U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, ND National Guard deputy adjutant general, gives the oath of office to Lt. Col. Preston Schaffner, Civil Support Team, and Lt. Col. Chance Schaffner, N.D. Guard Recruiting and Retention commander at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Nov. 22. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Contents
- Wreath Laying at Arlington
- Brothers in Arms
- Maj. Gen. Wilz Retires
- State of the State
- Standing Guard in the Cold
- Cub Scouts Visit Civil Support Team
- Da Guards Podcast
- Promoted to Lt. Col.
- Professional Development
- State Chaplain's Thanksgiving Message
- From the Field Campaign
- Recognition
- U Mary Visit
- Christmas Parties
- New Child & Youth Coordinator
- Operation Homefront
Wreath Laying at Arlington
U.S. Air Force Col. Christopher Domitrovich, 119th Wing commander, and Shannon Full president and CEO of the Fargo-Moorhead-West Fargo Chamber of Commerce, lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, Washington D.C., Nov. 20. (National Guard photos by U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Hoikkala, G4 defense movement coordinator)
Laying a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier has long been a way for Presidents, individuals and organizations to honor the sacrifices of American service members. The ritual at the nation's largest military memorial site dates back to 1958.
Brothers in Arms
The North Dakota National Guard held a promotion ceremony of two distinguished officers, U.S. Army Maj. Chance Schaffner and U.S. Air Force Maj. Preston Schaffner, natives of Zeeland, ND, were promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel in the auditorium at Raymond J. Bohn Armory, Bismarck, Nov. 22. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Preston Schaffner is pinned his new rank by his children.
Preston Schaffner serves as the health care provider for the 81st Civil Support Team (CST). His role providing expert medical support is invaluable to the health and well-being of his fellow service members and the success of CST.
Preston says, "it's an honor to be promoted with my brother. the guard is such a big family in general but to do this with your direct family is a very special moment".
Chance Schaffner is pinned his new rank by his wife.
Chance Schaffner, currently serves as the commander of the Recruiting and Retention Battalion. His role as the commander is instrumental in strengthening the ranks of the North Dakota Army National Guard through effective recruitment and retention strategies.
Chance said, "it's awesome. to think my family has only been able to attend a few of these due to deployments, so it's really cool to have everyone here and to do it with my brother for the same rank, I've never seen this before."
Maj. Gen. Wilz Retires
U.S. Air Force Gen. Steven Nordhaus, chief, National Guard Bureau, hosted the retirement ceremony for U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Giselle Wilz, Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall, Arlington, Virginia, Nov. 15. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Zach Sheely)
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, ND National Guard deputy adjutant general, was at the event to present Maj. Gen. Giselle Wilz, the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal.
State of the State
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, ND National Guard adjutant general, and other National Guard members along with National Guard Bureau counterparts attended the annual state of the state meeting in the nation's capital Nov. 19 - 21. (National Guard photos by U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 3 Steven Hoikkala, G4 defense movement coordinator)
This helps build relationships with civic leaders from Fargo/West Fargo/Moorhead, Grand Forks, Minot, and Bismarck. The group discussed education on the military priorities of the N.D. Guard, legislative cycle on the federal level, and a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery.
Standing Guard in the Cold
U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Andrew Nienas of the 119th Security Forces Squadron, and Airman 1st Class Shanetta Reimeyer, 119th Security Forces Squadron augmentee, use a Defense Biometrics Identification System hand-held scanner to verify the identity of drivers in the freezing cold prior to allowing them entry to the base at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base, Fargo, North Dakota, Nov. 20. (National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
Cub Scouts Visit Civil Support Team
Members from the 81st Civil Support Team (CST) hosted Cub Scouts and parents from Pack 152 in Lincoln at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, Nov. 14. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The 81st CST is a federally funded unit which supports civil authorities in the event of a weapon of mass destruction incident or other chemical threats.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Brent Lafontaine, CBRN non-commissioned officer, 81st Civil Support Team, briefs Cub Scouts and parents about a CST ambulance at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck.
Members of the CST undergo rigorous military and civilian training, and work with local, state, and federal response organizations.
Lafontaine briefs Cub Scouts and parents on the capabilities of the Analytical Laboratory System at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck.
North Dakota's 81st CST team, consists of 22 full-time Army and Air Force National Guard personnel.
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
Kiel Skager
Skager’s military service began in July 1984 when he enlisted as an administrative specialist in the North Dakota Army National Guard. He completed 15 years of enlisted service and achieved the rank of staff sergeant.
