Spc William Holloway, 818th Engineer Company, prepares his RQ-11 Raven for flight on Camp Grafton South, May 24, 2021. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Air Defenders Wrap up Annual Training
About 230 Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment (1-188th ADA), spent their annual training at Camp Grafton Training Center, Grand Forks and Fargo, preparing for mobilization to the National Capital Region in support of Operation Noble Eagle, May 10 to May 25, 2021. During this deployment, scheduled for June 2021, the unit will assist in providing early-warning ground-based aerial surveillance. (National Guard story by Maj. Alan Roehrich, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment)
The air defender culminated their annual training by conducting Exercise America’s Shield where they validated crew, team and unit certification in preparation to mobilize in June 2021. The Avenger air defense teams trained to track threats with both Avenger Fighter Unit and the Man-Portable Air-Defense System. Another group of air defenders conducted three iterations of National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS) training with our Kongsberg partners from Norway by providing a robust maintenance and communications team in support of Exercise America’s Shield. The work by this team, the support from Camp Grafton Training Center, and the planning effort by the 1-188 ADA staff enabled North Dakota to be the first state to host and validate a concept to successfully conduct the NASAMS and Fire Distribution Center courses outside of Fort Bliss, Texas. This was a major step ensuring our Soldiers receive mandatory training at home station prior to arrival at a Mobilization station.
The Minimum Deployment Package (MDP) conducted AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel radar familiarization and emplacement. The North Dakota Civil Air Patrol (NDCAP) worked with the air defenders providing aircraft which Soldiers used for identification and tracking practice.
Staff Sgt. Derrik Stratman, left, climbs into the gunner seat while Pfc. Quentin Beiningen prepares to assist targeting at site 7 during Exercise America's Shield, Camp Grafton Training Center, May 19, 2021.
Staff Sgt. Derrik Stratman, left, and Pfc. Quentin Beiningen conduct Man-Portable Air Defense System (MANPADS) engagements on a Track of Interest (TOI) at site 7 during Exercise America's Shield, Camp Grafton Training Center, May 19, 2021.
Sgt. Levi Guthmiller installs a power cable into an AN/MPQ-64A3 Sentinel Radar during Exercise America’s Shield at Camp Grafton Training Center, May 19, 2021.
Soldier, Student, Athlete
Specialist Andrew Huber is one of many Soldiers who volunteered to deploy with the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment to the National Capital Region this summer. He is also a recent graduate of the University of Mary, where he played on the hockey team that brought home a national championship title in April 2021. Huber talks about his experience being a student-athlete while also serving in the Guard.
Military Police Complete Annual Training
About 300 Soldiers from the 131st Military Police (MP) Battalion, consisting of the 191st MP Company, the 816th MP Company, and the 3662nd Support Maintenance Company (SMC) paused their training at Camp Ripley Training Center, Minnesota, in order to assemble the unit for this historic photo. The battalion conducted annual training May 13 to 28, 2021.
Raven's Flight
The 164th Regional Training Institute hosted a Raven Operator and Maintainer Course, Camp Grafton Training Center, May 18 to 27, 2021. The course teaches Soldiers how to maintain and operate an RQ-11 Raven. The Raven is a small, hand-launched, remote-controlled, unmanned aerial vehicle used by the U.S. Army to conduct intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance. These drones can also be used during wildland fire and state flood missions. (National Guard story, video and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Aviation Annual Training in Montana
Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 11th Aviation Regiment (1-112th AVN) gathered at Fort William Henry Harrison, Helena, Montana, for their annual training from May 14 to 28, 2021. More than 180 Soldiers from Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, and Wisconsin trained collectively on all aspects of their aerial missions, such as medical evacuation, as well as performed weapons familiarization. This was the first time that so many of the subordinate units have come together for training. (National Guard photos by Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment).
First lieutenant Luke Daley, HHC, left, and 1st Lt. Caleb Hamilton, Company A, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, perform a local area orientation flight, May 16, 2021.
Soldiers from Headquarters, and Headquarters Company and Company A, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment conduct familiarization fire on the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during a snowstorm at Fort Harrison, Helena, Montana, May 20, 2021.
Senator Visits Hooligans
Sen. John Hoeven, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, and Col. Mitch Johnson, 119th Wing commander, hosted Dr. Derek Tournear, Director - Space Development Agency, at the N.D. Air Guard base as part of a familiarization visit, May 21, 2021. The purpose of the visit was to better understand the Happy Hooligans' unique mission sets and capabilities. Building strong relationships across DoD will position the Hooligans for sustained future success. (National Guard story by Capt. Jeremiah Colbert, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
From left, Dr. Derek Tournear, Director - Space Development Agency, Sen. John Hoeven, and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general meet at the Air National Guard Guard base, May 21, 2021. (National Guard photo by Chief Master Sgt. Dave Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
Retiree Advisory Board Meets
The adjutant general has chartered the National Guard Retirees Advisory Board (NGRAB) to advise, assist, and provide counsel to the senior leaders of the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) and to provide a means by which the National Guard can effectively communicate with military Retirees for the purpose of exchanging information and soliciting volunteer help with various projects. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The primary goal of the NGRAB is to leverage the historical knowledge base, to conduct ongoing programs, projects, and support for mobilization events. The NGRAB also plans and executes the annual Retirees Weekend at Camp Grafton Training Center. This year's reunion is scheduled for Sept. 10 to 12, 2021, with details to follow.
Members of the National Guard Retirees Advisory Board met at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D., May 21, 2021.
Honored for More Than Three Decades of Service
Soldiers of Forward Support Company, 142nd Engineer Battalion, observed a change of responsibility ceremony for the top enlisted position in the unit at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center, May 16, 2021. Capt. Jared Huibregtse presided over the ceremony as 1st Sgt. Sy Hansana relinquished responsibility to 1st Sgt. Cody Sivertson during the unit's May inactive duty for training (IDT). (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Macy Rennpferd, Forward Support Company, 142nd Engineer Battalion)
Hansana was honored for more than 30 years of service. He is a veteran of three deployments with the N.D. Army National Guard: Kosovo in 1999, Iraq in 2003, and Afghanistan in 2017. He was joined by his wife Jennifer at the ceremony and says he plans to enjoy military retirement through his civilian employment with Bobcat of North Dakota.
Memorial Day Ceremony - 2021
Please join us for the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, May 31, 2021. The ceremony begins at 12 noon. This year's theme is Korean War - Never Forgotten. The keynote speaker is Russell Hawkins, stepson of North Dakota National Guard Soldier Master Sgt. Woodrow "Woody" Wilson Keeble. Keeble received the Medal of Honor for heroism during the Korean War.
Friday 5K
Approximately 20 N.D. National Guard members and civilian employees participated in the N.D. National Guard's Friday 5K, a monthly "fun run" organized to motivate individuals and build camaraderie within the organization. Participants ran, jogged, or walked the trails at Sertoma Park, Bismarck, May 21, 2021. The next 5K is scheduled for June 18, 2021. (National Guard photos by Officer Candidate Dustin Kelly, N.D. National Guard OCS.)
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