From the Field - The capital on New Year's Eve, Bismarck, Dec. 31. (National Guard photo by Shirley Olgeirson, N.D. Guard Historian)
Content
- State Partnership
- Change of Responsibility
- Helping Others
- Military Funeral Honors
- N.D. Guard's Newest Lt. Col.
- From the Field - 188th Army Band Performs
- From the Field - Icy Huey on a Stick
- From the Field Campaign
- Retirements
State Partnership
Two N.D. National Guard (NDNG) Soldiers from the 164th Regional Training Institute and one U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) non-commissioned officer (NCO) observer arrived in Lomé, Togo, Dec. 9 to accomplish a Department of State-funded NCO Academy Curriculum Development training opportunity from Dec. 11-15. (National Guard story by Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, State Partnership Director)
The next day, the team traveled two hours north of Lomé to Temedja, and commenced training on Dec. 11. The group traveled approximately two and a half hours further north to Tchawaré to tour the Forces Armées Togolaises’s future training installation, which is still under construction.
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Zyskowski conducts a module on leadership styles. This block is about servant leadership and the characteristics those leaders possess. (Photo by Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson, 164th Regional Training Institute)
U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Zyskowski and Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson facilitated the African Military Education Program (AMEP) 3rd iteration at the NCO Academy in Temedja, Togo. This training is a bilateral partnership between the NCO Academy of the Togo Armed Forces and the 164th Regional Training Institute from the N.D. Guard.
“The NDNG State Partnership Program deliberately sends Non-Commissioned Officers to engagements to Ghana, Togo, and Benin to provide examples of professional, empowered leadership by our non-commissioned officer corps. We are so thankful to have the 164th Regional Training Institute’s support with SPP to set a high example for training opportunities like the African Military Education Program,” states Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, SPP Director.
The Togo Armed Forces cadre at the NCO Academy in Temedja, Togo. N.D. Guard Personnel left to right: Sgt. 1st Class Jesse Zyskowski, Capt. Jerimiah Colbert, Staff Sgt. Jacob Thompson. Master Sgt. Gutman, farthest right, was an NCO observer from U.S. Africa Command. (Photo by Robert Dedzin, U.S. Embassy, Lome)
Change of Responsibility
The 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment conducted a change of responsibility ceremony for the unit's command sergeant major at the Army Aviation's Readiness Center, Bismarck, Jan. 7. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. Michaela C.P. Granger, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs)
Outgoing Command Sgt. Maj. Nick Clark served as the unit's command sergeant major since December 2019. He relinquished duties to Command Sgt. Maj. Samuel Hansen.
The change of responsibility ceremony is a military tradition that allows Soldiers to witness a formal change of the senior enlisted leadership of their unit.
Helping Others
U.S. Army Spc. Yusuf Mustapha, naturalization specialist, helps enlisted service members from the N.D. National Guard gain their United States citizenship. (National Guard story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
U.S. Army Spc. Yusuf Mustapha, naturalization specialist, with newly sworn-in American, Spc. John Okai, 815th Engineer Company, Horizontal.
For a Soldier to serve in certain professions or make it past the rank of sergeant, they must obtain a security clearance. To do this, service members must become U.S. citizens. Mustapha assists Soldiers with the naturalization process, helping them fill out the two required forms: N-400 and N-426. The forms are then signed by higher leadership and filed to U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS). Once the USCIS receives the forms, it can take anywhere from three months to a year to complete the process, depending on the Soldier’s background.
Mustapha immigrated to the United States from Nigeria in 2017. Currently, he has helped over 46 Soldiers obtain citizenship. Ten soldiers are awaiting the naturalization process.
Spc. John Okai, 815th Engineer Company, Horizontal, is originally from Liberia. He attended college and then played professional American football in China, before moving to the United States in 2021.
Soldiers in the N.D. Army National Guard seeking more information on the program can contact Spc. Yusuf Mustapha at 701-451-6414.
Military Funeral Honors
A Military Funeral Honors class was conducted Jan. 2-4 at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. Michaela C.P. Granger, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs)
U.S. Army Sgt. Dean Peltier, a Military Funeral Honors instructor, guides Soldiers through the steps to fold the flag during a Military Funeral Honors training course, Jan. 2 at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D.
Military Funeral Honors include folding and presenting a U.S. burial flag to the family, and playing of Taps.
U.S. Army Sgt. Dean Peltier, a Military Funeral Honors instructor, guides Pvt. Tayler Williams, 816th Military Police Company, through the steps to fold the flag during a Military Funeral Honors training course, Jan. 2 at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D.
Soldiers in good standing from any unit in the N.D. National Guard can volunteer to take the course and perform this great honor.
Soldiers practice folding the flag during a Military Funeral Honors training course, Jan. 2 at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D.
For more information: https://www.veterans.nd.gov/nd-national-guard-funeral-honors
N.D. Guard's Newest Lt. Col.
U.S. Army Maj. Christopher Raisl, Joint Force Headquarters plans officer, is promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel during a ceremony at Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 6. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
From the Field - 188th Army Band Performs
Members of the 188th Army Band played a unique performance for hockey fans before a Fargo Force game at Scheels Arena, Fargo, N.D. Jan. 6. (National Guard photos by Sgt. Taryn Stoen, 188th Army Band, and story by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, 188th Army Band)
Soldiers performed popular pep band tunes in the lobby of the Scheels Arena before the Fargo Force hockey game. A few favorites were, “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” “Carry On Wayward Son,” “Hey! Baby” and “Sweet Caroline.”
From the Field - Icy Huey on a Stick
From the Field Campaign
This campaign encourages Soldiers and Airmen to submit photos and videos of their National Guard experience. Use the QR code below or click on bit.ly/NDNG-FTF and follow the simple instructions to submit training, battle selfies, awards, and great scenery. (National Guard story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Retirements
Col. Paul Harron
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, presided over a retirement ceremony for Col. Paul Harron at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Jan. 3. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, presents the North Dakota Distinguished Service Medal to Col. Paul Harron during a retirement ceremony at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Jan. 3.
Harron retires after faithfully serving his country and the National Guard for 35 years.
Sgt. Nicole Frohlich
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ann Willoughby, presided over a retirement ceremony for Sgt. Nicole Frohlich, at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Jan 6. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
U.S. Army Lt. Col. Ann Willoughby, Joint Force Headquarters, plans officer, right, presents the Army Commendation Medal to Sgt. Nicole Frohlich, Joint Force Headquarters, during a retirement ceremony at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D. Jan. 6.
Frohlich retires from the Guard after faithfully serving her country for over 25 years. She will continue to serve Soldiers, retirees, and their family members as a civilian with Service Member and Family Support.