In 1999, he graduated from Warrant Officer Candidate School and accepted his commission as a military personnel technician. In November 2017, he was appointed as the Command Chief Warrant Officer for the North Dakota Army National Guard. Upon his retirement in July 2021, Chief Warrant Officer 5. Skager culminated 37 years of military service.
Skager has been a full-time member of the North Dakota National Guard team since 1986. His duty assignments have included unit administrator, flight operations specialist, maintenance operations specialist, information technology specialist, visual information manager, Information system security manager and IT services branch chief.
New podcast episodes will be announced every other Monday.
Promoted to Lt. Col.
U.S. Army Maj. Stanley Brown, N.D. Guard Medical Detachment commander, was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a ceremony at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Nov. 15. (U.S. National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Professional Development
Cheryl Kary, executive director of the Sacred Pipe Resource Center, conducted this month's professional development, Nov. 13 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 the diverse culture of North Dakota Native American tribal population in the honor of Native American Heritage Month.
In addition to an in-person audience, his briefing was livestreamed state-wide to all N.D. National Guard full time members.
State Chaplain's Thanksgiving Message
(By Maj. Chad Gion, N.D. Guard State Chaplain)
God does not need anything. There is literally nothing that we are, that we have, or that we can do that God needs. If we are going to get very real about it, God does not need us. We do not need to exist. God does not need the universe. It does not need to exist. God is fully and entirely sufficient unto himself. That is, at least in part, what make him God.
So why did God make anything if nothing is necessary? For the sake of pure frivolity. Just because it was fun to do. The universe, to include us, are the frivolous, unnecessary, joy-inducing, lovingly made creations of a Creator who doesn’t need us, but thinks that, for some reason, it is better that you exist than not.
IT IS BETTER THAT YOU EXIST THAN THAT YOU DO NOT. Yes, I am shouting that at you. Your life is a gift, and the world is better because you are in it.
If you doubt the truth of that statement, do not worry- you are far from alone. Everyone doubts that from time to time. Some spend much of their life wrestling with such uncertainty.
I have done things that left me questioning my essential goodness and I have had things happen to me that left me questioning my essential goodness. I can be as cruel to myself as anyone else ever has been. And then I remember that I exist. And that if I exist, God believes that my existence is a good thing, even if there are a lot of challenging days. And what God believes is what is true.
When I remember that my existence is a good thing, all I can do is say thanks to the one who made me. God don’t make no junk. Trite as that may be, it’s true.
Take time to express gratitude for the many different blessings in your life. But above all, be thankful for your existence and the existence of the people that God has put into your life. Don’t let it go to your head, but you are, literally, God’s gift to the world. Happy Thanksgiving!
From the Field Campaign
Chaplain Reunites
Chaplain Gehlhar reunites with the soldiers of the 817th Engineer Company in which he served with as they make their way home after one year. (Photo submitted by Chaplain Capt. Jordan Gehlhar)
Recruiting at Fargo Dome
The N.D. Guard Recruiting and Retention team attended the 2024 Dakota Bowl at the Fargo Dome in Fargo, Nov. 16. (Photos courtesy of North Dakota Army National Guard Recruiting social media)
The team of recruiters helped celebrate the success of the 2024 Dakota Bowl and the NDARNG Rappel Team helped start the event.
Recognition
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, ND National Guard adjutant general, recognized U.S. Army Capt. Nathan Johnson, antiterrorism security force protection officer, after a recent professional development class at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Nov. 13. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
U Mary Visit
The North Dakota National Guard Service Member & Family Support celebrated their eight-year partnership with the University of Mary's student diversity class taught by Katie Krukenberg, Social Worker Program Director. Nov. 15. (Story and photos courtesy of North Dakota National Guard Service Member & Family Support)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ann Willoughby, State Family Program director, U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion, N.D. Guard State chaplain and Suzanne Richards, Soldier family readiness specialist, shared their knowledge and experiences with the students on various topics of Soldiers, family and military life.
Randy Mangum is the new child and youth program coordinator with the North Dakota National Guard. Randy is an active-duty Air Force veteran, and was station in Minot Air Force Base, Aviano AFB, Italy, and Fairchild Spokane, Wash. He was deployed to Kenya, Africa to provide Presidential security during the Former President Obama's trip there. He built resilience through his separation from his family for three years while stationed overseas.
After his six-year contract to the military, Randy went to school at Western Washington University to educate himself in ways to help mentor and foster youth development and growth.
His experiences include volunteering at Minot AFB elementary school tutoring children, Boys and Girls Club of America, and achieving a bachelor's degree in English literature with an emphasis in Education. His life goal has always been to help children navigate the world, and the challenges it brings.
Operation Homefront
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