View Static Version

TAG Line December 23, 2022

Capt. Dawn Erdmann, 119th Wing, distributes Christmas gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home during a Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D. (National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)

Contents

Holiday Message

As we enjoy the holiday season it’s important to reflect on our achievements over the past year. We are members of an outstanding organization whose accomplishments continually benefit the citizens of our great state and contribute to national security.

We know that our National Guard Family not only includes our spouses and children; but also our fathers and mothers, brothers and sisters, friends, neighbors and employers. These Family members are invaluable to our Soldiers and Airmen who answer the call to action in support of our communities, state and nation. This Guard Family remains strong through the contributions and support of all our Soldiers, Airmen, Families, Retirees, Veterans, civilian employees and our employers who allow our Guard members to serve.

Please keep our Guard members who are serving away from home in your thoughts and prayers. If you know any members of their Family, reach out and see if they need any help during the absence of their loved one. Remember also, that we must keep a watchful eye on those that may be going through tough times. This can be especially true during the holidays. Please reach out and check-in with one-another. If a teammate needs help, I expect each one of us to ensure that there is a warm hand-off to professional care. As a member of the North Dakota National Guard Family, you are never alone.

Over this holiday season, we hope that you are able to spend quality time with your family and friends – time which you’ve earned through your hard work. Finally, please reflect on those teammates we have lost, many far too early. We will never forget them, their sacrifice and the loved ones they left behind.

We wish you a joyful Christmas and a happy and prosperous new year. Thank you all for your dedicated service. We are confident that 2023 will be another great year for the North Dakota National Guard.

Veterans Home Christmas

N.D. Air National Guard members visited Veterans and spouses at the N.D. Veterans Home in Lisbon, Dec. 21, 2022. For over 20 years, N.D. Guard members collect and deliver gifts and spread holiday cheer at the home. (National Guard story and photos by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)

This annual responsibility rotates between the N.D. Army National Guard and Air National Guard components. The gifts are donated by Guard members based on requests by each resident. Service members visit with the residents and assist in the distribution of the gifts.

Staff Sgt. Brennan Lemar, 119th Security Forces Squadron, distributes gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D. (National Guard photo by Airman 1st Class Christa Anderson, 119th Wing Public Affairs)

Senior Master Sgt. Kurt Sletmoe, 119th Operations Group, North Dakota Air National Guard, distributes gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.
Master Sgt. Bridgette Besette, 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron, distributes gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.

Airman 1st Class Tylia Buchannon, 119th Operations Group, visits with a resident of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.

Airman 1st Class Tylia Buchannon, 119th Operations Group, visits with a resident of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.

Master Sgt. Bridgette Besette, 119th Logistics Readiness Squadron and A1C Tylia Buchannon, 119th Operations Group, distributes gifts to residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.

J.J. Fankhanel, Airman and Family Readiness Manager for the North Dakota Air National Guard, visits with a resident of the North Dakota Veterans Home during the annual National Guard Christmas party held at the facility, Dec. 21, 2022, Lisbon, N.D.

Members of the North Dakota National Guard spread cheer at the annual National Guard Christmas party for residents of the North Dakota Veterans Home, Lisbon, N.D., Dec. 21, 2022.

State Partnership Program Visit

Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, adjutant general, Col. Ryan Ayers, director of staff - Air, and Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, State Partnership Program (SPP) director, traveled to west Africa to visit two countries aligned with the N.D. National Guard (NDNG) through the National Guard Bureau's SPP, Dec. 12 to 15, 2022. (National Guard story and photos by Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, SPP director)

The N.D. Guardsmen traveled to Togo and Benin to conduct strategic engagements with the ambassadors, the chiefs of defense staffs, and disaster preparedness leadership within the respective countries. The NDNG is also partnered with Ghana under this program.

Togo Visit

While in Togo, Dohrmann met with the Togo Armed Forces chief of defense, Brig. Gen. Dadja Managewe at the Togo Armed Forces headquarters. Along with the U.S. Ambassador to Togo, Elisabeth Fitzsimmons, Dohrmann signed a memorandum of understanding formalizing curriculum development for the Togo Armed Forces non-commissioned officer academy. This is a Department of State Title 22 program under the African Military Education Program (AMEP) portfolio.

Master Sgt. Donald Seerup of the 164th Regional Training Institute has spent over 25 hours assisting with the development of the program of instruction for the Togo NCO Academy curriculum.

