News

BISMARCK, N.D. — North Dakota National Guard officer Jon Erickson was promoted to brigadier general today at the Raymond J. Bohn armory in Bismarck during a ceremony witnessed by family, friends and fellow Guard members. The North Dakota adjutant general, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, presided over the ceremony.

Promotions to general officer rank are reserved for only the highest leadership positions within the U.S. Army. Erickson, who assumed command of the North Dakota National Guard’s Land Component Command on Nov. 20, has served on active duty and in the National Guard for over 27 years.

Reference: U.S. Army Public Affairs Release Secretary of the Army appoints nine new civilian aides

BISMARCK, N.D. — On Nov. 16, the U.S. Army appointed nine new Civilian Aides to the Secretary of the Army (CASA) during an investiture ceremony at the Pentagon.

Among these CASA appointees was Shelly Sizer for the state of North Dakota. She replaces Connie Sprynczynatyk, who has served in this position since 2011. Sprynczynatyk was named Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army emerita in recognition of a decade of service.

According to the U.S. Army, CASAs are business and community leaders appointed by the Secretary to advise and support Army leaders across the country. They promote good relations between the Army and the public, advise the Secretary about regional issues, support the total Army workforce, and assist with recruiting and helping our Soldiers as they transition out of the military.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota Air National Guard bid farewell to its senior enlisted leader Saturday, Dec. 4, as Chief Master Sgt. Duane “Dewey” Kangas retired during a ceremony at the base in Fargo. Brig. Gen. Darrin Anderson, North Dakota National Guard assistant adjutant general for air, presided over the ceremony.

“A person like Dewey bounces from different jobs always in search of personal and professional growth,” said Anderson during his remarks. “The career path he took was much more than timing, much more than being the right person at the right place and time – you have to work at that – and it really fed into his ability to lead in a senior leadership position with the North Dakota Air National Guard.”

The outgoing commander, Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, has led over 3,000 N.D. Guard Soldiers of since Sept. 2018. Col. Jon Erickson assumed command of the Land Component Command during the ceremony.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Major General Al Dohrmann, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard, issued the following statement on the passing of retired Brig. Gen. Al Palmer, Tuesday, Nov. 16.

“We are deeply saddened by news about our friend and colleague Brig. Gen. Al Palmer,” said Dohrmann. “Al exemplified the concept of a Citizen-Airman, serving in the National Guard for three decades. His quiet dignity and sound leadership continually inspired confidence in the Guard members that served alongside him. He was an Airmen for life, continuing to serve his community and state after his retirement from the National Guard. From serving on the Grand Forks base retention and military affairs committees, to serving Christmas dinner to Soldiers and Airmen, to being a driving force behind the construction of the Grand Forks Veterans Memorial park, Al set an example for all of us to follow.”

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard recently placed about 65 Guard members on COVID-19 duty in support of the North Dakota Department of Health (NDDoH). About 50 of these Guard members will support the NDDoH’s COVID-19 contact information efforts while 15 others will support the state laboratory in Bismarck.

The Guard members will be on state active duty with orders under the authority of FEMA (502f). These tours of duty are scheduled at least through December 31.

Fargo, N.D. — On August 26, 2021, 14 members of the North Dakota Air National Guard were mobilized in support of Operation Allies Refuge.

Operation Allies Refuge is the initiative to support the relocations of Afghan nationals and their immediate families. The North Dakota Airmen, nicknamed the Happy Hooligans, are serving at Volk Field, Wisconsin and Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakhurst, New Jersey.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard will conduct an observance ceremony on Saturday, September 11, at the Memorial to the Fallen in the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT), near the entrance to Fraine Barracks in Bismarck. The ceremony begins at 10 a.m. and is a solemn observance of the 20^th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States on September 11, 2001.

The public and media are invited. The local streets will be closed from 8 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and parking is available at the Bank of North Dakota, 1200 Memorial Highway, Bismarck.

CAMP GRAFTON TRAINING CENTER, N.D. — Members of the 64th Officer Candidate School (OCS) class officially joined the North Dakota Army National Guard’s officer ranks during a graduation ceremony, Aug. 21, 2021, at the 164th Regiment Regional Training Institute (RTI). Nine Soldiers were awarded diplomas for completing the intensive officer training program, which is administered by staff and cadre from the RTI’s 2nd Training Battalion (Modular) at Camp Grafton Training Center, near Devils Lake, North Dakota.

Officer candidates may defer their commission upon graduating OCS, dependent on personal preference or the availability of an officer position within a unit. Three graduates of this class accepted their commissions as second lieutenants. They will now go on to lead platoons in North Dakota Army National Guard units across the state. Four candidates accepted their commissions at an earlier date.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard celebrated two facilities in Fargo today by commemorating the beginning of construction for one and later celebrating the completion of another.

This morning, the Happy Hooligans of the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing hosted a ceremonial groundbreaking ceremony for a consolidated operations facility at the Fargo Air Base. The $17.5 million project intended for use by the 119th Operations Group, is scheduled for construction to begin this fall, with an expected completion in 2023.

Gov. Doug Burgum, commander and chief of the N.D. National Guard, U.S. Sen. John Hoeven, U.S. Sen. Kevin Cramer, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard, Col. Mitch Johnson, 119^th Wing commander along with Shawn Dobberstein, executive director, Fargo Airport Authority wielded shovels for the ceremonial groundbreaking.

This afternoon, the North Dakota Army National Guard celebrated the completion of the Fargo Readiness Center by hosting a ribbon cutting ceremony officially dedicating the facility. Among the participants in this ceremony were Hoeven, Cramer, Dohrmann, Brig. Gen. Jackie Huber, deputy adjutant general, N.D. National Guard, Brig. Gen. Leo Ryan, commander, N.D Army National Guard, Dobberstein, and Delton Steele, honorary commander for the N.D. National Guard and chair of the N.D. Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR).