring the 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute’s (RTI) first-rate engineer schoolhouse. “Our intent of the day was to provide educators and administrators the opportunity to see what the RTC Soldiers go through and provide our guests an opportunity to ask questions about the Guard and get a better understanding of all the elements it offers,” said Maj. Dan Murphy, Recruiting and Retention Battalion executive officer. “Based on the response, we accomplished that. They have a better understanding of the job skills their students can acquire and the training available to them. It really opened their eyes.” N.D. National Guard recruiters long have fortified relationships with school
administrators in order to seek out the organization’s future citizen-Soldiers and –Airmen. That interaction is levied over a number of events year-round. Dingeman said he makes every effort not only to inform faculty and students about the Guard, but also to help support the schools as a whole. Some of those presentations include information about alcohol awareness and assistance with team-building exercises for sporting organizations. The National Guard also is visible during “Military Appreciation Nights” at school sporting events across the state, where players don digital camouflage jerseys provided by recruiting staff. Dingemann, though, said education about the National Guard is key to the recruiting mission of finding those qualified to serve in tomorrow’s National Guard. “This was my seventh school year as a recruiter, and this (the Camp Grafton visit) is one of the better things I’ve seen us do with teachers. To let them see what we do, it makes our job a lot easier,” he said. And that job has become a little more challenging each year. Military recruiters are seeking commitments from an everdecreasing pool of qualified potential recruits. In an article published by Reuters in March 2015, U.S. Defense Secretary
Ash Carter said in a speech at his former high school only about one third of 21 million Americans, ages 17-21, are eligible to join the military. He also said, of those, half are not able to “pass the entry examination and the rest (are) ineligible because they are unable to meet the physical fitness or character standards.” Murphy said factors for low recruitment in North Dakota goes even beyond those low qualification percentages. The state, which enjoys a thriving economy, has more alternatives to offer graduates and job seekers. “It is a challenge to bring qualified people to MEPS (Military Entrance Processing Station) and getting them into boots,” Murphy said. “There are a number of reasons: our tremendous economy, low unemployment and there are opportunities for high school kids to go get a job where they’re already making $50,000 to $70,000 a year. Because of those wages, they could possibly be delaying on education. It could be all of those.” Todd Sheldon, a social studies teacher and head football coach at Mandan High School, said he meets many students who still are indecisive about their future plans. Instead of enrolling in college, they’d still like to explore alternative avenues of employment. He said the Guard could be the answer for them. “They know they want to go to college, but don’t know what they want to do. There is the opportunity for them to join the Guard for the experience. Upon enlistment, they can pick the job they want, get a little training and get some exposure to it. If it really doesn’t work out, they can try something else later down the road. They realize there are ways to get experience without having to go to school right away,” Sheldon said. Sheldon, whose brother Capt. Jay Sheldon serves with the 191st Military Police Company, knows a bit about the benefits the National Guard can offer. Education benefits still are one of the top incentives for new recruits to join the National Guard. In North Dakota, both the Army and Air Guard continue to offer 100 percent tuition assistance to attend North Dakota University System schools. Because of his brother’s experience, Todd is able to convey these advantages with his class.
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“I talk about what kind of life Jay has been able to have for himself, through that (military) process. I mention that I finished college with $40,000 in student loans and Jay finished with $400. That makes a big difference,” he said. Sheldon also was a visitor to Camp Grafton this June and said he was most impressed by what he saw at the RTI – a sentiment echoed by his counterparts. Murphy said the training facility showed the versatility of the Guard and a sampling of the number of military occupational specialties offered to enlistees. “Educators, I think, see Guard service from a different angle. After their visit, there were names and faces of students that came into their heads — students those teachers thought might be a good fit as a North Dakota Guardsmen,” Murphy said. “They might have thought, ‘Hey, I know a student who would be great at being an electrician, or who wants to be a pilot or an IT expert.’ I tell (teachers and administrators) that we are no different than any corporation out there in the fact that we have personnel for human resources, information technology, logistics, and just keep going down the list. The Guard offers so much more than they realize.” Dr. Kelly Peters, who is the associate principal at Red River High School in Grand Forks, said the RTI visit far exceeded his expectations. In his role as an administrator, he oversees the vocational departments within his school and plans on sharing what he learned about North Dakota’s engineer training. Particularly, he became excited when it was revealed that instructors from the RTI now can teach Career and Technical
Education, or CTE, courses in public schools because of their training experience and military occupational specialties. Recently, an organization named Troops to Teachers completed a Memorandum of Agreement with the North Dakota Career and Technical Education (CTE) Director to facilitate military instructors in the National Guard for CTE licensure. “You guys (the National Guard) are doing things right and offering some great things. People see what the Army does and what the National Guard does, but they also need to see the practical aspect of what you can do once you’re out of the service,” Peters said. “There I can see a direct avenue that we (teachers and recruiters) haven’t explored yet.” And the Recruiting and Retention Battalion hopes to build on that momentum into the future. Murphy said North Dakota recruiters plan on hosting educators and administrators at Camp Grafton twice more in 2015, and eventually to schedule the event yearly. Peters said it’s a welcome opportunity and believes others would benefit from it. “It was amazing. You guys sold it short; it was phenomenal,” he said. For more information about enlistment and educational benefits in the N.D. Army National Guard, contact your local area recruiter. Their contact information can be found at ndguard.com, under the “Recruiting and Retention” tab, or call 701-333-3159. For the N.D. Air National Guard, call its recruiters at 1-800-972-8825.
Tracy Hanzal, superintendent at Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock High School, left, and Dr. Kelly Peters, associate principal at Red River High School in Grand Forks, get a feel for the M240B machine gun at Camp Grafton’s Engagement Skills Trainer, or EST. Visitors to the facility had the opportunity to shoot simulated targets using an array of weapons.
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2015 LEGISLATIVE SESSION New changes to state laws go into effect this month. Read below to see how they affect North Dakota service members and their families.
Lt. Col. Davina French, North Dakota National Guard government affairs officer, provides an explanation of the newest changes and what they mean for current and former Guard members and their families.
BILL
HOW ARE YOU AFFECTED?
Veterans Bonus
French: This funding will ensure a continued bonus program for deployed Soldiers with $50 per month for domestic service and $100 per month for overseas service.
N.D. Cares Executive Director (one full-time employee) and Support Package
French: This position will serve as the primary coordinator for the N.D. Cares coalition and the liaison between federal, state and local organizations and the programs supported across state agencies that can provide support to veterans, service members, families and survivors.
Veterans Cemetery Land Purchase
French: The purchase of approximately 36 acres from N.D. Parks and Recretaion will ensure burial space for our veterans for the next 150 years, doubling our current space.�
Veterans Outreach Officer I (five full-time employees)
French: This request is for funding of benefits for five full-time employee outreach officers. The outreach team for North Dakota veterans is a service that provides care by working in conjunction with local veterans organizations to resolve issues including benefits, mental health resources, employment and housing.
HB 1208 - Honor Veteran Status Bill
French: This bill allows service members (National Guard and Reserve) who have completed their service contract to be recognized as veterans. No additional benefits are provided.
HB 1360 - Disabled Veteran Vehicle Registration
French: Veterans with 100 percent disability are entitled to two vehicle registrations on personal vehicles; widows are entitled to the same for one vehicle.
SB 2238 - Caskets for Eligible Deceased Veterans
French: County social services can provide military caskets to eligible veterans.
SB 2335 - Duty of Physician to Report Sexual Assault
French: Physicians do not have to include personal identifying information of the sexual assault victim on a report, which protects the military requirements for restricted/unrestricted reporting.
SB 2113 - Property Tax Credit
French: This bill allots $6,750 in annual tax credits for veterans with 50 percent or greater disability.
SB 2142 - Purple Heart Vehicle Registration Exemption
French: This bill provides Purple Heart license plates at no cost to eligible veterans.
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There’s an App for That
Interactive Apps Provide Airmen with Resiliency Resources at their Fingertips By Staff Sgt. Disree Moye, 119th Wing Among thousands of free mobile applications (apps) currently available, two stand out in respect to their resiliency cognizance platforms. The Wingman Toolkit and Ready Airman apps were designed to empower Guardsmen and their families through education in
mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness. The apps are targeted toward Airmen, although all service members can benefit from the features provided by them. Both are available to download on Android and iTunes Market. Nurturing a robust, steadfast Guard community enhances mental, physical, social and spiritual fitness. The Ready Airman and Wingman Toolkit apps, which can be easily accessed on a personal handheld device, broaden the National Guard motto: “Always Ready, Always There.”
