Spring 2019
Volume 12, Issue 2
A lineage of valor
New State Award Bears Name of Renowned North Dakota Soldier, Medal of Honor Recipient Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Keeble Page 10
ALSO INSIDE: 119th Wing Honors Top Airmen Page 4
North Dakota Hosts ‘Best Warriors’ Page 8
Guardsmen Tested during ‘Cyber Shield’ Page 17
Inside This Issue Features
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Togo's Test
The North Dakota National Guard is known for its flood-fighting capabilities. A group of Soldiers had the opportunity to impart some of that disaster response knowledge to agencies in the Togolese Republic. Through the State Partnership Program, North Dakota led its partner nation through a multi-day flood exercise.
Courageous
10 Guardsmen
Master Sgt. Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Keeble is one of the most revered Soldiers from North Dakota's famous 164th Infantry Regiment. His gallantry in battle during World War II and the Korean War rightfully earned him many accolades, including the Medal of Honor. Now the North Dakota National Guard has created a state award bearing his name.
Rocky Mountain
14 Response
Members of the 81st Civil Support Team (CST), the 119th Wing and CSTs from South Dakota and Wyoming all worked together this spring in Denver, Colorado, to respond to a simulated terrorist incident. The scenario included a natural disaster, and a potential chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event.
Departments Guardian Snapshots ..................... Page 18 News Briefs ..................................... Page 22 Sound Off! ..................................... Page 23
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Commander in Chief North Dakota Governor Doug Burgum The Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann Chief of Public Affairs Maj. Amber Schatz Editor Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen Contributors Chief Master Sgt. David Lipp Mr. Bill Prokopyk Staff Sgt. Brett J. Miller Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion Mr. Jonathan Haugen 1st. Lt. Jeremiah Colbert Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kiel Skager Spc. Kristin Berg Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs Spc. Thea Jorgensen Spc. William Phelps The North Dakota Guardian is an authorized publication for members and families 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 Quality 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: amber.r.schatz.mil@mail.mil Phone: 701-333-2288 Fax: 701-333-2017 Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible.
On the Cover
Master Sgt. Woodrow “Woody” Wilson Keeble, who is a Medal of Honor recipient and former member of the 164th Infantry Regiment, now has a state award bearing his name. The Woodrow Wilson Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award was created to recognize North Dakota Guardsmen who display courage, fortitude, and determination to protect or defend life, limb or property.
VIEW FROM THE TOP A MESSAGE FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
Chasing Perfection We are in the leadership business. As we look to 2020 and beyond, we must continue to build on our achievements and continuously improve ourselves and our organization. As legendary football coach Vince Lombardi said, “Perfection is not attainable, but if we chase perfection we can catch excellence.” In my recently published training guidance, I laid out my priorities and the framework to chase perfection and catch excellence. As in the past, it focuses on leadership, readiness and taking care of our most valuable resource, our Guard family. Readiness and lethality: To ensure readiness and increase lethality we must fill our units with physically and mentally fit Soldiers and Airmen, properly trained with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to be successful in combat or domestic response situations. Equipment must be on hand and we must be ready to "fight tonight." Readiness depends on preparation. I expect commanders to take full advantage of realistic exercises to improve performance of core missions. Commanders must maintain a strong focus on warfighting readiness but retain the agility and flexibility to pivot and respond to domestic operations within the state. People and Relationships: We must foster an environment of dignity and respect for all. Sexual harassment and assault have no place in our organization. To enhance readiness we need strong suicide prevention awareness, substance abuse training, and other programs designed to build and maintain resiliency. Boards and councils that promote and set policy for diversity and inclusion, ensure member readiness, and promote a positive command climate, are empowered to accomplish this important responsibility. This is not "check the block" work; we must use this valuable time to ensure we set the conditions for all members to reach their potential. We must continue to build relationships
with our state, federal, interagency, and international partners. We must ensure our capabilities complement those of our partners and build interoperability. Additionally, we will explore new ways to engage with our communities and employers to maintain lines of communication and enhance relationships. Everyone in this organization, military or civilian, is a recruiter and an ambassador for the North Dakota National Guard. We all must effectively tell the "Guard Story.'' We will ensure leaders at all levels have the tools to engage across all media platforms to educate our citizens on who we are and what we do, and expose the youth of our region to the opportunities in the North Dakota National Guard. Leadership: I expect leaders at all echelons to utilize disciplined initiative, innovate and come up with solutions to solve complex problems to accomplish the mission. We must build and sustain a culture of empowerment and a climate that does not paralyze decision making but rather builds trust and accepts prudent risk. I want leaders who are curious; always striving to innovate and to do things better; capable of independent thought and action. Taking care of our people requires leaders at all levels to mentor and recognize teammate and unit success. Timely mentorship, coaching and career counseling using the tools provided by the Army and Air Force, is an expectation that must be engrained as part of our culture. We owe this to our members. There is no other acceptable standard to take care of our people. We must also recognize the incredible accomplishments of our units. In 2019, the 119th Wing earned its 20th Air Force Outstanding Unit award. While we recognize many of our Army and Air units and personnel for their excellence, we can do better. We must take full advantage of the programs available through the Army, Air Force, Centers of Excellence, and
Maj. gen. Al Dohrmann non-governmental military organizations to recognize our units and members for their accomplishments. We have a lot of winning teams, let's get into the practice of recognizing them on a regular basis. I expect it to be indoctrinated into our culture. This will also promote our brand while taking care of our people. This is not about chasing awards; it is about recognizing sustained excellence and taking care of our people. Strategic Approach: Our strategic approach has been in place for several years and we've had much success and made terrific progress so far. Later this summer, a Council of Colonels will review the strategic plan to validate our current imperatives, lines of effort and strategic objectives. The end state is the publication of updated Strategic Guidance no later than Oct. 1, 2019. Everything we do should lend itself to enhancing readiness and building lethality. Doing this will serve our Soldiers, Airmen and civilian employees well when they are asked to answer the call to duty. It is an honor to be a part of this tremendous organization. I'm proud to call myself a North Dakota National Guardsman. Thank you for all you do. MG Al Dohrmann “Always Ready”
www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 3
SIMPLY
BEST
the
119th Wing Names Airmen of the Year By 2nd Lt. Jeremiah Colbert, 119th Wing The North Dakota Air National Guard, known as the “Happy Hooligans”, recognized the organization’s top noncommissioned officers and unit members of the year March 2 during its 2018 Outstanding Airman of Year banquet, which was held at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fargo. Fifteen Airmen were nominated for the awards based on their military and civic service throughout 2018, with three winners ultimately being honored as Outstanding Airman of the Year, Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. “Tonight is about honoring the group of Hooligans who were nominated for these awards and especially the three who won,” said Col. Darrin Anderson, 119th Wing commander, during his remarks. “Thank you for being valuable members of the Hooligan team. I need every Airman to understand and believe what you do mat-
Airman 1st Class Gretchen Freed
Tech. Sgt. Robert Desilet
Master. Sgt. Jason Coalwell
ters. Your job matters and we succeed because this is a team effort.” Senior leaders presented awards to Master Sgt. Kelly Rezac and Senior Master Sgt. Richard Duysen. Rezac was named Unit Career Advisor of the Year for his individual efforts and achievement with unit retention and career motivation program management. Duysen was named First Sergeant of the Year, which recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by first sergeants in the Air Force. The award presentation honoring the three Outstanding Airmen of the Year winners followed: Airman 1st Class Gretchen Freed was named Outstanding Airman of the Year, Tech. Sgt. Robert Desilet was named Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year and Master Sgt. Jason Coalwell was named Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year.