Left Photo: Togo Armed Forces Chief of Defense Brigadier General Dadja Managewe, seated, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, standing, and Elisabeth Fitzsimmons, U.S. Ambassador to Togo, sign documents formalizing a 2-year agreement to formalize the Togolaian non-commissioned officer academy curriculum development. Right photo: From left, Managewe, Fitzsimmons and Dohrmann.
Maj. Gen. Al dohrmann: "This NCO development initiative at the togo armed forces academy aligns with the mission of the 164th Regional Training institute at camp grafton training center and their programs."

After visiting with top Togolese military officers at their headquarters, the N.D. National Guard team met with officials of the Togolese Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (MSCP). Similar to FEMA in the United States, MSCP is the lead agency for disaster response and other services in Togo. The team visited the new MSCP headquarters under construction with Togolese funds and the toured the location of the future national Emergency Operations Center (EOC), to be built with U.S. funds provided by the Defense Security Cooperation Agency (DSCA) and AFRICOM (U.S. Africa Command).

The planning and construction of this EOC is managed by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. Capt. Jeremiah Colbert, the bilateral affairs officer within the U.S. Embassy in Lomé, will serve a liaison officer on behalf of the Department of Defense for this project. Once operational, the N.D. National Guard will assist in providing guidance and feedback on the manning, equipping and managing the EOC.

Dohrmann met with Minister (Brig. Gen.) Yark, the lead for the security of the Republic of Togo to include managing the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (MSPC). Similar to FEMA in the United States, MSPC is the lead agency for disaster response and other services in Togo.

Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, left, discusses the relationship between the N.D. National Guard and the Republic of Togo with Lt. Col. Yoma Baka, the director general of the Ministry of Security and Civil Protection, Dec.13, 2022, Lomé, Togo.

The Ministry of Security and Civil Protection headquarters under construction, Dec. 13, 2022, Lomé, Togo.

Minister (Brigadier General) Damehame Yark, Ministry of Security and Civil Protection (MSCP) of Togo, left, presents Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, a plaque representing the agency, Dec. 13, 2022, Lomé, Togo.

N.D. National Guard members, as well as personnel from the U.S. Embassy to Togo, and the Togolese Ministry of Security and Civil Protection Agency visit the site of the future Emergency Operations Center, Dec. 13, 2022, Lomé, Togo.

Benin Visit

Benin's Minister of Defense Fortunet Alain Nouatin welcomed the N.D. adjutant general and expressed gratitude for the interest in his country. The gathering also included the U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Brian Shukan and the NDNG's bilateral affairs officer, Lt. Col. Paul Dosch. Nouatin expressed his hopes that this partnership will contribute to the Benin National Guard's efforts to (BNG) become fully operational.

Dohrmann briefed that the NDNG's SPP efforts focuses on strengthening the security cooperation between the two countries. He also pointed out that the presence of the ambassador at this meeting was additional proof of the importance the U.S. places on this partnership and Benin’s security.

Benin's Minister of Defense Fortunet Alain Nouatin, right, talks with U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Brian Shukan, and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, Dec. 14, 2022, Porto-Novo, Benin.

According to Nouatin, the Benin Armed Forces is an intervention force which combines components of the other forces (immigration and national police). It therefore supports the Beninese army in its fight against terrorism. Its main mission is rapid intervention in interior security. The NDNG is planning on organizing a large-scale domestic response exercise with the Benin Armed Forces and the NACP in 2024. Nouatin stressed the need for this type of training to help combat terrorist actions causing instability within the nation.

Later in the day, Dohrmann met with Benin Chief of Defense Staff, Brig. Gen. Fructueux Gbaguidi, to discuss the NDNG's commitment to this partnership with the Benin Army. Gbaguidi assured the delegation that the Benin President Patrice Guillaume Athanase Talon will be informed of this important visit and the discussions held.

Benin Armed Forces Chief of Defense Brig. Gen. Fructueux Gbaguidi, left and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann listen to the U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Brian Shukan, Dec. 14, 2022, Porto-Novo, Benin.
U.S. Ambassador to Benin, Brian Shukan, center, poses with (to his right) Benin Armed Forces Chief of Defense Brig. Gen. Fructueux Gbaguidi, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, and other Benin military, N.D. National Guard members and U.S. Embassy staff, Dec. 14, 2022, Porto-Novo, Benin.

