N.D. Air National Guard 's119th Civil Engineer training cadre from left to right, Master Sgt. Anthony Rezac, Tech. Sgt. Cody Nordquist and Airman 1st Class Bailey Endres take measurements and notes documenting civil engineer training effectiveness while preparing a simulated bomb impact crater for repair at the N.D. Air National Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D., Aug. 11, 2022. (National Guard photo by Dave Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs Office)
Senior Leaders Announced
This week Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general made two announcements regarding changes in senior leadership. (National Guard story by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock was selected as the next N.D. Army National Guard state command sergeant major (SCSM). Binstock succeeds Command Sgt. Maj. Derek Heck, who has served in the position since December 2019. Binstock is currently assigned as the N.D. National Guard’s senior enlisted leader (SEL), who along with the adjutant general, serve as the command team for the joint N.D. Army and Air National Guard headquarters. The SEL serves as the principal policy advisor for all joint enlisted matters.
Also announced was Binstock's successor at SEL, Command Sgt. Maj. Jason Magnuson. Both will formally assume their new duties in change of responsibility ceremonies planned for this fall.
Happy Hooligan Rapid Airfield Recovery Training in Full Swing
The Happy Hooligans are now routinely using the new Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery (RADR) training process at the N.D. Air National Guard (NDANG) Regional Training Site (RTS). They also continue to offer training in many civil engineer Air Force specialty codes for active duty, National Guard, and Air Force Reserve Airmen. (National Guard story and photos by David Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs Office)
Master Sgt. Bjorn Woodard, 119th Civil Engineer Squadron training cadre, gives directions to Airmen as they rake and mix a quick-drying concrete mixture to repair a simulated bomb impact crater at the N.D. Air National Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D., Aug. 11, 2022.
The RTS in Fargo is one of four Air National Guard (ANG) civil engineer career field training sites implementing the capability of providing the Rapid Damage Repair (RDR) portion of the RADR training. It's the second ANG training site to fully utilize this process for training.
The RADR system features a 150-feet by 750-feet concrete simulated runway, sectioned off into 20-foot by 20-foot squares for training craters. It is specially designed for making holes in the concrete squares which simulate bomb impact craters that can be repaired with fill and capping material.
The 119th Civil Engineer Squadron (CES) has received approximately 45 pieces of additional heavy equipment for their new RADR training facility. The RTS trainers have worked hard to familiarize themselves with all of the equipment prior to training Airmen.
Master Sgt. Anthony Rezac, a 119th Civil Engineer training cadre, left, discusses training progress with Tech. Sgt. Kevin Carroll, 22nd Civil Engineer Squadron, during Rapid Airfield Damage Recovery (RADR) system training at the N.D. Air National Guard Regional Training Site, Fargo, N.D., Aug. 11, 2022.
In addition to the RDR portion of the RADR system, more aspects of RADR will eventually be added. They are called the rapid explosive hazard mitigation (REHM) and the rapid airfield damage assessment system (RADAS).
The NDANG RTS has refined the training over the last three courses and has become more efficient in the training process used for 119th CES members and visiting students in the future.
NCO Guest Lecture in Ghana
The Republic of Ghana, N.D. National Guard’s state partner since 2004, invited three N.D. National Guardsmen to the Ghanaian Engineer Training School to discuss non-commissioned officer (NCO) duties and responsibilities. The discussions took place at Teshie Camp in Accra, Ghana from Aug. 8 to 12, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Maj. Jarrod Simek, N.D. National Guard, bilateral affairs officer)
Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, discusses Master Resiliency Training and how it improves readiness, Accra, Ghana, Aug. 10, 2022.
Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, N.D. National Guard's senior enlisted leader, Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and Staff Sgt. Brandon Wendland, 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge), attended the sixth NCO guest lecture engagements between the N.D. National Guard and the Ghana Armed Forces in the last eight years.