Ready Airman The Community Action Information Board (CAIB) of the Air National Guard created the Ready Airman app to engage Airmen and families. The focus of the CAIB is to identify and resolve issues that impact the readiness and resilience of Airmen and their families with an emphasis on positive actions and programs that strengthen force readiness through a sense of community. The Ready Airman app furnishes the user with a virtual community of local and national resources, to include the names, numbers and locations of trained professionals who can assist with crisis intervention. North Dakota resources include regional Family Assistance Centers, regional Military Outreach Specialists, the National Guard Sexual Assault Prevention and Response office, licensed social workers,
The Wingman Toolkit The purpose of the Wingman Toolkit app is based on the Comprehensive Airman Fitness (CAF) mission by providing tools for maintaining a stable way of life, which better-equip Reserve, active-duty and Guard personnel to handle the rigors of military life. Military members face a range of challenges, including high operational tempo, deployments, recurrent change and requirements to maintain high personal and professional standards of conduct. According to the Wingman Toolkit
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chaplains and other state and military personnel, who can be reached at any time. Additionally, the app features a “Fearless 5” function. It allows the user to select up to five contacts that can be reached quickly during crisis. A simple touch of the button sends the selected contacts a message containing a request for help along with a map and coordinates to the user’s location. Another touch of the button can notify those same contacts when the user has received help.
app website, the goal of CAF resilience training is to increase proactive coping, self-management and leadership skills to enhance individual resilience. The four domains of the app focus on the physical, mental, spiritual and social needs of Airmen. Each domain has many tenants which contain key characteristics and tips to foster resiliency. The app features fitness calendars, resources for immediate help, aids to stop smoking and links to other outside resources.
B reaking Ground Construction to Begin on N.D. Guard Facility in Valley City By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters The Valley City-based 231st Brigade Support Battalion (231st BSB) now will have a new home to provide maintenance support for its inventory of combat and tactical vehicles. North Dakota National Guard leaders along with elected officials last month broke ground for a new vehicle maintenance shop and unheated enclosed vehicle storage facility to support unit maintenance operations and training. The $12 million project is expected to be complete by July 2017. Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, Sen. John Hoeven, Valley City Mayor Bob Werkhoven, North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk and other community leaders pitched the first mounds of dirt using ceremonial shovels at the site of the new buildings, signifying the official start of the project’s construction.
“The addition of this new vehicle maintenance shop will enhance the North Dakota National Guard’s ability to provide more effective, efficient, and responsive maintenance for larger equipment,” Wrigley said. “I’m proud of the collaboration that took place between local, state, and federal agencies to make this facility a reality.” As a result of force structure changes in 2008, the 231st BSB — which supports two engineer detachments — added Heavy Expanded Mobility Tactical Trucks with Palletized Load Systems and accompanying oversized equipment to its inventory. The current maintenance shop, which is located in an area near the Valley City Airport, was not suitable for expansion to house this equipment. Built in 1960, the building has only 3,230 square feet of floor space to for the unit’s
175 vehicles, while the 231st BSBs new buildings will encompass more than 45,000 square feet. About 14 unit maintenance personnel will work at the new buildings upon completion. “With the construction of these new facilities, our Soldiers will receive muchneeded space for maintenance operations and training, allowing them to complete their missions effectively and safety,” Sprynczynatyk said. The facilities are designed for a minimum 50-year life span and include the latest technology in energy efficiencies in accordance with the Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Code. “The N.D. National Guard has long enjoyed tremendous support from the citizens of Valley City, and we look forward to continue to serve here for years to come,” Sprynczynatyk said. “The partnership between this community and the Guard is over 130 years old.” The N.D. National Guard’s presence within the Valley City community dates back to 1884 when Company G, 1st Dakota Volunteers of the Dakota Territory first mustered there. As North Dakota entered statehood in 1889, the unit became the 1st North Dakota Infantry Regiment and later was designated as Company G, 164th Infantry Regiment in 1917. Under the moniker, Soldiers from the unit served in France during World War I and the Pacific Theater in World War II. In 1955, it was renamed again as the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, of which the unit was known until 2008 when it transformed into the 231st Brigade Support Battalion. North Dakota National Guard Soldiers, Valley City community leaders and other elected officials use ceremonial shovels to break ground June 30, 2015, during a ceremony for a new vehicle maintenance shop in Valley City, North Dakota. Photo by Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, Joint Force Headquarters