Airman of the Year Airman 1st Class Gretchen Freed enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in September 2016 and serves as a crew chief in the 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron. Freed was raised in Henning, Minnesota and currently resides in Fargo. She graduated with a degree in business administration and a minor in special education from Mayville State University. She is pursuing a master’s degree in human resources from the University of Mary and expects to graduate in May 2020. Airman Freed is a human resource coordinator at Aldevron in Fargo.
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Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Master Sgt. Jason Coalwell enlisted in the North Dakota Air National Guard in May 1996 and serves in the 119th Security Forces Squadron. Coalwell was born, raised, and currently resides in Detroit Lakes where he graduated from Detroit Lakes Community High School. He earned his Community College of the Air Force degree in criminal justice and is pursuing a business management degree from the University of Mary.
First sergeant of the Year Senior Master Sgt. Richard Duysen was named First Sergeant of the Year, which recognizes the important contributions and leadership qualities exhibited by first sergeants in the Air Force. The first sergeant is responsible for the morale, welfare and conduct of all enlisted members in a squadron and is the chief adviser to the squadron commander concerning the enlisted force. “Senior Master Sgt. Duysen has been invaluable to the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, and contributed greatly to mission success during our recent deployment to Southwest Asia,” said Maj. Matt Tronnes, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron commander.
Noncommissioned Officer of the Year Tech. Sgt. Robert Desilet joined the North Dakota Air National Guard in December 2017 and serves in the 119th Operations Group. Desilet was born in Hartford, Connecticut and raised in Manchester, Connecticut. He currently resides in West Fargo. He entered the Air Force in January 2009 at Westover ARB, Massachusetts. He completed technical training as an imagery analyst in October 2009. He wears an intelligence badge, a senior enlisted aircrew badge and is a 2012 graduate of the USAF Weapons School advanced instructor course.
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WATER WAYS Guardsmen share Flood-Fighting knowledge During togo exercise Story and photos by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
A team of 13 North Dakota Guardsmen and three specialists from the Office of Foreign Disaster Assistance from the U.S. Agency for International Development (OFDA/USAID) brought their flood-fighting expertise to the West African nation of the Republic of Togo March 18-22 to conduct a domestic response exercise with our State Partners. The Exercise named “SHILO AHOE”, a local dialect for flooding, which provided an opportunity for more than 200 Togolese first responders to respond to a natural disaster situation. “The North Dakota National Guard has a unique perspective to bring to Togo, in regards to flood preparation,” said Staff Sgt. Jeremy Hutchinson, 68th Troop Command intelligence operations noncommissioned officer. “We are able to understand the vast amount of coordination that needs to happen, aside from the day-to-day operations of sand bagging and dike walking. The biggest advantage we have is our experience working with different departments and being able to offer that operational expertise.” The exercise, which was initiated through North Dakota’s State Partnership Program (SPP), was supported by U.S. Africa Command’s humanitarian assistance portfolio and USAID OFDA specialists, to work alongside the Republic of Togo’s National Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, the lead agency for coordinating all disasters.
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The Togolese agencies worked together to prepare, plan, and execute their disaster mitigation plan by simulating a flooding event in the Plateaux Region between the two prefectures of Moyen-Mono and Haho in the villages of Kossi-Kopé, Gbondjohoe and Lawson-Kopé. The U.S. and Togolese exercise planners simulated a response to a massive flood caused by heavy rains triggering a water spill from the Nangbeto Dam, flooding villages downstream creating hundreds of internallydisplaced people. Togo’s goals for the flood exercise included testing the capacity of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection to test their disaster communication platforms in order to inform affected populations about disaster response by using early warning systems along with the ability to mobilize resources quickly to provide assistance to affected areas and populations. “The Togolese government has a very good understanding on how to interact with local, regional, and national leadership to prepare
villages for flooding,” said Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, North Dakota’s SPP director. “One of the great things that Togo does do is adopting a social mobilization platform where they work with local leaders within villages to problem solve at the lowest level. They really do understand how to do this, but the problem is a lack of resources along with communication back to the Ministry.” During the simulated response, the North Dakota team had a chance to observe how Togo’s first responders prepare for moving displaced persons across flooding waters. “In Togo, they have the fire brigades, the gendarmerie, the local police and the military,” explains Maj. Shawn Markovic, 68th Troop Command operations officer said. “We witnessed a water rescue, a triage center, and the water purification process. It started with security provided by local police, the gendarme assisted the fire brigade with their search and rescue and the triaging of the local population. It was impressive to watch all the different agencies work together.” McEvers said the exercise was a mutuallybeneficial event for all agencies involved.
Opposite page, Maj. Moranda Iverson and Maj. Jacob Harris, of Joint Force Headquarters' Domestic Operation Section arrange clothing and school supplies to donate to students at Lycee de Tado, a high school in Tohoune, Togo. Bottom left, members of the North Dakota National Guard were welcomed by the students while touring a the school after dropping off donations. Above left, North Dakota Guardsmen and specialists from the Office of Foreign Catastrophe Assistance from the American Agency for International Development, or USAID/OFDA, visit an exercise location in preparation for “Lignite Coast.” The exercise simulated a response to a massive flood caused by heavy rains, which took place March 18-22 in Togo.
