GUARDIAN
Volume 9, Issue 2
March/April 2016
BACK
North Dakota Security Forces Airmen Return from Deployment PG. 14
LONG LOST VALOR
A look at one Guardsman’s incredible efforts to recover awards for veterans of wars past
PG. 4
ALSO INSIDE:
Koon First Woman Pilot in Air National Guard PG. 6
Are Supplements Putting Your Career at Risk? PG. 13
Hooligans Name Year’s Top Outstanding Airmen PG. 7
Up to
$18,000
a year. Supercharge your finances by contributing to a Roth TSP
PG. 12
Inside This Issue Features
8
Chasing a Passion, not Horsing Around
A readiness and training noncommissioned officer for Bismarck-based 68th Troop Command shares a bit about life outside the Guard.
GUARDIAN North Dakota
Commander in Chief North Dakota Governor Jack Dalrymple The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Amber Balken Editor 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels
ROTC Path Provides
10 Golden Opportunity
Find out how Cadet Ryan Doblar, of North Dakota State University’s Reserve Officers Training Corps program, will finish college with a degree in hand and a gold bar pinned to his chest.
Back on
14 North Dakota Soil A group of North Dakota National Guard Airmen, assigned to the Minot-based 219th Security Forces Squadron (219th SFS)are home after serving overseas in support of U.S. Central Command.
Departments Guardian Snapshots ..................... Page 16 News Briefs ..................................... Page 22 Sound Off! ..................................... Page 23
Contributors Maj. Cory A. Genelin Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen Staff Sgt. Brett Miller Sgt. Ashley Johlfs Sgt Erin S. Walters Spc. Kristin Berg Spc. Brandi Schmidt Spc. Andy Weston April Meza 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: eric.p.jungels.mil@mail.mil Phone: 701-451-2273 Fax: 701-333-2017 Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible.
On the Cover
Staff Sgt. Steven Brauner, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, is greeted by his fiancé Feb. 5 at the Minot International Airport upon his return from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia.
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Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing
VIEW FROM THE TOP
NOT IN MY SQUAD
I
A MESSAGE FROM COMMAND SGT. MAJ. MARK NELSON
In Maj. Gen. Dohrmann’s command philosophy, readiness to accomplish our mission is the first priority he addressed. We would like to take this time to further expand on the readiness principle. A component of readiness involves the recruiting and retention of quality Soldiers and Airmen. It takes personnel to maintain our role as an operational reserve rather than a strategic reserve. This article will discuss a philosophy addressing readiness through a leadership philosophy known as “Not in my squad/flight.” “Not in my squad” is a concept introduced by the Sgt. Maj. of the Army (SMA) Dan Dailey. This concept was initially applied to address the sexual assault issues facing the Army as a whole. However, this philosophy is viable for many more issues facing today’s Army and Air Guard leaders. The foundation of this program is a bottom up approach to leadership. “Not in my squad” instills the importance of the noncommissioned officer corps in owning the accountability for Soldiers and Airmen in their formations. The empowerment of young noncomissioned officers is important to the success of this initiative. What exactly is readiness? Readiness is the ability to mobilize fully-trained and prepared Soldiers and Airmen to respond to combat or contingency operations, whether they are foreign or domestic. There are multiple components to readiness. Soldiers and Airmen need to be trained, physically fit, adhere to established standards, free of legal and medical issues. These are just a sampling of requirements. It seems that every military publication states these programs are the commander’s responsibility. We take exception to that notion. The Army Noncomissioned Officer Creed states, “Officers of my unit will
have maximum time to accomplish their duties; they will not have to accomplish mine.” The Air Force Noncommissioned Officer Creed states, “I will give all officers maximum support to ensure mission accomplishments.” It is time that we, as noncomissioned officers, step back up to the plate and ensure we are truly personifying these precepts. The post-9/11 military was largely comprised of units being in a constant state of readiness to deploy. One issue resulting from this operations tempo was that noncomissioned officers began to rely on pre-mobilization checklists and training plans. The art of training management and basic leadership principles was largely lost. Contemporary issues also face today’s Army and Air Guard formations. These include, but are not limited to, excessive alcohol use, substance abuse, sexual assault, and suicides. Our subordinates inquire repeatedly as to why we keep talking about these same subjects. The answer is easy: Soldiers and Airmen are continuing to participate in these activities which could lead to devastating circumstances. No briefing is a valid substitute for sound, firstline leadership. Personnel in squad or flight leader positions must step up and take ownership for the personnel in your squad/flight. The overall readiness of your unit starts at your level. It is paramount that you know the strengths and weakness of your Soldiers and Airmen. The overweight, out-of-shape Soldier or Airman is not the commander’s responsibility; he is ours. Unit-level physical training and counseling are key to success. Sexual assault training and suicide intervention need to start at the unit level as well. Afterall, who can better identify issues with a Soldier or Airman than the first-line leader?
This concept is dual purpose: it enhances the commander’s readiness and builds an atmosphere of trust between the Soldiers and Airmen and their first-line leaders. Squad/flight leaders are the primary trainers for their subordinates. They must ensure they are providing for and tracking training. First-line leaders must identify weaknesses within their sub units and focus their training plans on shoring up those deficiencies. Subordinate development is the responsibility of the first-line leader. “Not in my squad” is really nothing new. It is the call for noncomissioned officers to return to what we should have been doing all the time. Squad/flight leaders need to be personally accountable for their subordinate members. They also must communicate their expectations to subordinates and consequences for non-compliance. We need to monitor our Soldiers and Airmen to maintain vigilance concerning potential problems. We must take ownership for the good and bad acts performed by our subordinates. Respect is not automatically granted, it has to be earned. “Not in my squad” needs to be practiced to ensure future readiness goals are met.
Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson
Senior Enlisted Leader North Dakota National Guard
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 3
Fighting for
Lost Bronze
St rs Soldier Leads Effort to Recover Veterans’ Awards and Recognitions By Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
A
fter more than a year of work, Pfc. Rachel Petersen was able to get her grandfather, Earl Kothman, the Bronze Star he was supposed to receive over 49 years ago. What started as a college scholarship opportunity through the Veterans of Foreign Wars Voice of Democracy Program, became a turning point for Petersen and her grandfather. Petersen, of the North Dakota National Guard Recruit Training Company, interviewed her grandfather for an audio-essay competition not knowing the incredible story he was about to share. She was surprised when he told her he was supposed to have been awarded
4 · Guardian · March/April 2016
the Bronze Star for pulling a Soldier off a battlefield and saving multiple mens’ lives in Cu Chi, Vietnam. “I knew he was in Vietnam, in the Army, but this was the extent of my knowledge,” Petersen said. “So then, I began questioning him and found out he had saved multiple mens’ lives in Vietnam and had never talked about it in public, hadn’t shared with his family. As soon as I heard his story and really learned about it, it became kind of a fight, because for so many years without your recognition or your honor, it’s definitely due time. Reclaiming this Bronze Star for my grandpa became my fight and my mission.”
Petersen began publicly speaking to raise awareness about other veterans’ lost rights and honor recognition. That allowed her to meet politicians and others who helped her begin the process of getting her grandfather’s Bronze Star. It wasn’t an easy task; her grandfather’s entire chain of command — except his company commander — had passed away. Motivated to retrieve Kothman’s recognition, Petersen spent 350 hours conducting research to get her grandfather the Bronze Star. “(During his) return from Vietnam, there was such a lack of technology, and his platoon sergeant who had nominated him (for the Bronze Star) passed away years later,” Petersen said. “It was just really a shuffle coming back to the United States, and the paperwork was never found, so he never received his award. (While researching his service) I have gotten to interview personally the man he carried out of the jungle after the man’s leg was blown with an 81-mortar. And I’ve gotten to speak with his company commander, who took so long to find. We had to do a lot of research to find this man because they lost all contact after the war.” About 10 years ago, Kothman had attempted to retrieve his military records. Days turned to weeks, months and years without the honor he had earned. He believed he would never receive his Bronze Star for meritorious service. “They (the government) told me when I got my Cold War Certificate, there was a fire in St. Louis back in the 1970s, and my paperwork may have been lost,” he said. Petersen faced a similar setback when she requested her grandfather’s military records. Military records are not all yet digitalized, so seeking out specific information required digging through boxes of paper. With backing from U.S. Rep. Tom Emmer, of Minnesota, Petersen was able to reach out to The National Archives and Records Administration, whose staff found records that had previously been lost in a fire. “We filed for his full military records and got them, and found just small traces of the Bronze Star in the paperwork,” she said. After researching her grandfather’s history, Petersen submitted a request to claim his medal. It was reviewed by the U.S. Army Human Resources Command’s Awards and Decorations board in Knoxville, Tennessee. The request was approved, but Petersen’s efforts made Kothman feel like he had already received an award.
(Opposite Page) Earl Kothman poses for a photo after his promotion to the rank of sergeant in February 1966 at the 25th Division’s base camp in Cu Chi, Vietnam (contributed photo). (Left) Petersen poses for a photo after her promotion to the rank of private first class in February (contributed photo). (Below) )Petersen joins her grandfather, Earl Kothman, at the Minnesota VFW Midwinter Conference where she delivered addresses to members of the VFW, the Auxiliary, and Voice of Democracy competitors in January (contributed photo).
“I began questioning him and found out he had saved multiple mens’ lives in Vietnam and had never talked about it...”
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 5
GUARDIAN SPOTLIGHT
March is Women’s History Month:
Recognizing Trailblazers in North Dakota National Guard History
Petersen address attendees of VFW Post 428's Memorial Day Monument Dedication in St. Cloud, Minnesota (contributed photo).
“I’m so proud of her,” Kothman said. “Rachel is my Bronze Star.” A formal Bronze Star acceptance ceremony was held for Kothman at the Landmark Center in Saint Paul, Minnesota, on Jan. 22 this year. Kothman said holding the medal in his hands brought back memories. “I receive this in honor of all the brothers I did serve with. I’ll never forget them. Their faces are very fresh in (my) memory,” he said during the ceremony. Hearing about the sacrifices of her grandfather and other veterans inspired Petersen to enlist in the N.D. National Guard. She was sworn in on her grandfather’s 70th birthday, on Nov. 23, 2015, as an automated logistics specialist and assigned to A Company, 231st Brigade Support Battalion in Valley City. This summer, she will attend Cadet Initial Entry Training — a 28-day basic course — through North Dakota State University’s Reserve Officers Training Corps program. “I aspire to be like these servicemen and women I’ve worked with and think, if they can do it, so can I,” Petersen said. Petersen has made it her passion to recover not only her grandfather’s Bronze Star, but also the lost recognitions of other veterans. She started a nonprofit called Abiding Bronze Star to pursue this endeavor. She encourages other veterans to speak up if they are aware of other military commendations that have not been awarded. “There are so many Vietnam veterans, thousands of them, who are without their paperwork or medals and I would love to see this as justice for them,” Petersen said. “What I’ve really learned is that this isn’t just a problem my grandpa had. It’s affecting thousands, especially Vietnam veterans across the nation.” For more about Petersen’s efforts, visit www.facebook.com/ abidingbronzestar.
