Soldiers of Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment prepare their UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter for placing one-ton sandbags near the town of White Earth, N.D., April 12, 2023. The crew and aircraft were diverted from scheduled training to assist the community in flood response. (National Guard photo by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Contents
- Guard Aids Community in Flood Response
- One-Ton Sandbag Placement Training
- Why I Joined the Guard
- Professional Development
- From the Field Campaign
- Recognition
Guard Aids Community in Flood Response
On April 12, 2023, a N.D. Army National Guard Black Hawk helicopter and crew was diverted from placing one-ton sandbags during training, to placing sandbags to assist the town of White Earth, N.D. with their flood response. (National Guard story and photos by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The response, at the request of the Mountrail County emergency manager, resulted in the Black Hawk crews placing seven large sandbags to help block water flow from an interior drainage culvert. This effort helped prevent further water inundation of the town. This request for assistance was an opportunity to practice the same training tasks that were scheduled at Kimball Bottoms, south of Bismarck.
Pfc. Joseph Seibold, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, watches a loader fill a one-ton sandbag for use during flood response, April 12, 2023, White Earth, N.D.
A loader fills a one-ton sandbag held open by a volunteer, April 12, 2023, White Earth, N.D.
The Army Guard aviators used the flood response for additional training in several ways. Aircraft operating in multiple areas simultaneously is realistic and provided great training for flight operations personnel who were commanding and controlling concurrent activities as well as managing logistics associated with this type of support mission.
“Expanding our training to two sites was a win-win scenario,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general. “In addition to assisting one of our communities, simultaneous missions provided excellent training for our operations personnel in commanding and controlling aircraft in multiple locations. We also gained experience working with community members who filled, staged and guided these large sandbags into position.”
One-Ton Sandbag Placement Training
The North Dakota National Guard’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment trained on one-ton sandbag placement in the vicinity of Kimball Bottoms, south of Bismarck, April 12 and April 16, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
This training included all of the tasks involved in placing one-ton sandbags by a Black Hawk helicopter from preparing and positioning bags, hook up, transport to placement site, and placing them into position guided by the crew chief aboard the aircraft working with ground guides. These large bags are used to block water and slow erosion during emergency flood response operations.
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter crew chief directs the pilots during one-ton sandbag hookup procedures during flood response training in Bismarck, April 12, 2023.
The use of one-ton sandbags in emergency response was last used on May 3, 2022, when Gov. Doug Burgum authorized the N.D. National Guard to assist in stabilization efforts on the Bourbanis Dam at the request of the Pembina County emergency manager. These large sandbags were also used during the Guard’s 2009 flood response and in Minot during 2011 flooding.
The two days of training qualified 13 pilots and 18 crew chiefs in one-ton sandbag placement operations helping ensure the N.D. Army Guard aviators are ready if called to respond.
From left, Staff Sgt. Nate Reimer, Sgt. First Class James Gross, and Staff Sgt. Corey Dahlstrom, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment, wait for a N.D. National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter to return for another one-ton sandbag during flood response training in Bismarck, April 12, 2023.
Why I Joined the Guard
Spc. Sam Konah, 116th Public Affairs Detachment, tells us why he joined the North Dakota National Guard.
Professional Development
Col. Paul Helton, director of Human Resources, and Ms. Erica Davison, sexual assault response coordinator (SARC), conducted this month's professional development, April 12, 2023, at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
In addition to an in-person audience, the professional development briefings were livestreamed state-wide to all N.D. National Guard full-time members.
Helten discussed the new awards policy for Title 5 civilian and T32 dual status federal employees.
Erica Davison, sexual assault response coordinator (SARC), briefs full-time N.D. National Guard employees during this month's professional development, at Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., April 12, 2023.
Davidson provided an update and report on the internal review and assessment of the Sexual Harassment Assault Response Prevention (SHARP) program conducted last year per the adjutant general’s guidance.
From The Field Campaign
The N.D. National Guard's Task Force Cajetan's first marketing campaign, "From the Field", has produced a perspective unlike any other. The efforts have been primarily focused on Soldier and Airmen perspective with the purpose of providing a glimpse of everyday life as a Guard member. (National Guard story by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields Jr., N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Sgt. 1st Class Amy Sleath, Operations Chemical, Biological, Radiologoical, and Nuclear (CBRN), non-commissioned officer, 141 Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) assists Cadet Christian Marshall while he practices his stance for individual weapons qualification, April 14, 2023, Fargo, N.D. (Photo by Sgt. 1st Class Ashley Johlfs, 141st MEB)
Maj. Waylon Tomac, S-3 officer, 68th Troop Command, along with 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment personnel, visited with 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, to help coordinate future training. While in Grand Forks the Soldiers visited the Global Aviation Training (GAT) at UND, a spatial disorientation trainer for helicopter pilots, March 30, 2023. (Photo by 1Lt. Justin Mayer, officer-in-charge, 1-112th AVN Rear Detachment )
Recognition
Staff Sgt. Sara Kunick, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, and Staff Sgt. Kacey Hawkins, 142nd Engineer Battalion, were recognized after the professional development at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., April 12, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general, right, presents Staff Sgt. Sara Kunick, Battery A, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, a recognition coin, after professional development, Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., April 12, 2023.
Kunick, received a deputy adjutant general coin for her hard work and efficiency while performing duties as the supply non-commissioned officer (NCO) for her unit. She not only performed the duties inherent in her functional area, but she also fulfilled the roles of unit readiness NCO and administrative NCO over several months as the rear detachment NCO during the battalion’s National Capital Region mission 2021 to 2022. During this time, Kunick ensured Alpha Battery made a smooth transition to and from the rear detachment to the unit’s normal organic configuration. She also assisted in the initial planning efforts of Alpha Battery’s upcoming move to Williston armory, and recently passed a Command Supply Discipline Program inspection conducted by the battalion with a score of 95%.
Brig. Gen. Jon Erickson, commander, N.D. Army Component Command, virtually presents Staff Sgt. Kacey Hawkins, 142nd Engineer Battalion, a recognition coin after professional development, Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., April 12, 2023.
Hawkins was awarded the Army commander coin for her leadership displayed during the inaugural session of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade's (MEB) Professional Development program. This program is designed to instruct down to company/detachment level on topics requiring additional guidance, instruction and attention to detail. As a subject matter expert in supply operations, Hawkins set the standard for sessions of professional development. She effectively demonstrated to the MEB's fulltime staff how to complete a shortage annex to standard along with other supply topics. Her excellent presentation will be utilized throughout the MEB for all future and incoming supply NCOs to standardize practices and procedures without immediate supervisor oversight.
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