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Into the Fray: Guadalcanal Veteran Recalls World War II’s Onset, Serving in Pacific Part 1 of 3
By Capt. Jeff Hoffer, N.D. National Guard Historian Historian’s Note: For many members of the North Dakota National Guard, interest in the military often is sparked by stories told to them during childhood by family members who have previously served in the military. Such is the case with Lt. Col. David Bruschwein, present commander of the Minot-based 164th Engineer Battalion, who grew up listening to the World War II exploits of his father, Harold F. Bruschwein. Harold began his service prior to World War II as a new infantry second lieutenant in the U.S. Army. Some of his experiences, such as the tragic loss of friends, brushes with death and austere living conditions are common themes among veterans of World War II’s Pacific theater. Bruschwein’s story also is unique. He rubbed shoulders with two future U.S. presidents, survived the attack on Pearl Harbor, and participated in the first major U.S. offensive during war at Guadalcanal until illness ended his military career in December 1944. I recently had the opportunity to spend some time with Mr. Bruschwein who, at the age of 99, remembers those years as a young officer in the U.S. Army.
Born in April 1916 in Driscoll, North Dakota, Harold Bruschwein studied civil engineering while enrolled in the North Dakota Agricultural College’s Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, or ROTC, program in Fargo. Graduating in 1939, Bruschwein was offered a position with the North Dakota Highway Department, but accepted his commission instead. Assigned as a rifle platoon leader in the 3rd Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, he was posted at Fort Lincoln, south of Bismarck (an area that now is home to the United Tribes Technical College). Bruschwein was familiar with the post, having worked
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there as a cadet while learning the duties of an officer. “It wasn’t all duty, and no fun,” he said. “In 1939, North Dakota celebrated its 50th anniversary of statehood. I remember taking part in Wahpeton’s anniversary parade celebrating statehood.” However, Fort Lincoln’s days as an active military post were numbered, and shortly before the Army closed the post, Bruschwein had new orders in hand, sending him to Fort Lewis, Washington. “The train ride was an exciting time for me,” he said. “It (the trip to Fort Lewis) lasted several days, and I tried to stay awake as much as I could. I didn’t want to miss anything.” Once at Fort Lewis, Bruschwein was assigned as a rifle platoon leader in the 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, and immediately assumed his duties. “Not long after I got to Fort Lewis, someone came around looking for a battalion adjutant. I thought that sounded good, so I volunteered for the job,” he said. By now a first lieutenant, Bruschwein served under then-Lt. Col. Dwight D. Eisenhower, whom everyone called ‘Ike.’ “We always called him ‘sir’ then,” Bruschwein said with a smile. “He was the battalion commander and I was his adjutant. We’d sit around the table and have meetings and visit. He was from Kansas, and I was from North Dakota. He liked to talk about cattle. He didn’t have a ranch or anything, but you’d visit about cattle, like neighbors do. He was friendly but professional. We’d have these training problems in the field and he’d be busy. He was great with transportation and logistics.” One of the things Bruschwein remembers clearly about Eisenhower was his precise nature. “The men would get ready to load a
truck with equipment, and (Eisenhower) would say, ‘Alright, this is how the manual says to load the truck; you’ve got to do it this way,’” Bruschwein said. “Then they’d load the truck exactly like it said in the manual, and everything had to be there.” Bruschwein’s association with Eisenhower lasted six months before he took advantage of an opportunity for a posting in Hawaii as commander of Company A, 1st Battalion, 27th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division starting in August 1940. As for Eisenhower, Bruschwein said, “he ended up in Alabama for the big national maneuvers. Those maneuvers proved to the people in the government that we were short of so many things we needed.” Upon reaching Hawaii, Bruschwein found it to be a tropical paradise compared to Fort Lewis and remembers the beauty of the Hawaiian Islands’ scenery, particularly Oahu where he was stationed. “But,” he said with a smile, “you can’t forget the hula girls.” While the beauty of Oahu and the hula girls provided a welcome distraction during off-duty hours, thoughts of trouble with Japan lingered. “We were concerned about Japan,” Bruschwein said. “They were making trouble diplomatically. We thought that they would attack the Philippine Islands if war came, which they did. Over half of Oahu’s population was of Japanese descent, and we knew there were spies around. My company was placed on antisabotage duty as leadership expected the Japanese-American population to make trouble if war came. On Nov. 27, 1941, just 11 days before the Pearl Harbor Raid, we had a drill to protect against sabotage. All infrastructure was placed under guard,” Still, the training and preparations continued, and Bruschwein’s men were provided live ammunition.
“This concerned me, because there might have been problems with alcohol, even though the men were under orders,” Bruschwein said. Events soon outstripped Bruschwein’s concerns. On Dec. 7th, 1941, Japanese naval aircraft attacked the U.S. military installations at Oahu, including Pearl Harbor, where the U.S. Pacific Fleet sat at anchor. On Nov. 27, 1941, Bruschwein’s unit had been placed on alert and went to their stations where they set armed guards. Eleven days later, Bruschwein and his company were in tents on the shores of Waikiki at Fort DeRussy. Since anyone from Honolulu could see the encampment, “everything had to be spitand-polish,” according to Bruschwein. He and his first sergeant were making their morning inspection of the encampment down the shoreline of Waikiki when, “we heard these loud explosions out towards the Pearl Harbor area. And, we assumed, after discussing them, that these explosions were caused by the artillery doing some practice firing down in the harbor area,” he said. Both Bruschwein and his first sergeant continued their inspection “until a rather unusually heavy drone of an airplane motor came to our attention,” Bruschwein said. “There was an anti-aircraft burst close to the tail of this plane and I mentioned that something was wrong, that these exercises were getting to be rather dangerous!” The aircraft made a rapid turn, which was when Bruschwein noticed the Japanese insignia on its wings. “Sergeant”, Bruschwein said, “That’s not our plane!” Reflecting on these moments, Bruschwein continued, “Of course, there isn’t much you can do when all you have is a (bolt action) rifle and you’re under air attack.” In the next installment of this three-part series, Bruschwein describes his unit’s alerted posture during the shocking attack at Pearl Harbor. Later, the 25th Infantry Division would train in Australia, preparing for war in the Pacif ic Theater at Guadalcanal. While there, Bruschwein’s division would join the 1st Marine Division and North Dakotans in the 164th Infantry Regiment, coming face to face with Japanese forces.
North Dakota National Guard photo Pearl Harbor survivor Harold Bruschwein (left) shows Capt. Jeff Hoffer a photograph taken during Bruschwein’s military service.
Photo courtesy of the National Archives Pearl Harbor as seen from the air on October 30, 1941. National Archives photograph.
Modern Medicine: Airmen Train with High-T Story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Simulation in Motion–North Dakota (SIM–ND) returned June 2-3 to the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo to provide some high-tech training for medical personnel in the 119th Medical Group. The mobile medical training vehicle resembles an ultra-modern recreational vehicle and has been customized to include an emergency room with state-ofthe-art training features, like a one-way glass viewing area for a team of trainers to monitor and electronically manipulate training variables. The team can operate a life-like mannequin that simulates human functions, such as breathing, bleeding and even groaning and talking, as the 119th medical personnel treat the mannequin for various injuries and ailments. The mannequin’s chest rises and falls with varying sounds and it has realistic skin with veins running through its limbs. The combination Above, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Fredric Black, of the 119th Medical Group, uses a stethoscope to listen to the realistic chest sounds made by a high-tech human simulator mannequin as he leads a medical team during a training scenario June 3 at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota. Right, Airman 1st Class Sydney Chase, Staff Sgt. Samantha Manning, of the 119th Medical Group, and Staff Sgt. Many Herrmann, of the 119th Services Flight, lower a high-tech human simulator mannequin to the floor June 2 during a heart attack training scenario.