6 · Guardian · March/April 2016
Marilyn Koon In October, 1976, 2nd Lt. Marilyn Koon, of the North Dakota Air National Guard, became the first woman ever selected from any of the nation’s 91 Air Guard units for pilot training. Koon, a native of Beach, was an executive support officer in the 178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, out of Fargo when she was selected for pilot training. On January 27, 1978, 2nd Lt. Marilyn Koon became the first female pilot in the Air National Guard and pinned on her silver wings as a KC-135 pilot in Arizona’s 161st Air Refueling Group.
Happy Hooligans
By Maj. Penny Ripperger, 119th Wing
RECOGNIZE OUTSTANDING AIRMEN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS Happy Hooligans of the 119th Wing recognized the organization’s top noncommissioned officers and unit members of the year, March 5, during the 2015 Outstanding Airman of the Year banquet. This year, the event took place at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo. Fifteen Airmen were nominated for the award based on their military and civic service throughout 2015, with three winners walking away with the titles of Outstanding Airman of the Year, Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. The North Dakota Army National Guard’s 188th Army Band provided entertainment during the banquet, and distinguished guests, including Maj. Gen. Alan S. Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, and Col. Kent Olson, 119th Wing commander, rendered remarks. “I want to congratulate all of the finalists here tonight,” said Dohrmann. “The Happy Hooligans have a lineage and heritage that you should be proud of, and you are all carrying it on. Thank you for what you do, you are all a very important part of our organization.” After his remarks, Dohrmann and Air Guard senior leaders presented awards to Tech Sgt. Scott Hovda and Master Sgt. Kenneth Rosson. Hovda was named the Career Advisor of the year for his individual efforts and achievement with unit retention and career motivation program
management. Rosson was named First Sergeant of the Year, which recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by first sergeants in the Air Force. The official award presentation followed, honoring the three Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners: Airman 1st Class James Muhs was names Outstanding Airman of the Year, Master Sgt. Justin Mattson was named Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter was named Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. At the end of the night, Olson thanked the nominees for their superior service and also recognized the other service members and their families in the audience. “For all the nominees, I can’t congratulate you enough,” he said. “I would also like to extend a thank you to the families of our service members because, without your support, we would not be able to do what we do. The pride that the Happy Hooligans have, the family, and the friendship that we all see here, result in the great things that we are able to provide to not only our state, but also to our country in the missions that we do.” Airman 1st Class James Muhs Muhs, of Fargo, works with the 177th Intelligence Squadron in Fargo. He graduated from St. George’s Independent School in Collierville, Tennessee, and later obtained a bachelor’s degree in aeronautics
from the University of North Dakota. Muhs is a member of the 119th Wing Marksmanship Team and he enjoys hunting and fishing. He was born in Memphis and raised in Collierville. Master Sgt. Justin Mattson Mattson is the storeroom manager with the 119th Services Flight in Fargo. He was born in Hazen and raised in Mandan. Mattson is a graduate of Mandan High School and he obtained his bachelor’s degree in business administration with an emphasis in management from the University of North Dakota. Later, he earned his master’s degree in business administration from the University of Mary in Bismarck. Mattson currently resides in Bismarck with his wife, Master Sgt. Heather Mattson, and their three children. Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter Kraiter is the intelligence superintendent with the 119th Wing Operations Group in Fargo. He graduated from La Junta High School in Colorado prior to graduating with a bachelor’s degree in business management from the University of Mary in Fargo. Prior to joining the N.D. Air National Guard, Kraiter served in the active duty Army for five years as a military policeman. Kraiter was born in Fort Carson, Colorado, and traveled all over the U.S. as a child in a military family. Today, he lives in Harwood with his wife, Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Kraiter, and their two children.
From left, Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter, Master Sgt. Justin Mattson and Airman 1st Class James Muhs were named the 119th Wing’s 2015 Outstanding Airmen of the Year. www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 7
North Dakota Soldier
Races to his Dreams Hard Work and Dedication Brings List of Achievements to Family Legacy
Story and photos by Spc. Brandi Schmidt, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
Approximately ten miles north of Mandan, North Dakota, sits a horse ranch where several champion racehorses reside. The house sits on the hilltop, where a horse track and starting gates can be seen from the front porch. The barn sits in the valley behind the house, where it is surrounded by several different corrals. Fifteen pairs of thoroughbred horse eyes watch you drive into the yard. Inside the house, you will see winning photos that fill up one wall, trophies have taken over the space on the bookshelves opposite, and horse racing memorabilia decorates the area.
Sgt. 1st Class Scott Horst, with the Bismarck-based 68th Troop Command, is photographed with two of his horses on his property near Mandan. Horst, a full-tim Guardsman, spends his free time caring for, training and racing horses, which has been his life-long passion and hobby.
8 路 Guardian 路 March/April 2016
Sgt. 1st Class Scott Horst, readiness and training noncommissioned officer for 68th Troop Command in Bismarck, North Dakota, has been around horse racing his entire life. Horst grew up in Tappen, North Dakota, watching his grandfather race chariots that were made from 50-gallon drums. He raced ponies as a young kid and hasn’t stopped since. “I took the torch and ran with it,” he said. “Horse racing is in my family and in my blood.” Horses aren’t the only thing Horst is passionate about. He felt an extra obligation to defend his country. In 1984 he enlisted in the North Dakota National Guard. “I spent 20 years with B Company, 141st Engineer Battalion before I moved to Bismarck,” Horst said. “I’ve had the opportunity to find full-time employment within the Guard organization.” In 2007, Horst deployed to Iraq with the 34th Engineer Brigade, where he spent a year as the only American Soldier on his forward observation base. “I called it FOB (forward operating base) Horst,” he said. “I had a British security team, five Iraqi contractors, and one Pakistani-American contractor that helped me to work with the locals and rebuild that part of the country. That same year, I came home on my two week leave and won a race.” Understanding the limits of your body is important in this business. As he ages,
“I took the torch and ran with it. Horse racing is in my family and in my blood.”
