Governor Doug Burgum, left, accepts the North Dakota state flag carried by Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, during their deployment to the National Capital Region (NCR). The flag was presented during the welcome home ceremony at the N.D. National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility, Bismarck, on Oct. 24, 2021. The ceremony honored seventy Soldiers who were mobilized from November 2020 to August 2021. Also pictured from right is Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general; 1st Sgt. Mitch McCoy; and Capt. Robert Sorensen, unit commander. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Brandi Schmidt, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
North Dakota Welcomes Unit Home
Approximately seventy Soldiers assigned to Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment (ASSAULT) were honored at a welcome home ceremony at the N.D. National Guard's Army Aviation Support Facility, Bismarck, Oct. 24, 2021. (U.S. Army National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Brandi Schmidt, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
The Soldiers were recognized for a successful nine-month mobilization (November 2020 to August 2021) to the National Capital Region. Their mission was transporting personnel and light cargo on UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters in the Washington, D.C. area. The unit completed 1,300 flight hours during 55 missions with no accidents. Distinguished guests rendering remarks were Gov. Doug Burgum, commander and chief of the N.D. National Guard; Sen. John Hoeven; Sen. Kevin Cramer; Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general; and Command Sgt. Maj. Derek Heck, N.D. National Guard's state command sergeant major.
Governor Doug Burgum, commander and chief of the N.D. National Guard, addresses Soldiers and Families of Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment during a welcome home ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 24, 2021.
Captain Rob Sorensen, commander of Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, addresses Soldiers and their Families during a welcome home ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 24, 2021.
“We’re proud of the work they accomplished and want to recognize that success,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Derek Heck, N.D. National Guard's state command sergeant major. He commended the unit because of the complimentary feedback he received on a conference call with senior leaders from NGB (National Guard Bureau).
“NGB leaders praised the N.D. National Guard Army aviators, stating they were one of the best units they had seen performing this mission,” Heck added.
“This unit had the highest operational rate of any aviation unit assigned to this mission and we continue to get great feedback on their duty performance,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general.
Major General Al Dohrmann addresses the Soldiers and Families of Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment during a welcome home ceremony at the Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 24, 2021.
Music in Our Schools
The 188th Army Band performed in schools throughout North Dakota for their "Music in Our Schools Tour 2021". The tour started on Oct. 25, 2021, in Enderlin, and continued through Lisbon, Richardton, and other towns in North Dakota. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class DeAnn Fylling, 188th Army Band)
The Blues in Green ensemble, 188th Army Band, performs "Ho Hey" with choreography and encouraged audience participation at Richardton-Taylor High School, Richardton, N.D., Oct. 26, 2021.
Staff Sergeant Brian Lydeen, left, and Sgt. Kacie Edwards Pahl encourage audience participation during a Bruno Mars song called “Treasure” performed at South Heart Public School, South Heart, N.D., Oct. 27, 2021.
Baysha, a student at South Heart, joins members of the 188th Army Band on stage to sing Taylor Swift’s song “Shake It Off”, performed at South Heart Public School, South Heart, N.D., Oct. 27, 2021.
Bismarck High Schools Honor Veterans
About 200 students from Bismarck, Century, and Legacy High schools combined voices to honor Veterans, Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 17, 2021. (National Guard story and photo by John Haugen, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
The concert was themed “In Remembrance” in honor of all military service members. Many of the songs performed by the students were centered on patriotism in remembrance of the terrorist attacks on the nation on Sept. 11, 2001.
Hooligan Receives Scholarship
Senior Airman BreAnn Sullivan, 119th Wing, was pleasantly surprised during class at North Dakota State University (NDSU), Fargo, on Oct. 27, 2021. Sullivan was presented a $5,000 Sanford Health military and Veterans’ scholarship check. (National Guard story by Chief Master David Lipp, 119th Wing)
Retired U.S. Navy Captain Paul Weckman, director of Sanford Health’s Department of Veterans and Military Services, presents a $5,000 Military and Veteran Scholarship check to North Dakota State University (NDSU) nursing student and N.D. Air National Guard member Senior Airman BreAnn Sullivan at NDSU on Oct. 27, 2021. (Photo by NDSU Media Relations Coordinator Ms. Brynn Rawlings)
TAG Townhall
Maj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, hosted a townhall at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Oct. 27, 2021. (National Guard story and photos Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highlight, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The main topic of discussion was explaining the N.D. National Guard's implementation policy for COVID-19 vaccinations. Full-time employees participated in person and virtually.
Class Upgrade
The 164th Regional Training Institute-North Dakota (164th RTI-ND) at Camp Grafton Training Center, placed its newly remodeled classroom to into use this week. The 12T10 Technical Engineer course is taught over five phases at Camp Grafton Training Center. Soldiers attend four classes in person and one virtually. (National Guard story and photos by Maj. Brett Nelson, officer in charge, 164th RTI-ND)
This classroom upgrade was part of an effort to modernize learning through technological upgrades in order to promote collaborative learning in the classroom. Students use the new equipment to learn how to determine the maximum dry density and optimum moisture content of construction material by plotting laboratory compaction testing results into a graph. These quality control tests provide project managers information needed to make decisions during construction.
Trunk or Treat
The N.D. National Guard hosted its first ever "Trunk or Treat" event celebrating Halloween at the Raymond J. Bohn armory in Bismarck, Oct. 28, 2021. Over 440 children attended the event which featured a spooky bat maze, pet miniature horses, a goat, and hang out with super heroes. They also traveled through a monster car wash, and played carnival games for prizes.
The N.D. National Guard G-1 along with the N.D. National Army Guard Recruiting and Retention hosted a pumpkin patch and a petting zoo at the Trunk or Treat event celebrating Halloween at Bohn Armory in Bismarck on Oct. 28.
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