Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tim Quintus, aviation maintenance supervisor, is interviewed by KFYR-TV news reporters at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, Jan. 25, 2023. The story was focused on National Guard emergency response. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Contents
- Always Ready
- Liaison Officer Course
- Hooligan Mourned
- Promotion
- Freedom Award Visits Bismarck
- New State Radio Director
Always Ready
A Bismarck-based television station reported on N.D. National Guard's state emergency response operations, Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D. Jan. 25, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
At the National Guard's JOC (Joint Operations Center), reporters discussed emergency response with the director of J-3 Military Support, Col. Steve Selzler. The story highlighted the National Guard's response in support of state emergencies and how Soldiers and Airmen constantly train to be ready to serve our communities when ordered. Selzler also discussed coordination, planning and preparation needed to ensure the Guard's ability to quickly respond when ordered.
Col. Steve Selzler, director of the N.D. National Guard's J-3 Military Support, is interviewed by a KFYR-TV news reporter at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, Jan. 25, 2023.
"Pretty much anything we do, we need to be ready, and we need to be able to provide that support quickly," said Col. Steve Selzler, director of Military Support.
Two N.D. Army National Guard aviators with flood and wildfire response experience were also interviewed. Specifically discussed was their role in the 2021 wildland fire near Medora, North Dakota as well as fire suppression operations at a train derailment near Des Lacs, North Dakota and 1-ton sandbag placement to help stabilize the earthen Bourbonnais dam in Pembina County in 2022. These responses involved N.D. Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters.
Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brent Freese, aviation maintenance officer, is interviewed by a KFYR-TV news reporter at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, Jan. 25, 2023.
“Our crews moved the sandbags about a mile and placed them in the road and channel on the Bourbonnais dam,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brent Freese, aviation maintenance officer.
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tim Quintus, aviation maintenance supervisor, is interviewed by a KFYR-TV news reporter at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, Jan. 25, 2023.
“There’s probably a little more risk in firefighting. It’s a little more dynamic just because with higher winds and that type of thing. Smoke presents its own challenges as well,” said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Tim Quintus, aviation maintenance supervisor.
Selzler highlighted the detailed processes employed to receive, stage and integrate Soldiers and Airmen into state active duty responses and the importance of the JOC (Joint Operations Center) in commanding and controlling Guard assets during state emergency response. He also mentioned readiness activities like the recent U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM) emergency response training course, Liaison Officer course and testing Starlink technology to support response. When it comes to state emergency support, the N.D. National Guard lives up to the motto, "Alway Ready, Always There."
Liaison Officer Course
The N.D. National Guard's J-3 Domestic Operations section conducted a Liaison Officer (LNO) course at Fraine Barracks, N.D. Jan. 21 to 22, 2023. (National Guard story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The LNO course is designed to equip Soldiers and Airmen to work in a variety of settings as the National Guard's representatives to other agencies during emergency response. LNOs are typically stationed in civilian emergency operations centers and provide assistance to incident commanders, emergency managers or and task forces organization where the National Guard is a supporting agency.
The course provides an overview of LNO duties, resources the N.D. Nation Guard has available for emergency response, and how the EMAC (Emergency Management Assistance Compact) supports overall emergency response. The students were also briefed on operational, legal, media awareness as well as discussions on lessons learned from service members who recently served as LNOs.
Hooligan Mourned
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, issued this statement regarding the death of a N.D. National Guard Airman, 2nd Lt. Christopher Brewer. (National Guard story by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
2nd Lt. Christopher Brewer, 219th Security Forces Squadron, 119th Wing, Minot Air Force Base. (National Guard photo by Chief Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs Office)
“On behalf of the Airmen and Soldiers of the N.D. National Guard, we offer our sincerest condolences to the family, friends and co-workers of 2nd Lt. Christopher Brewer”, said Dohrmann. “A true patriot, Christopher was the epitome of a citizen-Airmen, serving his nation in uniform and his community as a teacher.”
A resident of Velva, Brewer, 41, enlisted with the Happy Hooligans of the N.D. Air National Guard in 2005 and served as an avionics technician with the 119th Maintenance Squadron, a personnel specialist with the 119th Force Support Squadron and the 219th Security Forces Squadron, and a first sergeant with the 119th Medical Group. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant in 2022 and served with the 219th Security Forces Squadron, Minot Air Force Base.
“Our Hooligan family deeply mourns the loss of Christopher Brewer,” said Col. Mitch Johnson, 119th Wing commander. “Our thoughts and prayers are with him as we provide full support to his family, friends and fellow Airmen. His loss is deeply felt within the North Dakota Air National Guard.”
News release: Adjutant General Statement on Loss of N.D. National Guard Airman.
Promotion
Capt. Connor Kelley, 164th Engineer Battalion Headquarters, presided over a promotion ceremony for Nigel Helley, 174th Cyber Protection Team, at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 21, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Helley's promotion to first lieutenant was witnessed by fellow Guard members and friends.
Freedom Award Visits Bismarck
In 2022, Gate City Bank won the Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award – the highest recognition honor presented by the U.S. government to employers for exceptional support of National Guard and Reserve members. (National Guard story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Usually displayed at Gate City Bank headquarters in Fargo, N.D., this distinguished award will travel across the state to be temporarily displayed at various bank's branches. For a limited time it's on display at the Tyler Parkway location in Bismarck.
Secretary of Defense Employer Support Freedom Award for 2022, on display at Gate City Bank's Tyler Parkway branch, Bismarck, N.D., Jan. 27, 2023. (Photo courtesy of Gate City Bank)
Each year, this prestigious honor is awarded to only 15 employers throughout the nation. Gate City Bank was selected out of 2,777 nominated employers throughout the United States, Guam, Puerto Rico and the District of Columbia.
The North Dakota Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), a Department of Defense office, seeks to foster a culture in which all employers support and value the employment and military service of service members. To learn more about ESGR outreach programs and volunteer opportunities, call 800-336-4590 or visit ESGR.mil. For more information about the Freedom Award, visit FreedomAward.mil.
New State Radio Director
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, director of the N.D. Department of Emergency Services and N.D. adjutant general, appointed Darin Anderson as the director for the N.D. Division of State Radio. (Story by Eric Jensen, strategic communications chief, N.D. Department of Emergency Services)
Darin Anderson, newly appointed director of N.D. Division of State Radio.
Anderson, who has served more than 15 years with the N.D. Information Technology (NDIT) Department, will manage about 30 full-time employees and will direct the division’s daily operations. He begins his new assignment on Feb. 9, 2023.
For more information click news release: Anderson appointed State Radio director.
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