Horst knows that things will not get easier for him with his family hobby. “Horse racing is tough on my body,” he said. “My schedule starts to pick up in the spring. Between raising the horses, breaking and training, I spend a lot of hours with them after I come home from work. It takes dedication and hard work to keep the horses in prime condition for racing.” Caring for the horses becomes a family activity. His wife of 19 years, Sina, along with their two children, Darby, 13, and Marshal, 6, spend their evenings outdoors caring for the horses alongside Horst. “Racing takes up a lot of Scott’s time,” Sina said. “We often spend evenings in the summer with him while he’s working with the horses, just so we can spend time together. It’s important to him. I might not care for it, but it’s who he is and we love him for that.” Horst understands that family will always come first. With his children growing up quickly, he never hesitates to put their school or extracurricular activities first. “The horses have to be fed daily and given the right medical care,” he said. “On top of that, the hours of training that goes into a winning race horse eats up much of my spare time. I don’t have a special schedule to balance it all – family, horses, or work – I just do it. They are all important to me.” Horst has won breeder of the year and horse of the year on several different occasions. “I’ve won over 34 races and I want to win over 100 before I retire,” Horst said. He plans to retire from the N.D. National Guard in 8 years, when he will reach a total of 40 years of service with the organization.
“I have tremendous support from fellow guardsmen,” Horst said. “Most of my winning photos have military members in them. They attend the races to support me.”
“I have tremendous support from fellow Guardsmen. Most of my winning photos have military members in them. They attend the races to support me.” Horst recalled a fond memory of a contest he hosted. He wanted to name his newborn horse. With his large support group within the military, he wanted their suggestions of possible names. “I said I’d give away a pack of beer for the best name I got,” Horst said. “A retiring master sergeant thought of the name J Dam, which is Joint Direct Attack Munition, a type of bomb used in the military.” J Dam just happened to be the very first horse that ever won a race for him in 2005. Horst broke, trained, and cared for J Dam, who is now enjoying his retirement in the pasture behind Horst’s house. J Dam, and everything he represents as the first-ever winning race horse for Horst, exhibits what he constantly strives for – hard work, dedication, achievement of dreams, and a strong support system. Without any of these, Horst knows that carrying on his family legacy of horse racing would not be possible.
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 9
Beyond
the Old
College Try
NDSU ROTC Cadet Drafts Blueprint for Future through Hard Work, Military Service By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
W
hen the 2016 college spring semester comes to a close, Cadet Ryan Doblar, of North Dakota State University’s (NDSU) Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program and its Bison Battalion, will join the swarms of graduates leaving the hallways of academia for the wide-open possibilities in the career world. But his commencement celebration milestones will be two-fold: the presentation of his degree, in which he majored in construction management, and commissioning as a second lieutenant in the engineer corps with the North Dakota Army National Guard. For the past three years, Doblar has participated in the Army Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP), in which future officers can drill with a North Dakota unit and gain mentorship from its leaders while being contracted through a college’s ROTC program. Doblar first joined the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), based in Wahpeton, as a carpentry and masonry specialist to gain some enlisted experience before pursuing a role in military leadership. He stayed with the unit as a private first class for about a year and then signed on to participate in the SMP program in 2013. That decision opened up a range of educational and
10 · Guardian · March/April 2016
professional opportunities, as well as worthwhile financial benefits. “It was an opportunity to have school paid for, while giving back to the community and my country,” Doblar said. Capt. Ryan Schulz, assistant professor of military science at NDSU, said those who apply for the SMP can expect to be busy as they pursue their degrees, not only with academics, but the program’s requirements. “Not only do cadets get two to four years of leadership and mentorship through the cadre at ROTC, but they’re also getting guidance from the different commanders and platoon leaders that are out in our National Guard units,” he said. “If you have an active-duty scholarship, you’re learning from the class, but you’re not out there participating with units, at all different levels, from within a platoon, company, or even sometimes a brigade or battalion. The cadets get to see a lot more before they commission, including being in charge of different training events, like ranges, convoys, completing risk assessments and other officer tasks.” Doblar has received tutelage from North Dakota officers in two units while participating in SMP. He has shadowed leaders in both the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical) and the 2nd Detachment, 815th Engineer Company, out of Lisbon. The mentors in those units were
familiar faces, since they were both graduates of NDSU’s ROTC program, as well. “They’ve provided a lot of insight about what to expect at the Basic Officer Leadership Course (initial military training for junior commissioned officers) and how to lead troops from an engineer aspect,” he said. “I’ve gotten a lot more hands-on experience with 1st Lt. Jon Hoffarth (188th) and 1st Lt. Jonathan Kvernen (of the 815th). They’ve been able to provide me with more responsibility and give me more insight as to how I’ll be operating as a platoon leader.” The extra time spent drilling and training with National Guard units has kept Doblar even busier during his final year of schooling and in ROTC. Additionally, in May 2015, he was appointed as the cadet battalion commander for the Bison Battalion at NDSU. In that role, he’s served as a liaison between the ROTC cadre and the cadets in the battalion, assisting with leadership training plans. Schulz said Doblar is the first contracted National Guard officer to hold the position in more than 15 years. “Honestly, I was quite shocked that I got selected for it,” Doblar said. “I’m very honored to fill that role. It’s consumed a lot more of my time, but it’s given me more of a command perspective of things and have helped developed more skills in things like delegating tasks and trusting people to get things done, a more hand-off approach to leadership.” The SMP and ROTC programs also have provided additional professional development opportunities for Doblar as he’s pursued his studies. In the summer of 2014, he worked as an intern with the European Command in Stuttgart, Germany, in the strategy, plans and programs, or J5 directorate, to assist with State Partnership Programs between European countries and their partner states. The visit was born out of Doblar’s application for a Cultural Understanding and Language Proficiency Program mission through NDSU’s ROTC program. “That was an incredible experience,” Doblar said. “It was really eye-opening to see how plans are trickled down through higher levels, all the way down to the platoon level, as well as getting to be in Germany for a couple months.” Doblar also gained an internship last summer working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. After a four-week training course in Fort Knox, Kentucky, he was stationed in Fort Meade, Maryland, where new construction projects for entities like the
U.S. Cyber Command are being completed. There, he was responsible for the quality control and safety assurance on a $100 million building, one of the first in a 30-year construction plan for Fort Meade. In addition to his travels and military endeavors, Doblar has performed as a member of NDSU’s Gold Star Marching Band during his college tenure. This has made his day-to-day schedule even more demanding, but the lucrative benefits Doblar receives through SMP and ROTC have helped him meet his obligations and continue to make academics paramount. While the North Dakota National Guard pays 100 percent of his in-state tuition costs, Doblar’s ROTC scholarship pays out $10,000 for room and board and $1,200 for books, each year. Additionally, he receives a monthly stipend. Schulz said those incentives allow cadets to concentrate on their schooling and that when his office selects candidates, they look for someone with attributes of hard work, involvement in academic or athletic groups and leadership. “Doblar works hard; he’s the most motivated person I’ve ever seen. He’s always
energized, even if it 6 in the morning and freezing cold outside. He’s always ready to go no matter what we’re doing,” he said. After putting his nose to the grindstone at NDSU, Doblar is seeing his efforts pay off. He’s already landed a job with Mortenson Construction Company as a field engineer, which he’ll begin next January. Before that, though, he will be assigned to NDSU as a gold-star recruiter post-graduation. This summer, he also will complete his Basic Officer Leadership Course and will return to drilling with the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical). “Cadet Doblar is an exceptionally talented young man and a cornerstone of the senior class of cadets in the NDSU ROTC, Bison Battalion,” said Lt. Col. Ted Preister, professor of military science at NDSU. “In addition to active participation in ROTC extra-curricular activities, he has played in the Gold Star Marching band during all four years of his studies at NDSU. As in everything he does, he has excelled there by becoming a formal and informal leader of his section. His infectious smile and can-do attitude have inspired people in all of the activities he participates in.”
Cadet Ryan Doblar participates in the Army National Guard’s Simultaneous Membership Program in which future officers can drill with a North Dakota unit and gain mentorship from its leaders while being contracted through a college’s Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program. A student at North Dakota State University (NDSU) in Fargo, Doblar majors in construction management and is a member of the school’s Gold Star Marching Band. Last year, he was appointed as the cadet battalion commander for the ROTC’s Bison Battalion. He will graduate later this spring and work as a gold-star recruiter at NDSU and, later, will be assigned to the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical) in Wahpeton.
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 11
GUARD By April Meza and Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters Managing finances for your family’s future and gaining some peace of mind comes down to dollars and “sense.” That type of planning sometimes can be met with uncertainties, but having a roadmap can lead to high rates of return. North Dakota’s military members have access to a valuable resource to ensure financial readiness through the Guard’s Military Service Center (MSC). April Meza, personal financial counselor, can provide assistance to service members throughout the state. She can field an array of financial questions and provide guidance regarding budgeting, Thrift Savings Plans, retirement planning, debt reduction and credit scores. The service is available to all North Dakota service members, of any branch, and their families, including the opportunity for one-onone counseling sessions and briefings. The following are some of the most commonly-asked questions April has encountered as a personal financial counselor: Q: Why should I open a Thrift Savings Plan? A: The Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) is the government’s 401K with the option to invest Roth or traditional money. You only need $200
Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
12 · Guardian · March/April 2016
to keep the account open for the rest of your life. The 2015 fee for TSP was $0.29 per $1,000. This is much lower than other retirement account fees. You can transfer the majority of other retirement accounts into your TSP even after you leave military service. Q: I signed up for the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) years ago but did nothing else. How come I haven’t made as much money as my co-workers? A: When you sign up for the TSP your money will automatically be invested into the G fund which is government bonds. The G fund does not lose money however it does not have a high rate of return. It is important to diversify your investments. While diversifying does come with risk, it also can produce a higher rate of return. Q: Does the money I contribute to my Roth TSP affect the maximum amount I can contribute to my Roth IRA? A: No. The Roth TSP is an employer sponsored plan with a limit
Tech Sgt. Mike Knodle, of the Fargo-based 119th Wing, and his kids have a quick chat about allowance at Freedom Community Credit Union in Fargo.
of $18,000 for the year 2016. The Roth IRA is an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) which has a limit of $5,500 for the year 2016. If you are over 50 years old you can contribute an additional $6,000 into an employer sponsored plan and an additional $1,000 into an IRA. Q: What factors affect my credit score and if you pull my credit score will it lower my score? A: Your credit score is 35% payment history, 30% amount of debt, 15% length of credit history, 10% type of credit, and 10% new requests for credit. My program was awarded a grant to pay for military members and his/her spouse to receive a free credit score and this will not affect your score because it will be considered a soft hit. Q: Why should I complete a financial outline and what information do I need to bring to an appointment? A: Completing a financial outline allows you and the counselor to have a better picture of your financial health. Having a clearer picture of your finances makes it easier to set goals that are unique to you. The outline will include your monthly income, monthly expense, debts, liquid assets, investments, and future bills. April can be reached at (701) 665-7893. The financial services she provides are free and confidential.
