Members of the N.D. National Guard's 188th Army Band's Blues in Greens ensemble perform in Medora, N.D., July 28, 2022. Left to right, Staff Sgt. Nathan Johnson, Staff Sgt. Zachary Fischer, Sgt. Jordan Housel, Sgt. Kacie Edwardspahl, Staff Sgt. Samuel Kroll, Staff Sgt. Brian Lydeen, Sgt. 1st Class DeAnn Fylling, Staff Sgt. Leah Brooks, and Sgt. David Hathaway. (National Guard photo by Cpt. Vanessa Lennick, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
N.D. Air Guard Welcomes New State Command Chief
Chief Master Sgt. Levi Heller was chosen as the new state command chief for the N.D. Air National Guard. (National Guard story and photo by David Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs Office)
In this new role, Heller will advise senior military leaders on matters concerning discipline, morale, welfare, effective utilization, professional development and career progression of N.D. National Guard Airmen.
“It is exciting to be part of the team that is at the forefront of shaping the enlisted force of the North Dakota Air National Guard – not only today, but for many years to come,” said Heller. “I look forward to serving our great Airmen over the next three years.”
Remembrance Retreat
The N.D. National Guard's Survivor Outreach Services (SOS) hosted its 6th Annual Remembrance Retreat over the weekend of July 29 to July 31, 2022, Bismarck, N.D. The retreat allows Families of the Fallen service members to spend time together and honor their deceased loved ones. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Thea Jorgensen, 68th Troop Command)
Families representing 17 fallen service members gathered for the 6th Annual Remembrance Retreat Weekend in Bismarck, N.D. The families spent three days together honoring and remembering their loved ones.
SOS has organized and hosted the event for all six years, with support from the N.D. National Guard. This official Army Survivor Outreach Support program is designed to provide long-term support to surviving Families of Fallen Soldiers.
Brenda Bergan speaks about losing a son to suicide during the 6th Annual Remembrance Retreat, July 29, 2022, in Bismarck, N.D.
Seventeen fallen service members from North Dakota, the son and spouse of the keynote speakers, and a regional coworker of the SOS team. Families from all branches of services are welcome to participate regardless of how their loved one died. It is a weekend full of tears, laughter, love, honor, and remembrance.
The families were joined by members of the N.D. National Guard’s leadership team, including Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, Chaplain (Col.) David Johnson, state chaplain, and the N.D. National Guard's senior enlisted leader, Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock.
Left to right; Sara Blazek, Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, Libby Gravning, Brenda Bergan, Kristi Fetsch, Col. David Johnson, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock pose for a photo during the 6th Annual Remembrance Retreat Weekend. The weekend is a time for families to connect and honor and their loved ones. It took place in Bismarck, N.D. from July 29 – July 31, 2022.
The Keynote speakers, Brenda Bergan and Libby Gravning, shared their stories of loss. Bergan lost a son and Libby a spouse to suicide. The women both shared the same message; keep sharing the stories of their lives with others and never hesitate to say their names.
Sara Blazek holds a microphone for (Chaplain) Col. David Johnson during an icebreaker to kick off the Remembrance Retreat weekend in Bismarck, N.D. on July 29, 2022.
Some attendees have participated all six years, some on and off, and for others, it was their first time attending. It was Tenille Weyer’s first time attending. Her brother, Spc. Jon Fettig, was killed in action on July 22, 2003, outside of Ramadi, Iraq.
Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, left, present recognition coins to Brenda Bergan and Libby Gravning at the conclusion of the Remembrance Retreat in Bismarck, N.D., July 31, 2022.
“I felt it was time to honor my brother and reconnect with all the people I have met through the National Guard,” said Weyer. “This event means so much. You get to experience those important feelings. To come here and be told it is ok to feel that way and to have sad moments; it's a good reminder for everyday life that it is ok to be sad and remember them.”
Army Band Plays Medora
The 188th Army Band's Blues In Green and Saxophone Quartet ensembles performed in Medora, N.D., July 27 to 29, 2022. (National Guard story, video and photos by Cpt. Vanessa Lennick, Staff Sergeant Samuel Kroll, Jonathan Haugen, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
Members of the 188th Army Band Saxophone Quartet perform "When the Saints Go Marching In", Medora, N.D. July 27, 2022. From left, Staff Sgt. Brian Lydeen, Staff Sgt. Josh Peterson, Sgt. 1st Class DeAnn Fylling, and Staff Sgt. Zachary Fischer.
Members of the 188th Army Band Saxophone Quartet perform "When the Saints Go Marching In", Medora, N.D. July 27, 2022. From left, Staff Sgt. Josh Peterson, Staff Sgt. Brian Lydeen, Staff Sgt. Zachary Fischer, and Sgt. 1st Class DeAnn Fylling.
188th Army Band performs in Medora.
Officer Candidate School
Nineteen Officer Candidates returned to North Dakota from Camp Rapid and Fort Meade, South Dakota, July 30, 2021, after completing various phases of Officer Candidate School (OCS). (National Guard story by Officer Candidate Michaela C.P. Granger, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The OCS program provides training focused on leadership, troop leading procedures, warrior tasks, battle drills, military history, weapons familiarization, and intense physical training in preparation for earning officer commissions as second lieutenants in the Army National Guard.
North Dakota Army National Guard Officer Candidate Class #65 in front of Mount Rushmore, South Dakota. Front row, from left, Officer Candidate (OC) Michaela Granger, OC John Fergades, OC Reily Altenburg, and OC Emma Steffens. Middle row, from left, OC Kehni Oyetunji, OC Dustin Kelly, OC Michael Becker, OC Cullen Shay, and OC Thomas Geary. Back row, from left, OC Jordan Becker, OC Donte Stevens, and OC David Hooge.
Twelve N.D. Army National Guard officer candidates completed their first phase July 2021, and their second phase over inactive duty training (IDT) weekends. They graduated from the final phase of this program July 29, 2022. Most will be commissioned as second lieutenants in the N.D. Army National Guard, August 20, 2022, at Camp Grafton Training Center, N.D.
A platoon of phase one officer candidates conduct a six-mile foot march, July 21, 2022, at Fort Meade, South Dakota. (Photo courtesy of 1st Battalion Officer Candidate School, 196th Regiment Cadre)
The other seven officer candidates completed phase one over a two-week course that began July 16, 2022. They will conduct phase two over drill weekends at Camp Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, N.D. They are set to complete the final phase and graduate from the program summer 2023.
142nd Engineer Battalion AT
Soldiers of the Forward Support Company (FSC), 142nd Engineer Battalion conducted their 2022 annual training (AT) at Camp Ripley Training Center (CRTC). Their training began with motorized convoys leaving the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center on June 2 and 3, 2022. (National Guard story by Sgt. Macy Rennpferd, Forward Support Company (FSC), 142nd Engineer Battalion)
Soldiers from a myriad of units work together to extricate a 5 ton truck that was nearly completely submerged at a mire pit, Camp Ripley Training Center, Minnesota, June 11, 2022.
Soldiers from the 164th Engineer Battalion, 815th Engineer Company, 817th Engineer Company, and FSC, 142nd Engineer Battalion, joined forces to recover a 5 ton trump that was almost fully submerged in a mire pit. Additionally, they accomplished a feat that no other unit could accomplish - successfully recovering a buried tank.
This recovery mission allowed Soldiers to experience team building outside of their maintenance shop environment.
Forward Support Company (FSC), 142nd Engineer Battalion Soldiers prepare for a slingload mission that culminated this year’s annual training, Camp Ripley Training Center, Minnesota, June 16, 2022. Left to right: Spc. Matthew Duku, Spc. Michael Bayamoa, and Spc. Kevin Huber.
The FSC's Distribution Platoon provided a total of 9,000 gallons of fuel and 12,000 gallons of water to units within the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Soldiers experienced the thrill of early morning fuel missions as well as the uncertainties and challenges encountered during convoy operations. Additionally, these Soldiers were able to end their AT adventures with a sling load mission.
From left Spc. Omotolani Machado, Spc. Dalton Waldo, and 2nd Lt. Alexander O’Connel serve breakfast at a forward operating kitchen, Camp Ripley Training Center, June 10, 2022.
from FSC 142nd EN BN, FSC 164th EN BN, the MEB, and 131st MP CO joined forces to feed up to 1,100 soldiers each day at CRTC.
Field feeding teams from the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, 164th Engineer Battalion, and 131st Military Police Battalion joined Soldiers of the Forward Support Company (FSC), 142nd Engineer Battalion during the annual training.
Forward Support Company (FSC), 142nd Engineer Battalion Soldiers spent one morning training on chemical, biological, radioactive, and nuclear readiness by participating in the CS gas chamber. Soldiers endured the gas chamber and discovered the importance of having a properly fit protective mask.
Spc. Samuel Honeyman, Pfc. William Nelson, Spc. Courtney Reister, and 1st Lt. Evan Thomas exit the gas chamber, June 6, 2022, Camp Riley Training Center, Minnesota.
Chaplain Corps Training
The N.D. National Guard's State Chaplain's office conducted professional development training for 22 ministry team members, August 1 to 3, 2022, at Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC), ND. (National Guard story by Chaplain (Col.) David Johnson, N.D. National Guard state chaplain)
The state chaplain's office conducts four training events each fiscal year; three one-day events and one-three day event. This professional development was the annual three-day event conducted at CGTC.
All of these events are designed to prepare Army Guard and Air Guard religious support teams to better care for those Guard members and Families in their charge. Specifically providing for their spiritual and religious. We do this through individual and collective training. Finally, these events allow us to learn from each other while building our ministry team.
N.D. National Guard Chaplain Corps group photo in front of Devils Lake, CGTC, August 3, 2022.
Klettke Promoted
Lucas Klettke, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, was promoted to lieutenant colonel during a ceremony at the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center, Fargo, N.D., on Aug. 4, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Tyler Wall, N.D. National Guard 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Donation to the North Dakota Veterans Cemetry
The Disabled American Veterans (DAV), Chapter 4 out of Minot, N.D., presented a donation to the N.D. Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation (NDVCF), at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D., Aug. 5 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, N.D. deputy adjutant general, receives a donation check from the DAV treasurer, David Van Lith, N.D. Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D., Aug. 5 2022.
The NDVCF was one of six recipients from North Dakota to receive a donation this year. The amount of the donation is $3,050.
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