“The disaster preparedness platform is our most successful platform (in the SPP.) The National Guard Soldier is suited for this type of mission. Our civilian-acquired skills combined with our militaryacquired skills is why our domestic operations disaster response is so successful.” — Lt. Col. Mark McEvers State Partnership Program Director
“Disaster preparedness is our most successful platform within the State Partnership Program. The National Guard Soldier/Airman is suited for this type of mission. Our civilian-acquired skills combined with our military experience is why our domestic operations disaster response is so successful. Getting to know how to work logistics, how to work with the U.S. Embassy, stakeholders and other agencies − whether they are from the United States, our western partners or non-governmental organizations − all this is very relevant in West Africa as it is in North Dakota.” Along with the flood fight exercise, the North Dakota team was able to visit local villagers and provide educational supplies to the neighboring schools. Lycee de Tado, a high school in
Tohoune, held a celebration to welcome the Soldiers during their visit. They had speakers, song and dance and a tour of the local school. “Togo was very welcoming of the North Dakota National Guard. The school that we visited, their gratitude was apparent with the program they put on for us. They were extremely appreciative of what we were doing,” said Capt. Chad Worrel, of 68th Troop Command. Worrel said the benefits of the SPP visit to Togo were far-ranging. “It blows me away the potential for Soldiers to come to another country and be a part of such a large scale, joint exercise with an entire country. Having the opportunity and experience to work with another country and work with their different government sub-sections was a
phenomenal experience,” he said. “The cultural experience alone provides such value. It gives you a much broader perspective of society outside of the United States.” The National Guard’s SPP now includes 76 partnerships with 81 countries around the world. The N.D. National Guard has been a partner with Togo since 2014 and has conducted over 15 major engagements with Togolese security forces, including training in disaster preparedness and combat engineering. North Dakota also partners with the West African nations of Ghana (2004) and Benin (2014).
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Photo by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
BATTLEGROUND
Photo by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
NORTH DAKOTA HOSTS REGION 6 BEST WARRIOR COMPETITION
By Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
T
his year’s Region 6 Best Warrior Competition was held May 6-9 and hosted by staff and cadre at Camp Grafton Training Center. Army Guardsmen from eight states traversed a number of military challenges and obstacles during the competition, which included Soldiers from North Dakota, Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington and Wyoming. The last regional event hosted by North Dakota occurred in 2011. “We’re happy to have you here, and thank you for traveling
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to our great state. We’re proud of this facility and the training opportunities it offers, like hosting this competition,” said Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, N.D. National Guard land component commander during the opening of the competition. The Soldiers began the Best Warrior Competition this year by testing their endurance during a modified physical fitness test comprised of elements from the current Army Physical Fitness Test (APFT) and the new Army Combat Fitness Test (ACFT). From there, they donned their Army Service Uniforms for inspection while answering a series of military-related questions posed by a board of sergeants major. The Guardsmen’s first day of competition culminated by locating positions using a compass on a land
Photo by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Photo by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Photo by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment Opposite page, left, Sgt. 1st Class Adam Walsvick, traverses Camp Grafton Training Center's confidence course (also bottom left) May 9 during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition. Competitors there navigated a number of military challenges and tasks, including a 12-mile ruck march (top center), both day and night land navigation courses (center, bottom) and descending down the post's rappel tower (above). This year was the first time since 2011 that North Dakota has hosted the competition.
Photo by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
navigation course at night. The following days continued to be filled with difficult events and challenges. Competitors fired weapons for qualification scores at Camp Grafton’s southern training area. They also completed another land navigation course, this time being inserted into the training area by UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters. The remainder of the weekend tested the Soldiers’ physical and mental toughness with road marches, a confidence course and rappel tower and evaluations on a number of Warrior Tasks (general military tasks all Soldiers must know). “It’s supposed to challenge them mentally and physically, we
ensure they’re not easy events,” said Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien, state command sergeant major. “These are the best of the best, this is a step above the state competition, they have a lot of mental and physical energy they have to expend to make it through,” he added. The winner in the enlisted category for the regional competition was Sgt. Peter Bennett, of the Idaho National Guard and the runner-up was Spc. Roger Spain, of the Oregon National Guard. In the noncommissioned officer category, Sgt. Paul Mannelley, of the Oregon National Guard, took top honors while Sgt. Trent Marnell, of the Alaska National Guard, was named runner-up. The regional winners now will advance to compete in the AllGuard Competition and, if they win there, have the opportunity to compete in the All-Army Competition. The next regional competition will be held in Wyoming in 2020, while the N.D. Army National Guard’s next state competition will be held at Camp Grafton this September.
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KEEBLE’S WAY State Award Established to Honor North Dakota Hero, Recognize Guardsmen’s Courageous and Life-Saving Efforts
By Maj. Amber Schatz, Joint Force Headquarters
E
ight North Dakota Guardsmen were recognized March 29 as the first individuals to receive a new state award during a ceremony at the Circle of Nations School in Wahpeton. The Soldiers were part of a group of 20 selected to wear the newlycreated Woodrow Wilson Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award. The award was created to recognize North Dakota Guardsmen who display courage, fortitude, and determination to protect or defend life, limb or property. Gov. Doug Burgum, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general; and Mr. Russell Hawkins, Keeble’s son; presented the medals to the awardees in front of a full gymnasium at the Circle of Nations School. “In the future, whenever we recognize one of our North Dakota Guard members for heroism, bravery and selfless service with this award, we honor and remember this great American,” said Dohrmann. “Keeble’s mili-
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tary service to our nation and state will long be remembered.” Keeble first saw combat with North Dakota’s 164th Infantry Regiment, which was the first U.S. Army unit to engage in offensive operations during World War II. The Soldiers were heralded after reinforcing beleaguered Marines from the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific theater on Guadalcanal. It was during this battle in which Keeble earned his first Bronze Star Medal for valor and the first of four Purple Hearts. Once his enlistment was compete, he began teaching at the Wahpeton Indian School (now named the Circle of Nations School). Later, when the Korean War broke out, Keeble reenlisted with the 164th Infantry Regiment and eventually volunteered for a combat assignment The 24th Infantry Division saying, “Someone has to teach these young men how to fight.” Keeble demonstrated that fearlessness on Oct. 20, 1951. On that day, armed with grenades and his rifle, Keeble successfully conducted multiple, single-handed assaults against three well-fortified enemy positions
in order to take control of a steep, rocky hill, which was the unit’s mission that day. His heroic actions saved the lives of his fellow Soldiers and inspired his company to achieve its important objective. Keeble was awarded the Medal of Honor posthumously at a ceremony at the White House hosted by President George W. Bush in 2008 for his actions during the Korean War. At Medal of Honor presentation, President George W. Bush said, “Woody Keeble’s act of heroism saved many American lives, and earned him a permanent place in his fellow Soldiers’ hearts.”
Woodrow Wilson Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) 2019 Recipients * Spc. Devon Blazek, * Sgt. Dustin Engebretson and * Spc. Marlyn Vondall – At the scene of a building fire Sept. 26, 2016, in Dickinson, Spc. Devon Blazek, Sgt. Dustin Engebretson and Spc. Marlyn Vondall found three individuals in an apartment and escorted them to safety. After the evacuation, Blazek and the other Soldiers moved vehicles away from the building to protect property. Under extreme fire conditions, Blazek undoubtedly prevented further harm to occupants within the building. * Maj. Donavan Blazek - On Oct. 1, 1994, in Bismarck, Maj. Donavan Blazek’s quick and decisive actions resulted in saving lives from a car submerged in a river. He courageously put himself into harm’s way by entering the river and physically breaking into the vehicle in order to pull the occupant to safety. He continued to take actions at the scene to ensure both victims received appropriate medical interventions until further help arrived. Staff Sgt. Amy Bohl - Late in the evening of Oct. 21, 2018, Staff Sgt Amy Bohl used her intuition to return to examine a possible scene of a car accident. Upon her arrival, she validated her intuition by discovering a teenage male crash victim barely visible in a ditch. She instructed him to remain still, while she called 911. She was able to
flag down a motorist, who was a nurse, and assisted with treatment of the casualty. Bohl assisted the nurse and maintained communication with dispatchers until emergency services arrived. Her actions that evening saved the life of the victim. Spc. Nicole Brown - On Dec. 19, 2014, while working overnight at the Edgewood Vista Memory Care Unit in Minot, Spc. Nicole Brown heard an explosion and found a fire had started on a generator in the facility’s emergency room. She immediately called 911 and, without regard for her personal safety, initiated an evacuation of the entire building. She ensured residents were attended to by law enforcement officers and emergency medical technicians before returning to help evacuate more patients. Her efforts saved the lives of 22 residents. Sgt. Jacob Burdick and Sgt. 1st Class William Burdick - On June 16, 2009, in Devils Lake, Sgt. Jacob Burdick and Sgt. 1st. Class William Burdick answered a plea for help from their elderly neighbor whose home was on fire and became engulfed in smoke. As they approached the house, the homeowner informed them that his wife was still inside. The two Soldiers entered the burning home and carried the woman to safety. The fire chief reported that without the Soldiers’ help, the woman would have become over-
whelmed with smoke and fire. Master Sgt. Robert Buzick - On Dec. 12, 2017, Master Sgt. Robert Buzick witnessed a young man lose his balance and subsequently fall approximately 9 feet and land on his head. He rushed to the victim and found him unconscious and bleeding from the ears. He immediately began to assess the victim and called 911. While waiting for emergency medical technicians to arrive, Buzick continued to check for responsiveness and provide crucial updates to the first responders. Staff Sgt. Mitchell Cowell - On Sept. 4, 2018, Staff Sgt. Mitchell Cowell encountered a female in distress and took it upon himself to provide immediate lifesaving actions. Upon recognizing the signs and symptoms of a stroke, Cowell swiftly took action to assess the situation and stabilize her. He immediately called 911 and continued to provide comfort, care and support until the Fargo Fire Department arrived on scene. Upon their arrival, he provided essential details of the situation and handed over control of the situation to them. Sgt. Kelly Grotte - On Feb. 15, 2013, Sgt. Kelly Grotte was helping a friend at his place of business when a customer suffered a heart attack. He immediately sprang into action by directing bystanders and then removed the victim from his running vehicle. Grotte then performed lifesaving measures by conducting cardiopulmonary resuscitation. According to emergency responders, Grotte’s quick thinking and decisive actions played a key role in the positive outcome for the victim, who was able to return home after a few days of hospitalization. A framed gift featuring the Woodrow Wilson Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award is presented Keeble's family members during a ceremony at the Circle of Nations/Wahpeton Indian School.
Photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
* indicates retired or former Guardsman. www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 11
The Woodrow W. Keeble “Je Suis Pret (I Am Ready) Award Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Handegard - On Dec. 11, 2018, Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Handegard’s medical skills and knowledge was used to assist a civilian who had lost control and drove his motorcycle off a cliff. Handegard performed a quick and accurate head-to-toe assessment and provided appropriate medical interventions with limited supplies in order to stabilize the injured civilian until medical support arrived. Handegard helped prepare the man for extraction and loaded him for transport to medical facilities for care. * Lt. Col. Curtis Kroh - On June 13, 1992, Lt. Col. Curtis Kroh distinguished himself by taking control of an accident scene and managing bystanders. By using his civilian skills, Kroh was able to stabilize and open the victims airway.
The North Dakota National Guard’s Woodrow W. Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I Am Ready) Award can be awarded to any member, or former member, of the North Dakota National Guard. Its purpose is to recognize a Soldier or Airman for displaying courage, fortitude, and determination to protect or defend life, limb or property. This act may include, but not limited to, providing lifesaving measures, performing evacuation efforts, or assisting with a vehicle accident. Actions performed during a sanctioned emergency service operation may qualify for this award. This award is not intended for actions performed in a combat designated zone.
Photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
* Col. Gordon Leingang, Maj. Steve Inglish and * Staff Sgt. Eric Heupel - On Oct. 7, 2007, Col. Gordon Leingang used his years of experience as an emergency trauma physician and the assistance of Maj. Steve Inglish and Staff Sgt. Eric Heupel to save a Soldier’s life. Upon Leingang’s medical assessment after a Soldier’s complaint of chest pains, Leingang directed the two flight medics to initiate intravenous therapy, perform an electrocardiogram and prepare the Soldier for ambulance transport. He properly diagnosed a torn aorta, directed immediate lifesaving measures and coordinated pertinent information required to the surgical team awaiting the Soldier’s arrival at the hospital, all actions which were paramount in saving the Soldier’s life. Lt. Col. Mark McEvers - While playing in a basketball league on Dec. 8, 2013, Lt. Col. Mark McEvers jumped into action when a player on the sidelines passed out and stopped breathing. McEvers quickly located an automated external defibrillator, or AED, and, when another individual determined the player did not have a pulse, utilized the device to restart the player’s heart. Emergency responders confirmed that without McEvers’s assistance, the player would not have survived. Capt. Aaron Norgaard - On Dec. 11, 2018, Capt. Aaron Norgaard’s knowledge and ability to apply his first responder skills helped stabilize and save a man who had lost control and drove his motorcycle off of a cliff. Norgaard provided C-spine stabilization and direction to the injured man to keep him calm while waiting for advanced rescue responders. He helped prepare the man for extraction and loaded him for transport to medical facilities for care. Maj. Waylon Tomac - On May 25, 2015, Maj. Waylon Tomac’s knowledge and application of cardiopulmonary resuscitation assisted in saving a 5-year-old boy. In response to a woman’s screams for help, Tomac ran in the direction of the crisis and immediately began to assist the unresponsive boy. His ability to remain calm under pressure, take charge of the scene and direct those around him into appropriate action ensured the boy received life-saving intervention. He and two other bystanders worked together to resuscitate and seek additional medical intervention to save the young child. 12 · Guardian · Spring 2019
Top, from left to right, Gov. Doug Burgum, Master Sgt. Robert Buzick, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general; Scott Davis, executive director of the North Dakota Indian Affairs Commission; and Russell Hawkins, Master Sgt. Woodrow Keeble’s son; pose for a photo as they present the “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award to Buzick at the Circle of Nations/Wahpeton Indian School. Above, “Woody” Keeble’s uniform jacket is displayed at the award ceremony.
Spc. Matthew Wolf - On July 7, 2017, Spc. Matthew Wolf came upon a car accident where he assessed three accident victims and delegated tasks for others on the scene to execute. Wolf then began performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation on an infant who sustained severe trauma. His actions gave the infant’s family the priceless gift of additional time to spend with their child. Throughout the incident, he maintained a calm and professional demeanor, providing some stability to an extremely traumatic and chaotic situation.
Taking the Lead
speakers panel sparks discussion at Joint Leaders conference
By Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters
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eaders of the N.D. National Guard discussed “Leading in a Complex Environment” during a daylong event just outside the back gate of its headquarters at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. About 360 officers and senior enlisted gathered at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence March 22 for professional development and to exchange ideas with their peers. “When we talk about our profession of arms, we focus on tradition, culture, history, but it’s also about bringing the team together, which is what we want to do here today. It’s important to get together, get to know one another and also to recharge,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. “I challenge everyone here to be curious, ask good questions and think about how you can apply what you’ve learned.” The conference featured a who’s who panel of speakers, including Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, who was accompanied by his senior enlisted advisor, Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner. Lengyel reiterated the National Guard’s three-pronged mission: fighting America’s wars, securing the homeland and building partnerships, all of which, he said, present unique challenges. It is an incredibly complex environment. It requires you, every time you deploy, to be more than a Soldier and more than an Airmen,” he said. “You have to know about inter-agency partners who can bring gains to whatever objective you’re trying to get done inside whatever kind of operation you’re trying to run. You have to be able to understand the dynamics of information in this social media world. We have to learn things that old leaders didn’t have to learn; we have to be different kinds of leaders.” The National Guard Bureau chief also imparted some advice to the North Dakota audience. He stressed the importance of leadership and how it affects the evolution
Left, while discussing his own principles of leadership with Joint Leaders Conference attendees, Gov. Doug Burgum reiterated the state's government agencies' mission statement: Empower people. Improve Lives. Inspire Success. Bottom left, Gen. Joseph Lengyel, chief of the National Guard Bureau, discuess the National Guard's mission and the evolution of leadership within its ranks before joining the crowd for a round of push-ups, bottom righ, with Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner, senior enlisted advisor.
Photos by Mr. Jonathan Haugen, N.D. National Guard Multimedia
of culture within the ranks. “Leadership determines everything about your organization,” he said. “Fundamentally, it’s you who sets the standards, who decides whether or not you have a culture of inclusion and respect. Culture is what you say it is, the standards are what you determine are acceptable. It then becomes your job to develop the next generation.” Gov. Doug Burgum also shared his insight on leadership. He discussed the progression of his own career, from his first job out of college with McKinsey & Company to growing Great Plains Software and selling it to Microsoft to his eventual election as North Dakota governor. He then synthesized the lessons learned from years of leading his company and fostering relationships with his employees into four core values: gratitude, curiosity, humility and courage. “A leader has to have the ability to believe in themselves, get people organized around a purpose and then take action, do the thing that needs to be done,” he said. “I am talking to a room full of people who have already demonstrated that courage just by choosing to be in (uniform). We need that every day.” Some of the other speakers featured during the conference included Col. Kenneth Lozano, diversity director for the Air National Guard, and Mr. Craig Fugate, former FEMA director.
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READY FOR THE WORST SUITED UP FOR COLORADO 81st civil support team Participates in multi-state exercise
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Opposite page, Staff Sgt. Mike Mclaughlin, left, of the 119th Wing, removes his HAZMAT suit April 23 with help from Staff Sgt. Leroy Filler, of the 81st Civil Support Team, during a multi-state training exercise in Denver. The exercise evaluated the participants’ response capabilities for natural disasters or terrorist incidents that may include chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear attacks. Inset, Mclaughlin goes through the decontamination process in preparation to remove his HAZMAT suit. Photos by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
By Spc. Thea Jorgensen and Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
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bout 20 Soldiers from the 81st Civil Support Team (CST) and two Airmen from the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES), Emergency Management Flight participated in a multi-state training exercise April 23-24 in Denver. The exercise evaluated participants’ response capabilities to a simulated terrorist incident in tandem with a natural disaster, which also included potential chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) events. “The exercise is (a simulation of ) a complex, coordinated terrorist attack,” said Pony Anderson, director of the Center for Simulation and Disaster Management Institute at the Community College of Aurora. “Multiple locations inside Colorado have been hit and a couple inside Utah. It’s an evolving event. Colorado’s resources have been stretched to capacity, so a request was sent to North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming for additional support. As those teams rolled into town, some intelligence was gathered from a suspected captured terrorist that had been living in and operating out of Hotel Anderson, which is an extended-stay, low-rent hotel.” The exercise gave the National Guard members more exposure to new disaster response processes and procedures. More than 60 members from the National Guard in North Dakota, South Dakota and Wyoming worked as a single team for the training exercise by pooling resources and knowledge, with each unit equally taking control. The CST Soldiers typically don their containment suits while carrying their suite of equipment to survey and provide
reconnaissance at a CBRN site. In Colorado, the Guardsmen also were tasked with checking for potential victims. “We did a reconnaissance of the first floor, looking for anything suspicious or out of the ordinary,” said Staff Sgt. Jory Shypkowski, 81st CST “We took pictures, so the next team understands the layout and any obstacles they may face. Our team assesses the photos for evidence, because it is easy to miss something through the suit.” The training exercise allowed for hands-on experience working with units from neighboring states while introducing unique scenarios in an unfamiliar training environment. Exercise participants said the training also allowed them to refine their response capabilities to make their teams more effective. “Emergency Management within the 119th Wing has a really good relationship with the 81st CST,” said Airman 1st Class Chris Barondeau, of the 119th CES “They invite us to train with them and it’s always a good opportunity. We don’t get that many opportunities to suit up and practice with our metering equipment. We are considered to be hazardous material experts, so everything we are doing here are skills that I can take back to the base.” Barondeau said he was grateful for the learning opportunity. He also will be taking the knowledge he learned at the Colorado training exercise to his civilian career as a firefighter on a hazmat team in Fargo. The 81st CST is a state-controlled, federal response force working for the governor and president. They work with hazardous materials and weapons of mass destruction: chemical, radiological and nuclear. Their equipment and technology are able to support a variety of missions and work easily with civilian entities.
DESTINATION: ROMANIA North Dakota Soldiers load railcars in preparation for overseas training exercise Photos and story by Spc. Kristin Berg, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
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o pull one of the off the largest equipment movement by rail the North Dakota National Guard has ever done, about 50 personnel from BNSF Railway and the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) loaded rail cars April 16-18 with about 200 pieces of unit inventory in Grand Forks, North Dakota. The equipment, including wheeled vehicles, was being prepared to travel across the ocean to Romania for a multinational training exercise, Saber Guardian. The 141st MEB will participate in the exercise in June. “Countless hours went into the preparation for the rail load alone,” said Chief Warrant Officer 2 Steven Hoikkala, mobility warrant officer for the 141st MEB. “We began coordination for the rail load piece last September. We’ve ensured that we had everything coordinated with BNSF railroad and additional military entities.” The 141st MEB verified that their subordinate units had all the proper equipment documented, labeled, weighed and measured with service checks and maintenance done. The preparation also involved a weeklong inspection conducted by an Army Reserve unit. The final step in the operation was moving all the equipment to Grand Forks, lining it up in a rail yard and confirming the rail cars were sufficient for hauling the cargo. “This has been a pretty big undertaking,” said 2nd Lt. Benjamin Jechorek, officer in charge for the 426th Signal Company. “There’s been a lot of coordination with civilian entities like BNSF, as well as different echelons in the Army to meet timelines and deadlines for our equipment to get where it needs to be. I make sure everything is cycling through in the correct order and meeting all the deadlines.” The equipment will make a few stops during the journey overseas. The train carrying the equipment will go to a railyard on the East Coast and then be shipped to Europe. Several Soldiers will escort the equipment through customs and multiple countries until the equipment arrives in Romania. “Everything we are doing for our mission is important once we are over there, but if we can’t get our equipment and our personnel there to perform the job, then none of that matters,” Hoikkala said. “The preparation for the transport really is important. Having the knowledge about regulations, both local and foreign;
Top, Sgt. 1st Class Danielle Wolnik, of Company A, 231st Brigade Support Battalion, provides ground-guide assistance during rail load operations in Grand Forks. Above, Spc. Jordan Benth, also of the 231st Brigade Support Battalion, tightens load binders to transport unit equipment in preparation for an overseas training exercise titled Saber Guardian, which will be held in Romania.
inspections, documentation and escorts are the keys to success.” Twenty-seven thousand Soldiers will take part in the exercise this summer, 400 of which are from the 141st MEB. While in Romania, the Soldiers will be conducting convoy operations, mobility operations, sustainment support and field training during the training exercise. The 231st Brigade Support Battalion, a subordinate unit of the 141st MEB, will be providing basic life support − feeding Soldiers, providing sleeping areas and areas for conducting personal hygiene. The unit will support its North Dakota counterparts, as well as two other National Guard units, an Army Reserve and active-duty Army unit and anyone else who needs it. The 426th Signal Company also will be providing signal communication to units within and between two separate assembly areas during the exercise.
CYBER SHIELD 19
Photo by Spc. William Phelps, Illinois National Guard
A joint team of information technology experts – including members of the North Dakota Air and Army National Guard, as well as state employees − took part April 5-19 in the premier Army cyber defense exercise in the country, Cyber Shield 19, held at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. The North Dakotans joined hundreds of IT experts from around the country for seminars and training labs over the first week of the event, and put their training into practice during realistic hands-on scenarios in which they responded to simulated computer network attacks.. The North Dakota IT team included: Air Guard members Tech. Sgt. Eric Wilkens, Staff Sgt. Preston Sand, Senior Airman Brock Taylor, and Senior Airman Logan Balvik, as well as Army Guard members Sgt. Anthony Koistinen and Staff Sgt. Daniel Reese. They were joined by North Dakota state employees Lucas Pippenger, of the N.D. IT Department, and Tony Aukland, of the N.D. State and Local Intelligence Center. The participants divided into their specialty areas as they assumed roles on a virtual cyber-battlefield range, utilizing computers and software as their weaponry. That range was a network of computers making up a virtual environment for cyber warfare. Participants either tries to inflict damage to the network as “red team” aggressors, or take protective network actions as “blue team” defenders during the course of the exercise. “I used the training I learned in the first week, along with my prior experience, to help identify when an attack was going on, where it was coming from and determine what to do to mitigate that attack,” said Taylor, who is a member of the 119th Communications Flight. “It (the Cyber Shield) was a great environment to learn and train in, because this stuff happens in the real world and we have to be ready for it.” Some of the training offered during Cyber Shield is required for certification in network defense, which was beneficial to the
Photo by Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kiel Skager, Joint Force Headquarters
By Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing
Top, a group of National Guard IT experts listen to a lecture taught by industry professionals from John Hopkins University at the 2019 Cyber Shield exercise at Camp Atterbury, Indiana. Cyber Shield is an Army National Guard-sponsored exercise bringing together more than 800 Soldiers, Airmen and IT professionals from 40 states and territories to train alongside industry partners and test their skills in response to cyber incidents. Above, Tech. Sgt. Eric Wilkens, left, and Staff Sgt. Preston Sand, of the 119th Wing, discuss potential network intrusions during the Cyber Shield exercise.
participants as well as their respective organizations. “Much of the day-to-day work being done to accomplish the military mission today is dependent on computers and network operability, so the training to prepare our IT professionals to defend networks has become critically important to our mission success. That is why events like Cyber Shield are so important,” said Capt. Dan Sly, 119th Communications Flight commander. Cyber Shield also featured a game-like contest called “net wars” to challenge each other’s hacking and network defending skills, with bragging rights on the line. “We took 12th out of 47 teams and it was our first time doing it, so it was awesome. I hope I can do Cyber Shield again. So far, this is the best thing I’ve done in my time in the Air National Guard. It was a blast; I loved everything about it,” Taylor said.
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Jackie Huber is N.D. National Guard's Newest General Officer After three decades of military service with the North Dakota National Guard, Jackie Huber was promoted to brigadier general today at Bismarck State College’s National Energy Center of Excellence. Family, friends and fellow Guard members were present to celebrate the promotion. Huber is only the second female to be promoted to general officer within the North Dakota Army National Guard’s ranks. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, presided over the ceremony. “Promoting a quality officer like Jackie Huber to brigadier general will greatly benefit our organization,” said Dohrmann. “She has the right experience, judgement, character and work ethic to succeed at this senior level. I look forward to her continued service as a valuable member of our National Guard leadership team.” With this promotion, Huber will be assigned as the assistant adjutant general – Army. In this position, she will serve as advisor to the adjutant general on issues related to Army Guard strategic leadership, policy and personnel. She will also serve as a member of the North Dakota National Guard’s Joint Executive Council and will participate in administrative boards as needed. A native of Bismarck, Huber, has served in the North Dakota Army National Guard since enlisting in 1989. Just a year later, in 1990, she deployed in support of Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm with the 191st Military Police Company. Huber earned her commission as a second lieutenant through the University of North Dakota’s Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program in 1992. In 2003, she mobilized again for overseas in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as the personnel officer of the 142nd Engineer Battalion. During Huber’s traditional Army National Guard career, she has held many key positions including command of the 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment, the 164th Engineer Battalion and the 164th Regional Training Institute. Most recently, she served as the operations officer for the Joint Force Headquarters’ Domestic Operations Section. Besides her commands and other traditional military positions, Huber has worked as a fulltime employee for the North Dakota National
Guard since 1998. She held positions as a plans and operations specialist, director of the State Family Program and manager of the North Dakota National Guard’s Army Guard Reserve (AGR) program. She’s served as the director of the North Dakota National Guard’s Manpower and Personnel for the past 10 years. A graduate of Bismarck’s St. Mary High School, Huber holds a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of North Dakota. She earned a master’s degree in human resource management from the University of Mary and a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College.
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, administers the oath of office to newly promoted Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber during her promotion ceremony on April 22, 2019 at Bismarck State College. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
Master Sgt. Kevin Hopfauf and 1st Sgt. Elizabeth “Lisa” Ouradnik unfurl a U.S. Army brigadier general flag as its description and purpose is read to the attendees of Jackie Huber’s promotion to brigadier general ceremony on April 22, 2019 at Bismarck State College. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, who presided over the promotion ceremony, and Huber stand at attention on the stage. American military officers of general and flag (U.S. Navy) rank are entitled to display a flag appropriate to their rank and branch when they participate or attend various occasions. Photo by Staff Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 116th Public Affairs Detachment
2019 FLOOD FIGHT Staff Sgt. Joshua Trulson, of the 188th Engineer Company, Wahpeton, N.D., gets directions from Sgt. Tim Briggerman, a deputy in the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, as Trulson responds with a North Dakota Army National Guard Quick Response Force (QRF) team to an emergency sandbag request from a home owner in rural Cass County April 8, 2019. The Guard Quick Reaction Force (QRF) has done 8 missions and continues standing by at the Armed Forces Reserve Center on the north edge of Fargo if additional emergency flood requests come in from the Cass County tactical operations center (TOC). (U.S. National Guard photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp)
Top and Middle: Staff Sgt. Jashua Trulson, right, and Sgt. Tyler Schlick, both of the 188th Engineer Company, Wahpeton, N.D., stand in flood water as they place sandbags to block water from backing up through a drainage culvert into a farmyard in rural Cass County, near West Fargo, N.D., April 8, 2019. They are part of a North Dakota Army National Guard Quick Reaction Force (QRF) team responding to an emergency sandbag request from the home owner. The QRF completed eight missions in support of the flood fighting efforts. Photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th WIng.
Bottom: A North Dakota Army National Guard Light Medium Tactical Vehicle drives through flood water covering the highway near the Sheyenne River northwest of West Fargo, as it returns from a Quick Reaction Force (QRF) mission delivering sandbags for a flood emergency in an effort to protect property from the rising water April 8, 2019. Photo by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th WIng.
GUARDIAN Snapshots See More, and Download Photos! Visit www.flickr.com/photos/ndguard/
ON TARGET
North Dakota's marksmen came home with a number of individual and team awards in April after competing at the 48th Annual Winston P. Wilson National Rifle and Pistol Championship at the Robinson Maneuver Training Center in Arkansas. Above, Dean, of the 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal) displays the "Staff Sgt. Millard Butler Team Leader" Award. Top right,, North Dakota’s “A” Team took fourth place overall at the competition. The team members are: Senior Airman Gavin Rook, 119th Wing; Sgt. Tyler Goldade, 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal); Senior Master Sgt. Wade Swenson, 119th Wing and Sgt. Brendan Dean, also of the 815th. The team also took third in the “Bianchi Battle” Match, second in the “Anti-Body Armor” Match, second in the “Rapid Fire (Pistol)” Match and first in the “Pistol Barricade” Match. Right middle, North Dakota’s “B” Team took second in the “Team Movers” Match. The team members are: Sgt. Andrew Maley, 817th Engineer Company (Sapper); Sgt. 1st Class Josh Haugen, 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute; Master Sgt. Franklin Peterson, 3662nd Maintenance Company; and Senior Airman Tyrel Hoppe, 119th Wing. Right bottom, from March 10-16, North Dakota's shooters also competed at the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia. Goldade also made the esteemed “All-Guard” Marksmanship Team, while Dean received the “Staff Sgt. Millard Butler Team Leader” Award, which is given to a novice pistol shooter whose team wins the “Overall Pistol Aggregate” Match.
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Courtesy Photos
Photos by Mr. Jonathan Haugen, N.D. National Guard Multimendia
HONORING MILITARY KIDS Above, members of the N.D. National Guard and their children joined Gov. Doug Burgum at the State Capitol April 10 to witness the governor sign a proclamation announcing April as the “Month of the Military Child.” The military children also had the opportunity to meet and visit with Burgum during the proclamation signing. Left, Mandy Malo, N.D. National Guard Child and Youth Program coordinator, visits with military children in attendance at the ceremony. A portion of the proclamation read, “... these children are a source of pride and honor to us all, and it is fitting we take time to recognize their contributions, celebrate their spirit and let our men and women in uniform know that while they take care of us, we are taking care of their children.”
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NewsBriefs Guard Leaders Introduce Honorary Commander Program By Mr. Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs To further increase understanding of its state and federal missions, policies and programs to community members, leaders from the North Dakota National Guard introduced their Honorary Commander Program March 23 during the inaugural North Dakota Governor’s Military Ball in Bismarck. The program was established last year to foster supportive partnerships between the North Dakota National Guard and community leaders. “This program is an excellent opportunity to further enhance our understanding and appreciation of each other’s experiences and to foster camaraderie,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. “Communicating the National Guard’s citizen-Soldier and –Airmen missions to our members’ employers and our community leaders is important to strengthening the network of support our Guardsmen rely upon as they serve.” Participants in the Honorary Commander Program agree to a 2-year commitment in which they will interact with Guardsmen from an assigned unit, usually based on geographic location. The civic leaders will gain understanding how their support of the National Guard can influence the organization’s readiness and its ability to respond domestically and execute missions around the globe. Honorary commanders will be able to gain this insight by attending unit training events and informational briefings, among many other potential engagements. The first group of honorary commanders and their affiliated units include: • Shawn Dobberstein, executive director, Municipal Airport Authority, Fargo. Affiliated with the 119th Wing Operations Group, Fargo. • Chad Wachter, president and CEO of Investcore, Inc., Bismarck. Affiliated with the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation
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Photo by Mr. Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Jill DeVries (third from left), Valley City State University athletic director, is formally recognized as one of the N.D. National Guard’s honorary commanders March 23 during the inaugural North Dakota Governor’s Military Ball in Bismarck. DeVries will be affiliated with the 231st Brigade Support Battalion in Valley City through the program. Joining DeVries, from left to right, are Gov. Doug Burgum; Lt. Col. Anna Wittrock, 231st Brigade Support Battalion commander; and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general.
Battalion, Bismarck. • Daniel Haugen, training director, North Dakota Highway Patrol, Bismarck. Affiliated with the 136th Combat Support Sustainment Battalion, Bismarck. • Dr. Doug Darling, president, Lake Region State College, Devils Lake. Affiliated with Camp Grafton Training Center/164th Regional Training Institute. • Jill DeVries, athletic director, Valley City State University, Valley City. Affiliated with the 231st Brigade Support Battalion, Valley City. • Dr. Kelly Peters, assistant principal, West Fargo High School, West Fargo. Affiliated with the 188th Air Defense Artillery Battalion, Grand Forks. • Dr. Jim Haussler, former superintendent, Bismarck Public Schools, Bismarck. Affiliated with the North Dakota Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Bismarck. • Dr. Mark Vollmer, superintendent, Minot Public Schools, Minot. Affiliated with the 164th Engineer Battalion, Minot.
Military Police Soldiers Eligible to Receive Partial Training Waiver By Mr. Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs The North Dakota National Guard along with the North Dakota Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Board recently announced a partial training waiver for U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps-trained military police personnel who want to become North Dakota law enforcement officers. The waiver would allow those qualified as a military police professional to attend a 2-week course − rather than the full 12-week course − prior to the examination required to become a licensed North Dakota peace officer. “The military police training that Soldiers and Marines receive is federally accredited by the Federal Law Enforcement Training Accreditation Board, (FLETA)” said Lt. Dan Haugen, North Dakota Highway Patrol training director. “Because of that accreditation, North Dakota Administrative Code allows us to offer these military police-qualified individuals a waiver for a portion of our training.” According to the North Dakota
SoundOff!
Chaplains’ Corner: A Time to be Silent, A Time to Speak By Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion, 164th Engineer Battalion To be “spiritual, not religious” is one of the most in vogue ideas of American religious life. This idea would characterize “religion” generally as such: religion is adherence to a rigid set of rules and beliefs. A religion (so the idea goes) tends to be judgmental. Life is black and white- all the people who follow the rules are good, everyone else is not so good. This rigid worldview often lends itself to hypocrisy, as even the religious often do not meet their own standards. Contrast this to “spirituality,” which is generally conceived of as a self-directed or even self-created set of beliefs. Spirituality is often thought of as encouraging, not black and white, and flexible. Spirituality tends to be affirming, not condemning. I am a religious man, but I must say, this conception of spirituality sounds pretty good. It would allow me to practice whatever sort of private spiritual life I want and, ostensibly, live in harmony with anyone whose beliefs differ from mine. Live and let live; you do your thing, I’ll do mine. Easy. Because this notion of spirituality tends to be entirely personal and built on what makes sense and feels good to me, I can reshape it in whatever manner I want. There are no objective, religion-based standards. There’s just me, and what works for me. Certainly, I have oversimplified the differences between religion and spirituality for the sake of brevity. Nonetheless, I present this dichotomy with basic accuracy for the sake of making one point only: the inherent challenge of being “spiritual, not religious,” is that one’s growth as a human being rests entirely upon one’s own definition of growth and spiritual maturity. However, exterior, community accountability can push us beyond what we would have thought we were capable of on our own. The Army is a good example of how this can work. Our leaders and our peers challenge us to do better
Chaplain (Capt.) Chad Gion takes a moment to observe the Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism during a Sept. 11, 2017, remembrance ceremony outside of Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. Photos by Mr. Jonathan Haugen, N.D. National Guard Multimedia
and be better, even when we might be inclined to give up. When pushed, we can find strength we didn’t know we had. In the same way, religion, especially lived in community, can push us to be a better, more selfless person than we could have ever imagined possible.
Find More Guard News Online! (continued from page 22) Administrative Code, “an individual having peace officer experience or having completed an equivalent basic full-time peace officer training course conducted in another state or by a federal law enforcement agency may qualify for a partial waiver of basic full-time peace officer training requirements”. “This is a great opportunity for our
North Dakota Soldiers, as well as Marines interested in becoming peace officers within our state,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. “This is another example of how valuable skills are obtained through military training and education that can later be transferred to civilian occupations. The military partnering with the POST board benefits not only those service members who served as military police personnel, but
www.ndguard.com will expedite their transition to the state’s civilian law enforcement agencies who, in turn, will receive trained, experienced individuals." In May 2010, FLETA granted accreditation to the U.S. Army Military Police School − which also houses the Marine Corps Police School − and the U.S. Army Civilian Police Academy, located at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.
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Above, Staff Sgt. Ethan Johnson, an explosive ordnance technician in the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, second from left, is part of a 4-person team taking a turn in the 24-hour per day, 397-mile Brady Oberg Ruck March May 21-25 from the western border of North Dakota to the eastern border. The effort is comprised of five teams taking turns carrying 20-pound back packs from Beech to Fargo in memory of a U.S. Army veteran who served in Afghanistan, Brady Oberg, who died by suicide while suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder. The teams are hoping to raise awareness about PTSD and veteran suicide. Right, Senior Master Sgt. Teresa Terry, far right, of the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, also participated in the march. Photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing