Gov. Doug Burgum surrounded by military children before signing a proclamation for the month of the military child at the Capitol in Bismarck, April 6, 2023.
Contents
- Hooligans Train in Ghana
- Serving Their Community
- Honoring Military Children
- Celebrating Four Decades of Military Service
- From the Field Campaign
- State Partnership Awards
Hooligans Train in Ghana
The Happy Hooligans of the 119th Wing and the 178th Attack Squadron conducted Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) training engagements with the Ghana Armed Forces in Accra, Ghana, March 24 to 28, 2023. (National Guard story by Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, director, N.D. National Guard State Partnership Program)
This engagement was the first opportunity for the N.D. Air National Guard to conduct training with our Ghanian partners with regard to Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance imagery obtained from aircraft, UAS, and other methods.
Master Sgt. Maria Yurczyk, 119th Wing, addresses the Ghana Armed Forces class on principles of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR), March 26, 2023, Accra, Ghana. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Abigale Johnson, 119th Wing)
“The 119th Wing and the 178th Attack Squadron are uniquely suited for this engagement. The N.D. Air National Guard's amazing track record working with Department of Defense agencies perfectly ALIGNS with our Ghanaian partners,” states Lt. col. Mark McEvers. “with the insecurity at the border with Burkina Faso, having accurate and timely intelligence is vital to making informed decisions.”
This was Master Sgt. Maria Yurczyk and Staff Sgt. Abigale Johnson first experience conducting an engagement within the State Partnership Program.
Ghana Armed Force Soldiers work together on an Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance practical exercise, March 26, 2023, Accra, Ghana.
“During the Five-day ISR engagement we discussed various intelligence disciplines and how we employ them with our line of work. We found commonality with understanding operational environments and established formal processes,” said Master Sgt. Maria Yurczyk. “The Ghana Armed Forces class offered an insightful representation from Ghana's MILITARY intelligence community. We were grateful that during our exchange, we were able to learn about their missions, experience and culture. Networking with each other was key and there are definitely opportunities for future ISR engagements, YURCZYK ADDED."
Serving Their Community
Spc. Gust Lorenson, 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge Company), and Spc. Luke Hoffman, 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment were among the newest police officers in the Grand Forks Police Department (GFPD), March 30, 2023, Grand Forks, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Maj. Mandy Iverson, Commander N.D. Army National Guard Training Center)
The department welcomed seven new law enforcement officers to include these two N.D. National Guard Soldiers.
Spc. Luke Hoffman, 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment, left, and Spc. Gust Lorenson,957th Engineer Company MRBC (Multi-Role Bridge Company), pose together after officially joining the Grand Forks Police Department, March 30, 2023, Grand Forks, N.D.
Of the 95 law enforcement officers working in North Dakota cities, ten serve as traditional Soldiers in the N.D. Army National Guard while two are deployed on federal missions. The Chief of the GFPD is retired Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson, former N.D. National Guard Senior Enlisted leader.
Serving the community is a family affair with the Hoffmans. Luke joins his brother, Staff Sgt. Austin Hoffman. Besides serving in the same police department, the brothers are both assigned to the N.D. Army National Guard's 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment.
Luke Hoffman, right, joins his brother Austin Hoffman, on the Grand Forks Police Department, March 30, 2023, Grand Forks, N.D.
The GFPD and the City of Grand Forks are military friendly organizations, employing multiple National Guard Service Members, Veteran and retirees.
Honoring Military Children
Military families descended on Memorial Hall at the state Capitol to help celebrate April, the month of the military child, April 6, 2023, Bismarck, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
In addition to Gov. Doug Burgum's proclaiming April as “Month of the Military Child”, he signed two bills related to child care and education that will further North Dakota's goal of being the most military-friendly state in the nation.
Joining Burgum at the event was Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller; State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler; Secretary of State Michael Howe and Chris Jones, North Dakota Department of Human Services (DHHS) Commissioner. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, served as emcee for the event.
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, serves as emcee for the "Month of the Military Child" observance at the state capitol, April 6, 2023, Bismarck, N.D.
Senate Bill 2182 allows child care providers who serve military families to bypass North Dakota Health and Human Services licensing if the provider is already certified through the Family Child Care program administered by the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD). The bill emerged from the work of the governor-appointed Task Force for Military Issues in North Dakota (TF MIND).
Gov. Doug Burgum signs the document officially proclaiming April the month of the military child, April 6, 2023, N.D. state Capitol, Bismarck.
The Governor also signed House Bill 1132 which gives military-connected children the option of beginning their education virtually at a North Dakota school before they arrive in the state. They also may complete their semester virtually if their parent is reassigned before the school year is finished.
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, with outstanding military youth award winners left to right, Braden Malo, Hailey McEvers, Evie Elijan and Eden Anton at the state Capitol, April 6, 2023, Bismarck, N.D.
Celebrating Four Decades of Military Service
Lt. Col. Dan Murphy, commander, 1st Battalion, 164th Regional Training Institute (RTI), presided over the retirement ceremony of Sgt. First Class Ricky Zinke, 164th RTI, April 1, 2023, Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake. (National Guard story and photos by Maj. Brett J. Nelson, 164th RTI)
Zinke was recognized for 41 years of military service culminating as an Engineer instructor.
Lt. Col. Dan Murphy, commander,1st Battalion, 164th Regional Training Institute (RTI), left, presents Sgt. First Class Ricky Zinke, 164th RTI, the Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of four decades of military service, April 1, 2023, Camp Grafton Training Center, Devils Lake.
Zinke has held many positions over the years including reconnaissance specialist during Operation Desert Storm in 1991. He was a N.D. Army National Guard subject matter expert in the operation and maintenance of all heavy equipment. As branch chief he instructed more 1,200 hours to over 400 Soldier students. He shared his influence and knowledge through the state partnership program by training engineers in Ghana. His efforts also contributed to the 164th Regional Training Institute ranking as a premier training facility.
From the Field Campaign
The N.D. National Guard's Task Force Cajetan first marketing campaign, "From the Field", has produced a perspective unlike any other. The efforts have been primarily focused on the Soldier and Airmen point of view in attempts to provide a glimpse of everyday life as a military member. (National Guard story by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields Jr., N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
This campaign encourages Soldiers and Airmen to submit photos, both past and present, including videos of their National Guard experience. To submit Guard training, battle selfies, awards and great scenery use the QR code below or click on bit.ly/NDNG-FTF. Follow the simple instructions online.
From the Field Photo Winner
2nd Lt. Brett Reynolds, 1 Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, Support and Supply (S&S), is our first "From the Field" winner, receiving a cooler and his photo framed so it can be displayed in his unit's office. (National Guard story and photos by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields Jr., N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
2nd Lt. Reynolds took a photo of Lt. Col. Michael Green, State Army Aviation Officer, Joint Force Headquarters, and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Scott Dickmeyer, Company D, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment Support and Supply (S&S), preparing for a night training flight in a UH-72A Lakota helicopter, Fargo, N.D., on March 2nd, 2023.
State Partnership Awards
Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, N.D. National Guard deputy adjutant general and Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, director, N.D. National Guard State Partnership Program hosted an awards ceremony prior to a state emergency management meeting at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D., April 5 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
William Brown, state employee, attending the meeting virtually due to weather on a screen at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D. on April 5 2023.
William Brown, state employee, was awarded the State Meritorious Service Medal for his eight strategic emergency management engagements the the Republics of Ghana, Tog and Benin. Brown also built unique relationships during a 2020 Benin flooding exercise.
Robert Lies, state employee, attending the meeting virtually due to weather on a screen at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D. on April 5 2023.
Robert Lies, state employee, was awarded the State Meritorious Service Medal for his eleven strategic emergency management engagements the the Republics of Ghana, Tog and Benin. Lies also showed the ipmortance of incident command system principles and emergency management operations during a 2022 Ghana earthquake exercise.
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