April Meza, personal financial counselor Sources: www.irs.gov, www.tsp.gov, and www.saveandinvest.org
Supplement carefully By Maj. Cory A. Genelin, 119th Wing Judge Advocate The rumored connection between supplements and positive drug tests is more fiction than fact. Proven cases of supplements containing illegal drugs are almost nonexistent. Yes, you’ll find examples on the internet. But like Abraham Lincoln said: “95% of what you find on the internet is made up.” At the same time, members who have tested positive for illegal drugs are, as a group, at a loss to explain how that substance snuck into their urine sample. “Sir, I’m just as surprised as you are,” seems to be a common response. Most of the theories connecting supplements to positive drug tests come from members facing discharge. It’s also important to understand the difference between “banned” substances that may have gotten a professional athlete into trouble, and illegal substances. The NFL and other athletic leagues ban the use of some substances that are completely legal. Some of these legal substances are known performance enhancers and so many supplement manufacturers use them. So, it’s understandable that an athlete might buy a supplement that contains a substance “banned” by his employer. It is far less likely that a supplement company is spiking its product with an illegal drug. Commanders, first sergeants, and other leaders are, of course, concerned for the welfare of their people. Similarly, they prefer to give their members the benefit of every doubt. Many have rightly said, “Listen, be careful, some of these supplements might contain illegal substances that could get you into trouble.” That’s kind of like a soft-hearted principal announcing, “Kids, we’ve had reports of dogs eating homework lately, so please, be careful around dogs.” It’s sound advice, but a court martial panel or discharge board is going to be more realistic and less understanding. If a member tests positive for an illegal substance, that positive test is prima facie evidence that the member has committed a crime and is subject to discharge. Members, of course, have a right to due process and the right to confront the evidence presented against them. If you test positive, you’ll have an opportunity to explain that you didn’t know you were taking an illegal substance, but it’s on you to prove it. Anything’s possible. It’s possible that you could write to that mail order supplement company in Pueblo, Colorado, and have them admit that they put methamphetamine in their Ultra Mega Man Power Powder you’ve been using. Maybe you can find a scientist to testify that chromatography doesn’t actually work. But your court martial jury or discharge board will be instructed that the burden of proof is on you. Ultimately, every Soldier and Airman is responsible for every substance that goes into his or her body. Whether it’s a workout supplement or a funny smelling brownie, if you put it in your mouth, you are responsible for what’s in it.
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 13
HOME SWEET HOME North Dakota Security Forces Airmen Return from Deployment By 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
A
group of North Dakota Air National Guard Airmen, assigned to the Minotbased 219th Security Forces Squadron (219th SFS), recently returned home after serving overseas for six months in support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations. The “Happy Hooligan” Airmen, who returned to Minot International Airport, were greeted by Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, Air National Guard leaders, community members and their families. “We are very proud of the outstanding work that these members of the 219th SFS accomplished during their overseas deployment,” said Gov. Jack Dalrymple. “We are very blessed that they are returning home safely, and we’re forever indebted to them and their families for their sacrifices and service to our state and nation.” Each of the Airmen had volunteered for the base defense and security operations mission led by Tech Sgt. Michael Clow. The Airmen are proficient in implementing critical protection measures for military personnel and other important assets. They took advantage of the experience and training provided by their home unit, which made history by becoming the first in the National Guard to team up with an active-duty Air Force unit to provide security for one of the nation’s three missile fields. In May of 2013, the 219th SFS assumed control of the entire northern sector missile field complex near Minot Air Force Base, making it the first time ever, anywhere, that a reserve component force provided complete control of missile field security. The 219th SFS is a unit of the 119th Wing — “The Happy Hooligans” — which is based in Fargo. “Time and again, the 219th Security Forces Squadron has demonstrated their ability to provide vital security for missions at home and abroad,” Dohrmann said. “During their deployment in support of CENTCOM, these Airmen continued that tradition of excellence and success by ensuring the safety and security of coalition forces. We’re extremely proud of our Airmen and their many accomplishments, and we’re grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families continually make for our nation.” CENTCOM is one of nine unified combatant commands in the U.S. military. CENTCOM’s area of responsibility covers the “central” area of the globe and consists of 20 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan and Yemen. With national and international partners, CENTCOM promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, and deters or defeats state and non-state aggression, and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.
14 · Guardian · March/April 2016
Photos by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing Staff Sgt. Tyler Wentz, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, gets a hug from his mother upon his return from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia to Minot International Airport, Minot, North Dakota, Feb. 4, 2016.
Top: Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, center, and Lt. Col. Tad Schauer, left, welcome home Senior Airman Lucas Paper, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, returning from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia to Minot International Airport, Minot North Dakota, Feb. 4, 2016. Middle: Staff Sgt. Derek Engh, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, is greeted by family upon arrival to Minot International Airport. Bottom: Staff Sgt. Steven Brauner, of the 219th Security Forces Squadron, is greeted by his fiancé upon his return from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia back to Minot International Airport, Minot, North Dakota, Feb. 5, 2016. Brauner’s fiancé brought the unique sign in the background for the occasion.
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 15
GUARDIAN Snapshots all in a Day’s work
Soldiers with the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) conducted field training exercises March 12 at Kimball Bottoms, south of Bismarck. More than 30 Soldiers conducted boating and bridging operations and equipment familiarization on the Missouri River during the training. Photos courtesy of the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge)
See More, and Download Photos! Visit www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/.
