ND National Guard Annual Report FY 2018

North Dakota Office of the Adjutant General

ANNUAL REPORT 2018

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Annual Report 2018

LETTER FROM THE

ADJUTANT GENERAL This report highlights the accomplishments and activities of the Office of the Adjutant General – including the North Dakota National Guard and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services − during the period July 1, 2017, to Sept. 30, 2018.

The Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen of our National Guard remain committed to building readiness so we can quickly and effectively respond when called to execute state or federal missions. We also focus on increasing lethality which guides our training mindset while ensuring efficient and effective partnering with the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. We are always in a planning mode in order to anticipate and effectively respond to state emergencies like flooding, tornados or blizzards.

The North Dakota National Guard’s Joint Force Headquarters continues to execute an extremely successful State Partnership Program (SPP) with the three West African countries of Benin, Ghana and Togo. During this time period, we, along with our partner nations, conducted combined training with many civilian agencies. We have successfully engaged in this program since 2004 with our initial partner Ghana adding Togo and Benin in 2014. We continue to look for opportunities to grow and improve this program.

Soldiers and Airmen continue to deploy in support of Combatant Commanders at home and abroad. The North Dakota Army National Guard saw 30 Soldiers of the 191st Military Police Company successfully serve for nearly a year in Afghanistan. About 200 Soldiers of the 1st Regiment, 188th Air Defense Artillery served in Washington, D.C. assisting with the protection of the air space over the capital region.

Currently, we have five Soldiers of the 174 Cyber

Protection Team serving our nation in the National Capital Region.

During this period the 119th Wing, nicknamed the Happy Hooligans, deployed the largest number of Airmen simultaneously since the Korean War. More than 140 Airmen served on active duty throughout the world. During this period, the 119th Wing earned their 19th and 20th Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards, placing them among the most decorated wings in the Air National Guard.

Our report also highlights many of the services and activities available to support service members, Families, veterans and survivors. From our Military Service Centers and Family Assistance Centers and the support that ND Cares provides, we are fortunate to have a multitude of ways to meet the needs of our military Family.

The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery continues to be a respectful and appropriate place to honor deceased service members from all branches of service and their spouses. The annual Memorial Day ceremony, one of the most attended patriotic celebrations in the state, continues to draw thousands of spectators on this special holiday.

The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) through its two components, the Division of Homeland Security and Division of State Radio, continues to focus on providing excellent and timely support to the citizens of North Dakota. The Division of Homeland Security coordinates timely and organized emergency response, recovery and disaster mitigation. NDDES utilizes technology and communications strategically to effectively and efficiently serve its stakeholders. This concept is especially evident in the Recovery and Mitigation

Section where NDDES is recognized as a national leaders. NDDES helps our counties, cities and tribal nations recover from disasters faster, smarter, and stronger; and can make course corrections quickly while harnessing innovation. We have invested time and effort into maintaining accreditation through the Emergency Management Accreditation Program and achieved designation as an Enhanced Mitigation plan state. The State Radio Communications System provides 9-1-1 services and has more than 4,000 users representing 287 local, state and the federal government agencies.

North Dakota Civil Air Patrol, an official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, continues to support the NDDES and other local, state and federal partners with aerial surveillance. They are a vital part of the state emergency response support team, along with the North Dakota National Guard and NDDES. I hope you find this information enlightening and useful.

Sincerely, Al Dohrmann Major General, North Dakota National Guard The Adjutant General

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Annual Report 2018

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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NORTH DAKOTA NATIONAL GUARD North Dakota National Guard History . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Deployments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9 Joint Executive Council . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Office of the Adjutant General Locations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Joint Force Headquarters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 81st Civil Support Team . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Division of Facilities and Engineering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 State Partnership Program . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16 Office of the Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Service Member and Family Support . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Military Funeral Honors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

NORTH DAKOTA ARMY NATIONAL GUARD 141st Manuever Enhancement Brigade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment . . . . . . . .

231st Brigade Support Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

815th Engineer Company (Horizontal) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

188th Engineer Company (Vertical) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

835th Asphalt & 897th Concrete Teams . . . . . . . . . . . . .

164th Engineer Battalion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

164th Engineer Battalion Forward Support Company . . . . . . . . .

817th Engineer Company (Sapper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

818th Engineer Company (Sapper) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) . . . . . . . . . . .

Camp Grafton Training Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

164th Regional Training Institute . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

68th Troop Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment (Security and Support) . .

2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Assault Regiment . . . . . . . . .

Detachment 42, Operational Support Airlift . . . . . . . . . . . .

116th Public Affairs Detachment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

191st Military Police Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion . . . . . . . . . . .

3662nd Maintenance Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

816th Military Police Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

188th Army Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recruiting and Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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NORTH DAKOTA AIR NATIONAL GUARD

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NORTH DAKOTA DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

119th Wing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Operations Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Maintenance Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Group . . . . . . . .

Mission Support Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Medical Group . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Recruiting and Retention . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

119th Security Forces Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Civil Engineer Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

219th Security Forces Squadron . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Department of Emergency Services . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Division of Homeland Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

State Emergency Operations Center . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Division of State Radio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

North Dakota Civil Air Patrol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

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FINANCIALS Major Awards . . . . . .

State Budgets . . . . .

Economic Impact . .

Construction Budgets .

Fallen Soldiers Tribute .

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History Beginning as the Dakota Territorial Militia in the 1860s, the Guard has changed and adapted, overcoming challenges and attaining success. The first federally recognized companies to serve the state were raised by Territorial Governor William Jayne and served during the Sibley-Sully campaigns in 1862-63. The militia grew to 1,000 Soldiers by 1885. When Dakota Territory split in 1889, North Dakota was authorized one infantry regiment with 10 companies.

Spanish-American War When the U.S. launched into the Spanish-American War, the 1st North Dakota Volunteer Infantry sent about 450 Soldiers to Manila, which surrendered 13 days later, on Aug. 13, 1898.

North Dakota Soldiers then began occupation duty. On April 12, 1899, they experienced their most deadly day of combat in the Philippines; eight Soldiers were killed and two wounded. In recognition of his heroic efforts that day, Pvt. Thomas Sletteland became the first North Dakota Soldier to receive the Medal of Honor.

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Mexican Border Incident With passage of the National Defense Act of 1916, the National Guard was guaranteed permanent service as a reserve for the Army. Soon thereafter, every state’s National Guard went on federal duty on the Mexican border. North Dakota Soldiers trained in Texas for six months, then were sent home.

About 3,700 North Dakotans served during World War I, and 278 members died. About 650 others were wounded in battle.

World War I After only 40 days at home, the 1st North Dakota Regiment was again called up. Numerous reorganizations took place as the mission changed, until the 1st North Dakota was renamed the 164th Infantry Regiment, which served under the 41st Division and became one of the first divisions to go to France.

World War II President Roosevelt federalized the Guard again in 1941. The 188th Field Artillery Regiment joined the 164th Infantry Regiment, resulting in 3,222 North Dakota Guardsmen on federal active duty. On March 18, the 164th left the U.S. bound for New Caledonia, where they would protect naval supply lines and position against a potential Japanese attack on the island.

On Oct. 13, 1942, the 164th landed at Guadalcanal where the unit became the first U.S. Army

Annual Report 2018

unit to take offensive action against the enemy during World War II. The battle at Henderson Field resulted in 1,700 Japanese dead. The 164th lost 26 Soldiers while 52 were wounded. Patrols continued until the Japanese began to evacuate Guadalcanal in February 1943.

At the same time, the 188th was being restructured and the new units left in December 1943 for Great Britain where they continued to train until June 1944, when they moved to Utah Beach. Both battalions were attached to other divisions to support offensives through the end of the war. The 164th wrapped up the war on Bougainville and Leyte.

Korean War In July 1950, North Dakota’s 231st Engineer Battalion was activated, followed by the 164th and 188th and then the Air National Guard. All three Army units remained on active duty in the United States. The Air Guard served in Georgia and California before being selected individually for service in Korea or at U.S. and European bases. More than 2,600 North Dakota Guardsmen served during the war. About 800 went overseas and 16 died in combat.

Berlin Airlift The 164th Engineer Battalion served 10 months at Fort Riley, Kan., while the 818th Engineer Company was stationed at Fort Lewis, Wash., during the partial mobilization call the fall of 1961.

Gulf War In 1990, the 136th Quartermaster Battalion, the 132nd Quartermaster Company, and the 131st, 133rd and 134th Quartermaster Detachments were activated to purify, supply and distribute water for Operation Desert Shield/ Storm. The 191st Military Police Company assisted with security and POW processing, while the 818th Medical Battalion provided command and control for medical companies.

Operation Joint Guardian Several Guard units have served in Operation Joint

Guardian over the past 20 years. The 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment sent four teams to Bosnia in 199697 to provide public outreach and public affairs support.

The 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion’s Company B mobilized in October 1999 to Kosovo to provide construction support.

five separate rotations from the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment during the five-year period of 2005-10. Operations in the Balkans also became part of OEF. About 650 North Dakota Soldiers deployed to Kosovo from 2009-10, serving as the command element for a multinational peacekeeping effort there.

Operation Noble Eagle Guardian Guardsmen, including members of the 141st Engineer Battalion, were deployed to various airports and Air Force bases to augment security between September 2001 and November 2004.

Operation Iraqi Freedom In what was the largest mobilization of North Dakota Guardsmen in decades, the 142nd Combat Engineer Battalion and the 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company deployed to Iraq in 2003. Many more units of the North Dakota National Guard were to follow.

In all, more than 4,500 Soldiers and more than 2,800 Airmen have mobilized in support of the Global War on Terrorism since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America.

Operation Enduring Freedom The North Dakota National Guard has played a major role in Operation Enduring Freedom. Detachment 42 Operational Support Airlift mobilized first, followed by

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Deployments As 2018 came to a close, the North Dakota National Guard had about 70 Guardsmen serving overseas or on stateside missions.

Domestically, about 30 Soldiers from the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment were still contributing to Operation Noble Eagle for a second consecutive year in the Washington, D.C., area.

The bulk of the unit (about 170 Soldiers) returned home in February 2018. The unit’s mission involved collaborating with other Department of Defense agencies as part of the integrated air defense system designed to protect the airspace around the National Capital Region.

In February 2018, about 30 N.D. Army National Guard Soldiers serving with the 191st Military Police Company mobilized for a mission in Afghanistan.

The Guardsmen are providing protective service detail and secure transportation to Operation Resolute Support Headquarters staff while assigned to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization there.

In August 2018, six N.D. Army National Guard aviators with the Bismarck-based Detachment 7 (Det. 7), Company C, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment, Operational Airlift Support (OSA) mobilized for a 9-month mission to the Horn of Africa area of operations in support of U.S. Africa Command.

Formerly known as Det. 42, OSA, a portion of the unit was re-designated as Det. 7 on Sept. 1, 2016.

This is the unit’s fourth mobilization. Det. 42 served in Afghanistan from January 2013 to November 2013 and September 2004 until March 2005; and

Djibouti, Africa, from April 2009 to February 2010.

This small but highly specialized aviation unit operates one C-12 Huron aircraft. Its mission is to provide fixedwing aircraft for transport of cargo and personnel. The Soldiers are operating aircraft already on location and are serving alongside members of the Michigan Army National Guard.

In early 2018, members of the 119th Wing’s 119th Security Forces Squadron and Civil Engineer Squadron returned to North Dakota after a 6-month overseas deployment to southwest Asia. The Airmen were part of the nearly 150 Happy Hooligans who deployed in 2017, which was the third largest deployment for the North Dakota National Guard since the Global War on Terrorism began. For the N.D. Air National Guard, it was the largest number of Airmen it had mobilized overseas simultaneously since the Korean War.

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Joint Executive Council

Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann Adjutant General

Brig. Gen. Robert Becklund

Deputy Adjutant General

Brig. Gen. Todd Branden

Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kiel Skager

Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock

Command Chief Warrant Officer

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Senior Enlisted Leader

Assistant Adjutant General — Air

Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan

Army Commander

Col. Darrin Anderson

Col. Paul Harron

Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien

Chief Master Sgt. Jeff Miller

Chief Master Sgt. Duane Kangas

Assistant Adjutant General — Army

State Command Sergeant Major

State Command Chief

119th Wing Commander

119th Wing Command Chief

Chief of Joint Staff

Vacant in 2018

Stationing (-) indicates that the entire company is not at that location

164 ENGINEER BATTALION HEADQUARTERS 164 EN BN FORWARD SUPPORT COMPANY 818 ENGINEER CO. (-) (SAPPER) 219TH SECURITY FORCES SQDN.

CAMP GRAFTON TRAINING CENTER 164 REGIMENT REGIONAL TRAINING INSTITUTE 3662 MAINTENANCE CO. 835 UTILITIES 897 CONCRETE

MAGIC CITY COMPOSITE SQDN.

MINOT

WILLISTON

HEADQUARTERS & HEADQUARTERS BATTERY, 1-188 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY B/1-188 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY D/1-188 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY 1/191 MILITARY POLICE CO.

DEVILS LAKE

1/818 ENGINEER CO. (SAPPER)

JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS — ARMY ELEMENT 68 TROOP COMMAND DET. 42 OPERATIONAL SUPPORT AIRLIFT 81ST CIVIL SUPPORT TEAM STATE MEDICAL DET. RECRUITING & RETENTION DET. 116 PUBLIC AFFAIRS DET. 136 COMBAT SUSTAINMENT SUPPORT BN. DET. 1, 174TH CYBER PROTECTION TEAM 816 MILITARY POLICE CO. (-) 957 ENGINEER COMPANY STATE MEDICAL DET. DICKINSON 3/891 JUDGE ADVOCATE GENERAL 1-112 AVIATION BN. 2-285 AVIATION CO. ROUGHRIDER 1/816 MILITARY POLICE CO. COMPOSITE SQDN. A/1-188 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY DET. 7 C/2-245 AVIATION REG.

JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

231 BRIGADE SUPPORT BN. A/231 BRIGADE SUPPORT BN. JAMES VALLEY COMPOSITE SQDN.

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES DIVISION OF STATE RADIO DIVISION OF HOMELAND SECURITY

BISMARCK

ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

JAMESTOWN VALLEY CITY

ND WING CAP HEADQUARTERS BISMARCK COMPOSITE SQDN.

119TH WING

2/815 ENGINEER CO. (HORIZONTAL)

815 ENGINEER CO. (-) (HORIZONTAL)

AIR NATIONAL GUARD

WISHEK

EDGELEY

141 MANEUVER ENHANCEMENT BDE. C/1-188 AIR DEFENSE ARTILLERY 188 ARMY BAND CO. D/1-112 AVIATION 191 MILITARY POLICE CO. (-) CO. A, 231 BRIGADE SUPPORT BN. (-) CO. B, 231 BRIGADE SUPPORT BN. (-) 426 SIGNAL CO.

FARGO

817 ENGINEER CO. (SAPPER)

1/815 ENGINEER CO. (-) (HORIZONTAL)

JOINT FORCE HEADQUARTERS

GRAND FORKS

GRAND FORKS COMPOSITE SQDN.

LISBON

RED RIVER VALLEY SENIOR SQDN. 119TH ANG CADET SGDN.

WAHPETON 188 ENGINEER CO. (VERTICAL)

DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

CIVIL AIR PATROL

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Joint Force Headquarters The Bismarck-based Joint Force Headquarters ( JFHQ) provides command and control of all National Guard forces in North Dakota. The unit is comprised of about 180 Soldiers and Airmen and provides support to deployed North Dakota National Guard units. It also acts as an information channel to the National Guard Bureau and combatant commanders, and as a joint headquarters during national-level or contingency response efforts.

Support to Civil Authorities (Domestic Operations) The state’s governor is given the ability, under the Constitution of the United States to call on members of the National Guard in time of state emergencies or need. To ensure is continued preparedness to support the governor’s needs, the National Guard adheres to the following mission: “When directed by the Governor of North Dakota, the National Guard will provide resources (personnel and equipment) in support of local civil authorities’ efforts to minimize the impact of all hazards on the people, property and environment of North Dakota.”

During 2018, the Joint Force Headquarters’ ( JFHQ) Domestic Operations Section (DOMS) conducted multiple training events and exercises to ensure the National Guard is able to meet the needs of the governor and state. Personnel assigned to the JFHQ DOMS this year coordinated and attended the National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) Joint Operations Center ( JOC) Training Course and the North Dakota National Guard’s Liaison Officer Training Course. Additionally, the section’s Soldiers and Airmen completed all levels of the Federal Emergency Disaster Agency’s (FEMA)

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Incident Command System (ICS) training.

JFHQ DOMS also planned, coordinated and executed two major joint exercises.

