The 81st Civil Support Team wash off chemical suits during a joint exercise with the Bismarck Fire on April 8. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Michaela Granger, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Contents
- 2nd Place at Grizzly Gauntlet 2025
- Patriot 2025 Exercise
- Small Arms Championship
- Happy Hooligans Train With 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment
- Da Guards Podcast
- 81st Civil Support Team
- North Dakota Air National Guard Welcomes Non-U.S. Citizens
- ND 2000
- Honoring Military Children Purple Up!
- Promotion to Sergeant First Class
- From the Field Campaign
- Retiree Breakfast at Wing
- North Dakota ESGR New Volunteer
- Military Kid's Easter Eggstravaganza
- Bunny Visits
- Military Spouses Night
2nd Place at Grizzly Gauntlet 2025
Happy Hooligan's weapons load crew placed second overall in the Grizzly Gauntlet 2025 Air National Guard weapons loading competition held at March Air Reserve Base, Calif., on March 25. (U.S. Air Force photos by 163rd Attack Squadron Public Affairs Office)
Left to right: Master Sgt. Cody Rahlf, 119th Wing, and Tech. Sgt. Benjamin Swenson, 119th Wing, inspects an MJ-1 lift truck called a Jammer during an exercise.
The North Dakota team won the GBU-12 wiring category and gained valuable experience competing and sharing information with weapons load crews from across the country.
The 119th Wing load crew works to install a GBU-12 on a Reaper Drone during an exercise.
The competition involved teams from various units, testing their proficiency, speed, safety, and teamwork in weapons loading scenarios, including a Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) scenario.
Patriot 2025 Exercise
U.S. Air Force Chaplain, Capt. Justin Waltz, 119th Wing, has returned from the Patriot 2025 Exercise held at Ft. Stewart and the Guardian Center in Georgia, March 24-27. (U.S. Air Force photos courtesy of 119th Wing Public Affairs social media)
Patriot '25 is an immersive, multi-agency domestic operations exercise that brought together around 700 National Guard Airmen and Soldiers from around the country for integrated training in high-stress disaster scenarios.
Waltz trained with Religious Support Teams, providing care for victims of a simulated earthquake and working with local, state and federal agencies to provide assistance. Exercises like this help the North Dakota National Guard to be "Always Ready, Always There."
Small Arms Championship
North Dakota National Guard Soldiers competed against 44 other teams at the 54th Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship at Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas, April 1 - 11. (Photos courtesy of Master Sgt. Mark Stenberg, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade)
Update
Congratulations to Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Milbrath, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade; Sgt. Lance Schrader, 817th Engineer Company; Staff Sgt. Tyler Goldade, Joint Force Headquarters; and Sgt. 1st Class Brendan Dean, 815th Engineer Company; for placing 2nd overall against 44 other teams in the 54th Winston P. Wilson Small Arms Championship!
Happy Hooligans Train With 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment
Members of the Operations Group for the 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, and the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, of the North Dakota Army National Guard worked together to provide training with the Sentinel Radar System and Avenger Fire Units at the North Dakota Air National Guard base in Fargo, N.D. on April 5. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Airman 1st Class Ellie Brown, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
The Sentinel system tracked 119th Wing MQ-9 Reaper aircraft, providing a realistic training opportunity.
(U.S. Air Force Video by Staff Sgt. Brody Katka, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
Da Guards Podcast
Da Guards Podcast highlights the North Dakota National Guard’s Soldiers, Airmen, and civilian employees of our organization.
CURRENT PODCAST
Lt. Col. Andrew Stahl
Stahl currently serves with the North Dakota National Guard's State Medical Detachment but has an extensive career as an infantryman since 2001. Listen in as we dive into his experience going through Airborne School, Ranger Selection, and more!
New podcast episodes will be announced every other Monday.
81st Civil Support Team
The 81st Civil Support Team conducted two joint exercises with the Bismarck Fire Department.
Cottonwood Park
The day one exercise began with a scenario where the fire department received information on a drug lab in a local building within city limits on April 8. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Staff Sgt. Michaela Granger, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The 81st Civil Support Team and Bismarck first responders discuss the scene before breaching a drug lab set up on April 8.
