The Bismarck Composite Squadron of the North Dakota Civil Air Patrol hosted the annual Wreaths Across America event at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota, Dec. 13. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Contents
- Adjutant General's Holiday Message
- National Guard’s Birthday Celebration
- Veterans Home Christmas Visit
- Recognition
- Da Guards Podcast
- Stars and Stripes Under the Lights
- Professional Development
- ND1000
- Soup Cookoff
- Working With Your Nervous System Part II: Figure Out Your Triggers
- Coffee Connection Cart
- Warehouse Wednesdays
- Trust and Inspire Workshop
- Wreaths Across America
- ESGR at Fargo – Moorhead Business Expo
- Bismarck Family Christmas Party
- NORAD Tracks Santa
Adjutant General's Holiday Message
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, and his wife Michelle.
As the holiday season unfolds, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to the dedicated men and women of the North Dakota National Guard. This is a time for reflection on the past year's accomplishments, and I am keenly aware that our successes are forged through your individual sacrifices and the shared commitment of your families who stand beside you. I encourage you to take a moment to reflect on your own achievements this year. Tell your family and friends how much they mean to you, and never forget the vital role you play on our North Dakota National Guard team. On behalf of the entire leadership team, I wish you a Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and a safe and prosperous New Year.
National Guard’s Birthday Celebration
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Russ Sundby, helped celebrate the National Guard’s 389th birthday at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania on Dec. 12.
The Army War College honored past and present citizen-soldiers for their 385 years of service. They have always stood ready to support communities in times of crisis and defend the nation.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard, and U.S. Army Lt. Col. Russ Sundby attend the National Guard’s 389th birthday celebration at the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle Barracks in Carlisle, Pennsylvania.
National Guard members currently attending the U.S. Army War College received special recognition during the event.
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber serves as the deputy commandant for Reserve Affairs at the Army War College.
Veterans Home Christmas Visit
North Dakota Army and Air National Guard members visited Veterans and spouses at the North Dakota Veterans Home in Lisbon, Dec. 11. For more than 20 years, North Dakota Guard members have collected and delivered gifts and spread holiday cheer at the home. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Recognition
Legion of Merit
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Benjamin Cleghorn, land component commander, awards Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch, the Legion of Merit for exceptionally meritorious service while serving as the command sergeant major for Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, from Sept. 1, 2022, to March 13, 2025.
The Meritorious Service Medal
The Army Commendation Medal
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Benjamin Cleghorn, land component commander, awards Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiley Kuntz, the Army Commendation Medal for exceptional achievement while serving as the Command Supply Discipline Program assessment lead on behalf of the Army National Guard G-4 from August to October 2025.
The Col. Robert L. Manning Achievement Medal
U.S. Army Brig. Gen. Benjamin Cleghorn, land component commander, awards Master Sgt. Lance Joramo, the Col. Robert L. Manning Achievement Medal for advancing the objectives of the Adjutant General’s Corps, the Adjutant General’s Corps Regimental Association, and the human resources profession as outlined in the association’s constitution and bylaws.
Da Guards Podcast
Da Guards Podcast highlights the North Dakota National Guard’s Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian employees of our organization.
CURRENT PODCAST
U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion
Let's meet U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion! He is the North Dakota Army National Guard state support chaplain. Gion was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2002 and 11 years later joined the North Dakota Army National Guard in 2013 as a chaplain. He discusses his path to becoming a chaplain, the role chaplains take on, and how they work to build strong and resilient teams.
Stars and Stripes Under the Lights
Professional Development
U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion, North Dakota Army National Guard state support chaplain, conducted this month's professional development on Dec. 10 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck, North Dakota. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Working With Your Nervous System Part II: Figure Out Your Triggers
In October, I wrote about how small triggers can add up throughout the day, causing a stress response which can bump the nervous system into “fight or flight” mode. I also wrote about how this is often an unconscious process that can feel confusing if it leads to an unexpected outburst seemingly out of proportion to the triggering event (i.e. children are arguing like they always do but this time, you respond by slamming the empty coffee pot on the counter). (Information provided and written by Caren Stewart, Integrated Primary Prevention Specialist)
In this article, I am picking up where we left off by exploring how to identify these stress triggers, how they impact your nervous system, and what your body’s response to these triggers looks like before you reach a point where it feels like you are at the mercy of your emotions. You can do this by intentionally pausing, reflecting, and gaining awareness about what is happening.
Human beings are a mysterious blend of intellect and emotion packed into a physical body driven by a sensitive nervous system! Sometimes it feels like your mind is telling you one thing, “I really need to go to the store and finish my shopping,” but the body is telling you something totally different, “I am tired and need to rest. The shopping can wait until tomorrow.”
In the world we live in, we tend to listen to and value our thoughts over our feelings, or the physical signals our bodies are constantly sending to us. This is what can happen when we feel stressed; our resources become depleted, and the demands placed on us can feel overwhelming. For many people, this feeling of overwhelm acts as a trigger to the nervous system, causing their body to activate the “fight or flight” response.
I have often heard people say, “I don’t know what happened, one minute I was fine and the next minute I was flying off the handle!” While it can feel like we go from 0 to 60 without any knowledge of what is happening, our body is definitely giving us cues that let us know the direction we are headed in if we don’t pump the breaks on our nervous system.