During the spring, the unit participated in “Operation Moon River,” a statewide flood exercise that included members of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (ND-DES) and local emergency managers from across North Dakota. In June 2017, the unit participated in “Operation Chariots of Fire,” a wildland fire exercise that included members of the North Dakota Forest Service, Bureau of Indian Affairs Fire, volunteer rural firefighters and the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services.

During the exercise, North Dakota National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk aviators coordinated with wildland firefighters on the ground to extinguish a controlled live burn on the Standing Rock Reservation. About 25 Guardsmen were on the ground to assist with the fire suppression, using ground fire suppression trucks, after attending a course to obtain wildland fire Red Card certification prior to the exercise.

The North Dakota National Guard’s domestic operations support also extended past the borders of the state this year, as widespread hurricane events require a unified effort from all states and territories. Twenty Airmen from the 119th Wing packed and loaded and sent their 80-ton Disaster Relief Beddown System (DRBS) onto six C-130s Hercules aircraft for transport to the U.S. Virgin Islands to support hurricane relief efforts there. Three Airmen conducted DBRS operations while on the ground in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The North Dakota National Guard also sent three helicopters (two UH-60 Black Hawks and one LUH-72 Lakota) and 15 Soldiers to the country’s east coast to assist in emergency response to Hurricane Florence, which struck the Carolinas.

Additionally, two North Dakota Army Guardsmen are participating in support operations to U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents on the southwest border.

The North Dakota National Guard’s Counterdrug Program (CDP) also has been providing support in North Dakota since 1989. Personnel under the program conduct a full-spectrum campaign that bridges the gap between Department of Defense (DoD) and Non-DoD institutions in the fight against illicit drugs and transnational threats to the U.S. The CDP focuses on two specific mission sets: criminal analyst support and aviation support. The criminal analyst support includes link analysis, document exploitation, financial analysis and case construction for federal, state, local and tribal agencies. The aviation support provides law enforcement agencies with aerial observation, photographic imagery and communication support. In the last year, aviators supporting the CDP flew 426 hours in support of law enforcement counter drug operations in North Dakota. North Dakota National Guard CDP ‘s criminal analysts supported operations that directly contributed to the disruption of illicit drug financing, production, transportation and distribution in North Dakota.

81st Civil Support Team The 81st Civil Support Team (CST) is comprised of 22 full-time Soldiers and

Airmen whose primary mission is to support civil authorities at the direction of the Governor. The unit responds to domestic chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive, or CBRNE, incident sites by identifying agents/substances, assessing current and projected consequences, advising on response measures, and assisting with requests for additional support. CSTs also respond to any unknown hazards, assist with training local HAZMAT personnel, and provide active and passive monitoring during large scale events.

In March 2018, the 81st CST assisted with the identification of a suspicious package leaking white powder that was mailed to the Human Services Center in Jamestown, North Dakota. The FBI also requested the 81st CSTs assistance in May 2018 to help identify a suspicious letter that was mailed to the Federal Aviation Administration office in Bismarck, North Dakota.

In addition to real-world missions, the 81st CST conducted 28 exercises with local authorities across North Dakota. The team also implemented a STEM (Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math) program with surrounding schools and completed more than 4,000 hours of individual training.

North Dakota’s CST consistently augments other CST teams during national special security events, including the Boston Marathon, multiple NFL games and Super Bowl LII. Additionally, the unit participated in North Dakota’s State Partnership Program with Ghana. The Guardsmen helped with the development of local HAZMAT operations by identifying literature and resources to help build Ghanaian training and

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response efforts. The 81st CST also supported the first large-scale HAZMAT exercise the country had ever held by coordinating and implementing the Ghanaian Fire Department’s HAZMAT response.

Division of Facilities and Engineering The Division of Facilities and Engineering (DFE) is responsible for the organization, control, and accomplishment of facilities engineering, housing, and environmental management activities within the Office of the Adjutant General. The DFE serves as the primary point of contact and principal advisor to the adjutant general on all aspects of the National Guard’s real property, facilities engineering, construction and environmental management programs.

The mission of the DFE is to provide, sustain and manage state-of-the-art installations that facilitate all activities required to support North Dakota National Guard federal and state missions. The Environmental Office is charged with environmental enhancement and protection of the training lands, unit activities and maintenance functions of the North Dakota Army National Guard. The DFE also oversees operations of the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery.

The DFE, including the Environmental Office, has 58 full-time personnel working at nine locations around the state. The staff oversaw engineering operations, which include troop construction programs, coordination of self-help programs, engineering plans and services and buildings and grounds; including sustainment, restoration and modernization construction projects, utilities, environmental, natural and cultural resources management, and public works projects.

Office Budget During the 2018 fiscal year, the DFE budget was $13.34 million, including the Environmental Office operating budget of $1.16 million; an overall increase compared to the previous year. The growth in DFE’s federal budget allowed it to execute

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additional maintenance and repair projects, and also for the Environmental Office to do more work in its conservation programs. The DFE state budget again was reduced this year. The reduction caused additional cuts in staff and reallocation of funds for maintenance projects without any state funding share. DFE made the decision to defer maintenance in order to meet the state budget constraints.

Military Construction Projects DFE continued design on a $32 million National Guard Readiness Center project in Fargo.

96,331-square-foot readiness center project and will include a 59,560-square-foot unheated equipment storage building along with parking, fencing and other site amenities. This facility is proposed to be sited west of the current Fargo Readiness Center with construction planned to begin in the spring of 2019.

North Dakota Veterans Cemetery The North Dakota Veterans Cemetery was established by an act of the 1989 Legislative Assembly.

Opened in 1992, it is located 6.5 miles south of Mandan on Highway 1806 on a 35-acre tract of land in the southwest corner of Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park.

Additional land acreage also has been acquired in recent years to double the size of the cemetery. DFE is partnering with the North Dakota State University Architecture Department to work on developing options for the additional acreage to expand the cemetery, including a columbarium. The development of this land will allow for cemetery expansion well into the future.

This year, the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery staff completed 579 interments, with the cemetery’s peak month reaching 72 interments.

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) DFE continued improvements to its GIS over the past year, to include a web-based GIS portal. Most of the improvements directly benefit N.D. Army National

Guard users, while some of the improvements benefit all North Dakota citizens. The N.D. Army National Guard continues to make process improvements in being able to display information between GIS operating systems. The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and the N.D. Army National Guard Domestic Operations section are working on how to share data back and forth between independent GIS systems. A GIS needs assessment for the agencies will begin in 2019.

Environmental Inspections During the past year, two North Dakota National Guard locations received inspections from the North Dakota Department of Health. These inspections looked at petroleum storage tank systems compliance. During these inspections, no apparent violations were noted or observed.

In August 2018, 34 functional areas across 17 separate locations throughout the state received an external compliance assessment as part of the Environmental Performance Assessment System (EPAS). EPAS allows for N.D. National Guard facilities to gain an outside compliance perspective and then address areas where compliance issues are noted. During this external EPAS assessment, there were 44 total findings, of which 10 functional areas received positive findings for going above and beyond statutory and regulatory compliance.

Conservation Work Studies were undertaken to determine the presence/ absence of threatened and endangered (T&E) species (bats, bumblebees and butterflies). Completion of these studies will allow the N.D. Army National Guard to make appropriate management decisions for continuing training activities on our training lands without adversely impacting T&E species.

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State Partnership Program The State Partnership Program (SPP) between North Dakota and Ghana began in 2004. In 2018, North Dakota celebrated 14 years of partnering with Ghana and four years with both Togo and Benin.

North Dakota’s support to the three West African nations, established the only regionally-aligned partnership within the SPP. The purpose of the SPP is to foster mutual interests and establish habitual long-term relationships across all levels of society.

The program as a whole encourages the development of economic, political and military ties between the states and partner nations. The National Guard functions as a role model in demonstrating how a military organization can interact with the citizens and their government while reinforcing the concept that the military is subordinate to that nation’s civil authorities. The National Guard program began in 1993, with three Baltic nations, marking the 25th anniversary of this strategic enabler. It has grown to

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include partnerships with 74 countries.

Annual Overview During the past year, 32 events took place through North Dakota’s SPP, which included 53 N.D. Army National Guard Soldiers participating in the U.S. Army’s United Accord Exercise, the largest exercise in West Africa. Additionally, the North Dakota National Guard hosted an earthquake exercise in Ghana, the largest disaster preparedness exercise in that country’s history, which trained approximately 800 first responders from the National Disaster Management Organization, Ghana Police, National Fire, Ghana Armed Forces and the National Ambulance Service of Ghana.

The SPP events were organized under four lines of operations that include: defense support to civilian agencies, command programs, professional military education and peacekeeping operations. The engagements included senior leader engagements; horizontal, vertical and combat engineer operations; advanced military police

operations; gender integration and professional noncommissioned officer development.

North Dakota’s partnership with Ghana, Togo and Benin focuses on four key goals: •

Educate and train North Dakota National Guard forces for conducting security cooperation activities with partner nations.

• Sustain and strengthen enduring partnerships, and build partner capacity.

• Advance security cooperation goals of the AFRICOM (Africa Command) commander and U.S. ambassadors to Ghana, Togo and Benin.

• Posture to adeptly respond to future global scenarios by ensuring the program is synchronized with national, Department of Defense and joint strategies.

The top priority for the North Dakota National Guard is to maintain enduring relationships with

security cooperation activities, humanitarian assistance and disaster response with our partner nations by incorporating these subject matter experts into each SPP event. Experts from agencies, such as the North Dakota Departments of Emergency Services and Department of Health, have been brought in to enhance the Disaster Preparedness Program, which not only brings Guard Soldiers and Airmen together with their civilian counterparts to conduct a joint engagement, but it also brings Ghana’s, Togo’s and Benin’s interagency network together. By doing this, the agencies can form a joint audience to build the capacity to prepare for, respond to, and recover from a natural or manmade disaster.

Ghana, Togo and Benin to provide for U.S. strategic access, sustained U.S. presence, and enhanced defense capabilities for all partners involved.

The second priority is to build and sustain partner capacity through low-cost, high-impact, small-footprint security cooperation activities in support of AFRICOMs Theater Campaign Plan and Ghana, Togo and Benin’s country plans while supporting the adjutant general’s readiness goals.

The third priority is to bolster regional and multilateral engagements to improve Department of Defense and partner country interoperability and expeditionary capability.

North Dakota’s SPP also has established a robust Disaster Preparedness Program, integrating a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach. The inherent dual mission of the North Dakota National Guard requires citizen-Soldiers and -Airmen to frequently work alongside their state interagency and civilian counterparts during peace and times of crisis. Through the Disaster Preparedness Program, these relationships are leveraged to enhance

Outlook The North Dakota National Guard is committed to excellence and its SPP is a testament to the Guard’s ability to build and sustain enduring relationships with the Ghana, Togo and Benin Armed Forces and emergency response organizations. Significant changes in language within Chapter 16 of the NDAA 17 recognizes SPP as a strategic enabler, which has emerged as a proven security cooperation capacity builder. This model is strategically positioned to play an increasingly important role during the coming biennium. This will occur as our defense posture realigns toward new geographic areas of focus and sustained presence with enduring partner countries while increased emphasis is placed on implementing low-cost, small-footprint, innovative and rotational engagement programs across the globe.

The SPP has never been more relevant than it is today to the United States government. North Dakota will continue to build on program successes to keep it a key security cooperation tool for the Department of Defense for years to come.

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Office of the Chaplain Chaplains, chaplain assistants and licensed counselors work together to provide – in their respective areas – religious and spiritual support, as well as emotional and mental health support, to Soldiers, Airmen and their families. Military members of the National Guard (current/former) and their families are eligible to receive support.

Office of the Chaplain staff also are available to support members of other service branches who request assistance.

Highlights in 2018 The North Dakota Air and Army National Guard chaplaincy held two “Strong Bonds” events this year for married military couples, while also certifying Sgt. Chad Franson, a chaplain assistant, as a Strong Bonds instructor. The Army chaplains also took part in two demobilization events with the return of the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion from Afghanistan and the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment from Washington, D.C. Chaplains and chaplain assistants as part of Unit Ministry Teams also took part in “Soldier Readiness Processing” for the 164th Engineer Battalion, which was identified as a Focused Readiness Unit. Chaplain (Col.) David Johnson, state chaplain, supported the annual Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors, or TAPS, event in Washington, D.C., and a remembrance event at the North Dakota Memorials to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism in Bismarck in support of families of the fallen. Johnson also conducted four chaplain recruiting events this year to seek out new chaplains to serve in the organization.

Chaplain (Capt) Dellas Herbel gave a presentation on spiritual resiliency at the “Top Knife” conference, which was held at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico.

“Top Knife” is an annual symposium for U.S. Air Force medical and psychological professionals assigned to units flying unmanned aerial systems. He also facilitated a block of the training at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. The N.D. Air National Guard chaplain’s office also supported two Yellow Ribbon events to accomplish personnel deployment functions for the largest 119th Wing deployment since the Korean War. North Dakota’s chaplains continued to support the State Partnership Program (SPP) with the West African nations of Ghana, Togo and Benin. Johnson attended an SPP Africa Command, or AFRICOM, working group in Germany this summer to efforts between the groups. In September, the North Dakota’s chaplaincy participated

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in an SPP engagement in Togo/Benin. Johnson led the engagement and was accompanied by Staff Sgt. Chris Coombs, a chaplains assistant, and Chaplain (Capt.)

Scott Noyes, of the N.D. Army National Guard. Johnson and his team were joined by the deputy AFRICOM chaplain/senior enlisted advisor in Togo. Some of the topics the North Dakota group discussed during the visit included combat operational stress control/traumatic event management, suicide awareness/prevention, self-care, Unit Ministry Team 101 and the importance of the chaplaincy.

Updates/Changes in the Chaplain Corps & Counselor Positions Army National Guard • Staff Sgt. Rick Bryant (Senior Army Element religious affairs noncommissioned officer) • Spc. Jordan Benth (231st Brigade Support Battalion religious affairs specialist) • Sgt. Austin Mensing (1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment religious affairs noncommissioned officer) • Chaplain (Capt.) Yacob Makonnen (1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment transferred to the Minnesota National Guard) • Chaplain (Capt.) Brock Sailer (164th Engineer Battalion chaplain - retired) • Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Corey Bjertness (Army Command chaplain transferred to Minnesota National Guard) • Chaplain (Col.) David L. Johnson (Assigned as North Dakota State chaplain) Air National Guard • Tech. Sgt. Nathan Wilke (promoted to technical sergeant) • Staff Sgt. Michael Prazak (promoted to staff sergeant) • Chaplain (Lt. Col.) Bruce Krogstad (119th Wing chaplain—retired) • Chaplain (Capt.) Dellas Herbel (sssigned as 119th Wing chaplain) • Chaplain (Col.) John Flowers (North Dakota state chaplain—retired) Human Relations Counselors • Bernadette Ternes, licensed social worker, Bismarck • Ann Stark, counselor, social worker and marriage and family therapist, Fargo

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Service Member & Family Support The Service Member and Family Support (SMFS) Division’s No. 1 goal is to enhance the quality of life for all service members, veterans and their families across the state. The SMFS does this by connecting its customers with services and resources — both within and outside the North Dakota National Guard — to assist them throughout the entire deployment cycle — before, during and after. To carry out its mission, the SMFS staff is geographically positioned in five key areas throughout the state: Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Minot and Devils Lake (Camp Grafton), including two Military Service Centers (one in both Bismarck and Fargo). This allows the SMFS to effectively reach out and serve its customers.

Military Service Centers Military Service Centers (MSC) consolidate an array of SMFS services under one roof to provide a “one-stop shop” for customers. Centrally located in North Dakota, the Bismarck MSC houses the majority of the SMFS’s service representatives and serves as the division’s headquarters facility at Raymond J. Bohn Armory. The Fargo MSC is located in the Armed Forces Reserve Center.

Because of Bismarck’s and Fargo’s large metropolitan populations, along with concentration of the state’s units and military population, these cities were ideal locations for the facilities. The MSC staff provides services to and referrals for service members, family members, retirees and dependents from all service components. The staff includes Family

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Assistance Center (FAC) specialists, Child and Youth Program coordinators, a Family Readiness Support assistant, Military Outreach specialists, Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program specialists, a Transition Assistance Advisor, a Military OneSource representative, a Personal Financial Counselor and a DEERS (Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System) identification card system with multiple operators. These services are available to all military members from all components, their family members, veterans and retirees. During this reporting period over 10,000 customers received support and access to services at the MSCs in North Dakota.