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of physical and verbal clues coming from the mannequin give the medical personnel all they need to know to treat the ailments in the appropriate manner, as if it were a real human patient. The SIM-ND training is operated jointly by the ND STAR (Simulation, Teaching and Research) Center at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, North Dakota, and the North Dakota Department of Health. They are partnered with Altru Health, of Grand Forks; Essentia Health, of Fargo; Sanford Health, of Bismarck and Fargo; St. Alexius Medical Center, of Bismarck; and Trinity Health, of Minot, to provide the staff for the training. The training provides a mobile system of emergency medical education for healthcare personnel throughout the state of North Dakota, including rural settings, and is funded by charitable grants. The instructors are experienced registered nurses (RNs) and paramedics who have been trained to use the highfidelity, computerized mannequins to simulate medical emergencies and treatment practices.
Tech Medical Equipment On the first day of training, 119th Wing fitness testing monitors were included with medical personnel as they responded to medical emergencies similar to those they might encounter while undergoing physical exertion, like heat stroke and myocardial infarction (heart attack). They received hands-on training in cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED). “The fitness testing monitors were terrified when they started, but gained a lot of confidence by the end of the training — and even said we should be doing this again next year,” said Master Sgt. Sara Hagenbeck, 119th Medical Group noncommissioned officer-incharge of nursing services. The second day of training was for medical personnel only, with the scenarios focusing on gunshot wounds and motor vehicle accident injuries, which can happen at deployment locations. The intense medical training scenarios are designed to be as close to real medical emergencies as possible, with teams of doctors and support staff focusing on
effective communication, teamwork and efficient patient care. “For a group of individuals that don't work in the healthcare setting at all or work in the healthcare setting, but not with each other, it was truly impressive to watch the critical thinking, assessment capability and implementations of interventions on the patients we presented to you all,” said Missy Misialek, RN Trauma Services/SIM-ND and Sanford Health – Fargo. “We feel honored to be welcomed on base and work with you all, and we were truly impressed by the professionalism, dedication and ability to function so well in the high stress situations the scenarios presented.”
Above, Staff Sgt. Katherine Robbins, of the 119th Medical Group, performs CPR on a high-tech human simulator mannequin June 2 during a training scenario. Bottom left, Master Sgt. Sara Hagenbeck, of the 119th Medical Group, inserts an intravenous needle into a hightech human simulator mannequin June 3. Bottom right, Lt. Col. (Dr.) Dwight Harley, of the 119th Medical Group, uses a stethoscope to listen to the realistic chest sounds made by a high-tech human simulator mannequin as Staff Sgt. Janessa Pittman stabilizes the head and neck.
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Army updates uniforms Courtesy of the National Guard Bureau The Army announced last month the release of the Operational Camouflage Pattern in Soldier uniforms. The Operational Camouflage Pattern became available for purchase in select military clothing sales stores July 1. Stores will receive the uniforms over a period of six months from July to November and new Soldiers will receive Operational Camouflage Pattern Army Combat Uniforms, or ACUs, beginning in January 2016. The Operational Camouflage Pattern was selected following the most comprehensive uniform camouflage testing effort ever undertaken by the Army, reflecting the Army's paramount commitment to force protection. The cost of the uniform in the Operational Camouflage Pattern will be similar to the cost of the uniform in the Universal Camouflage Pattern.
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Enlisted Soldiers will continue to receive a clothing allowance to replace their worn uniforms. Uniforms and equipment in the Operational Camouflage Pattern will be available for U.S. Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and Senior Reserve Officer Training Corps during summer 2016. Soldiers are authorized to mix and match T-shirts, belts, and boots with either the Operation Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern or the Operational Camouflage Pattern during the transition period — expected to run through Oct. 1, 2019. To further ease the change, Soldiers, who already have Flame Resistant ACUs in the Operational Enduring Freedom Camouflage Pattern, will be authorized to wear them during the transition. “I have asked noncommissioned officers to ensure their Soldiers understand that,
during this transition period, several uniforms and variations will be authorized in our formations,” said Sergeant Major of the Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Dailey. “Presenting a professional appearance is very important to Soldiers. But, we will not inconvenience or burden our troops. We will still be the most lethal fighting force the world has even known, even if our belts don't match for the next few years.” In addition to the camouflage change, the Operational Camouflage Pattern ACUs will incorporate minor design changes. These include redesigned shoulder sleeve pockets with a zipper opening, no trouser drawstring, a button on the lower calf pocket, two pen pockets on the sleeve instead of three, and the elimination of the elbow and knee patch hook and loop.