16 · Guardian · March/April 2016
NDNG guard team Takes Third PlacE in 2016 Chief of National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship
Spc. Brett Butler, of Fargo, competes in the team relay during the 2016 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship held Feb. 27-March 4 at Camp Ripley, near Little Falls, Minnesota. Photo by 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
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Share your photos! Submit your photos to be considered for inclusion in the N.D. Guardian! Email high-resolution photos to 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels, N.D. Guardian editor, at eric.p.jungels.mil@mail.mil.
Members of the N.D. National Guard biathlon team compete in the 2016 Chief of the National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship Feb. 27-March 4 at Camp Ripley. Guardsmen raced against counterparts from more than 20 states. The North Dakota team took third overall, bested only by Minnesota and Vermont. Capt. Robby Meland (left), of Bismarck, and Spc. Brett Butler took part in the team relay. Standing in the team photo below, from left, are (retired) Master Sgt. Kent Pulst; Sgt. Brandon Pulst, of the 133rd Quartermaster Company; Capt. Condrad Roberts, of the 817th Engineer Company; Capt. Robby Meland, of the Recruit Training Company; Maj. Eric Nordgren, of the 178th Reconnaissance Squadron; and Sgt. Jordan Becker, of the 3662nd Maintenance Company. Kneeling from left are Spc. Brett Butler and Capt. Blake Hillerson (also pictured above), both of the 231st Brigade Support Battalion. Photos by 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
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BUNKELMAN ENHANCES HAND-To-HAND COMBAT Training FOR 119th Wing Security Forces
U.S. Air Force combatives instructor Staff Sgt. Lacey Bunkelman, top, of the North Dakota National Guard’s Fargo-based 119th Wing, demonstrates security forces self-defense and restraint techniques on Staff Sgt. Jens Gylland March 15 at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo. Both Airmen are members of the 119th Security Forces Squadron. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
(Left) Security Forces members Tech. Sgt. Brandi Grossman, right, and Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Miller practice self-defense and security forces restraint techniques March 15 at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base in Fargo. (Right) U.S. Air Force combatives instructor Staff Sgt. Lacey Bunkelman, right, teaches her fellow 119th Security Forces Squadron members Tech. Sgt. Elizabeth Miller, top, and Senior Airman Trisha Campbell combatives techniques March 15 at the N.D. Air National Guard Base in Fargo. Based on the Army’s modern combatives course and intended for close quarters combat, combatives training provides Airmen with basic self-defense capabilities that can be used in a variety of situations. Photos by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
New SENIOR ENLISTED LEADER FOR FARGO-BASED MACOM
The 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade welcomed a new senior enlisted leader to the unit, as Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Lien, pictured here, took over for Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson during a change of responsibility ceremony Feb. 26, at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fargo. Photo by Spc. Andy Weston, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 19
Domestic Operations Section Exercises Severe Storm Emergency Response Capabilities
Photos by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Hopfauf, left, and Chief Warrant Officer 2 Travis Ktytor, right, track N.D. Army National Guard equipment during a severe storm emergency exercise March 7 at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. The Soldiers are members of the N.D. National Guard’s domestic operations section, which participated in a simulated tornado event during the two-day exercise in which they validated emergency plans and exercised capabilities the state can provide during a natural disaster response. Some of the outside agencies also participating in the exercise included North Dakota’s Department of Emergency Services, Department of Health and Department of Homeland Security. The weekend’s exercise was the second in a longrange training plan, which culminates with a larger, more complex exercise, scheduled for the summer of 2017.
Happy Hooligans Recognize Outstanding Airmen of the Year Award Winners 20 · Guardian · March/April 2016
North Dakota Air National Guard members from left to right Chief Master Sgt. Duane Kangas, 119th Wing command chief, 119 Wing Airman of the Year Airman 1st Class James Muhs, 119 Wing Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Master Sgt. Justin Mattson, 119 Wing Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter, and Col. Kent Olson, 119th Wing commander, stand for a photo following the annual unit enlisted member recognition banquet March 5 at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo. Photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
n.d. guardsman kicks off circus as honorary ring master
FAMILIES LEARN TOOLS TO BOUNCE BACK AFTER ADVERSITY DURING RESILIENCE TRAINING
As the honorary Ring Master for the 2016 Shrine Circus in Bismarck, Staff Sgt. Keith O’Donnell, with the 68th Troop Command, kicked off the evening’s performance by sounding the golden whistle. A member of the N.D. National Guard since 1996, O’Donnell is a Veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Photo by Mr. Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
Participants invited to take part in family-oriented resiliency event, conducted by Capt. Fankhanel, commander of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, get ready to demonstrate the difference between how an egg and tennis ball react to being thrown on the floor. If the floor represents adversity, participants are challenged to be the tennis ball and “bounce back.” Photo by Sgt Erin S. Walters, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 21
NewsBriefs Bismarck Unit Welcomes New Senior Enlisted Leader
Devils Lake Guard Unit Receives Mobilization Alert
Fargo Unit Welcomes New Command Sergeant Major
By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
By Spc. Andrew J. Weston, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s 68th Troop Command welcomed a new senior enlisted leader during a change of responsibility ceremony Feb. 21 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory. Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Grinsteinner assumed duties as the unit’s senior noncommissioned officer from Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien, who has served in the position since January 2015. Lien, of Bismarck, has served with the N.D. Army National Guard for 29 years to include serving as the command sergeant for the Minot-based 164th Engineer Battalion. Prior to that assignment, he had served in numerous positions within the Valley City-based 141st Engineer Battalion, including assignments as administrative noncommissioned officer, supply sergeant, section leader, training noncommissioned officer, squad leader, readiness noncommissioned officer and operations sergeant. Lien works full-time as the training and operations sergeant major for the N.D. National Guard’s operations section in Bismarck. He served overseas from 2003–2005 in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom with the 141st Engineer Battalion and again, from 2009–2010, in support of NATO’s peacekeeping mission in Kosovo with the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Grinsteinner, of Devils Lake, has served in both the active-duty Army and N.D. National Guard over his 28-year military career. Within the N.D. Army National Guard, he has held positions as the chemical noncommissioned officer for the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge), reconnaissance noncommissioned officer for the 81st Civil Support Team, operations noncommissioned officer-in-charge and first sergeant for the 191st Military Police Company and command sergeant major for the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment. Most recently, Grinsteinner served as the command sergeant major/commandant for the 164th Regiment, Regional Training Institute in Devils Lake. An Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran, Grinsteinner served as the operations noncommissioned officerin-charge for the 191st Military Police Company, from 2008-2009.
