Top: Master Sergeant Coltyn Penberthy, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, presents a gift to his daughter as his wife looks on at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., Jan. 15, 2022. Penberthy returned home after completing a six-month deployment to Africa. (National Guard photo by David H. Lipp)
hooligan Homecomings continue
Airmen from the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron returned to Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., on Jan. 15, 2022, after completing six-month deployments to Africa. Of the approximately 125 Happy Hooligans deployed around the globe over the past year, about 30 are still mobilized. (National Guard story and photos by David Lipp, 119th Wing)
Master Sergeant Nicholas Mitchell, a firefighter in the 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, embraces his son at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., Jan. 16, 2022. Mitchell returned after completing a six-month deployment to Africa.
Chief Master Sgt. Kristi Erickson, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron, is greeted with hugs from her daughters as friends and family meet her at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., upon her completion of a six-month deployment to southwest Asia, Jan. 20, 2022.
Techical Sgt. Joseph Solberg, left, is greeted by Chief Master Sgt. Chris Andvik, 119th Wing command chief, as friends and family meet him at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., upon his completion of a six-month deployment to southwest Asia, Jan. 20, 2022.
Former TAG discusses Korean War service experience
Retired Major General Alexander Macdonald, former N.D. Air National Guard (NDANG) commander and N.D. adjutant general, spoke about his Korean War experience during a Fargo Air Museum history event, Jan. 18, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by David Lipp, 119th Wing)
Macdonald joined the 178th Fighter Interceptor Squadron in 1948, shortly after the unit was formed, and later volunteered for service in the Korean War.
He flew the T-6 Texan aircraft, known as ‘Mosquitos’, in their ‘forward air controller’ target marking role for F-86 fighter bombers during the war, and flew 34 combat missions.
Photo: Retired Major General Alexander Macdonald, former N.D. Air National Guard commander and N.D. adjutant general, speaks about his Korean War experiences at the Fargo Air Museum, Fargo, Jan. 18, 2022.
Macdonald returned to the N.D. Air National Guard after the war and later commanded the 119th Fighter Wing and served as the N.D. adjutant general. He retired in 1993 with 45 years of military service.
Photo: Retired Major General Alexander Macdonald, speaks about his Korean War experiences as Ryan Thayer, Fargo Air Museum executive director, looks on, Jan. 18.
A pictorial history of Retired Maj. Gen. Macdonald is available on N.D. National Guard Flickr. You can also learn more about his career in the Sept. 2012 issue of the N.D. Guardian.
Macdonald's interview is featured below. (National Guard video by Master Sgt. Mike, Knodle, 119th Wing)
ESGR EMPLOYER AWARD
Tyler Halm, manager of Scheels, was awarded the ESGR (Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve) Patriot Award, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 20, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs)
Sgt. Joey Vandervliet, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, nominated Halm for this award.
Vandervliet nominated his supervisor in recognition of his support during his deployment to Washington D.C. from Nov. 2020 to June 2021.
Specifically, Vandervliet appreciated his employer sending care packages during the deployment. He also cited Halm for staying in touch with his wife and daughter, and for the great welcome home offering him another position within the company.
From left, Tyler Halm, Scheels' Bismarck store manager, Rob Keller, ESGR public affairs director for North Dakota, Sgt. Joey Vandervliet, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, and Vandevliet's wife, pose with the ESGR Patriot Award, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 20, 2022.
These awards are presented to employers and supervisors who support members of the Reserve Component. An employee serving in the National Guard or Reserve, or the spouse of a Guard or Reserve member, may nominate individual supervisors for the support provided directly to the nominating Service Member and his or her family. For more information about ESGR outreach programs or volunteer opportunities, call (701) 333-2057 or visit ESGR.mil/ND.
ESGR Turns 50
This year, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) will celebrate a half-century of fostering a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and service of members of the National Guard and Reserve all across the nation. (National Guard story by Rob Keller; photos by David Lipp, 119th Wing)
Established in 1972, this Department of Defense program promotes cooperation and understanding between Reserve Component Service members and their civilian employers. They also can assist in the resolution of conflicts arising from an employee's military commitment. ESGR is staffed by dedicated volunteers nationwide.
What does ESGR mean to a traditional Guard member? It means that you have help balancing your civilian job as you pursue the many challenges associated with military service. Your employers provide a visible connection between local communities and military service when they employ you. We are fortunate that North Dakota has a strong military heritage with many families boasting multi-generation military members.
Photo: Chief Warrant Officer 3 Chedric Phillips, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, walks up stairs to a charter flight bound for Romania at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., June 7, 2019.
For the last 50 years, ESGR has been inspiring employer awareness, resolving conflicts, and helping ensure good employer-military employee relationships.
