News

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).

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard will conduct two separate events celebrating facilities on Tuesday, August 24 in Fargo.

The Happy Hooligans of the 119th Wing will host a groundbreaking ceremony for its $17.5 million military construction project at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base. The groundbreaking is set for 10 a.m. Construction on this building, a consolidated operations facility for use by the 119th Operations Group, is scheduled to begin in the fall.

Later that day, the North Dakota Army National Guard will host a building dedication of the Fargo Readiness Center with a ribbon cutting at 1:30 p.m.  After the ceremony, the media is invited to tour the new ceremony. The building is located at Fraine Barracks complex in Bismarck and will serve as headquarters and operating offices for the 141^st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, some of its subordinate units as well as their vehicles and equipment.

By Staff Sgt. Brandi Schmidt, 116th Public Affairs Detachment

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — Twenty-two North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers from across the state pushed through physical and mental challenges during this year’s Best Warrior Competition (BWC) Aug. 12-15, 2021 at Camp Grafton Training Center, near Devils Lake. Over four days, the N.D. Guard Soldiers challenged themselves to prove that they were the best warrior in the state.

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — Fifty-four Soldiers of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 835th Engineer Utilities Detachment (EUD) were honored today at a sendoff ceremony at the Lake Region State College campus in Devils Lake in preparation of a year-long U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) mission. Nearly 400 Family, friends and fellow Guard members attended the ceremony.

Addressing the departing Soldiers were the commander-in-chief of the North Dakota National Guard Gov. Doug Burgum, U.S. Senator John Hoeven, Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, and Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, N.D. National Guard senior enlisted leader. The unit was alerted February 2021 and is commanded by Capt. Justin Johnson and the senior enlisted Soldier is Sgt. 1st Class Charles Holzer.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) will conduct field training exercises August 16-17, 2021, in the Kimball Bottoms area near the Missouri River, south of Bismarck.

The N.D. National Guard reminds the public to be aware of the training activities and to use extreme caution when in the area, since there will be increased vehicle and boat traffic during unit training operations. The public’s cooperation and understanding is appreciated.

CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA. — Lieutenant Colonel Steve Selzler, a Bismarck, North Dakota resident, graduated from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle, Pa. with a master's degree in Strategic Studies, July 23, 2021.

The U.S. Army War College’s two-year education curriculum develops senior military officers to serve in strategic level command and staff positions worldwide. Lieutenant General Laura Potter, Deputy Chief of Staff for intelligence of the U.S. Army, presided and spoke to the class of 382 senior officers, international officers, and civilians serving at the Senior Executive Service level or above.

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard cyber experts participated in Cyber Shield 2021, the Department of Defense’s largest unclassified cyber defense exercise, from July 10 to 23. 

"Cyber incidents are an ongoing and substantial threat in 2021; America's power plants, food supply, water supply, health care, law enforcement and defense sectors have all come under attack," said Army Gen. Daniel R. Hokanson, chief of the National Guard Bureau, during a media roundtable June 29. "These cyber threats extend our adversaries' reach across borders and time zones, and could have devastating consequences.”

United States Army War College Hometown News Release

By Elena Patton

CARLISLE BARRACKS, PA. — Colonel Todd W. Schaffer, a Carrington, North Dakota native, completed the two-year distance education program, receiving a master’s degree in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College at Carlisle, Pa. with a master's degree in Strategic Studies on July 23, 2021.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) was alerted for duty at the southwest border of the United States.

The unit will mobilize with about 125 Soldiers and is expected to support U.S. Customs and Border Protection.