These cues might look like pacing, clenched fists, a faster heartrate, more shallow breathing, a flushed face, sweat, or a clenched jaw. Your response to a trigger is uniquely yours and varies from individual to individual. That’s why it’s necessary to get curious about what is happening, without criticism or judgement, because these cues can alert you to check in before you reach “60.”
Additionally, when we ignore our body’s signals, they don’t necessarily just go away. Our bodies are stubborn, and if these signals go unchecked for long enough, they can actually begin taking a physical toll, leading to things like digestive issues, sleeplessness, fatigue, irritability, and poor focus among other symptoms.
One way to check in with yourself is with the acronym HALT, which stands for Hungry, Angry, Lonely, Tired. When we are not meeting these basic, physical needs, it can lead to a feeling of depletion which can cause us to overreact. It also gives us something concrete we can do in the moment to feel more grounded and able to deal with stress and challenge.
Keeping a journal for even one day to record events and your responses to them can help you identify what triggers you. Having this knowledge helps to plan for situations that could be potentially stressful. Then when you find yourself pacing, you can go for a walk or a run to calm down. By preparing ahead of time, you can arm yourself with specific tools that can help in the moment when things are actually happening, like having a friend to call, practicing focused breathing, checking in with your five senses, or finding whatever works for you.
Remember, how you feel matters and should be important to you!
Please take a moment to follow us on Facebook for our Merry and Mindful December! Click the QR code below:
Coffee Connection Cart
Connection: The most important protective factor to reduce risk and harm. It’s also something that we can build, create, foster, and share with others. While spreading holiday cheer, connecting with others, and delivering treats we found so many opportunities to connect with others on a more personal level. (Story and photos by from Markelle Dockter, Integrated Primary Prevention Specialist.)
I really loved walking around with U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Kachena as he would go into areas and say, “Come on out of your hiding hole and grab some snacks!” This was my favorite moment, because every time someone came out from their office, back area, or shop I noticed a smile on their faces, but maybe they were just being good sports.
Either way, the extra mile that U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kachena went to ensure that we did our best to see and find almost everyone in a building was inspiring. This act of reaching out to form new connections, visit with others you typically don’t run into, and just check in to see how everyone is doing is the prime example of living our biggest protective factor of CONNECTION!
Happy Holidays, and have a happy New Year from IPPW!
Warehouse Wednesdays
Shirley J. Olgeirson, North Dakota National Guard historian, has assembled a team of retired National Guard members who have volunteered on “Warehouse Wednesdays” to inventory and catalog hundreds of items in the old warehouse on Fraine Barracks, which may be included in displays at the new Military Gallery being built at the North Dakota Heritage Center & State Museum in Bismarck.
Right to left: Retired U.S. Army Chief Warrant Officer 5 Shelly J. Sizer; retired Chief Warrant Officer 5 Ron Dawson; and retired Chief Warrant Officer 4 Connie Peterson, taking inventory of old unit guidons in the old warehouse at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck.
The items needed for the State Historical Society collections are things that are usually turned in, like load bearing equipment, pistol belts, holsters, helmets, weapons, etc, from specific eras, especially the Iraqi deployments and Vietnam era.
Trust and Inspire Workshop
Wreaths Across America
The Bismarck Composite Squadron of the North Dakota Civil Air Patrol hosted the annual Wreaths Across America event at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, North Dakota, Dec. 13. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
With a temperature of zero degrees Fahrenheit to start an estimated 1,300 volunteers showed up to place wreaths on each of the more than 8,800 graves at the cemetery.
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, and his wife Michelle, volunteered to place wreaths at the event.
ESGR at Fargo – Moorhead Business Expo
Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR) volunteers participated in the Fargo – Moorhead Chamber of Commerce’s annual Business Expo on December 11 at the Delta Hotels in Fargo, North Dakota. (National Guard story and photos by Kristy Wangler)
Left to right: Dave Johnson, Travis Hackey, Brittany Rislund, and former North Dakota National Guard adjutant general Mike Haugen.
North Dakota ESGR members spent the evening connecting with local business and community leaders, educating them on the importance of supporting members of the Guard and Reserve, and encouraging them to sign the Statement of Support.
The event featured 92 vendors and 750 attendees and gave volunteers the opportunity to strengthen the network of employers in the Fargo-Moorhead area who are dedicated to recognizing and advocating for our service members and their families.
Bismarck Family Christmas Party
The North Dakota National Guard Service Member & Family Support hosted a Military Family Christmas event at Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, North Dakota, Dec. 5. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
NORAD Tracks Santa
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) is a United States and Canada bi-national organization which defends the homeland. Since 1958 they have had the mission of tracking Santa's flight around the world! (Information provided by from the North American Aerospace Defense Command website)
More than 1,250 Canadian and American uniformed personnel and DOD civilians volunteer their time on December 24th to answer the thousands of phone calls and emails that flood in from around the world.
Each year on December 24th, Santa and his reindeer launch from the North Pole very early in the morning for their famous trip around the world. The minute they launch, NORAD starts to track him!
Have your kids track Santa's flight at https://www.noradsanta.org/en/