Photo: 119th Civil Engineer Squadron members walk across the flight line and climb into military airlift, Dec. 6, 2011, for a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia.
Our nation's citizen-service members need ESGR. North Dakota ESGR is proud to be part of an all-volunteer network critical to our national security and the success of our Guard and Reserve components.
Photo: First Sergeant Nicholas Clark, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB), accounts for Soldiers boarding a charter flight bound for Romania at Hector International Airport, Fargo, N.D., June 7, 2019.
ESGR, staffed by volunteers, are guided by the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act of 1994 (USERRA).
Delton Steele, Chair of the North Dakota ESGR, says “All of our ESGR volunteers are very excited about our 50-year anniversary. We like to think military service is represented by the top portion of a “three-legged stool”. The legs represent the Guard and Reserve employee, their family, and their employer. By providing USERRA education to both military employees and their civilian employers, free mediation service, and employer recognition, we help ensure these three legs properly support the stool. I am grateful to our Guard and Reserve members for nominating their employers for ESGR awards."
Photo: Governor John Hoeven congratulates Staff Sgt. James Jennen, 119th Communications Flight, during the Hometown Heroes Salute ceremony at the North Dakota Air National Guard base, Fargo, Sept. 11, 2010.
Congratulations ESGR on a half-century of dedication to the nation, employers of National Guard and Reserve, and to our citizen Service Members.
MED Det Takes Care of Business
State Medical Readiness Detachment (SMD) clinic was full on Jan. 11 when the unit conducted Soldiers Physical Health Assessments (PHA). (National Guard story and photos by Capt. Vanessa Lennick, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
The SMD is tasked to conduct PHAs 12 times a year on the second Tuesday of every month. During Inactive Duty Training (IDT), the detachment performs 16 scheduled PHA missions in several locations across the state. The SMD also organizes and executes a comprehensive vaccination operation that takes place at six different sites, providing every Soldier an opportunity to be vaccinated. The SMD also provides Soldier Readiness Program (SRP) medical support for deploying units. All of these mission are necessary to maintain the required medical readiness of all N.D. National Guard Soldiers. These missions are performed by a dedicated team of 51 Soldiers (25 Officers and 26 Enlisted).
Thanks to the efforts of the SMD coupled with the command emphasis from the units, the the N.D. Army Guard units led the National Guard nation-wide twice in two categories last year. In March 2021, N.D. was the only state above 90% for dental and medical readiness and December 2021, the only state above 90% for influenza vaccination compliance.
Sergeant First Class Jodell Fleckenstein, Medical Readiness Detachment, places a blood pressure reporting device on Spc. Samantha's Crabbe's arm, Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, Jan. 11, 2022.
Civil Support Team Partners with Lab
The N.D. National Guard's 81st Civil Support Team (CST) constantly conducts exercises to ensure readiness. On Jan. 11, 2022, the CST partnered with the N.D. Department of Health state Microbiology Laboratory division of Bio Threat for an exercise, in Bismarck. (National Guard Story and photos by Capt. Vanessa Lennick, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
The exercise began when the 81st CST was called to help evaluate a suspicious package transported to the state laboratory by law enforcement. The exercise scenario also called for the CST to establish a secure communications network.
Sergeant 1st Class Bill Miller, left, and TSgt. Sam Hemphill, both of the 81st Civil Support Team, set up a satellite for secure network training at the N.D. Department of Health State Laboratory, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 11, 2022. This network is essential for securing sharing information between incident site and the N.D. National Guard's Joint Operation Center at Fraine Barracks.
ND Military museum UPDATE
Brigadier General Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard, briefed on the status of the planning for a proposed N.D. Military Museum during the quarterly meeting of the N.D. Historical Board, at the N.D. Heritage Center, Jan. 14, 2022. (National Guard story by retired Lt. Col. Shirley J. Olgeirson, N.D. National Guard Historian)
Participating in person and virtually were members of the State Historical Board, State Historical Society Foundation, and the N.D. National Guard Foundation, as well as staff members from the museum and the National Guard.
Brigadier General Jackie Huber, N.D. deputy adjutant general, briefed on the status of the planning for a proposed N.D. Military Museum at the N.D. Heritage Center, Jan. 14.
The main focus was on the upcoming feasibility study scheduled for February through April. This state-wide study will determine if North Dakotans are interested in a military museum and have a propensity to fully fund the project.
After considering a number of locations, an addition to the existing museum on the Capitol Grounds is thought to be the ideal location to showcase North Dakota’s rich military history. The proposal is a collaborative effort with the State Historical Society of North Dakota and will require coordination with, or approval from, state-level committees and commissions.
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