Family Assistance Centers North Dakota has FACs located in Bismarck, Fargo, Grand Forks, Devils Lake (CGTC) and Minot. These North Dakota National Guard-sponsored centers provide essential services to military members, veterans and their families, covering all service components regardless of status. The variety of services include ID card and DEERS enrollment, information and referral on TRICARE, finance, legal, crisis intervention, Emergency Family Assistance Center, Exceptional Family Member Program, community information and outreach, and emergency financial assistance. During this reporting period, FAC specialists worked thousands of cases and provided information to Soldiers, veterans and their families. During unit or individual mobilization/ deployment, a FAC specialist contacts the service member’s identified primary family member working with them to ensure their needs are met during the absence of their service member. During this reporting

period, FAC specialists conducted over 6,000 outreach contacts with family members, including phone calls, emails, in-person visits and letters providing a variety of services to them.

Child and Youth Program The North Dakota National Guard Child and Youth Program supports military children and youth emotionally, socially, and academically, by providing resources and events for children ages 0-17, trainings for military families, and networking with community schools and organizations throughout our state. Our Youth Coordinators possess extensive knowledge covering a variety of programs and provide referral to family supportive organizations that help assist military youth with their needs. Our Youth Program conducted more than 60 events and coordinated the involvement of over 300 volunteers

MILITARY SERVICE CENTERS Bismarck Military Service Center 4200 Miriam Drive 701-333-3800

Fargo Military Service Center 3920 31st Str. N. 701-451-6018

who assisted with the execution of those events, logging more than 3000 hours of volunteer time. Additionally, more than 4500 youth participated at Yellow Ribbon events, N.D. National Guard youth camps, Region 8 Youth Summit, Teen council meetings, and military appreciation events. In 2018, a member of the N.D. National Guard Military Teen Council was awarded the National Youth Volunteer Award for outstanding volunteerism. The Child and Youth Program partnered with local agencies and organizations, such as the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, Lure em’ For Life, 4 H, and North Dakota State University to provide a variety in programming throughout the state.

Family Readiness Support Assistant The mission of the Family Readiness Support Assistant is to maintain continuity and stability within Family Readiness Groups as units undergo changes in volunteers and leadership. Operationally, the assistant provides administrative and logistical support to commanders, rear detachment commanders and volunteer Family Readiness Group leaders. The Family Readiness Support Assistants are the gateway to providing Family Readiness Groups the means to communicate with family members and provide information on training opportunities, coordinated family support events as well as links to community resources. Additionally, Family Readiness Support Assistants provide assistance to Family Readiness Group leaders, which helps preserve stability on the home front, during periods of deployment and throughout all stages of the deployment cycle. The Family Readiness Support Assistants support approximately 6,500 family members. During this reporting period, the Family Readiness Support team trained 199 volunteers and 60 command team soldiers on the Family Readiness Group basics. Additionally, 1,476 volunteers, family members and soldiers were given well-being trainings and the annual family programs brief. Family Readiness Group volunteers logged a total of 1,792 hours for a total monetary value of $41,216.

119th Wing Airman and Family Readiness Program The 119th Wing Airman & Family Readiness Program fosters family support and readiness for Air National Guard (ANG) members along with their dependents.

The program fosters such support by communicating with and involving families. Advocating family readiness and support provides positive partnerships between the ANG and the members’ families. The Airman & Family Readiness Program provides products and services that support unit family readiness. They also provide support for the development and implementation of a family readiness and support program at the 119th Wing.

This objective also includes providing consultation and assistance to leadership in identifying and addressing family issues and demographic trends which impact mission readiness and retention.

Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program The Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP) is a Department of Defense-wide effort to promote the well-being of National Guard and Reserve service members, and those who support them, with dynamic and engaging delivery of information before, during and

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after deployments. YRRP events connect attendees with local information on health care, education/training opportunities, and financial and legal benefits. These resources help to prepare and guide attendees through the hardships of deployment, then enable service members to successfully reintegrate back into their families, communities and careers. Commanders and leaders play a critical role in assuring that National Guard and Reserve service members and their families attend Yellow Ribbon events. Each National Guard and Reserve component executes its own YRRP support services in the manner that best meets their unique missions and challenges. The N.D. Army National Guard YRRP provided services to 265 Soldiers, 193 family members, and 40 military youth ages up to 17 years of age through multiple reintegration events during this reporting period.

Transition Assistance Advisor The transition assistance advisor is the statewide point of contact to provide information, support and direction to service members, veterans and their families about benefits and entitlements available through various federal and state agencies.

The advisor helps them with their transition from military to civilian life. During this reporting period, the transition assistance advisor assisted 1,624 service members, family members and veterans.

Personal Financial Counselor The Personal Financial Counselor program is funded through the Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) and is designed to provide financial counseling, education and personalized strategies for service members on personal financial readiness, money management and budget management. This enables military members and families to maintain or reach financial readiness and sustainment. During this reporting period, North Dakota’s personal financial counselor conducted 1,417 face-to-face consultations and gave presentations to more than 3,200 service and family members across North Dakota.

Military OneSource Military OneSource is a Department of Defense-funded program that’s both a call center (800-342-9647) and a website (www.militaryonesource.mil), providing comprehensive information on every aspect of military life that is free to active-duty, National Guard and Reserve service members, their families and survivors. Information includes, but is not limited to, deployment, reunion, relationships, grief counseling, spouse employment and education, parenting and child care and much more. During this reporting period, the Military OneSource state consultant provided direct and

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in-direct support to over 6,000 service and family members from the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, National Guard, Army Reserve, Marine Corps Reserve and Navy Reserve during 315 activities. The program aims to improve the quality of life for military families and enhance the overall effectiveness of the military community.

Military Outreach Team The state Military Outreach Program is designed to serve all North Dakota veterans, service members and their families. Outreach specialists make personal contact with veterans and their families to ensure that they are aware of their rights, services and benefits. As members of a Military Outreach Team (MOUT), they are available to assist veterans of any era, any conflict, and any service branch. MOUT members this reporting period contacted more than 4,000 veterans and family members and assisted more than 500 veterans and family members. They provided a range of support, including helping veterans navigate the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs benefits and services, locating housing assistance, finding mental health support and accessing military records. MOUT members continue to augment existing veteran support systems already in place. Their mobility allows them to cross over to areas not readily covered by other services.

Citizen Soldier for Life Program The Army National Guard - Citizen Soldier for Life (CSFL) Program familiarizes service members and their families with the skills necessary for a fulfilling military career. The program provides training and education on financial literacy and career readiness standards in efforts to enhance the personnel readiness, retention, resilience of the force and creates tight-knit partnerships with community, state and national employers in efforts to boost employment opportunities for our Soldiers and their families. Career Readiness Counselors are deployed in the 50 States, 3 Territories and District of Columbia providing eligible members with the assistance, skills and knowledge they need in order to achieve career, personal and financial goals throughout their initial, service and transition phase of their military careers. Three North Dakota Career Readiness Counselors are located in Bismarck, Fargo and Devils Lake (Camp Grafton Training Center). The Career Readiness Counselors have provided service to more than 500 participants.

Military Family Life Consultants The Military Family Life Consultants (MFLC) program is funded through the Dod and is designed to provide short-term, solution-focused counseling to service members and their families. The program serves all military branches with anonymous, confidential support. The MFLC also provides psycho-educational presentations,

briefings and counseling for Yellow Ribbon events, drill weekends and family events.

The topics include deployment, reintegration, communication, grief and loss. Due to Dod program changes in 2014, the MFLC service only is available as a requested, ondemand basis with no permanent MFLC positions residing within the N.D. National Guard.

DEERS/RAPID System The Defense Enrollment Eligibility Reporting System (DEERS) and Real-Time

Automated Personnel Identification System (RAPIDS) maintain personnel and benefits information for active, Reserve, and retired military members and their eligible family members, as well as civilian Department of Defense contractors and Civil Service personnel. They are used to issue identification cards to eligible military members, their families, retirees and their family members and to several other federal agencies who require the use of the military Common Access Card. Using these systems, the Service Member and Family Support office issued more than 1,000 identification cards during this reporting period.

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Military Funeral Honors “The ceremonial paying of respect and the final demonstration of the country’s gratitude to those who, in times of war and peace, have faithfully defended our nation.”

Members of a funeral honors detail sound “Taps,” fold, and present the American flag to the veteran’s survivor. National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000, enacted Oct. 5, 1999, sets out the requirements for funeral honors. Prior to this law, military honors were provided by the military services as resources allowed.

Every state has a Military Funeral Honors state coordinator to develop, maintain, organize and execute the Military Funeral Honors program within the state. At a minimum, a funeral honors detail consists of two members of the Armed Forces, at least one of which is a member of the veteran’s military service branch. When available, funeral honors details may be augmented with volunteers who are military veterans and members of veterans’ service organizations, such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars.

During the year, the North Dakota’s Military Funeral Honors program provided funeral honors for 748 veterans.

The Authorized Provider Partnership Program (AP3) authorizes members of the veteran service organizations to participate with the military services to provide additional elements for funeral honors. It allows a majority of the veterans to receive a firing party, taps, ceremonial folding and presenting of the American flag.

Under the AP3 program, veteran service organizations can participate as firing party members, pallbearers and buglers, among other duties in coordination with the military service. The AP3 program allows for the military service to provide veteran service organizations the necessary training and recognizes each veterans’ organization with a certificate upon completion of the required training.

Who is eligible for military funeral honors?

Personnel on active duty; former members who served on active duty and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; members of the Selected Reserve; former members of the Selected Reserve who served at least one term of enlistment or period of initial obligated service and were discharged under conditions other than dishonorable; and former members of the Selected Reserve who were discharged due to a service-related disability.

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Veterans are ineligible if they are convicted of federal or state capital offenses and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole or receive the death penalty. They also are ineligible if they were discharged from the military under dishonorable conditions. These conditions include dishonorable discharge, bad conduct discharge, dismissal from the service awarded by court-martial, other than honorable discharge and, for officers, resignations of the good of the service in lieu of courts-martial, which results in a discharge characterization of other than honorable conditions.

State Program The current program has the state divided into four regions with full-time Guardsmen in each region, augmented by traditional North Dakota National Guard Soldiers. Regularly scheduled training is conducted throughout the state to anyone willing to attend to build confidence in members. Funding comes from the National Guard Bureau.

The North Dakota Military Funeral Honors program began in October 2006.

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Army National Guard 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade The Fargo-based 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), with its headquarters company and various subordinate elements across North Dakota, serves as a rear-area security and support element when called upon for divisionsized maneuver units in times of armed conflict or during peacekeeping operations, including domestic response within the state. With an authorized strength of about 200 Soldiers and a total of 42 military occupational specialties and 23 officer areas of consideration, the 141st MEB’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) is the largest unit in the North Dakota National Guard.

In June 2018, the 141st MEB HHC, commanded by Capt. Jamer Morrow, participated in a brigade combat post exercise at Camp Grafton Training Center.

A doctrinal training team, from Camp Dodge, Iowa, assisted unit members in incorporating more emphasis on decisive operations to create a more mobile MEB. In this war-fighting exercise, the unit maintained command and control of subordinate units in a notional war-time scenario. The Fargo-based 231st Brigade Support Battalion (BSB), and the Minot-based 164th Engineer Battalion also participated in the exercise to provide real-world logistical support, engineer operations and troop movements in support of the 141st MEB HHC. As the higher headquarters for more than two-thirds of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s units, the MEB’s leadership transition is crucial for ensuring continuity in training and maintaining a stable force. On Sept. 23, 2017, Col. Jonathan Erickson assumed duties as commander of the 141st MEB from Brig.

Gen. Leo Ryan, who is now the N.D. Army National Guard’s land component commander. Additionally, on Sep. 23, 2018, during a change of responsibility ceremony, Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson assumed responsibility as the senior enlisted leader from Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Grinsteinner.

1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment More than 330 Soldiers serve in the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery (1-188th ADA) Regiment, which has units in Grand Forks, Fargo and Bismarck.

Its Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, located in Grand Forks, provides command and control to subordinate Avenger/Sentinel batteries and a maintenance

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detachment. The three Avenger/Sentinel batteries are: Battery A in Bismarck, Battery B in Grand Forks and Battery C in Fargo. The battalions Detachment D, is located in Grand Forks and maintains the regiment’s equipment.

About 30 Soldiers from the 1-188th were still contributing to Operation Noble Eagle for a second consecutive year in the Washington, D.C., area. The bulk of the unit (about 170 Soldiers) returned home in February 2018. The unit’s mission involved collaborating with other Department of Defense agencies as part of the integrated air defense system designed to protect the airspace around the National Capital Region. The remaining 30 Soldiers extended their mission to fill critical roles supporting the South Carolina Army National Guard’s 2nd Battalion, 263rd Air Defense Artillery, which took over the National Capital Region mission.

During annual training in June 2018, the battalion participated in decisiveaction training at Camp Grafton South. Training focused on protecting critical assets from air threats. The Soldiers also conducted weapons qualifications, nuclear biological chemical training and tested themselves on Camp Grafton’s confidence course and rappel tower.

231st Brigade Support Battalion More than 200 Soldiers serve in the 231st Brigade Support Battalion’s (BSB) units in southeastern North Dakota. Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) Soldiers serve in Valley City and provide command and control for organic and attached units assigned to the battalion. Detachment 1 of Company A’s Soldiers also serve in Valley City, while the remainder of Company A and Company B Soldiers are located in Fargo. Company A provides sustainment and distribution support and Company B provides field maintenance support.

In June 2018, the 231st BSB’s units, along with the attached 188th Engineer Company (Vertical), the 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal), the 835th Engineer Detachment (Utilities) and the 897th Engineer Detachment (Concrete), conducted a battalion field training exercise at the Camp Grafton South Training Area. The exercise gave unit members opportunities to increase

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their technical skills through mission essential task proficiency and tactical skills through lane training and individual weapons qualification.

188th Engineer Company (Vertical) The 188th Engineer Company (Vertical) is based out of Wahpeton and is comprised of more than 150 Soldiers.

The unit consists of two vertical engineering platoons, of which their ranks are filled with carpenters and masons and plumbers and electricians. Its horizontal engineering platoon is comprised of construction equipment operators and a field maintenance team with mechanic personnel.

In June 2018, the unit was responsible for constructing a shower and latrine facility and watch tower for a Tactical Training Base at Camp Grafton South. When complete, these facilities will offer a training location for units in the field.

In July 2018, 50 Soldiers from the unit supported United Accord 2018, a training event in Accra, Ghana.

They completed numerous vertical construction projects there, including the construction of a guard tower, installation of air conditioning units, construction of school desks for local schools and preparing and pouring over 180 cubic yards of concrete for a helicopter landing zone.

815th Engineer Company (Horizontal) The 815th Engineer Company (Horizontal) is based out of Edgeley, Wishek and Lisbon and is comprised of about 150 Soldiers. The unit is responsible for horizontal construction, which includes road and airfield construction, road maintenance, and tactical obstacle and protective position construction.

Soldiers from the 815th Engineer Company honed their tactical and technical construction skills during a field training exercise at the Camp Grafton South training area in June 2018. They constructed tank ditches and vehicle fighting positions and also conducted routine road maintenance throughout the area. The unit

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also assisted with dredging Richie Slough at the Camp Grafton Training Center. This location will be a premier ribbon float bridge and bridge boat training area in the near future.

835th Engineer Detachment (Utilities) and 897th Engineer Detachment (Concrete) The 835th Engineer Detachment (Utilities) specializes in carpentry, masonry, plumbing, electrical and concrete construction operations, while the 897th Engineer Detachment (Concrete) specializes in concrete construction. Both units are located at Camp Grafton Training Center.

During 2018, both units completed numerous construction projects on Camp Grafton, including constructing a watch tower at the Tactical Training Base and numerous concrete projects.

164th Engineer Battalion The 164th Engineer Battalion, based in Minot, commands units from across central and western North Dakota. Those units include 164th’s Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) in Minot, the 164th Forward Support Company (FSC) in Minot, the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) in Jamestown, the 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) in Minot (with a detachment in Williston) and the 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) in Bismarck.

This summer, the 164th Engineer Battalion’s staff participated in a combined arms, multi-echelon “Warfighter” exercise at Camp Grafton Training Center where they supported the Fargo-based 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. There, HHC conducted an 8-day, battalion-level operation focused on providing mission command for 12 subordinate companies.

The unit also provided mission command to its four subordinate units as they conducted training in support of active-duty and adjacent National Guard units while at the Joint Readiness Training Center ( JRTC) in Fort

Polk, Louisiana, and the National Training Center (NTC) in Fort Irwin, California. These multiple week training events required synchronized planning and resource coordination.

unmanned aerial system (UAS) for the 103rd Brigade Engineer Battalion (BEB), of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard. This was a first for the 103 BEB and vital to their success during the NTC rotation.

164th Forward Support Company The Forward Support Company (FSC) operates out of Minot and provides several unique and essential capabilities to Army units regardless of proponent or status. FSC is comprised of nearly 100 Soldiers who specialize in field feeding operations, distribution and maintenance.

FSC completed a successful NTC rotation in September 2017 at Fort Irwin, California. The unit also conducted its 2018 annual training at Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota. While there, they supported the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company (Multi Role Bridge) and conducted their annual crewserved weapons qualifications.

818th Engineer Company (Sapper) More than 100 Soldiers serve in the Minot-based 818th Engineer Company (Sapper), which falls under the 164th Engineer Battalion. The unit conducts mobility, counter mobility, survivability and general engineering tasks in support of maneuver and support brigades.

The 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) recently was reorganized and had the location of its headquarters and its detachment moved. The unit now is headquartered in Minot where its command and maintenance section are located. The unit’s detachment is located in Williston and consists of two Sapper platoons.

Soldiers of the 818th Engineer Company (Sapper) supported two combat training center rotations in 2018. One of the unit’s platoons traveled to the JRTC to conduct a 3-week exercise supporting an infantry company. Another platoon was attached to the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) for much of the 2018 training year. This platoon participated in a 28-day NTC rotation in support of a National Guard Brigade Combat Team (BCT). They conducted combat engineer operations, including mobility and counter-mobility missions.

817th Engineer Company (Sapper) More than 100 Soldiers serve in the Jamestown-based, 817th Engineer Company (Sapper), which falls under the 164th Engineer Battalion. The unit conducts mobility, counter mobility, survivability, and general engineering tasks in support of maneuver and support brigades.

In July 2017, the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) began preparing for a rotation to NTC at Fort Irwin, California. The unit completed numerous planning conferences, site visits, training sessions and field exercises to ensure they were ready to complete any assigned mission as the exercise commenced.

At NTC, in August 2018, the 817th Engineer Company (Sapper) Soldiers were recognized by the infamous “Team Sidewinder” (observer/controller) for being motivated, safety conscience and proficient in a large variety of combat engineering skills. A Soldier from the unit, Spc. Austin Mittleider, was solely responsible for a successful launch, flight and recovery of a Raven

957th Engineer Company (MRBC) Nearly 200 Soldiers serve in the Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge), which falls under the 164th Engineer Battalion. The unit conducts bridging operations, including transportation, assembly, retrieval and maintenance of all standard U.S. Army bridging systems. The unit’s secondary mission is to provide transportation of palletized-loading-systemconfigured cargo in support of worldwide contingencies and state operations.

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The 957th conducted multiple field training exercises at Kimball Bottoms and Lake Nelson − located in close proximity to Bismarck − from July 2017 through September 2018. The Soldiers trained at additional locations during the year, including Camp Ripley Training Center in Minnesota. The unit’s 2018 training featured a first-in-unit-history air assault operation which saw a complete closure of the Mississippi River.

In May 2018, the unit received the first of four M30 Bridge Erection Boats.

The M30 was incorporated into the unit’s training and licensing programs. The primary differences between the MKII Bridge Erection Boats the units previously operated and the M30 model are its maneuverability, the main control system and total maximum personnel capacity, which is reduced from 15 to six. The M30 is fully capable with a crew of two personnel, and a max speed of 24 knots, or around 28 mph.

Camp Grafton Training Center Camp Grafton Training Center is located along the shores of a 150,000acre lake that bears the same name. Located about five miles south of Devils Lake, along State Highway 20, the post encompasses about 1,500 acres and is the equivalent of a small city, having more than 300 buildings and completely developed infrastructure. The main post consists primarily of unit headquarters, logistics support facilities and is home to the 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute.

The training facility’s primary live-fire ranges and maneuver training areas are at Camp Grafton’s south unit — about 45 miles south of the main camp — and consist of 11,000 acres that provide a training area for open-area combat arms, maneuver, demolitions and bridging operations.

Camp Grafton Training Center is one of the most desirable locations for military units nationwide to conduct training. Law enforcement agencies in the region, state and local agencies, and universities in North Dakota also train there.

Staffed by skilled professionals, Camp Grafton maintained an annual throughput of more than 80,400 man days in 2018. More than 4,000 of those days were used to accommodate non-Department of Defense organizations. Some of the organizations using the training center’s facilities included local law enforcement and SWAT, the North Dakota Department of Transportation, local schools, the North Dakota Department of Corrections, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, Air National Guard and the U.S. Air Force.

To meet emerging training requirements for Army National Guard units, an effort to explore range expansion at Camp Grafton’s south unit has been a main priority for the training center. In Fall 2018, initial meetings were held with landowners, stakeholders and local elected officials to provide information and

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gather feedback on potentially expanding Camp Grafton’s south unit’s training and range space by about 6,000 acres.

Currently, Camp Grafton Training Center offers several team building training opportunities for visitors, including a Leadership Reaction Course and a 22-station Confidence Course, which prepares Soldiers selected to attend the Air Assault Course. Camp Grafton also has developed plans to integrate a fitness park around its 400-meter running track. Additionally, new equipment and facilities for year-round training will become available to facilitate Soldiers in preparation for the new Army Combat Fitness Test. Lodging also continues to be updates as a project has been initiated to replace antiquated single-wide trailers with modern 8-plex housing.

Personnel at Camp Grafton also continue to maintain a robust community outreach program. Local leader visits, disabled veterans hunting, a 14K run/walk event, school and community visits and educational seminars are only a small part of the interaction Camp Grafton has with the citizens of North Dakota.

164th Regiment Regional Training Institute The 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute’s (RTI) two training battalions — the 1st Engineer Battalion and 2nd Modular Battalion — provide year-round, fully-accredited military engineer specialty courses and noncommissioned officer training for reservecomponent engineers nationwide. Institute instructors also conduct Officer Candidate School training, primarily for North Dakota Soldiers. Training for the majority of courses takes place at the Camp Grafton Training Center.

During the year, the North Dakota’s schoolhouse staff of about 70 full-time Guardsmen continued to offer a robust curriculum for military members visiting the RTI, including courses in the following military occupational specialties: combat engineer, bridge crewmember, construction supervisor, plumber, heavy equipment operator, electrician, technical engineer, construction specialist (masonry), food service specialist, an Army Basic Instructor Course and Small Group Instructor Course. The RTI also conducted its first-ever Reserve Component Technical Engineer Surveyor Advanced Leader and Senior Leader Courses, making it the only Reserve component schoolhouse in the nation to instruct these courses.

RTI instructors this year conducted 126 classes, trained and graduated 1,724 students over 240,000 academic hours. The North Dakota school is One Army School System compliant, which means active-duty Soldiers can access training at Camp Grafton along with the National Guard and U.S. Army Reserve. The RTI’s instructors trained 63 active-duty Soldiers this year and are expected to train more than 200 during fiscal year 2020.

In addition to providing training and instruction, the RTI continues to be a very active participant in the State Partnership Program with Ghana, Togo and Benin, and sends numerous instructors to the countries each year. While there, they can offer assistance and guidance on engineer operations.

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68th Troop Command The Bismarck-based 68th Troop Command is a command and control headquarters unit responsible for the oversight of about 900 Soldiers who serve within two battalions, one company and four separate units. The primary mission for the 68th Troop Command is to support all training, administrative, logistical and mobilization requirements for subordinate units. The 68th Troop Command also provides command and control for emergency operations in a geographically-assigned area, operationally known as a Regional Response Platform or as a Joint Task Force.

In 2018, the 68th Troop Command prepared units for deployment, supported the State Partnership Program, and continued to train to support state and federal missions.

Future missions for the unit will be determined based on state and federal requirements.

Col. James Olson, 68th Troop Command commander, of Bismarck, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, of Fargo, led the unit this year.

1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment (Security and Support) The 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment (1-112th) operates and maintains UH-60 Black Hawk and UH-72A Lakota helicopters. Four units fall within the Battalion, located in Bismarck: Company A of the 1-112th; Company H of the 1-112th; Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment (Assault) (2- 285th) and Company D, 1-112th Aviation Battalion MEDEVAC, which is stationed in Fargo.

The units operate Black Hawks primarily for troop movement and internal/external transport. The Lakota is ideally-suited for logistics and missions in support of homeland security, emergency response and medical evacuations.

Headquarters and Headquarters Company The 1-112th and its Headquarters and Headquarters Company (HHC) this year conducted operations simulating emergency support to communities by operating out of the Carrington Airport. The unit also prepared for potential hurricane and flood support operations on the East Coast by conducting water egress, or dunker, training at Fort Rucker, Alabama.

Company A, 1-112th Company A also participated in the Carrington emergency support scenario and dunker training at Fort Rucker. The unit’s Soldiers continue to train and conduct surveillance in support of domestic operations. The aviators this year also enhanced their ability to survive in cold climates during winter survival training, held at Camp Grafton Training Center.

Company D, 1-112th MEDEVAC Company D this year became the first U.S. Army unit to be fully compliant with its flight paramedics certifications. The flight paramedic noncommissioned officers are required to have their National Registry paramedic certification, attend two months of critical care flight paramedic training and are allowed to take the flight paramedic certification exam. This certification is equivalent to a civilian Helicopter Emergency Medical Service (HEMS).

Company D also became the first aviation unit in the state to conduct a live human hoist and SKEDCO litter hoist training. The unit also supported a real world medical evacuation during training in Germany.

Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment (Assault) Company C, 2-285th this biennium revitalized the importance of Aerial Gunnery Program, conducting aerial gunnery during its last three annual training periods. The unit works as a standalone task force with a full company, which uses 10 UH-60 Black Hawks and elements from flight operations (HHC), ground maintenance (Company E) and aircraft maintenance (Company D).

Company C regularly maintains Red Card helicopter fire-fighting training with the U.S. Forest Service and the Bureau of Indian Affairs in order to respond to federal fire-fighting requests. In 2018, the unit conducted this training in cooperation with the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation.

Company C continues to support the regional Officer Candidate School in Fort Meade, South Dakota. The unit moves Soldiers throughout the Black Hills Training area during the course.

Detachment 42, Operational Support Airlift Agency Detachment 42, Operational Support Airlift Agency (OSAA) conducts personnel and cargo movement using fixed-wing aircraft throughout the contiguous United States and, when required, deploys to perform similar missions in regions throughout the world.

The unit this year mobilized during the summer for a mission to the Horn of Africa.

While this will be the first mobilization under its new Detachment 7 designation, the mission actually will be the fixed-wing unit’s fourth mobilization. Detachment 42 Soldiers previously served in Afghanistan in 2003 and 2005 and Djibouti, Africa, in 2009.

116th Public Affairs Detachment The 116th Public Affairs Detachment (PAD), of Bismarck, is comprised of eight

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military journalists who tell the North Dakota National Guard story. Assigned Soldiers support the North Dakota National Guard’s event and mission coverage requirements while training for their wartime mission. Their strategic communications involve providing timely information during times of crisis and documenting North Dakota National Guard personnel, equipment and missions.

In 2017, members of the 116th PAD created and distributed news releases and photos about organizational exercises to traditional media outlets worldwide and on social media platforms, reaching thousands of readers and viewers. The 116th PAD also produced print media products for the North Dakota Guardian, the official publication for the N.D. National Guard.

136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion About 70 Soldiers from the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the Bismarck-based 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion (CSSB) are trained in providing command and control structure for assigned or attached units. The unit can provide sustainment with any configuration of modular units assigned or attached within their command and control structure to reach the commander’s intent. The unit oversees one of four regional response platforms, which are designated throughout the state for domestic operations and include multiple counties in central and south central North Dakota.

In 2017, the unit returned from an overseas mission in Afghanistan. The 136th CSSB were assigned two new military police companies, providing command and control for five separate companies spanning across the state, from Grand Forks to Dickinson.

191st Military Police Company About 160 Soldiers serve in the Fargo-based 191st Military Police Company and its detachment in Grand Forks. The unit specializes in law enforcement activities, mobility support operations, area security, detention operations and criminal investigations in support of joint contingency efforts worldwide. It also performs domestic operations with an emphasis on police and detention operations in support of state and civil authorities.

About two dozen Soldiers from the 191st Military Police Company were alerted for a deployment to Afghanistan in 2017. The unit this year is providing protective security detail for NATO Leaders in Afghanistan.

816th Military Police Company The 816th Engineer Company this year completed its transition from an engineer company to a military police company. The Soldier took on new roles and responsibilities and the unit conducted training on convoy operations, weapons and law

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and order operations in Helena, Montana. The unit is based out of Dickinson with a Detachment in Bismarck.

3662nd Support Maintenance Company The 3662nd Maintenance Company, of Devils Lake, is comprised of 140 Soldiers.

The unit provides command and control of assigned platoons, modules and teams to provide maintenance. The unit provides sustainment maintenance of automotive vehicle systems — both tracked and wheeled — as well as ground support equipment (power generation, utility, construction, quartermaster and chemical equipment), armament and fire-control equipment.

This year, the unit transitioned from a component repair company to a support maintenance company. This change required the unit to focus on supporting maintenance in a field environment, which the unit did during training at Camp Grafton.

188th Army Band About 40 Soldier-musicians serve in the 188th Army Band in Fargo. As the official military band of North Dakota, the unit has the responsibility to perform for both civilian and military audiences across the state. The 188th Army Band operates under the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, of the 68th Troop Command, and is led by Chief Warrant Officer 2 James Landman and 1st Sgt. Jeff Pfingsten.

Every Soldier in the unit belongs to multiple musical ensembles, each with unique performance styles and capacities. The band’s flexibility and modularity enable the unit to adapt to diverse settings, from small-town parades to send-off ceremonies to high school classrooms.

The band continues to support Music in Schools by conducting rehearsal and performances with various high schools across the state. The Soldiers continued to develop this initiative by performing at the State Fair Parade, and with the North Dakota State Gold Star Band at half time of a North Dakota State University football game.

A significant focus for the unit continues to be education outreach. In July 2018, the 188th Army Band held its fifth iteration of its Military Youth Music Camp to support children of current and retired North Dakota National Guard service members. During each of these 4-day camps, members of the band coached and mentored about 15 young musicians on the North Dakota State University campus. The students fine-tuned their musical skills and learned how to express their thoughts and feelings through music and writing.

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Recruiting & Retention Battalion Within the North Dakota Army National Guard, the Recruiting and Retention Battalion works to build the force with qualified recruits while retaining the well-trained Soldiers already serving within units. This mission is handled by a team of 65 full-time personnel and part-time Soldiers across the state, including strength maintenance noncommissioned officers, support staff, Recruit Sustainment Program cadre and staff, officer strength management personnel and recruitment and retention command leadership.

Recruiting and Retention remains steadfast in its mission to recruit, train and retain citizens to the North Dakota Army National Guard to provide ready units, individuals and equipment supporting our communities, state and nation.

From July 2017 to June 2018, 560 new Soldiers joined the ranks of the North Dakota Army National Guard. Of those, 65 achieved honor graduate or distinguished honor graduate while attending Basic Combat Training or military occupational specialty schools with several excelling during all initial training.

Soldiers continue to take advantage of many outstanding career opportunities and benefits — including gaining leadership skills and military and civilian education — at little or no cost to the Soldier. Additionally, Soldiers have access to free educational services (career counseling, admission test, etc.), free medical screenings, life insurance, family benefits (including use of the commissary and Post Exchange facilities), and vocational training and retiree benefits.

During the year, the National Guard offered federally-funded recruiting and retention incentives to select units and Soldiers with specific military occupational specialties. This Selected Reserve Incentive Program included: • • • •

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Re-enlistment cash bonus of up to $4,000 for a 2-year reenlistment or up to $20,000 for a 6-year reenlistment.

Enlistment cash bonuses ranging from $7,500 to $20,000 in selected units for enlistment into critical skill military occupational specialties, which are determined by the Department of Army and the National Guard Bureau.

An affiliation bonus ranging from $5,000 to $20,000 for Soldiers being discharged from active duty with a remaining service obligation, who joined the National Guard.

The Student Loan Repayment Program makes payments on student loans at the end of each satisfactory year of service. A minimum of $500 and a maximum of $7,500 (including interest) can be paid each year, dependent on loan amounts.

The maximum amount paid to a Soldier is $50,000.

A Health Professional Loan Repayment Program repays medical professional education loans when a medical professional joins the Guard. The program pays from $75,000 to $240,000, depending on the area of concentration. Yearly payments range from up to $25,000 to $40,000. The program is available to any medical career specialty, as determined by the Department of the Army based on

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critical shortages nationwide in these career fields.

A Chaplains Loan Repayment Program makes payments on student loans at the end of each satisfactory year of service. A payment of up to $6,666 is paid each year with a lifetime maximum for this incentive of $80,000.

Chapter 1606, Montgomery GI Bill is a federal program enacted by Congress that entitles Soldiers to 36 months of educational benefits. As the biennium ended, the GI Bill rate was $384 per month for a full-time student.

Montgomery GI Bill Kicker Program — The National Defense Authorization Act amended the basic GI Bill program and authorized additional benefits for Soldiers with specific skills or in particular units. This program provides an additional $200-$350 a month for full-time students.

Tuition Assistance Program — North Dakota has been fortunate to have state funding complement federal funding, to be able to offer up to 100 percent paid tuition for North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers. The National Guard Bureau has recognized this program as a key contributor to our successful recruiting/retention efforts during the past two years. The program helps pay tuition fees for Army and Air Guard members who attend state-controlled colleges and universities. Students at participating private colleges receive reimbursement up to the full-time undergraduate rate at the state-controlled school with the highest combined tuition and fee rate. Service members must earn at least a C or better for undergraduate reimbursement, and a B or better for graduate courses.

Recruit Sustainment Program The Recruit Sustainment Program (RSP) located at Camp Grafton Training Center remains successful at preparing North Dakota Soldiers for Basic Combat Training.

North Dakota’s ship rate average over this biennium is 93.2 percent, which surpasses National Guard Bureau’s goal of 85 percent. Of 545 Soldiers scheduled to ship to training, 508 successfully shipped to training and were mentally, physically and administratively ready to succeed. During the month of September 2018, North Dakota, for the first time in over 5 years, broke into the top 10 in the nation by placing 9th respectfully on the Recruit Sustainment Programs national metrics.

North Dakota’s Honor Graduate rate for this biennium is 10.2 percent, meaning that 52 of the 508 who shipped to training, had been named an honor graduate or distinguished honor graduate. Other notable accomplishments from this biennium are: During the months of December 2017 and January 2018, North Dakota was one of only 7 states in the nation that was able to meet NGB’s goal of an 84% Training Pipeline Success Rate.

North Dakota reached first in the nation for Shipper Quality Control Rate in June of 2018 with a 100 percent accuracy rate on shipper packets, and has consistently remained in the top 10 in the nation in this category.

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Commissioned Officer Recruiting During he year, the N.D. Army National Guard has made significant strides in filling our officer and warrant officer shortages. With a concerted effort by the Recruiting and Retention Battalion and the units’ leadership, the achievements during this biennium have set North Dakota on a great path for identifying and developing the future leaders within the organization.

Eagle Flight is an educational and recruiting event held annually at Camp Grafton Training Center. This event is used to recruit and inform potential applicants of the different commissioning routes for becoming an officer. Information is provided on all officer producing programs to include Officer Candidate School, Reserve Officer Training Corps, Warrant Officer Candidate School, Specialty Branch and Direct Commissions. In addition, subject matter experts provide the most current changes to education and other incentives.

Armed Forces Classification Test (AFCT) Preparation and Examination Weekend is an event to assist potential officer candidates with improving their General Technical (GT) score to 110, which is the minimum requirement to commission. The event has been a partnership between the Recruiting and Retention Battalion and local educators, who support the instruction in the topics of math and arithmetic reasoning. During this biennium, 47 Soldiers attended and averaged an increase of 10 points on their GT score.

Reserve Officer Training Corps The Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) program is designed to prepare students to become future leaders and commissioned officers. The specific locations for ROTC in North Dakota, which includes locations in Minnesota, are the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks and the Tri-College ROTC program, which includes North Dakota State University in Fargo, Minnesota State University Moorhead, and Concordia College in Moorhead.

The Army ROTC scholarship benefit package provides tuition, fees, housing, and a book allowance. Two-, three- and four-year scholarships are available.

All contracted cadets are also entitled to a stipend (subsistence allowance) authorized by law. The subsistence allowance is $420 per month while the student is attending school and begins immediately upon contracting. In addition, a housing allowance of $10,000 and book allowance of $1200 are authorized for each academic year. While under contract, each cadet will be paid as an E-5 (sergeant) as they complete their officer training and college degree.

ROTC has revised their curriculum to create a more dynamic classroom atmosphere centered on critical thinking and problem solving to help these future leaders become more adaptable. This program produced 18 college graduates and second Lieutenants for the Army National Guard during this biennium.

The Minuteman/Civilian Ambassador to the Secretary of the Army (CASA)

ROTC Campaign has been wildly successful in both enlisted production and growing future officers. Minuteman and CASA scholarships provide the same level of financial incentive, but come from different nominating sources. Both The Adjutant General and the CASA have nominating authority for this tremendous scholarship.

Officer Candidate School Officer Candidate School (OCS) provides an opportunity for Soldiers who desire a challenging management position in one of the many career fields offered by the National Guard. Officer Candidates have two options for commissioning through OCS — Traditional and Accelerated (Fast Track). The Traditional Course is a 16 to 19-month course of instruction that follows the standard one weekend a month and two weeks a year schedule, whereas the Accelerated Course is eight weeks.

Throughout the year, 14 Officer Candidates have taken advantage of this program – 10 choosing the traditional route and four candidates going Fast Track.

Warrant Officer Recruiting Warrant Officer recruiting is focused on current Soldiers from within the North Dakota Army National Guard who have displayed the technical skill and leadership ability commensurate with becoming a warrant officer. Warrant officers are technical experts, combat leaders and advisors. Soldiers must meet certain criteria to be eligible to pursue a commission through the Warrant Officer program. A prospective warrant officer must be selected and approved by the North Dakota Army National Guard leadership and the technical skill proponent school. Warrant Officer Candidate School can either be completed via distant learning and a resident portion, or a complete resident portion in the case of aviation warrant officers. Over the ear, 18 Soldiers have been approved to pursue their commission as a warrant officer.

North Dakota High School Activities Association The N.D. Army National Guard supported efforts and activities sanctioned by the North Dakota High School Activities Association through a partnership role.

During the biennium, the North Dakota Army National Guard had a presence at more than two dozen state athletic events and eight non-athletic events. These events open the doors for Guard personnel to engage with students, centers of influence and communities across the state.

Community Relationships Strong relationships have been built with the North Dakota Broadcasters Association,

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North Dakota Association of Secondary Principals, North Dakota Counseling Association, North Dakota Education Association and schools and colleges across the state. Also, strong relationships have been built with community organizations, such as the Boy Scouts and High School Junior ROTC programs.

Academia Mission To showcase the N.D. Army National Guard’s dedication to its “Partners in Education” role, the Recruiting and Retention Battalion held several “Educator Flights” at Camp Grafton Training Center.

This event delivers a unique experience to North Dakota school administrators, teachers, coaches and faculty by providing them a “day-in-the-life” perspective of a National Guard Soldier. Educators are introduced to basic Soldier skills and have the opportunity to use the Engagement Skills Trainer, which is a simulated training aid for weapon usage. The educators also have rappelled down a 30-foot rappel tower and flown in a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter.

The purpose of the Academia Mission and educator event is to broaden state educators’ understanding about what the North Dakota Army National Guard has to offer potential recruits, as well as their communities and schools.

Military Appreciation Games The N.D. Army National Guard has teamed up with high schools and colleges across the state in an effort to promote military awareness and community involvement through military appreciation games. The athletic events offer a setting for relationship building between the National Guard and the community in a cooperative environment.

Athletic home teams wear a military style jersey to demonstrate the community connection that the North Dakota Army National Guard has established over the years. These sporting events include football, basketball (girls and boys), hockey, wrestling and volleyball. The North Dakota Army National Guard plans to continue

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our partnership with schools and communities.

Job Shadow Program The N.D. Army National Guard’s Job Shadow Program is an excellent opportunity for local students to observe and participate in a vocation or technical career area. The program allows individuals to discover careers and opportunities in various vocational fields. This is particularly beneficial when it comes time to choose a field of study for college. The program is available to juniors, seniors, college students and individuals who are interested in a vocation or technical field.

National Guard facilities around the state aid in this program by offering a platform for students to explore their interests. Maintenance shops throughout North Dakota and the 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute at Camp Grafton Training Center are readily available for prospective recruits to observe the vocational and technical fields that the N.D. Army National Guard has to offer.

During the year, the program offered opportunities to observe vocations and technical training in armament, upholstery, welding, machining, auto body and paint shop, electronic repair, automotive and equipment mechanic, administrative/clerical/supply and calibration.

Other Opportunities The N.D. Army National Guard continued to support additional events across the state, including the North Dakota State Fair and the Red River Valley Fair. Recruiting personnel also continued to expand and improve upon school initiatives, including a life skills programs, alcohol awareness presentations and countless other activities across the state to further strengthen the North Dakota Army National Guard brand awareness and generate quality leads for recruiters.

Military Entrance Processing Station (MEPS) The Fargo MEPS earned the Army National Guard Small Military Entrance Processing Station for Fiscal

Year 2016 and again in 2018. This is the third time the Fargo MEPS has been selected for this recognition. The North Dakota Army National Guard guidance counselors were key to achieving this recognition. They scored 98 out of 100 points for overall MEPS Guidance Counselor operations, applicant and shipper processing, and review of shipper packets. The Fargo MEPS completed Fiscal Year 2018 with only one deficiency in applicant enlistment packets. They processed 696 applicants and 347 of them for enlistment in Fiscal Year 2018. They will continue to uphold their high standards and strive to earn more MEPS of the year awards in the future.

Retention Efforts The Recruiting and Retention Battalion has a team of trained retention personnel who understand the importance of maintaining the force. They work diligently with units and individual Soldiers in an effort to keep the N.D. Army National Guard functioning at its best. Throughout the biennium, the retention team has supported units in many different ways to include incentive briefings, Guard Your Future events, unit retention counselor training, family support activities and cook-outs for Soldiers at annual training. Retention noncommissioned officers collaborate with state and unit leadership to identify, monitor and address Soldier issues.

North Dakota is consistently in the top five in the nation for retention rates of our Soldiers. This is due to the quality of leadership, training and Soldiers that make up the N.D. Army National Guard.

Guard Your Future is a retention event held once per year in Bismarck and in Fargo. Soldiers who are have approximately 365 days until their Expiration of Term of Service are invited to attend this event, along with their spouses. This event is focused on providing our Soldiers with information about the benefits related to their service to the N.D. Army National Guard so that they are able to make an informed decision. Information is provided on education, retirement, and health incentives related to their service. This program has been successful in educating our Soldiers and families with over 40 percent of Soldiers who have attended this event deciding to re-enlist.

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Air National Guard 119th Wing The 119th Wing, out of Fargo, serves as the headquarters for the North Dakota Air National Guard. Support offices within its immediate oversight include the legal office, public affairs, finance, safety and chaplaincy.

The unit, known as the Happy Hooligans, maintained its status as one of the most-awarded in the nation when it received its 19th Air Force Outstanding Unit Award during the year. The Air Force Outstanding Unit Award recognizes units across the active-duty Air Force, Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard for achievements of national or international significance, including successful involvement with military operations or exposure to hostile actions by an opposing force.

In August 2018, the 119th Wing became the first Air National Guard remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) unit to earn the Major General John J. Pesch Flight Safety Trophy. This historic accomplishment can be attributed to drastic reductions in mission down time in the MQ-9 Reaper mission control element (MCE) and launch and recovery element (LRE) in 2018.

The 119th Wing also experienced an overall reduction in ground-related mishaps and achieved the lowest injury rate in its history during 2018’s “101 Critical Days of Summer.” Additionally, the 119th Wing’s safety culture was improved through the acquisition of new fall protection equipment and facilitated training to ensure the success and safety of its members.

Operations Group 119th Operations Support Squadron The 119th Operations Support Squadron (OSS) consists of about 90 personnel and has professional in aviation resource management, airfield management, weather, special security staff and the remotely piloted aircraft (RPA) communications element.

This year, the OSS supported two combat lines for the mission control element (MCE) and 44 sorties flown by the launch and recovery element (LRE). LRE sorties are critical in establishing a continuation training program, which is needed

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throughout the MQ-9 Reaper enterprise. The OSS is also leading the way in distributed mission operations (DMO) for the RPA community. In collaboration with the Air Force Research Laboratory, the OSS recently installed two MQ-9 Block 30 ground control stations and a PRINCE (Predator Reaper Integrated Combat Environment) station. This is the first of its kind outside Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Greene County, Ohio, and allows the Hooligans to train and test emerging threat training protocols used by the entire RPA enterprise.

The OSS received an “effective” rating and had two personnel identified as “superior performers” during the May 2018 Unit Effectiveness Inspection.

178th Attack Squadron The 178th Attack Squadron (ATKS) consists of more than 90 personnel, including sensor operators, intelligence professionals and other personnel who are involved in 24/7 combat operations and support numerous named operations throughout the world. This year, the 178th flew 15,241 combat hours during 859 sorties with zero operations cancels.

Also during this period, the 178th also deployed two personnel to forward locations as MQ-9 Reaper subject matter experts, including the first ever deployment of an enlisted sensor operator to fill a role previously held exclusively by rated pilots. The results of these initiatives garnered praise from the highest levels of government and showcased the Hooligan culture of excellence to a large audience.

The 178th also provided support to many exercises with community-wide impact.

The 178th received an “effective” rating and had one person identified as a “superior performer” during the May 2018 Unit Effectiveness Inspection.

119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron The 119th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron (AMXS) was officially activated on June 1, 2018, after previously being deactivated in 2014. The AMXS is comprised of about 120 Airmen who work in numerous specialties, including flight-line, avionics, weapons, munitions, cyber support, aircraft ground equipment, metals, structural and non-destructive inspection shops.

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The 119th Operations Group and AMXS became fully disassociated from Grand Forks Air Force Base this year and are now operating out of Hector International Airport in Fargo with two MQ-9 aircraft. Initial operating capability for the AMXS was declared effective March 29, 2018, after its first flight to the Devils Lake restricted area was successfully accomplished. The AMXS is currently awaiting the arrival of two additional MQ-9 aircraft, with an estimated delivery in summer 2020.

The AMXS has flown a total of 78 sorties and 181.4 hours since the first successful MQ-9 Reaper flight at Hector International Airport on Aug. 8, 2017. This first flight was historic in two ways. First, it was the first time a Happy Hooligan tail flew over the skies of Fargo since 2013. Second, the 119th Wing was the first unit in the continental U.S. to fly an MQ-9 (Block 5 variant) aircraft from a joint-use airfield, pioneering national airspace integration. There were a total of 44 local sorties and 75.4 hours flown on both aircraft during this time period. In addition, 34 sorties and 106 hours were flown on both aircraft to the Devils Lake restricted area, allowing for aircrew continuation training to be executed.

The AMXS received an “effective” rating during the May 2018 Unit Effectiveness Inspection.

119th Medical Group In June 2018, 119th Medical Group (MDG) representatives engaged in planning and synchronization efforts between U.S. Army Africa (USARAF) staff and units that support USARAF forward resuscitative care (FRC) medical readiness training exercises (MEDRETE) to establish a multi-year plan to provide readiness training for U.S. medical professionals and reinforce cooperation between U.S. and African partner nations. By providing direct patient care with U.S. material at a level significantly above local capabilities, the intent is to build host nation capacity, stimulate U.S. military medical innovation and foster an environment of dependency. Future MDG engagements will meet reinforcement needs by implementing host nation and upcoming state partnership program exercises with Ghana 2019-2023.

In July 2018, 12 members of the MDG, along with the 219th Security Forces Squadron and the University of North Dakota Simulation Center, conducted expert field medical badge (EFMB) joint training at Camp Grafton Training Center.

During this week-long training, MDG members were allowed to train and test to EFMB standards in a field setting, culminating in a focused, one-day training exercise incorporating helicopter medical evacuation (MEDEVAC). MDG personnel were also afforded an opportunity to participate in many warrior skills training scenarios by performing focused, rapid-field medical and tactical maneuvers while in the military operations in urban terrain (MOUT) village. The experience built on the previous year’s training by advancing MEDEVAC hoist-lift skills with a rescue basket from a UH-1N Twin Huey operated by the 54th Helicopter Squadron, Minot Air Force Base.

In September 2018, one member of the MDG was selected as the military reserve

exchange program (MREP) candidate. The MREP is a reciprocal exchange program that provides National Guard members the opportunity to train with select foreign allied nations. Maj. (Dr.) Paul Mariani embedded with British military reserve forces over a three week period while engaging in military exercises and developing MDG knowledge of other U.S. and foreign reserve forces. The MDG’s involvement provided Airmen the opportunity to showcase their readiness to reservists of other nations and learn from the hosting foreign participants.

119th Intelligence Surveillance & Reconnaissance Group The 119th Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance Group (ISRG) continued to excel at its core targeting missions while also expanding into dynamic and specialized targeting disciplines.

At the end of 2017, the ISRG achieved a major milestone with the completion of a new building that houses the entire group. Building 375 at the North Dakota Air National Guard base in Fargo was officially dedicated in September 2017. The building is accredited up to the top secret/sensitive compartmented information (TS/SCI) level and houses three squadrons capable of producing the full spectrum of targeting products.

Throughout the year, the ISRG began to integrate with the 178th ATKS to provide targeting products for dynamic missions. Not only do the shared products assist the 178th in its mission, they also allow ISRG personnel the opportunity to develop skills in a more tactical environment. The ISRG also began steady production of intermediate target development (ITD) worksheets during this time. ITD combines the special skill sets of the 176th Intelligence Squadron (IS), which provides kinetic targeting solutions, and the 177th IS, which provides non-kinetic targeting solutions. ITD is the analytic process of fusing detailed research, carefully crafted graphics and visual aids into comprehensive targeting products, which give commanders a holistic targeting overview.

Additionally, the 119th ISRG is the only Air National Guard unit producing these ITD products completely in-house.

The ISRG continues to contribute to large-scale planning projects such as operational plans (OPLANs), National Security Council (NSC) read books, and Director of National Intelligence (DNI) read books. And, after years of planning and coordination, the ISRG will soon undertake a new mission prosecuting information and targets focused on the electromagnetic spectrum.

Mission Support Group 119th Communications Flight The 119th Communications Flight (CF) continues to replace or re-program the vast majority of the 119th Wing’s network backbone. This effort includes the rewww.ndguard.nd.gov

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programming of over 30 switches, the installation of a major multiprotocol label switching (MPLS) backbone, the upgrade of the Wing’s wireless network and upgrades to multi-trunk link logical switching. The 119th Wing CF also led multiple cyber cleanup days, which resulted in the Wing saving about 15 percent of total network storage and eliminating the need to add $70,000 of disk storage. It also upgraded the base phone switching system, which included the addition of an entirely new phone series for the 119th ISRG. 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron On Sept. 30, 2017 the 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron (LRS) responded to a request from the National Guard Bureau to provide domestic operations support to the Virgin Islands in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. The LRS worked directly with the 601st Air Operations Center, of Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, and the Civil Engineering Crisis Action Team, of Joint Base Andrews Air Force Base, Maryland, to plan, organize and execute this humanitarian mission. The LRS successfully inventoried, inspected, planned, loaded and manifested the 119th Wing’s disaster relief bed-down system (DRBS), which requires 153,407 pounds of cargo to be loaded into seven C-130 aircraft. The operation was completed in 48 hours and consisted of about 400 man hours involving all seven flights within the 119th LRS. 119th Force Support Squadron Recruiting & Retention The 119th Wing Recruiting and Retention (R&R) team facilitated 158 total gains, sent 94 members to basic military training and technical training and received 67 unit referrals. The team attended 50 community-related events throughout the year, including the Fargo AirSho and the North Dakota State Fair. The recruiters also made 217 personal visits to area high schools and colleges and attended 60 career fairs to promote the 119th Wing.

Additionally, the R&R team hosted 11 large-scale,

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“center-of-influence events,” which included lunch, base tours and hands-on experiences in various squadrons at the Wing. These events provided technical job information to an audience of potential applicants and community influencers. The R&R team also continued to uphold a strong relationship with the local military entrance processing station, or MEPS. Wing recruiters also continued to build rapport in many area schools while highlighting 119th Wing and Air National Guard benefits.

The R&R team this year grew to a total of 11 members and established additional offices in Grand Forks and Minot. The team achieved a 93 percent retention rate and had 123 accessions this fiscal year, which is the highest annual production on record for the 119th Wing.

Base Education & Training The Education and Training Office oversaw 174 career development course exams and 371 professional military education exams this year. The staff also facilitated the conferment of 88 Community College of the Air Force degrees.

Military Personnel Flight The Military Personnel Flight (MPF) served nearly 2,300 customers this year. The Airmen processed 2,502 awards, including 716 campaign service awards, 228 state awards, 882 unit awards and 277 decorations.

The MPF also processed 274 enlisted promotions, 6 position vacancy officer promotions, 29 mandatory officer promotions, administered 20 Air Force Officer Qualification Tests and Armed Forces Classification Tests and oversaw 14 officer appointments. Additionally, the MPF facilitated 133 enlistments, 204 reenlistments and extensions, 59 separations and 28 retirements. The Airmen also issued 1,170 identification cards, processed 21 passport applications and five visa applications for personnel from the North Dakota Air National Guard, Army National Guard and Army Reserve Officer Training Corps.

Services Flight The 119th Services Flight this year prepared more than 8,000 meals for members of the 119th Wing during unit training assembly (UTA) meal periods and was responsible for over $75,000 in appropriated funds to purchase food. The Services Flight also arranged for more than 1,800 nights of lodging during UTAs for eligible unit members living outside the prescribed commuting distance.

The Services Flight also supported a 2018 Civil Air Patrol encampment held at Camp Grafton Training Center from June 20, 2018 to July 1, 2018. During the event, the Flight prepared three meals per day for cadets and cadre, providing more than 2,400 individual meals total. Additionally, 14 members of the Services Flight were activated for a 6-month deployment to southwest Asia in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

While deployed, members were tasked with food service activities and oversight of the fitness center, community activity center, lodging and mortuary services.

119th Security Forces Squadron The 119th Security Forces Squadron (SFS) secured and protected base assets and resources in excess of $300 million, including nearly 1,100 personnel on a daily basis this year. From July 2017 to February 2018, 14 SFS professionals deployed to Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to conduct base security, fly-away security team missions and combat arms duties with approximately $10 billion in combat assets. Additionally, from July 2017 to February 2018, 13 SFS professionals deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, to conduct base security and training manager duties with approximately $1.7 billion in combat assets.

In 2018, 119th SFS personnel provided security for two visits from U.S. President Donald Trump and a visit from U.S. Vice President Mike Pence in the Fargo area.

The SFS worked closely with the U.S. Secret Service, Fargo Police Department, North Dakota State Highway Patrol and Cass County Sheriff ’s office for each of the visits.

219th Security Forces Squadron The geographically-separated 219th Security Forces Squadron, located at Minot Air Force Base, is comprised of Airmen who work side-by-side with their active-duty counterparts in the 91st Security Forces Group. The primary mission of the 219th is to provide Air Force Global Strike Command with a surge force capability during heightened operational requirements. The unit supervises and performs security force activities, including weapon system, resource security, antiterrorism, law enforcement, air base defense, armament and equipment, training, pass and registration, information security and combat arms.

The 219th frequently conducts large-scale exercises and higher headquarters inspections with personnel posted in various sectors of the Minot Air Force Base missile complex responsible for securing nuclear assets.

Maj. Greg Goodman assumed command of the 219th in September 2018 from Lt. Col. Tad Schauer, who had been the unit’s commander since its inception in 2008.

119th Civil Engineer Squadron The 119th Civil Engineer (CE) Squadron this year deployed 63 members to southwest Asia. While deployed, the CE members maintained 20,000 feet of active runway in support of combat missions for more than 40 U.S. aircraft in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. During this time, more than 3,900 sorties were flown, over 4,800 munitions were dropped and over 3,800 enemy combatants were eliminated from the battlefield. The CE also maintained an area of responsibility of more than 6,000 acres, including 521 facilities, while supporting 120 different construction projects. The Airmen also completed more than 4,200 work orders, including more than 900 heating, ventilation, air-conditioning (HVAC) projects, and performed over 4,400 hours of periodic maintenance. CE fire department members responded to over 80 emergencies, including 44 in-flight emergencies and 11 barrier engagements.

The 119th Wing’s Regional Training Site (RTS) hosted 11 Prime BEEF (base engineer emergency force) teams to provide training and equipment usage for over 217 personnel. CE members also taught 40 different mission essential equipment training (MEET) and crane classes to 268 Air National Guard, Air Force Reserve and active-duty Air Force personnel, which fulfilled mandatory engineer training requirements. The explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) team conducted VIP bomb sweeps for the U.S. President, U.S. Vice President and U.S. Secretary of State on five separate missions in North Dakota, Minnesota, Nigeria, Indiana and India, providing critical assistance to the U.S. Secret Service. EOD also was instrumental in the planning of the Joint Special Operations Command’s ( JSOC) Southern Strike exercise at Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, near Hattiesburg, Mississippi. www.ndguard.nd.gov

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Dept. of Emergency Services The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) falls under the supervision of the Office of the Adjutant General and includes the Division of Homeland Security and the Division of State Radio Communications.

Its vision is to be a respected team investing in and contributing to a safe and secure homeland through coordinated emergency services.

The mission of the NDDES is to conduct planning, coordination, communications and operations for the safety and security of all citizens in North Dakota.

This mission is accomplished with about 105 employees in all areas of the department.

NDDES provides 24/7 emergency communications and resource coordination with more than 50 lead and support agencies, private enterprise and voluntary organizations to assist local and tribal jurisdictions in disaster and emergency response activities. It administers federal disaster recovery programs and the Homeland Security Grant Program.

The department manages the State Emergency Operations Center, ensuring a statewide coordinated response to emergencies and disasters, and operates the State Radio communications center, which provides services to all first responders, emergency operations personnel and North Dakota residents. Additionally, NDDES prepares for, responds to and recovers from natural and technological events. The department coordinates with local, tribal, state and federal agencies to produce and distribute public safety information.

During the past year, NDDES, in addition to providing resource coordination for emergency response activities, focused on: • Active disaster response • Revisions to the State Emergency Operations Plan • State and Local Threat Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) efforts • Unified Hazardous Materials Spill/Release Reporting System • Statewide Hazardous Materials Flow Study Also this year, NDDES supported the National Guard’s State Partnership

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Program and provided disaster response coordination and preparation training to National Disaster Management.

Division of Homeland Security The Division of Homeland Security is organized into the Disaster Recovery Section, Homeland Security Program Section and Operations and Planning Section. As a whole, the division manages the State Emergency Operations Center and coordinates federal, state, local, tribal and private resources to ensure a synchronized statewide response in the event of an incident, emergency or disaster.

North Dakota State and Local Intelligence Center (NDSLIC) The NDSLIC, re-authorized by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple on March 25, 2014, in Executive Order 2014-06, is set up to assist the efforts of the United States government to establish a national network of fusion centers. These serve as the “central hub” for North Dakota’s fusion process and serve as the primary interface between North Dakota and federal governments for information gathering, analysis and dissemination. The NDSLIC Executive Board, set by Executive Order 2007-06, is comprised of the North Dakota adjutant general, the director of the North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation, the superintendent of the North Dakota Highway Patrol, director of the North Dakota Division of Homeland Security, and the North Dakota Information Technology Department’s chief information officer.

The NDSLIC is housed within Fraine Barracks (North Dakota National Guard’s state headquarters) in Bismarck. The staff includes 13 individuals from state and federal agencies. The center continues its outreach while socializing its mission and capabilities to its state, local, tribal and federal partners. The center produces tactical law enforcement alerts and bulletins and develops strategic situational awareness products for dissemination to state, local, tribal and federal agencies. The NDSLIC also has established partnerships in the emergency management and private sector communities.

Threats and areas of focus for the center include: critical infrastructure/key

resources, terrorism (foreign and domestic), criminal gangs, cyber and narcotics. Additional services that are offered to law enforcement and also county disaster preparedness managers, the Department of Health and civilian entities, include assisting with tabletop exercises relating to acts of terror, mass disaster and casualty events.

The NDSLIC has a critical infrastructure program manager to coordinate and conduct site assistance visits in order to evaluate infrastructure vulnerabilities. These assessments and methodologies are used to improve emergency planning, incident response and target hardening of critical infrastructure assets. The program is also a hub for information sharing between private sector stakeholders and the law enforcement and intelligence communities.

The NDSLIC’s Information Liaison Officer (ILO) program’s purpose is to recruit, train, and equip law enforcement officers in the area of information and intelligence gathering, storing and dissemination. The NDSLIC has expanded this program to encompass other personnel, including firefighters, emergency managers and private sector personnel throughout the state. These individuals will serve as primary conduits of information and intelligence exchange between NDSLIC and local communities.

The NDSLIC will continue to expand the ILO program during the next biennium, with the goal of building a more robust information and intelligence sharing community. The NDSLIC uses the Homeland Secure Data Network, which is designed as a stand-alone classified network capable of rapidly exchanging data that is classified at the secret level. The network provides secure connectivity in a collaborative environment to gather and disseminate classified information between appropriately cleared local, state, federal and tribal personnel. This addition will ultimately enhance public safety in North Dakota.

Homeland Security Grants and Training Grants were provided to local and tribal units of government to address gaps identified through the

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Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA) process, secure the border, and to sustain emergency management programs. NDDES disbursed $4,681,867 in Homeland Security Grant Program funds in the form of State Homeland Security Program (SHSP) grants (for the purposes of building or enhancing regional response teams in the areas of Hazardous Materials, Bomb, Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT), Dive Rescue, and Structural Collapse Search and Rescue as well as building or enhancing jurisdictional core capabilities of: 1) Physical Protective Measures, 2) Public Information and Warning, 3) Mass Care Services, 4) Cybersecurity, 5) Planning); and Operation Stonegarden (OSPG) grants (to support joint efforts to secure the border between Canada and the United States along routes of ingress).

Additionally, NDDES disbursed $3,584,290 in Emergency Management Performance Grant (EMPG) program funds to maintain and sustain local and tribal emergency management positions.

Finally, NDDES contracted for a statewide Flow Study utilizing Hazardous Materials Emergency Preparedness (HMEP) funds. When complete, the Flow Study will provide the state, as well as every county a comprehensive analysis of hazardous materials commodity flows within and across jurisdictions. This will aide in conducting risk assessments, emergency response preparedness, and determining resource allocation.

The NDDES Training and Exercise Program offers a wide variety of courses for first responders, emergency managers, healthcare providers, and other response support staff and partners. Twenty-seven classes were hosted and facilitated by the N.D. Department of Emergency Services between July 1, 2017 and Sept. 30, 2018. Five-hundred and ninety-nine students participated in these classes. In addition, N.D. Department of Emergency Services co-hosted, with the N.D. Emergency Management Association, the annual Emergency Management Conference for 132 participants.

The NDDES continues to provide and participate in multiagency emergency response exercises, or “practice events.” Exercises are designed to progress

from discussion to the operational demonstration of capabilities and give participants a safe environment in which to identify planning gaps and capability weaknesses. NDDES hosted and participated in 13 exercises, seven of which were with the engagement of other state agencies and local jurisdictions. After-action reports and improvement plans have resulted in revisions to operational plans and consequently in improved response to real events.

NDDES is responsible for the Citizen’s Corps Program, which concentrates on Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) development and Training.

CERT teaches citizens how to care for themselves, their families, neighbors and coworkers in a disaster. The mission of the North Dakota Citizen Corps Council is to promote readiness in every community. It is well proven that CERT teams are a response multiplier in times of disaster. NDDES will provide administrative support to all councils and teams. It is recognized that our youth are the next generation of responders, teachers, and leaders; therefore, the North Dakota CERT program will focus recruitment efforts and financial support on Teen CERT. The primary goal of NDDES is to provide the necessary resources to support Teen CERT. The rationale behind the emphasis on Teen CERT is that those graduates will work in their communities to: • Assist family, friends, neighbors and classmates during emergencies or disasters.

• Take an active role in emergency preparedness projects in their community.

• Pursue careers in, or volunteer for, service and response disciplines.

• Provide a life time of community service.

There are currently two Teen CERT programs: at Jamestown High School and Northern Cass High School. In the last year, 140 students have graduated from the course. Teen CERT programs are being started in West Fargo, Grand Forks Red River High School, and Glenfield Schools. Additionally, the Burleigh County Rough Rider Snowmobile Club has a regular (Adult) CERT team that is called out to assist during extreme winter weather events. Wahpeton has a long-established

HAZARD MITIGATION GRANT PROGRAM The state continues to manage projects and administer funding for a number of disasters and projects. During this period, the follow hazard mitigation grants were active.

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Grant # 1829 — Severe Storms and Flooding — Declared March 24, 2009 — 41 Projects — $19,826,833

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Grant #4154 — Severe Winter Storm — Declared Oct. 31, 2013 — 12 Projects — $706,369

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Grant #1981 — Flooding — Declared May 10, 2011 — 58 Projects — $95,102,605

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Grant #4190 — Flooding — Declared Aug. 19, 2014 — 6 Projects — $360,309

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Grant # 4118 — Flooding — Declared May 29, 2013 — 13 Projects — $963,401

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Grant #4323 — Flooding — Declared July 12, 2017 — 12 Projects — $724,906

•

Grant #4128 — Severe Storms and Flooding — Declared July 12, 2013 — 9 Projects — $1,289,556

team that assists during emergencies and also during planned community events. Fargo, Grand Forks and Williston are also in various stages of development of regular CERT teams.

The North Dakota Incident Management Team was transitioned to the North Dakota Emergency Management Support Team (EMST) with an expanded scope of potential assignments to support emergency response across the state. Team expectations and mobilization guidelines were revised. Twenty-five volunteers and their employers remain committed to support emergency management response across the state as EMST members.

Disaster Recovery Disaster Recovery manages and coordinates presidentially declared disaster programs, including public assistance and hazard mitigation. Nationally, North Dakota is one of three states that maintain a “Managing State” status. The Division of Homeland Security assumes disaster program management responsibilities instead of

TOTAL

the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA); however, coordination with FEMA is an ongoing process.

The Public Assistance Program is managed under the Managing State concept. This concept, launched

by FEMA, gives states with proven track records the authority to manage disaster recovery programs. States that manage disaster programs provide faster delivery of programs at less cost to the taxpayer. When event damages exceed the predetermined per capita threshold, a presidential declaration results and activates federal disaster recovery programs. More than $2.3 billion in disaster recovery assistance have been distributed to local, tribal and state entities since 1993. The Public Assistance Program provides federal funding for repairs to damaged public infrastructure, such as roads, culverts, bridges, public buildings and parks. The normal cost share is 75 percent federal and 25 percent state/local share.

As the calendar year ends, FEMA-DR-1907-ND (2010 flood) has officially been closed. All large and small projects for FEMA-DR-1981-ND (2011 flood) — our states largest disaster ever recorded — and FEMA-DR4154-ND (the 2013 severe winter storm) have been

$118,973,979 sent to FEMA Region VIII for review and closeout. For both FEMA-DR-4118-ND (2013 spring flooding) and FEMA-DR-4128 (2013 severe storms and flood), all large projects have been sent to FEMA Region VIII for closeout, and all small projects from those disasters are currently being closed through a new self-certification compliance process that each county, city, and tribal government must complete for any sites identified as “Work to be Completed” at the time of award. FEMADR-4190-ND (2014 flood) large projects have been sent to FEMA Region VIII for closeout and Public Assistance Staff will be sending out requests for the small projects self-certification compliance reviews for this disaster in 2019. FEMA-DR-4323-ND (2017 flood) is still open and most large projects will be completed during spring and summer 2019. The Public Assistance staff anticipates that by late fall of 2019, most large projects will be submitted to FEMA Region VIII and by mid-2020, all small projects compliance self-certification should be complete. No new storm events or requests for Presidential Disaster Declarations occurred in North Dakota in 2018. www.ndguard.nd.gov

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STATE HAZARD MITIGATION TEAM RANKED HAZARDS AND THREATS #1 — Cyberattack #2 — Flood #3 — Severe Winter Weather #4 — Severe Summer Weather #5 — Fire #6 — Infectious Diseases & Pest Infestations #7 — Drought

#8 — Hazardous Materials #9 — Space Weather #10 — Dam Failure #11 — Criminal, Terrorist or Nation-State Attack #12 — Geologic Hazards #13 — Civil Disturbance #14 — Transportation Incident

Hazard Mitigation Grant Program The Hazard Mitigation Grant Program is available to all eligible jurisdictions and private nonprofit organizations after a presidential disaster has been declared. However, eligible applications do not have to be a result of the disaster.

The funding is directed to projects that will permanently reduce or eliminate future risk to lives and property, such as home acquisition from floodways and flood plains, lift station repair, sewer system and drainage system upgrades, water retention systems as well as back-up generators, early warning sirens and mitigation planning. The federal cost share is 75 percent; the state’s share is 10 percent with a 15 percent local cost share.

Flood Mitigation Assistance Program The Flood Mitigation Assistance Program (NFIP) is a non-disaster, nationally competitive grant program. Each state receives an annual allocation of funds based on a formula addressing the number of National Flood Insurance Program active flood insurance policies within the state. However, eligible projects may compete for unsubscribed funds. Projects are restricted to NFIP-insured properties and are typically used for home acquisition and relocation projects. Cost share is 75 percent for the federal government, with 25 percent paid by the state and local jurisdictions. Projects and funding obtained over the period include: 2017 – two projects valued at $134,329.

Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program The Pre-Disaster Mitigation Program is a non-disaster, nationwide, competitive grant program that funds eligible mitigation projects and hazard mitigation planning prior to a disaster event. Local governments must have an approved multi-hazard mitigation plan in order to apply for funding. If the national review panel selects an application, 75 percent of the cost is borne by the federal government and 25 percent by the local jurisdiction. North Dakota was been very successful during the previous grant cycles securing funding in the nationally competitive environment. Projects and funding obtained during the period were:

Repetitive Flood Claims Program The Repetitive Flood Claims Program, a subset of the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, is available to reduce or eliminate the long-term risk of flood damage to structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program that have had one or more claim payments for flood damages. The cost share is typically 75 percent federal and 25 percent state/local. Projects are considered through national competition on what will deliver the greatest return to the National Flood Insurance Fund.

• • •

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2015 – 8 Projects valued over $227,000 2016 – 11 Projects valued over $3,066,000 2017 – 17 Projects valued over 8,776,000.

Annual Report 2018

Severe Repetitive Loss Program The Severe Repetitive Loss Program (SRL), also a subset of the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program, is available to reduce or eliminate long-term risk of flood damage to severe repetitive loss of residential structures insured under the National Flood Insurance Program. This also will result in the greatest savings to the National Flood Insurance Fund. SRL properties must have at least four program claims (building and contents) greater than $5,000 each that cumulatively exceeds $20,000. Alternatively,

properties may have two separate claim payments (building only) that have been made that exceed the market value of the building and at least two of the referenced claims must have occurred within any 10-year period and must be greater than 10 days apart.

Mitigation Planning NDDES attained a major goal in its mitigation planning and outreach efforts when it achieved Approvable Pending Adoption for the state of North Dakota Enhanced Mitigation Mission Area Operations Plan (MAOP) in December. The plan meets all federal requirements and is slated for final approval in early 2019.

The plan was developed with input and collaboration with 84 private sector partners; state, federal and local government agencies; voluntary organizations; and the general public. The purpose of the plan is to identify the hazards that our state and its communities may face, identify the impacts of those hazards, and then develop goals and strategies to help lessen the impacts from those hazards in the future. More than 100 citizens contributed to the plan, sharing their stories, experiences and concerns about the state’s natural and technological hazards and adversarial threats. Community Coffees, an initiative of the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) and the State Hazard Mitigation Team (SHMT), targeted specific sectors of communities, many of whose voices had never been heard in mitigation planning. They included senior citizens; homeless individuals; disaster volunteers; public and private health care workers; first responders; service providers; individuals with functional and access needs; federal, state, and local elected officials; and local and tribal government employees.

By having an enhanced plan, North Dakota has proven that it is effectively implementing the Hazard Mitigation Assistance program using widespread interagency coordination and collaboration across state, local, and tribal governments. The plan addresses both natural and technological hazards and adversarial threats, with cyberattack, flooding and severe winter storms identified as the top three hazards.

Enhanced Mitigation Plan status increases available mitigation dollars from 15 percent to 20 percent of total estimated eligible Stafford Act disaster assistance for federally declared disasters. There are only eleven other states in the nation with enhanced plan status; North Dakota will become the 12th. In addition, North Dakota will be the first state in FEMA Region VIII to develop and receive FEMA approval for an Enhanced Mitigation Plan.

Emergency management uses mitigation plans as a blueprint to identify any weaknesses in our communities, fund projects to address those weaknesses, and subsequently make our communities more resilient and better prepared for future disaster events. The NDDES mitigation team provides technical assistance to local and tribal communities developing or updating mitigation plans. As a result of outreach efforts, all North Dakota counties and tribal nations are either developing or have federally-approved multi-hazard mitigation plans. Jurisdictions achieve federallyapproved plans by demonstrating a high level of involvement of local and tribal planning teams to identify hazards and threats; analyze potential consequences; and then develop

viable mitigation actions to make communities safer.

Individual and Households Program The Individual and Households Program provides funding assistance up to predetermined limits for home damage repair, transportation repair or replacement, and funeral expenses. It allows limited funding for crisis counseling, unemployment assistance, and loans from the Small Business Administration. The cost share equates to 75 percent federal and a 25 percent state/local share.

Disaster recovery staff coordinates with all state agencies and multiple nongovernment entities by identifying, coordinating, communicating, and delivering individual and household assistance to disaster survivors while augmenting the federal assistance program. Individual Assistance program staff members continue to work with respective state and federal agencies to identify potential unmet needs through available programs and to inform citizens of available resources to assist with disaster recovery needs for individuals and businesses.

Mitigation Programs: Conclusion The Mitigation Program continued collaborations with North Dakota Emergency Management Association, North Dakota Association of Counties, North Dakota League of Cities, North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives, North Dakota Recreation and Park association, North Dakota regional councils and others. More than $222 million have been invested across North Dakota through the various mitigation programs (1993 to 2019).

Operations and Planning The North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) continues to invest heavily in improving its response plans and working with other state agencies to ensure all-hazard response readiness.

This year, NDDES continued making investments to enhance the state’s response capabilities. In August 2017, NDDES partnered with the N.D. Department of Health (NDDOH) to secure a new combined warehouse that also serves as the alternate State Emergency Operations Center (SEOC) and N.D. State Radio Communications Center, should our primary facility become inoperable. NDDES successfully conducted exercises to test the alternate SEOC this year. NDDES and NDDOH continue to grow and support each other’s warehouse capabilities.

NDDES staff also facilitated the annual revision of the state’s Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment (THIRA). The staff also assisted local and tribal jurisdictions with completion of their THIRA activities. A review and revisions of the State Emergency Operations Plan (SEOP) also were conducted to reflect operational capabilities and lessons learned from exercises and real-world emergencies/disasters, as well as to ensure alignment with the National Incident Management System (NIMS), core capabilities and the National www.ndguard.nd.gov

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Response Framework (NRF).

In 2018, a workgroup consisting of representatives from NDDES, NDDOH, N.D. Oil and Gas and the N.D. Department of Agriculture was formed to evaluate opportunities to develop a simplified, unified approach to hazardous materials spill/release reporting and notification within North Dakota. Workgroup efforts are still underway.

The NDDES staff are in the process of evaluating its current Tier II reporting system software and identifying necessary enhancements and opportunities to more effectively and efficiently manage the program and automation of billing and other procedures. The staff continues to conduct outreach to local emergency planning committees (LEPCs) regarding their roles and responsibilities and gaps/needs. They also supported requests from emergency managers to assist with reengaging their LEPCs. A three-year comprehensive, statewide hazardous materials flow study is nearing completion, as well. The study was initiated to aid local, tribal, regional and state authorities in understanding the volume and nature of hazardous material movement into, out of and within North Dakota. The study will provide the North Dakota State Emergency Response Commission (SERC), LEPCs, and local jurisdictions critical information necessary to plan for and respond to the potential risks associated with hazardous materials transported to or through the state.

State Emergency Operations Center Operations and planning staff maintain the SEOC and provide 24/7 response coordination with federal, state and volunteer agencies, local/tribal governments and private entities. Together, the groups provide required resources and assets, compile initial damage assessment information, evaluate information to determine the potential for state and federal declarations and handle requests for assistance. They also produce and distribute documents and reports useful to emergency and disaster operations. Staff members coordinated state response for wildland fires; hazardous material spills; potable water shortages; missing persons; Amber, Silver and Blue Alerts; downed/missing

aircraft; train derailments; flooding; severe winter storms; tornadoes; power outages; hail; rain and high-wind storms that produced significant property damage and threatened lives. Examples of larger incidents during the year include: Statewide Drought/Fire • In response to ongoing drought conditions and extremely dry conditions, lack of precipitation and high winds creating increased fire concerns, Gov. Burgum declared a statewide fire and drought emergency on June 26, 2017. In addition, numerous local and tribal fire declarations were issued.

• Several state and federal partners collaborated to find resources for produces in drought impacted areas. The NDResponse website (http:// ndresponse.gov) was utilized as a one-stop information and resource center that offered a whole-of-government approach to response and recovery activities.

July 8, 2017 – Magpie Fire, Dakota Prairie Grasslands (Billings and McKenzie Counties) • •

The Magpie Fire, 12 miles west and 3 miles south of Grassy Butte, burned approximately 5,100 acres.

The Magpie and Whitetail Campgrounds and a short section of the Maah Daah Hey Trail were closed for a period of time.

February 19, 2018 – Diesel Fuel Tank Fire, Magellan Midstream Partners Facility (Cass County) •

A diesel fuel tank fire occurred in West Fargo, prompting residents within the path of the plume area to shelter in place.

July 9, 2018 – Watford City EF2 Tornado (McKenzie County) •

An EF2 tornado (estimated winds around 127 mph) developed along a line of strong wind just to

• •

the west of a large recreational vehicle, camper, and mobile home park on the southwest side of Watford City.

About 135 people were displaced from their homes.

One fatality occurred and 28 people were injured, about 13 of them seriously.

There has been a decline in the number of hazardous materials incidents/reports as a result of decreased oil activity in the west; the biggest since the boom started. In January 2017 there was a spike in the number of spills/ releases as the temperatures dropped, resulting in frozen lines and broken valves. Hazardous materials incidents and other releases/spills during this year include: • • •

1,196 oil spill reports.

393 environmental incident reports.

89 National Response Center (NRC) flash faxes.

Response Coordination Systems and Technologies The SEOC manages and maintains the N.D. Hazardous Chemicals Preparedness and Response Program and conducts equipment tests for the Harris Radio, Amateur Radio, National Warning System (NAWAS), Emergency Alert System (EAS) and the Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). In addition, staff developed daily intel updates for local, tribal, state and federal partners to ensure situational awareness.

Staff also coordinated with the N.D. Highway Patrol, N.D. Bureau of Criminal Investigations, N.D. Department of Transportation, N.D. Lottery Division, N.D. Aeronautics Commission, National Weather Service and N.D. Information Technology Department to review and refine processes and procedures for activation of public alerts (AMBER, Blue, Silver), based on after-action reports from activations.

The staff trains, facilitates and evaluates resource requests from other states through the Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC), a state-to-state mutual aid agreement, of which North Dakota is a member. During the year, North Dakota deployed the following resources via EMAC: www.ndguard.nd.gov

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Florida • Human Service Representative Hawaii • EMAC A-Team Member • Division Supervisor • EOC Safety Officer • Hazard Mitigation Grant Program Officer • Public Assistance Officers (physical and virtual) • Safety Officers • Supply Unit Leader North Carolina • Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs) • Registered Nurses

Geographic Information Systems (GIS) NDDES’s GIS section is responsible for the creation and continual maintenance of various GIS products used for disaster preparation, planning and response. During the year, implementation of new GIS technologies, products and delivery of GIS data projects has enabled NDDES to expand solutions used to benefit emergency communications and resource coordination.

Some of the technologies and projects implemented to help accomplish the objectives are: •

The NDDES GIS section successfully provided high levels of GIS support to numerous local, state and federal agencies during the drought and related fire season in 2017. During operations, numerous GIS technologies were explored and used by all personnel responding to the event.

GIS products included utilization of a dynamic mapping viewer with robust reporting and filtering features.

•

Continued GIS maintenance efforts of the Statewide Seamless Base Map allowed for 10 additional counties across the state to transition to Enhanced 9-1-1 services. To date, 26 counties have made the transition to GIS-derived Enhanced 9-1-1 from the Statewide Seamless Base Map. These efforts are positioning the state to achieve the ultimate goal of Next Generation 9-1-1 in the years to come.

•

Increase participation by local county government in the agencies’ emergency notifications system contract has enabled local stakeholders the ability to perform critical communication via reverse 9-11 and Integrated Public Alert & Warning System (IPAWS) notifications to the public. The GIS section plays a vital role aiding in management and administration of the system. Specifically, the spatial-based contact records necessary for driving public notifications.

Washington, D.C., National Coordination Center • EMAC A-Team Member North Dakota continues to serve on the Northern Emergency Management Assistance Compact (NEMAC) Committee, established to develop operational procedures, training and exercise plans, strategic goals and objectives and address cross border and communications issues.

NEMAC enables signatory states and provinces to receive and provide resources during emergencies. During the reporting period North Dakota deployed the following resources via NEMAC: Montana • Dickinson SWAT Team This year, the staff continued to enhance WebEOC, a Web-enabled incident management tool used to coordinate the use of state assets by providing a real-time link from the SEOC to other agencies and provide overall situational awareness during emergencies. WebEOC continues to be used on a daily basis for tracking information regarding hazardous materials spills, floods, fires, severe weather and damages resulting from an event.

Its user list continues to expand and includes local, tribal, state, federal and voluntary agencies.

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Annual Report 2018

Division of State Radio The Division of State Radio provides and maintains statewide public safety communications capability. It delivers voice and mobile data communications through a system of 45 towers throughout North Dakota. Through its statewide communication network, the Division of State Radio serves as a strong partner to the Division of Homeland Security in resource coordination efforts to save lives and protect property during natural or manmade disasters.

The division is the Public Safety Answering Point (PSAP) for the North Dakota State public safety agencies, including the North Dakota Highway Patrol, Game and Fish, Bureau of Criminal investigation, and Department of Corrections.

In addition, State Radio is a resource for federal agencies, such as the U.S. Marshals Service, Federal Probation Service and Federal Bureau of Investigation.

State Radio serves as the 911 answering point for 25 North Dakota counties and executes all communications and dispatch requirements for law enforcement, fire and emergency medical services.

State Radio maintains a staff of 32 communication specialists and seven support staff. The current staffing level in the communication center is seven per shift with a minimum of five communication specialists on duty 24/7. State Radio provides primary backup services for 16 of the 21 other local and regional answering points. If one or more PSAPs experience a failure, all 911 emergency calls can be rerouted to State Radio.

State Radio is the state’s designated Federal CJIS System Agency for the FBI National Crime Information Center. These systems link all law enforcement agencies nationwide and international partners to an information-sharing network about criminal activity (missing persons, wanted by law enforcement persons, stolen vehicles, etc.).

State Radio also manages the North Dakota Law Enforcement Telecommunications System

(NDLETS), and National Law Enforcement Telecommunication System (NLETS). Each system links together and supports every state, local and federal law enforcement. It also supports justice and public safety agencies for the purposes of sharing and exchanging critical information. Each of these systems NCIC, NLETS and NDLETS provide data to law enforcement that is crucial to their everyday duties. North Dakota State Radio is also responsible for training and auditing all law enforcement agencies that have access to any of the three systems.

Since March 9, 2010, State Radio and the North Dakota Highway Patrol began operations with a Computer Aided Dispatch (CAD) system that has improved efficiencies and recordkeeping within the dispatch system. Local agencies have connected to the CAD to share the infrastructure. In 2016, the CAD software was updated to a new version providing additional functionality to the system for multi disciplines.

State Radio, in conjunction with the North Dakota Department of Transportation and other state and local agencies, continues to design and build a statewide baseline map that will provide a common mapping format for the PSAPs, law enforcement, emergency responders and local jurisdictions. This map will greatly enhance the ability of jurisdictions to work together and the initial statewide data structure will be complete this biennium.

State Radio has partnered with North Dakota Criminal Justice Information System (ND CJIS) to update the Law Enforcement Records Management System (RMS). With funding provided by the legislature, the RMS is offered at no charge to local and state agencies authorized to use the system. This system continues to grow in popularity and use.

State Radio continues to look to the future to prepare and educate public safety officials of the upcoming changes with next generation 911, standards for public safety and other forthcoming federal standards.

Since 2009, public safety communications has undergone several important procedural changes to

enhance emergency response through development of the Statewide Communication Interoperability Frequency Management Plan, Signal Operating Instructions and Public Safety Communication General Usage Guide. Final drafts of the frequency plan and the Signal Operating Instructions were facilitated during eight regional meetings, approved by the Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee, and published on May 4, 2010. Since publication, these documents have been revised to meet evolving procedures. In 2011, the plans were tested in several exercises designed to meet Interoperable Communication “Goal 2,” a federal initiative to test the ability to establish interoperable public safety communications within one hour of an emergency. The recent versions of the plans were updated in 2012.

The Statewide Interoperability Executive Committee was established through Executive Order 2007-17 by Gov. John Hoeven, reaffirmed by Gov. Jack Dalrymple, and placed into law. Its purpose is to coordinate and manage a study to examine a future land mobile radio vision, Statewide Integrated Radio Network (SIRN).

The SIRN vision and governance was clarified during the 65th Legislative Session in N.D.C.C. 37-17.3 and 57-40.6.

The Frequency Plan provides a common set of federal public safety channels available nationally and a common radio standard APCO Program 25 (P-25). In April 2012, the Department produced the ND PSC Guide to assist users with radio operations. As training and exercises have become more active the benefits of the plans have widened the use of the plan.

North Dakota met the Federal Communication Commission mandate that by Jan. 1, 2013, radios operating in the public safety frequencies must be narrow banded. This reduced the operational power megahertz of the radios from 25 MHz to 12.5 MHz. In the near future, the FCC plans to reduce the operational power to 6.25 MHz, which requires digital transmission. State Radio switched two of its primary channels to digital in anticipation of the 6.25 MHz digital requirement and left the primary emergency channel in analog. Transition

from analog to digital requires a new operational method.

Consequently, the department developed a radio usage guide to assist users.

Since 2009, the department has allocated $5,096,865 for radio equipment and $1,254,701 for radio programming. Thirty-six training exercises took place statewide to test communication operations; four were conducted by the department and 32 by local entities.

The following challenges presented by narrow banding have prolonged a smooth transition: • Reduced range caused by reduced operational power (MHz).

• Digital radio operational changes creating a learning curve.

• Improper equipment programming.

In 2017, during the Dakota Access Pipeline protest several communication issues were identified. Of concern was the lack of training/use in Land Mobile Radio functionality and use, reduced communication in rural areas (coverage gaps), radio routine maintenance to maximize the radio’s capabilities.

By using a secure broadband connection (commercial cellular service), some responders relay data to and from responders to dispatch through a Computer Aided Dispatch systems easing radio traffic and digital radio issues.

A federally-funded initiative, FirstNET, will in the future, provide a national broadband system for public safety. It will provide an information relay between response units and support services. The future model will include a handheld device intended to eventually replace the current public safety radio system. In preparation for FirstNET, the entire public safety communication system in North Dakota will be examined.

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Civil Air Patrol Civil Air Patrol (CAP), the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force, is a nonprofit organization with more than 56,000 members nationwide.

They operate a fleet of 560 aircraft (seven of which are assigned to the North Dakota Wing) and perform 90 percent of continental U.S. inland search and rescue missions, as tasked by the Air Force Rescue Coordination Center, averaging 80 lives saved a year. Its volunteers also perform homeland security, disaster relief and drug interdiction missions at the request of federal, state and local agencies.

Wing CAP members play a leading role in aerospace education and serve as mentors to nearly 96 young people (24,000 nationally), who currently participate in the CAP cadet programs.

CAP also continued its support for Wreaths Across America, an initiative to remember, honor and teach about the sacrifices of U.S. military veterans. Through the efforts of the North Dakota Wing CAP and public support, each gravesite at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery was adorned with a Christmas wreath this year.

Locally, North Dakota CAP maintains a Wing headquarters in Bismarck and squadrons in Bismarck, Dickinson, Grand Forks, Jamestown and Minot; and two squadrons in Fargo. They have 165 senior members and 96 cadets enrolled as members, operate seven aircraft, and serve as the lead search and rescue and aerial reconnaissance agency for North Dakota.

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Annual Report 2018

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Annual Report 2018

Major Awards Legion of Merit

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelley Yantzer – July 6, 2017 Lt. Col. Tracy Bridwell – July 11, 2017 Lt. Col. Tony Mutzenberger – Aug. 23, 2017 Col. Leo Ryan – Sept. 27, 2017 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Berg – Sept. 12, 2017 Col. Jackie Huber – Sept. 14, 2017 Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelly Sizer – Nov. 17, 2017 Command Sgt. Maj. Alan Grinsteinner – Nov. 30, 2017 Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien – Nov. 30, 2017 Sgt. Maj. Wallace Keller – Dec. 6, 2017 Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Heim – Dec. 15, 2017 Chief Warrant Officer 5 Theresia Hersch – March 16, 2018 Col. Gordon Leingang – May 31, 2018

North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal Command Sgt. Maj. Bradley Heim – Nov. 29, 2017 Col. Gordon Leingang – July 8, 2018 Brig. Gen. Robert Fode – Sept. 6, 2018

North Dakota Legion of Merit Medal

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelley Yantzer – July 5, 2017 1st Sgt. Elizabeth Handt – July 21, 2017 Chief Warrant Officer 3 Timothy Berg – July 5, 2017 Col. Scott Fontaine – Sept. 8, 2017 Lt. Col. William Watson – Oct. 20, 2017 Master Sgt. Jeffery Wollschlaeger – Oct. 5, 2017 Command Sgt. Maj. Dave Huber – Oct. 10, 2017 Master Sgt. Patrick Heinen – Oct. 20, 2017 1st Sgt. Troy Skelton – Jan. 31, 2018 Chief Warrant Officer 5 Theresia Hersch – Feb. 1, 2018 Lt. Col. Ralph Romans – March 14, 2018 Master Sgt. Scott Anderson – March 26, 2018 Sgt. 1st Class Brian Zins – Aug. 4, 2018 Chief Warrant Officer 5 William Baker – May 10, 2018 Chief Warrant Officer 4 Thomas Bry – May 10, 2018 Maj. Gary Ripplinger – May 10, 2018 Sgt. Maj. Troy Kramer – May 10, 2018 Master Sgt. Arlyn Fredrick – July 6, 2018 1st Sgt. Robert Shepherd – July 6, 2018 Sgt. 1st Class John Haynes – June 27, 2018 Col. John Flowers – Sept. 7, 2018

www.ndguard.nd.gov

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State Budgets DEPARTMENT OF EMERGENCY SERVICES

Salaries and Wages

Operating Expenses

Capital Improvements Grants

Radio Communications

Disaster Costs

$6,928,272 $13,477,321 $6,562 $5,241,446 $263,447 $31,112,821

Total State Budget

$57,029,869

State Sources

General Funds

Special Funds

Federal Funds

$5,557,019 $24,346,636 $27,126,214

Total State Sources

$57,029,869

NATIONAL GUARD

Salaries and Wages

Operating Expenses

Capital Improvements Grants

Civil Air Patrol

Tuition and Enlistment Compensation

Air Guard Contracts

Army Guard Contracts

Veterans Cemetery Salaries Reintegration/Outreach

$3,760,016 $1,776,846 $1,175,340 $598,653 $180,833 $1,810,011 $3,173,982 $18,219,581 $486,346 $505,080

Total State Budget

$31,686,688

State Sources

General Funds

Special Funds

Federal Funds

$10,128,345 $445,194 $21,103,149

COMPLETE BUDGET

General Funds

Special Funds

Federal Funds

$15,685,364 $24,791,830 $48,229,363

Total State Sources

$31,676,688

Total State Sources

$88,706,557

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Annual Report 2018

Economic Impact 2018 LOCATION Bismarck/Mandan Devils Lake Dickinson Edgeley Fargo Grand Forks Jamestown Lisbon Mayville Minot Valley City Wahpeton Williston Wishek TOTAL

FEDERAL $91,334,305 $30,448,545 $1,321,236 $1,141,814 $98,437,628 $11,089,226 $1,657,445 $602,035 $24,008,941 $3,275,489 $2,717,838 $438,934 $591,451

STATE $4,126,214 $945,938 $36,887 $15,485 $2,410,555 $867,899 $15,597 $15,365 $7,404 $510,874 $284,895 $156,729 $16,258 $15,363

TOTAL $95,460,519 $31,394,483 $1,358,113 $1,157,299 $100,848,183 $11,957,125 $1,673,042 $617,400 $7,404 $24,519,815 $3,560,384 $2,874,567 $455,192 $606,814

$267,064,887

$9,425,452

$276,490,339

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63

Construction Budgets MAJOR CONSTRUCTION Project Name & Location

Status During Biennium

Cost

Heating Plant Control & Boiler Replacement Camp Grafton Training Center

Completed 2018

$1,063783.22

Heated Vehicle Storage Building Fraine Barracks, Bismarck

Completed 2018

$1,073,542.94

TOTAL

$2,137,326.16

BUILDING MAINTENANCE/ REPAIR AND MINOR CONSTRUCTION Location and Project Army Aviation Support Facility, Bismarck, N.D. Apron & Taxiway Repairs Overhead Door Replacement, Bldg 3410 Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake, N.D. Building Improvements, Bldg 6900 Classroom Remodel, Bldg 1500 Electrical System Replacement, Bldg 6900 Exterior Wall Repair, Bldgs 3600/3800/3810 Furnace Replacement, Bldg 4600 Lightning Protection Repairs Natural Gas Valves & Service Extensions

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Annual Report 2018

Cost $ $

404,933.34 220,384.10

$ $ $ $ $ $ $

458,990.00 121,734.89 34,107.92 106,390.63 80,303.10 74,484.00 355,121.59

Overhead Fuel Dispensing System Replacement Roof Replacement, Bldg 5510/5520 Steam Line Replacement (PH III) Steam Line Replacement (PH IV) Steam Line Replacement (PH V) USPFO Warehouse #2 Remodel, Bldg 6330

$ $ $ $ $ $

573,726.46 133,640.91 674,350.26 557,600.10 716,157.60 406,635.04

Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D. Insulation and Wall Repairs, Bldg. 20

$

13,412.22

Readiness Center Complex, Grand Forks, N.D. Building Improvements, FMS #3 Building Repairs, Bldg 1531 Building Repairs, Bldgs 1501, 1511 & 1531

$ $ $

183,454.50 115,092.00 21,625.48

Armed Forces Reserve Center, Minot, N.D. Fuel Containment Bird Screens, FMS #1 Lighting Replacement, FMS #1/UEVS Parking Lot Lighting Replacement, FMS #1

$ $ $

58,641.89 69,788.60 92,450.56

Raymond J. Bohn Readiness Center, Bismarck, N.D. Office Remodel, Bldg 4200 Projection Screen Installation, Bldg. 4200 Walk-Thru Door Replacement, Bldg 4400 Window Replacement, Bldg 4100

$ $ $ $

90,734.67 17,827.00 141,677.47 47,097.96

North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. Exterior Electrical Improvements Irrigation System Repairs

$ $

103,299.24 290,434.20

Statewide Projects (Multiple Locations) Indoor Range Cleaning, Var. Locations

$

546,719.00

North Dakota’s Fallen Service Members Global War on Terrorism

Spc. Paul Anthony Beyer — 2nd Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), U.S. Army

Staff Sgt. Kenneth W. Hendrickson — 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge), 130th Engineer Brigade, Task Force All American, N.D. Army National Guard

Spc. Tyler John Orgaard — 818th Engineer Company (Sapper), 164th Engineer Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Sgt. Michael Edward Bitz — 2nd Assault Amphibious Battalion, 2nd Marine Regiment, Task Force Tarawa, 2nd Marine Division, U.S. Marine Corps

Spc. Michael Layne Hermanson — A Company, 164th Engineer Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Petty Officer 1st Class Kevin S. Rux — USS Cole (DDG-67), U.S. Navy

Spc. James J. Holmes — C Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Cpl. Jeremiah S. Santos — A Company, 2nd Battalion, 8th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Brigade, 4th Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Spc. Philip Dorman Brown — B Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Maj. Alan Ricardo Johnson — A Company, 402nd Civil Affairs Battalion, U.S. Army Reserve

Spc. Keenan Alexander Cooper — A Troop, 4th Squadron, 73rd Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army

Cpl. Christopher Kenneth Kleinwachter — 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, N.D. Army National Guard

Spc. Dennis J. Ferderer, Jr. — Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 15th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade, Task Force Liberty, 3rd Infantry Division, U.S. Army

Staff Sgt. Lance J. Koenig — B Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Spc. Jon Paul Fettig — 957th Engineer Company (MultiRole Bridge)(V Corps), N.D. Army National Guard Capt. John P. Gaffaney — 113th Combat Stress Control Company, 2nd Medical Brigade, U.S. Army Reserve

Staff Sgt. David C. Kuehl — C Company, 4th Battalion, 9th Infantry Regiment, 4th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Darren Michael Linde — 818th Engineer Company (Sapper), 164th Engineer Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard

Cpl. Nathan Joel Goodiron — A Battery, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (Security Forces), N.D. Army National Guard Pfc. Sheldon R. Hawk Eagle — 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), U.S. Army

Cpl. Curtis Robert Mehrer — 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, N.D. Army National Guard Spc. Anthony William Hamilton Monroe — Headquarters and Headquarters Battery, Division Artillery, 1st Cavalry Division, U.S. Army

Sgt. Jason Alan Schumann — A Troop, 3rd Squadron, 89th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division, U.S. Army Sgt. Keith L. Smette — 957th Engineer Company (MultiRole Bridge), 130th Engineer Brigade, Task Force All American, N.D. Army National Guard Sgt. Thomas J. Sweet, II — 1st Battalion, 5th Field Artillery Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, U.S. Army Sgt. Travis A. Van Zoest — 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, N.D. Army National Guard Spc. Cody Lee Wentz — A Company, 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, N.D. Army National Guard Pfc. Jonathan Christopher Yanney — Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 17th Infantry Regiment, 5th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, U.S. Army

We will never forget

Office of the Adjutant General Fraine Barracks, P.O. Box 5511 Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511 North Dakota National Guard www.ndguard.nd.gov facebook.com/NDNationalGuard youtube.com/NDNationalGuard flickr.com/photos/NDGuard twitter.com/NDNationalGuard Department of Emergency Services www.nd.gov/des facebook.com/NDDES twitter.com/NDDES