Mandarin Collar - Remove hook-and-loop closure - Remove mandarin collar flap extension - Replace with fold-down collar design
upper-sLEEVE POCKET - Increase pocket length by 1 inch - Remove hook-and-loop closure - Add zipper closure - Change friend-or-foe cover
elbow patch - Remove internal elbow pads - Remove hook and loop from elbow patches - Retain double-fabric reinforcement at elbow
Sleeve pen pocket - Reduce pen pocket channel from three to two
trouser waistband - Remove drawstring
Cargo Pocket - Remove cord-and-barrel lock
KNEE PATCH - Remove internal knee pads - Remove hook and loop from knee patches - Retain double-fabric reinforcement at knee
lower-leg POCKET flap - Remove hook-and-loop closure - Add one-button closure Photo illustration by Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters Information courtesy of the U.S. Army
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TWO WEEKS PER YEAR N.D. Soldiers Conduct Annual Training
Photo by Spc. Paige Longie, 132nd Quartermaster Company
Photo by Spc. Aaron Jones, 188th Engineer Company Capt. Patrick Joyce, 132nd Quartermaster Company commander, rappels from a 30-foot tower last month at the Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, North Dakota.
Pvt. 1st Class Blake Brandon, of the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), finishes concrete work for a retaining wall footing June 12 at Camp Grafton Training Center. The wall will be used for a 12C (bridging) military occupation speciality training course at the 164th Regional Training Institute.
Photo by Spc. Suzanne Van Niekerk, 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion Staff Sgt. Jacob Fred, of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, waves in a UH-60 Black Hawk landing at Logistics Support Area Santa Fe last month during a training exercise at the National Training Center near Fort Irwin, California.
Photo by Spc. Paige Longie, 132nd Quartermaster Company
Soldiers with the 132nd Quartermaster Company conduct team-building exercises at Camp Crafton Training Center’s leadership reaction course last month as part of their annual training.
Photo by Spc. Paige Longie, 132nd Quartermaster Company
Army Component Commander Col. Robert Fode clears his gas mask while going through the gas chamber last month with 132nd Quartermaster Soldiers at Camp Grafton Training Center.
Photo by Spc. Aaron Jones, 188th Engineer Company
Spc. Jake Rudlang, of the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), runs a pump truck tube to pour concrete into retaining wall forms last month at Camp Grafton Training Center.
GUARDIAN Snapshots
See More, and Download Photos! Visit www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/.
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing Above, Master Sgt. Scot Gordon, of the 119th Wing walks from the Hector International Airport terminal in Fargo, North Dakota, June 5 upon his return from a six-month deployment to Afghanistan. Left, Senior Master Sgt. Jeff Miller, of the 119th Forces Support Squadron, hits a chip shot June 8 at the annual North Dakota Air National Guard ‘Ka-Whumpa’ Golf Tournament at the Hawley, Minnesota, Country Club. Below, Members of the Dickinson-based 816th Engineer Company and their families showcase the “patriotic pallets” they painted during the unit’s Family Readiness Group event June 13-14. Back row from left: Kandyce Dunn, Staff Sgt, James Hellman, Julie Hellman, Naomi Obrigewitch, Lana Elkins, Rachel Kastet, 1st Lt. Austin Kastet, Stephanie Lyson, Kristen Schaffner, Camden Schaffner, Capt. Chance Schaffner, Marcy Hilzendeger and Staff Sgt. Daniel Hilzendeger. Front row from left: Anthony Hellman, Griffin Obrigewitch, Jack Kastet, James Lyson, Matigan Obrigewitch and Paxton Lyson.
Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brady Lyson, 816th Engineer Company
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Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters
Above, North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk fishes with North Dakota military youth last month during the N.D. National Guard’s annual Fish Camp at the Camp of the Cross, near Garrison, North Dakota. This year, 33 campers between ages 8 and 17 participated in the weeklong camp where they learned how to bait a hook, cast a line and clean their fish. Below, Senior Airman Zachary Johnson, front, and Senior Airman Joseph Manning, of the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, salute during a stationary drill testing phase of Airman Leadership School (ALS) last month at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo, North Dakota. The five-week ALS course is designed to prepare Airmen for leadership roles within the Air National Guard.
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Submit your photos to be considered for inclusion in the N.D. Guardian! Email high-resolution photos to Sgt. Jennifer Joyce, N.D. Guardian editor, at jennifer.m.joyce2.mil@mail.mil.
Photo by Tech. Sgt. Bradly Schneider, 119th Wing
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NewsBriefs POW/MIA Memorial Dedicated at N.D. Veterans Cemetery Story and photos by Mr. Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs The dedication of a POW/MIA Memorial was held July 3 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan, North Dakota. The memorial honors North Dakotans who were either prisoners of war or missing in action from World War I, World War II, Korea, Vietnam and Desert Storm. So far, 461 names are listed on the wall. The memorial is a joint effort of the Viet Nam Vets/Legacy Vets and Second Brigade motorcycle clubs, who designed the memorial and raised the funds from private donors. The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery was established by an act of the 1989 North Dakota Legislative Assembly. The cemetery is administered by the Office of the Adjutant General.
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North Dakota Adjutant General Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk renders remarks at the POW/MIA Memorial dedication ceremony July 3 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.
Chaplains’ Corner:
SoundOff!
Facing Life’s Moral Challenges “Never Tire of Doing What is Right”
By Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion, 112th Aviation Battalion It really isn’t difficult to distinguish right from wrong if we can put our rationalizations aside. The challenge, more often, is knowing the difference between better and best. That is, not doing just what is good, but what is right. In any given situation, there might be several paths to choose from, all of them good. But in any circumstance, there is a best path — the right path. It takes wisdom and courage to identify that right path and walk it. Perhaps, most of all, it takes true freedom — complete detachment from self and the allurements of the world, including the allurement of this mortal life. A great example of this is from Fr. Emil Kapaun. The following is from his Medal of Honor citation: Chaplain Emil J. Kapaun distinguished himself by acts of gallantry and intrepidity above and beyond the call of duty while serving with the 3rd Battalion, 8th Cavalry Regiment, 1st Cavalry Division during combat operations against an armed enemy at Unsan, Korea, from November 1–2, 1950. On November 1, as Chinese Communist Forces viciously attacked friendly elements, Chaplain Kapaun calmly walked through withering enemy f ire in order to provide comfort and medical aid to his comrades and rescue friendly wounded from no-man’s land. Though the Americans successfully repelled the assault, they found themselves surrounded by the enemy. Facing annihilation, the able-bodied men were ordered to evacuate. However, Chaplain Kapaun, fully aware of his certain capture, elected to stay behind with the wounded. After the enemy succeeded in breaking through the defense in the early morning hours of November 2, Chaplain Kapaun continually made rounds, as hand-to-hand combat ensued. As Chinese Communist Forces approached the American position, Chaplain Kapaun noticed an injured Chinese off icer among the wounded and convinced him to negotiate the safe surrender of the American Forces. Shortly after his capture, Chaplain Kapaun with complete disregard for his personal safety and unwavering resolve, bravely pushed aside an enemy Soldier preparing to execute Sgt. 1st Class Herbert A. Miller. Not only did Chaplain Kapaun’s gallantry save the life of Sgt. 1st Class Miller, but his unparalleled courage and leadership inspired all those present, including those who might have otherwise fled in panic, to remain and f ight the enemy until captured. Kapaun could have left with the able-bodied and no one would have faulted him. One could even argue it would have been good to do so. Basic self-preservation. But he didn’t do what was good, he did what was right. He could have watched
Photo by Mr. Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion renders honors May 25 during the National Anthem at the Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, North Dakota.
Sgt. 1st Class Miller be executed, believing himself powerless in the circumstance. Such a line of thinking is completely understandable. But Kapaun saw the right path and walked it, though it meant it would likely end in his death. Consider how completely free Fr. Kapaun was in his heart to do so. Freedom to do, not just what he wanted or what was good, but what was right. “As for you, brothers, never tire of doing what is right.” – 2 Thessalonians 3:13 www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 23
Photo by Spc. Paige Longie, 132nd Quartermaster Company Sgt. 1st Class Charles Votava, of the 132nd Quartermaster Company, rappels from a 30-foot tower “Aussie Style� last month at the Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, North Dakota.