U.S. Army Sgt. Elise Fettes, survey team member, 81st Civil Support Team survey, places numbered evidence markers during an exercise.
United States Army North observer controller trainers were on hand to watch and grade the 81st CST team on their work.
These observer controllers provide units with feedback to improve standard operating procedures, tactics, techniques, and procedures.
81st CST members perform a man-down event during an exercise.
The 81st CST supports civil authorities at domestic incident sites by identifying and assessing hazards, providing advice to the incident commander, and facilitating follow-on military forces during emergencies and incidents.
The CST can detect and identify chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and high-yield explosives.
Bismarck Fire Station 4
The fire department responded to a local garage for a chemical spill during the day two scenario. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
The 81st Civil Support Team members perform a man-down during a joint exercise with the Bismarck Fire on April 10.
North Dakota Air National Guard Welcomes Non-U.S. Citizens
ND 2000
Honoring Military Children Purple Up!
Military families descended on Memorial Hall at the state Capitol to help celebrate the month of the military child, April 4. Bismarck, N.D. (U.S. Army National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
U.S. Air Force Brig. Gen. Mitch Johnson, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, served as the emcee for the event. Taylor Cavett, a military child of a North Dakota National Guard Soldier, sang the National Anthem. Representing the Department of Public Instruction, Donna Fishbeck made remarks, and Governor Kelly Armstrong signed the proclamation.
North Dakota has approximately 7,300 active-duty service members with 4,300 children at the Air Force bases in Minot and Grand Forks, along with 5,500 service members in the North Dakota National Guard and Reserve with 4,200 children, for a total of more than 8,500 military children in the state.
Promotion to Sergeant First Class
Daniel Imdieke
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Daniel Imdieke, Recruiting and Retention Battalion, was promoted to the rank of sergeant first class during a ceremony on April 3 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory, Bismarck, N.D. (U.S. National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Jonathan Melvard
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Jonathan Melvard, Joint Force Headquarters, was promoted to the rank of sergeant first class during a ceremony on April 2 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory, Bismarck, N.D. (U.S. National Guard photos by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
From the Field Campaign
Retiree Breakfast at Wing
The Happy Hooligan Chief's Council hosted a retiree breakfast at the Fargo Air Guard Base on April 9. (U.S. Air National Guard photos by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
The breakfast gives thanks to retirees for building a great heritage at the North Dakota Air National Guard.
Command Chief Master Sgt. Shane Amundson, 119th Wing, addresses the crowd.
Approximately 150 retired unit members attended the annual event, where they received a briefing from Col. Christopher Domitrovich, commander of the 119th Wing.
Senior enlisted members of the unit prepared the meal for the retired members.
North Dakota ESGR New Volunteer
The North Dakota ESGR team welcomes its newest Department of Defense Volunteer, former 39th Lt. Gov. of North Dakota, Tammy Miller. (ESGR article by Rob Keller, North Dakota ESGR State vice chair)
Tammy said, "It is an honor to join the North Dakota ESGR team of volunteers. I have deep respect and gratitude for North Dakotans who have or are serving in the military."
Tammy's experience working closely with the North Dakota National Guard as Chair of the Military Commission during her term as Lieutenant Governor, coupled with her leadership at Border States, means she has witnessed firsthand the sacrifices and leadership skills of military employee-owners. This makes her an invaluable asset to our mission.
Tammy says, "I am excited to join other volunteers on the ESGR team to support the Guard and Reserve and help North Dakota become the most military friendly state in the nation."
Tammy will directly work with and support our Guard and Reserve employers, further strengthening the bond between our military community and the businesses that employ them. Her passion and experience will be a great attribute to the team.
Military Kid's Easter Eggstravaganza
Bunny Visits
(Courtesy of North Dakota National Guard Service Member & Family Support social media)
Fraine Barracks
Raymond J. Bohn Armory
Military Spouses Night
May 1st RJB Armory 6:00 pm
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