Emergency Management Assistance Compact Training

Over 24 N.D. state employees along with N.D. National Guard (NDNG) members attended a two-day National Guard Bureau-sponsored class on Emergency Management Assistance Compact (EMAC) at Fraine Barracks, Bismarck, N.D., Dec. 19 to 20, 2022. The NDNG Joint Operation Center hosted the training under the direction of Lt. Col. Dan Murphy. (National Guard story and photo by Lt. Col. Steve Bohl, deputy direction, J5/9)

Over 24 N.D. state employees and N.D. National Guard members attend a National Guard Bureau-sponsored class on Emergency Management Assistance Compact, Bismarck, Dec. 19, 2022.

Through EMAC, states can share resources from all disciplines to assist in emergency response. A recent example of invoking this agreement was May 2022 when the Minnesota National Guard assisted in the airlift of 5-ton water pumps during emergency stabilization efforts at the Bourbanis Dam in Pembina County. These pumps exceeded the lifting capacity of N.D. National Guard's rotary wing aircraft.

RTI Gives Back

Giving during this holiday season was a priority for the members of the MOS 12H40 Construction Engineering Supervisor Class (SLC) at the 164th Regional Training Insitute (RTI) located at Camp Grafton Training Center, near Devils Lake, N.D., Dec. 14, 2022. (National Guard photos and story by Staff Sgt. Jesse M. Zyskowski, 164th RTI)

12H40 SLC Class take a group photo in front of their in-kind donations for the local community in Devils Lake, Dec. 14, 2022.

The students, staff, and instructors spread their holiday spirit by supporting the local community with in-kind donations.

ND Civil Air Patrol Sponsors Wreaths Across America Events

North Dakota Veterans Cemetery

The Bismarck Composite Squadron of the N.D. Civil Air Patrol (CAP) hosted the annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (Photos and story by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)

Graves at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery are decorated with wreaths, Dec. 18, 2022.

Temperatures bottomed out at minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit, as an estimated 500 volunteers placed wreaths on each of the more than 8,000 graves at the cemetery by 4 pm.

Bismarck Composite Squadron of the N.D. Civil Air Patrol assist with vehicle parking at the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)

This annual holiday event is one of more than 3,400 wreath­-laying ceremonies across the United States. Of the locations hosted nationally by the Civil Air Patrol, the event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery is rated at the top, with Minot at seventh place. This year enough money was raised to sponsor 9,826 wreaths, more than number of graves at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery. The extra ones were provided to other sites.

Graphic courtesy of Wreaths Across America.

Rosehill Cemetery - Minot

The N.D. Civil Air Patrol's Magic City Composite Squadron out of Minot sponsored laying 1,200 wreaths at a Wreaths Across America event at Rosehill Cemetery, Minot, N.D., Dec. 17, 2022. (Photo and story courtesy of North Dakota Civil Air Patrol)

Volunteers place wreaths at the Rosehill Cemetery in support of the Wreaths Across America event sponsored by the N.D. Civil Air Patrol's Magic City Composite Squadron, Minot, N.D., Dec. 17, 2022.

Members of the Bismarck Composite Squadron of the N.D. Civil Air Patrol distribute wreaths to volunteers at the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)

Volunteers place wreaths during the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)

A volunteer places a wreath during the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)

The mission of WAA is to remember our fallen U.S. Veterans, honor those who serve, and teach our children the value of freedom.

Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, N.D. National Guard deputy adjutant general, places wreaths during the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022.

Volunteers place wreaths during the Wreaths Across America event at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, N.D. on Dec. 18, 2022. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
Volunteers finish placing more than 8,000 wreaths at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Dec. 18, 2022. The cemetery's entrance sign, foreground, is covered by snow.

Aviation Soldiers Place Wreaths

Seventeen Soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment volunteered to lay wreaths at the Fort Bliss National Cemetery in El Paso, Texas, Dec. 17, 2022. (National Guard story by Sgt. Michaela C.P. Granger, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment)

Soldiers of 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, North Dakota National Guard, unload boxes of wreaths during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.

Staff Sgt. Brittany Hill, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, North Dakota National Guard, hands a box of wreaths to a volunteer during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.

Spc. Tamela Abrahamson, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, salutes a gravestone in remembrance of the Service Member during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.

Maj. Josh Yri, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, carries a wreath during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.

Maj. Russ Sundby, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment commander, places a wreath on a gravestone during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.

Command Sgt. Maj. Nick Clark, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment, places a wreath on a gravestone during Wreaths Across America, Dec. 17, 2022, El Paso, Texas.
Please help us make the TAG Line better - Click here for survey or use QR code above

Please include contact information if a response is requested.

Click to receive an email whenever a new TAG Line is published.

Created By
Charles Highland
NextPrevious