Lance Cpl. Yenbehit Yensomre and Cpl. Gideon Sasu will be the first Ghana Armed Forces members to participate in the N.D. Army National Guard's Best Warrior Competition scheduled for Aug. 18 to 21, 2022 at Camp Grafton Training Center, near Devils Lake, N.D.
Left: Sgt. Brandon Wendland, right, 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge), discusses the marksmanship competition portion of the upcoming 2022 N.D. Army National Guard Best Warrior Competition, with Ghana Armed Forces Lance Cpl. Yenbehit Yensomre, center, and Cpl. Gideon Sasu, Accura, August 10, 2022. Wendland won the State and Regional Best Warrior Competitions in 2020, competing in the Department of Army's Best Warrior Competition in 2021.
Educator Orientation
A group of 34 educators participated in the N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion's Educator Flight event, Aug. 4, 2022, at Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC), near Devils Lake, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Carrigan, ND Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention)
North Dakota educators and school counselors take a group photo in front of a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a Career and Technical Education Professional Development engagement at Camp Grafton Training Center, Aug. 4, 2022.
The educators flew on four UH-60 Black Hawks operated by Company C, 1st Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment. The aircraft flew to CGTC from Bismarck, Fargo, Minot and Grand Forks, N.D.
Educators rappel at Camp Grafton Training Center with the assistance of N.D. Army National Guard rappel masters, Aug. 4, 2022.
The purpose of the orientation is to inform the educators, school administrators and counselors about career opportunities and benefits of membership in the N.D. Army National Guard.
Camp Grafton Training Center Soldiers provide instruction on the Mk19 machine gun via the Engagement Skills Trainer (EST) during a tour at Camp Grafton Training Center, Aug. 4, 2022.
188th Army Band Performs at Fargo Jazz Festival
The 188th Army Band’s Jazz Ensemble performed for the Fargo-Moorehead Kicks Jazz Festival, Aug. 7, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. Taryn Benton, 188th Army Band)
188th Army Band's Jazz Ensemble performing at Island Park, downtown Fargo, N.D., August 7, 2022.
The jazz band opened the festival which featured seven regional jazz groups performing throughout the afternoon. The event was held at Island Park in downtown Fargo.
Visual Media Capabilities Training
Members of the N.D. Army National Guard Visual Information and N.D. National Guard Public Affairs team attended media training at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck, N.D., Aug. 9 and 10, 2022. (National Guard story, video and photos by Staff Sergeant Samuel Kroll and Jonathan Haugen, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
The training was led by Daniel Napier, a Design Engineer for AVI Systems. Attendees learned basic and advanced principles of the Tricaster television production system and how to utilize them during a live television broadcast. This equipment allows precision handling of real-time video feeds and operations.
Professional Development
Yoke Sim Gunaratne, executive director of Cultural Diversity Resources, conducted this month's professional development at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, ND, Aug. 10, 2022. Her briefing was livestreamed state-wide to all N.D. National Guard, full-time members. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Yoke Sim Gunaratne, executive director of Cultural Diversity Resources, conducted this month's professional development at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Aug. 10, 2022.
This month's theme was diversity, equity and inclusion of Asian Americans. She discussed differences in Asian communities and characteristics which sets each apart from the other.
Promotions
Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, N.D. National Guard deputy adjutant general, presided over a promotion ceremony for Nicolette Dashendorf, commander, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC), Aug. 6, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Tyler Wall, N.D. National Guard 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Nicolette Dashendorf, commander, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, smiles as her husband affixes the rank of lieutenant colonel on her uniform, Camp Grafton Training Center, Aug. 8, 2022.
Lt. Col. Nicolette Dashendorf presided over a promotion ceremony for Alix Kling, 131st Military Police Battalion, at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D., Aug. 8, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Alix Kling, 131st Military Police Battalion, stands at attention as her sister, Sgt. Dani Kling, 815th Engineer Company, affixes the rank of captain on her uniform, Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D., Aug. 8, 2022.
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