Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, left, alongside Senator John Hoeven, center right, Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, second right, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson, right, present the North Dakota state flag to Capt. Nicholas P. Kindelspire, second left, and 1st Sgt. Michael H. Tavis, center left, both of the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, during the Send-Off Ceremony at the University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 16, 2023 (National Guard photo by Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Contents
- N.D. Guard's First Female Sapper
- Welcome Home 191st MP's
- Marines Visit Wing
- State Partnership Engineer Training
- 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Send-off
- Recruiting Awards
- From The Field Relaunch
- N.D. Guard's Newest Colonel
- Promotions to Lt. Col.
- Culture Fest
- MEB Promotions
- Col. Hall Retires
- ESGR New State Chair
N.D. Guard's First Female Sapper
2nd Lt. Cassidy Huesers, 818th Engineer Company has become the first female North Dakota National Guard Sapper. She completed Engineer BOLC and attended Sapper School in August 2023 at Fort Leonard Wood where she graduated and received a SAPPER tab.” (National Guard story and photo by Sgt. First Class Mike Wing, 818th Engineer Company (SAPPER) Readiness NCO)
In the modern American Army, the Sapper, commonly referred to as combat engineer, supports the front-line infantry. Sappers install portable bridges, tank traps and other construction that provides tactical support; they build major support facilities such as supply roads, fuel depots, and airports; and additional tasks such as the disarming and disposal of mines and unexploded ordnance. Sappers have supported the front-line infantry in every war in American history.
This past March she attended Engineer BOLC. While there she competed in the National Guard marathon team Time trials. She placed on the All Guard Marathon team and will be running three marathons with the Guard in 2024. She also participated in the Norwegian Ruck March.
Huesers enlisted in the Guard in 2018 to serve her state while staying close to home. She attended Sapper school to grow as a leader and gain Engineering experience to be able to come back to her unit and help others prepare for Sapper School.
Welcome Home 191st MP's
Soldiers with 191st Military Police Company, 131st Military Police Battalion, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, North Dakota Army National Guard, after their deployment held a welcome home ceremony at the Fargodome, Fargo, N.D., Sept. 17, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, second left, alongside Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer, Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson, present the North Dakota state flag and a certificate to Capt. Nathan N. Johnson, left, and 1st. Sgt. Jeremy L. Gowan, right, both of the 191st. Military Police Company, during their Welcome Home Ceremony, as they return from their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Sept. 17, 2023, Fargodome, Fargo, ND.
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, alongside Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer, and Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, shake hands with members of the 191st Military Police Company during their Welcome Home Ceremony, as they return from their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Sept. 17, 2023, Fargodome, Fargo, ND.
The 191st MP Co. was mobilized in Sept. 2022 to Central Command and with more than 150 Soldiers supporting Operation Spartan Shield in the CENTCOM area of operations.
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, alongside Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer, and Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, shake hands with members of the 191st Military Police Company during their Welcome Home Ceremony, as they return from their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Sept. 17, 2023, Fargodome, Fargo, ND.
Soldiers from the unit were from more than 30 communities throughout North Dakota, as well as Minnesota, Kansas, Wisconsin, Montana, Florida, and South Dakota.
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, alongside Senator John Hoeven, Senator Kevin Cramer, and Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, shake hands with members of the 191st Military Police Company during their Welcome Home Ceremony, as they return from their deployment in support of Operation Spartan Shield, Sept. 17, 2023, Fargodome, Fargo, ND.
Marines Visit Wing
Marines from the U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific (MARFORPAC), visited the 119th Wing Operations Group leadership at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base, located in Fargo, N.D. on September 7, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Staff. Sgt. Christa Anderson, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
The purpose of the visit was to strengthen the working relationship between the Marines and the Airmen to provide them a better understanding of how the MQ-9 can benefit their specific mission sets.
“The visit further advanced the relationship we have established between both branches, said 178th Attack Squadron Lt. Colonel Lee Teigen. “MARFORPAC is introducing Marine MQ-9’s in the Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM) to deter gray zone aggression through persistent Maritime Domain Awareness.”
The Marine MQ-9’s will enable detection of adversary movements to highlight illegal activities while simultaneously deepening cooperation and interoperability with U.S. allies and partners in the region.
“This visit was important as it allowed the MARFORPAC to team with and learn from 119th Wing Operation Group due to our experience,” said Teigen. “The Operation Group has a vast skillset from our experience of integrating the MQ-9 into the INDOPACOM, through exercises such as Valiant Shield and Cope North,” said Teigen.
The collaboration and shared knowledge from the different branches allow each organization to bring their different skillsets to the table to strengthen the overall mission and leverage the benefits of the MQ-9 platform.
“The visit gave us an understanding and perspective of the problems each organization is trying to solve which allows us to collaborate to solve them together,” said Teigen.
State Partnership Engineer Training
Seven instructors from the 164th Regional Training Institute instructors worked shoulder to shoulder with the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) Engineer Training School in the Volta Region, Ghana from September 12-21, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, N.D. National Guard State Partnership Director)
Sgt. First Class Gary McDonald, NCOIC of the Heavy Horizontal Engineering engagement, watches on as the GAF engineer instructors take turns utilizing the vibratory roller during the road development.
Soldiers from the 48th Engineer Regiment also supported the training opportunity. The purpose of the engagement was two-fold: first is knowledge exchange between the two schoolhouses by bringing NDNG cadre together with their GAF counterparts on refining their program of instruction at their schoolhouse with the Engineer Training School.
Sgt. First Class Chad Bakken watches the GAF conduct grading operations at Akuse, Ghana.
The second was to prepare a new road to a GAF training site in the Akuse area for the military to conduct maneuvers in the Volta Region. This road will provide access to the training area for the development of a year-long place for the GAF to conduct squad, platoon, and company maneuvers. The estimated amount of road improvements was roughly 3 kilometers.