BISMARCK, N.D. — A N.D. Army National Guard unit has received an alert notification for possible mobilization. About 60 members of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB), which is based in Devils Lake, were placed in an alert status. The decision to mobilize this unit has not yet occurred, but upon a final decision, an official Department of the Army mobilization order will be published. If mobilized, the unit will provide area logistical support to U.S. and Coalition forces assigned to the combined joint operational area-Afghanistan early next year. The unit specializes in providing command and control structure for assigned or attached units. The unit can provide sustainment at all three operational levels of support — strategic, operational and tactical — with any configuration of modular units assigned or attached within their command and control structure to achieve a commander’s intent. The unit is led by Lt. Col. Brock Larson, of Bismarck, and Command Sgt. Maj. Darcy Schwind, of Mandan. Soldiers in the unit hail from more than 25 communities across North Dakota, Minnesota, Kentucky and Nevada.
FARGO, N.D. — The N.D National Guard’s 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade welcomed a new senior enlisted leader during a change of responsibility ceremony Feb. 26 at the Armed Forces Reserve Center. Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien assumed duties as the unit’s senior noncommissioned officer from Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson, who served in the position for the past two years. Nelson has nearly 34 years of service with the U.S. Army Reserve and the N.D. Army National Guard, and has deployed overseas twice. From 2005– 2006, he served in Afghanistan with the Grand Forks-based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery and again, from 2009–2010, for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo with the 141st MEB. In his new assignment as the senior enlisted leader for the N.D. National Guard, he will report to the adjutant general and is responsible for the health, welfare, morale, training and professional development of over 4,100 Soldiers and Airmen. In his civilian profession, Nelson serves as the chief of police for the Grand Forks Police Department.
22 · Guardian · March/April 2016
North Dakota Soldier to Receive National Award for ‘Outstanding Cooperative Effort,’ Contributions to “Operation Denial” By 2nd Lt. Eric Jungels, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs with information from the Department of Justice U.S. Attorney’s Office, District of North Dakota FARGO, N.D. — A Soldier from the N.D. National Guard’s Wahpeton-based 188th Engineer Company (Vertical Construction) is being honored by a “High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas” (HIDTA) Program for contributing to cooperative efforts in “Operation Denial,” the Grand Forks County Drug Task Force’s investigation into the international trafficking of fentanyl and other lethal drugs. Staff Sgt. Ross Brumley, of Grand Forks, who works full time as an intelligence analyst for North Dakota Counter Drug, is a member of the multiagency team being recognized. His hard
work as an analyst led to receiving the Outstanding Cooperative Effort award. Attorney General Wayne Stenehjem said, “This award underscores the exceptional work these law enforcement officers and professionals provide each and every day. They have each gone above and beyond the call of duty to keep North Dakota safe, and I couldn’t be prouder of the results they achieved.” Twenty individuals, in total, from organizations like the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, Grand Forks Police Department, Grand Forks County Sheriff ’s Office, and U.S. Border Patrol, were honored with the award.
Sound Off! G CHAPLAINS’
CORNER Featured Contributor: Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion
MOVING FORWARD WITH FAITH Greetings from Kosovo! I have been here a few weeks, and thus far, it has been great. I am deployed with the 30th Armored Brigade Combat Team, out of North Carolina, and have enjoyed meeting the Soldiers who have served as a part of Kosovo Forces 20 since June 2015. They are a great group of people! Unfortunately, for me, I have arrived towards the end of their deployment. The 30th soon will be followed by a brigade from Pennsylvania. I look forward to meeting them. I want to share with you a prayer that I have found helpful over the last few years. I find composed prayers, like this one by Fr. Thomas Merton, very helpful. Such a prayer reveals a bit about the mind of the one who first prayed it. To get a peek at a particularly holy/insightful person’s relationship with God often helps shed light on our own. It is like a married person looking at the interaction of another happy, healthy married couple. By observing what right looks like, one can come to understand better the strengths and weaknesses of one’s own marriage. That is what Fr. Merton gives us through this look into his relationship with God.
Incidentally, it takes courage to look at one’s interior life and allow for constructive critique, whether it be via one’s own conscience, a friend, family member or mentor. Even someone we can’t stand can be unintentionally insightful; they are not going to shield our delicate egos from the truth. It is easy (and, in the end, destructive) to flee introspection. Here, then, is the “Prayer of Trust,” by Fr. Thomas Merton: “My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore, will I trust you always, though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.”
Photo by Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs North Dakota National Guard’s Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion, center, poses with the Soldiers that welcomed him home at the Bismarck airport on March 18, 2016 after a three-month tour of duty serving as a chaplain with Kosovo Force 20 (KFOR20) in Kosovo. Gion is assigned as the chaplain for the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment based in Bismarck. www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 23
Photo by Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information
Sgt. Brett Ruff, with the Bismarck-based Detachment 1, 3662nd Maintenance Company, performs maintenance operations March 17 as part of his annual training held at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory.