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TAG Line Dec. 23, 2024

The Bismarck Composite Squadron of the N.D. Civil Air Patrol hosted the annual Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D., Dec. 14. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Contents

  1. Veterans Home Christmas Visit
  2. New Full-Time Air Chaplains
  3. Da Guards Podcast
  4. Professional Development
  5. Recognition
  6. Winter Driving Safety
  7. ND 2000
  8. From the Field Campaign
  9. Wreaths Across America
  10. Norad Tracks Santa
  11. Fargo Airport Appreciation
  12. Veterans Aid Loan
  13. Grand Forks Christmas

Veterans Home Christmas Visit

N.D. Army and Air National Guard members visited Veterans and spouses at the N.D. Veterans Home in Lisbon, Dec. 12. For more then 20 years, N.D. Guard members have collected and delivered gifts and spread holiday cheer at the home. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Soldiers, Airmen, and state employees sang Christmas carols during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the N.D. Veterans Home in Lisbon.

Soldiers and Airmen distribute gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home.

This year's event marks the second time both the Air and Army Guard elements celebrate the holidays with veterans together.

Right to left; U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alan Roehrich, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, S3 operations staff officer, and Tech. Sgt Michael McLaughlin, financial management
Senior Airman James Cobb, crypt analysis, give a gift to a resident of the North Dakota Veterans Home.

Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, state command sergeant major, speaks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.

The gifts are donated by Guard members. Service members take time to visit with the residents and assist in distributing the gifts.

2nd Lt. Sarah Didonna, Joint Force Headquarters, speaks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.
Sgt. 1st Class Chad Bakken, senior instructor, 164th Regional Training Institute, talks to residents during the annual National Guard Christmas party.

Lt. Col. Lucas Kettke, 142nd Engineer Battalion, commander, speaks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.

Chief Master Sgt. Candice Blaze, Force Support Squadron, senior enlisted leader, speaks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.
Tech Sgt. Jenny Tyrrell, command staff support, speaks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.
Senior Airman Mercedes Jirak, security forces, talks with a resident during the annual National Guard Christmas party.

New Full-Time Air Chaplains

The Happy Hooligans now boast two full-time chaplains to serve the 119th Wing. Lt. Col. Dellas Herbel and Capt. Philip Nelson are now able to provide even more chaplain programming and better support for the different missions of the North Dakota Air National Guard. (U.S. Air Force photos by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)

Da Guards Podcast

Da Guards Podcast focuses on highlighting the North Dakota National Guard’s Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian employees of our organization.

CURRENT PODCAST

Lt. Col. Amber Schatz

Let's meet U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Amber Schatz! Schatz is the public affairs officer for the 119th Wing and has worked numerous other strategic planning roles! She currently works full-time in the North Dakota National Guard J5 office. She previously served on with the active-duty Air Force and Air Force Reserve before joining the Air National Guard.

You can also find episodes on these streaming services!

New podcast episodes will be announced every other Monday.

Professional Development

U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion, N.D. Guard State Chaplain, conducted this month's professional development, Dec. 11 at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

The topic was about religious diversity and the holiday season. The chaplain also showed the basic concept of heathenry and the historic reasons given by those who believe in this.

In addition to an in-person audience, his briefing was livestreamed state-wide to all N.D. National Guard full time members.

Recognition

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, ND National Guard adjutant general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, state command sergeant major, recognized a few people after a recent professional development class at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Dec. 11. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Brig. Gen. Johnson recognized James Berger, financial management analyst.

Berger received the adjutant general coin for his exceptional meritorious service in the resolution of a long-standing financial discrepancy that directly impacted the pay accounts of over 32 service members. Berger reached out to multiple state comptrollers and used his problem-solving skills to correct erroneous pay deductions and ensured over $25,000 in refunds to affected service members.

Command Sgt. Maj. Binstock recognized Chief Warrant Officer 2 Dave Morvedt, field maintenance service 4, with a coin after a recent professional development class.

The two received the award for managing the electronic technical manuals, tracking down new ones and updating 13 mechanics individual diagnostic computers to help the shop conduct successful maintenance operations.

Command Sgt. Maj. Binstock recognized Master Sgt. Ryan Fettig, field maintenance service 4, with a coin after a recent professional development class.

Winter Driving Safety

ND 2000

From the Field Campaign

Samuel Sharpe Medal

U.S. Army Col. Kevin Miller, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, commander, presented The Ordnance Order of Samuel Sharpe Medal to Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Bohl, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, during a ceremony at the Fargo Military Readiness Center, Fargo, Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy of 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade social media)

Bohl has shown he is a true expert in his field, a tremendous mentor to many Soldiers, and an outstanding leader that served in the 164th Engineer Battalion for nearly 10 years.

First introduced in May 1994 by the United States Army Ordnance Corps Association (USAOCA), the Order of Samuel Sharpe ensures the proper recognition of Ordnance personnel who have demonstrated the highest standards of integrity and moral character, displayed an outstanding professional competence, served the Army Ordnance Corps with selflessness, and contributed to the promotion of the Ordnance Corps in ways that stand out to the recipient’s seniors, subordinates, and peers.

Promotion to Major

U.S. Army Capt. Kyle Schmidt, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, was promoted to the rank of major during a ceremony at the Fargo Military Readiness Center, Fargo, Dec. 8. (Photo courtesy of 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade social media)

Maj. Schmidt, pinned by his wife and child during a ceremony at the Fargo Military Readiness Center.

142nd Engineer Christmas

The 142nd Engineer Battalion decorated a M113 armored personnel carrier for a Holiday family event hosted at the Valley City Armory on Dec. 14. (National Guard story and photos by Capt. Cody Brekken, Headquarters and Headquarters Company 142nd Engineer Battalion)

Family members from both the main and the forward detachments came together to have a family event which included hot chocolate, indoor “snowball” fight, Santa visit, and ornament decorating to be sent forward to the Soldiers in the unit away from home.

Wreath Delivery

Volunteers from the N.D. Guard and North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department assisted in the unloading of nearly 800 boxes of wreaths for the Wreaths Across America at Fort Abraham Lincoln State Park, Mandan, Dec. 2. (Photo courtesy of North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department)

Wreaths Across America

The Bismarck Composite Squadron of the N.D. Civil Air Patrol hosted the annual Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D., Dec. 14. (Photos and story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

With a temperature of 22 degrees Fahrenheit and a light breeze, an estimated 1,300 volunteers showed up to place wreaths on each of the more than 8,800 graves at the cemetery.

Veteran places a wreath at the base of the P.O.W. Flag.

This annual holiday event is one of more than 4,200 wreath­-laying ceremonies across the United States, placing over 3 million wreaths on Veterans graves.

The mission of Wreaths Across America is to remember U.S. Veterans and honor, and teach the value of freedom.

U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, ND National Guard adjutant general, and his wife Michelle, volunteered to place wreaths at the event.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, ND National Guard deputy adjutant general, and her daughter volunteered at the event.

NORAD Tracks Santa

The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization which defends the homeland. Since 1958 they have had the mission of tracking Santa's flight around the world!

More than 1,250 Canadian and American uniformed personnel and DOD civilians volunteer their time on December 24th to answer the thousands of phone calls and emails that flood in from around the world.

Each year on December 24th, Santa and his reindeer launch from the North Pole very early in the morning for their famous trip around the world. The minute they launch, NORAD starts to track him!

Have your kids track Santa's flight at https://www.noradsanta.org/en/

Fargo Airport Appreciation

Lt. Col. Alan Roehrich, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, S3 operations staff officer, presented Shawn Dobberstein, executive director of the Fargo Airport Authority, with a Certificate of Appreciation for their support to deployed Soldiers’ families during their return home. (National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Jill McGough, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)

Lt. Col. Roehrich presents Dobberstein with a Certificate of Appreciation at the Fargo Airport, Dec. 18.

Veterans Aid Loan

The Veterans Aid Fund is a permanent fund to be used solely for the purpose of making loans to assist veterans or their widow/widowers. Check out this website to learn more https://www.veterans.nd.gov/veterans-aid-loan

Grand Forks Christmas

The N.D. National Guard Service Member & Family Support hosted a Jingle and Mingle Military Family Christmas event at Grand Forks Armory, N.D., Dec. 8. (Photos courtesy of North Dakota National Guard Service Member & Family Support)

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