Sgt. First Class Jose Figueroa-Diaz & Sgt. First Class Sherise Gatzke monitor progress on the road development with members of the GAF engineer training school.
The heavy horizontal engineer equipment shown: grader, dozer, backhoe, skid-steer, and vibratory roller is equipment donated by the United States to allow the GAF to respond rapidly in the event of any peacekeeping response or natural disaster.
188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Send-off
Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 68th Troop Command, North Dakota Army National Guard, held their deployment send-off ceremony at the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union, Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 16, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, center right, alongside Senator John Hoeven, left, Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, second right, and Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson, right, present the United States flag to Capt. Nicholas P. Kindelspire, second left, and 1st Sgt. Michael H. Tavis, center left, both of the 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, during the Send-Off Ceremony of the 1-188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Bravo Battery at the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union, Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 16, 2023.
The 1-188th ADA is deploying to Central Command, and this is the 13th deployment for the unit since 2004, making it the most-deployed unit in the North Dakota National Guard.
Members of the 1-188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, Bravo Battery, spend time with family after the Send-Off Ceremony at the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union, Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 16, 2023.
Previously, the air defenders supported the Operation Noble Eagle in Washington, D.C., mission three times in 2013-2014, 2017-2018, and 2021-2022. The battalion has also deployed to Kosovo as part of a NATO peacekeeping mission, and air defense Soldiers have deployed six times to Afghanistan and twice to Iraq.
Lt. Governor Tammy Miller, left, poses for a photo with 1st Sgt. Michael H. Tavis, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and his family, at the conclusion of the 1-188th Send-Off Ceremony at the University of North Dakota’s Memorial Union, Grand Forks, N.D., Sept. 16, 2023.
Recruiting Awards
The North Dakota National Guard Northeast Recruiting Team received recruiting badge upgrades of achieving their recruiting responsibilities at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fargo, N.D., September 13, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Command Sgt. Maj. Jeffrey E. Sayler, N.D. National Guard Recruiting and Retention Command)
Staff Sgt. Kameron Shaw – Expert Recruiter Badge for 2 successful years of recruiting, Also achieved his 4th consecutive year of Recruiting
Staff Sgt. Elijah Rude – Senior Recruiter Badge for 1 successful year of Recruiting, Completed is first year mission in Recruiting
Cpl. Lane Rouse – Basic Recruiter Badge for completion of SQI4
Cpl. Samuel Bye - Basic Recruiter Badge for completion of SQI4
Cpl. Lane Rouse and Cpl. Samuel Bye recruit in the Northeastern part of the state. Staff Sgt. Elijah Rude covers a mainly rural recruiting area from just north of Fargo to south of Grand Forks and from the Minnesota boarder west to Cooperstown. Staff Sgt. Kameron Shaw recruits from the Grand Forks and surrounding areas. Master Sgt. Katie Buzick is the NE Team NCOIC and oversees all recruiting related duties from just north of Fargo to the Canadian border and Minnesota boarder to just west of Devils Lake.
From The Field Relaunch
The N.D. National Guard's marketing campaign, "From the Field", has been relauched with a brand NEW QR CODE and web address. We want you to help us showcase the efforts of Soldiers and Airmen using your perspective in providing a glimpse of everyday life as a member of the N.D. Guard.
Congratulations to 1st Lt. Chelsy Adams on winning this quarters From the Field submission!
1st Lt. Adams is a Support Platoon Leader in the 957th Multi-Role Bridge Company (MRBC).
N.D. Guard's Newest Colonel
Lt. Col. Patrick Flanagan, Joint Force Headquarters, is promoted to the rank of Colonel during a ceremony at Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck, N.D., September 28, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Promotions to Lt. Col.
Sheldon
Maj. Jay Sheldon, Joint Force Headquarters, is promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. during a ceremony at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, N.D., September 25, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Markovic
Maj. Shawn Markovic, 81st Civil Support Team, is promoted to the rank of Lt. Col. during a ceremony at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, N.D., September 19, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Samuel Kroll, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Culture Fest
The Bismarck State College and the N.D. National Guard partnered to host the 2023 Culture Festival at Bismarck State College, Bismarck, N.D., Sept. 20, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
MEB Promotions
The 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade held a promotion ceremony at the Armed Forces Reserve Center in Fargo, N.D., August 26, 2023. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Johlfs, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade/released)
Col. Hall Retires
Brig. Gen. Jon Erickson, N.D. Army Component commander, presided over a retirement ceremony for Col. David Hall, G6 Chief Information Officer, at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, Sept. 28, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
ESGR New State Chair
The North Dakota Committee of Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense program, is pleased to announce the selection of Sherry Adams as the organization’s state chair, effective October 1, 2023. (National Guard story by Janette Fetch, N.D. ESGR)
Adams is the Executive Officer for Southwestern District Health Unit, Dickenson, N.D., which covers eight counties in the southwest region of North Dakota and has received many awards for her work as an Emergency Preparedness and Response Environmental Health Practitioner.
The State Chair is an official Department of Defense volunteer position with a three-year term of service, renewable one time. Adams will be replacing outgoing chair Delton Steele.
Adams was sworn into her new position as the ND-ESGR state chair during a July 11-12 training event for eleven new appointees.
Adams will serve under Ronald Bogle, the ESGR National Chair, along with 53 other chairs who oversee the ESGR mission in the 50 states, three territories, and the District of Columbia.
“I am excited to lead the North Dakota ESGR volunteers,” said Adams. “They are dedicated to the mission of ESGR and in their service to both the citizen-soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard and Reserve, as well as the companies, municipalities, and organizations which employ our Military members.”