News
Columbarium Groundbreaking Afterwards
MANDAN, N.D. — The 2023 Memorial Day Ceremony will begin at 12 p.m. (Central Time), Monday, May 29, at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 6.5 miles south of Mandan on North Dakota Highway 1806. This annual event, hosted by the North Dakota National Guard, honors all deceased American servicemen and women and is free and open to the public. The first observance was held in 1993.
The ceremony will be live streamed at NDGuard.ND.gov and on the North Dakota National Guard Facebook page. It will begin with a flyover performed by two UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters at approximately 12:03 p.m.
Approximately 30 minutes after the conclusion of the Memorial Day observance, a groundbreaking ceremony will be conducted for a planned 2,240 compartment-niche columbarium at the northeast corner of the cemetery. This facility, scheduled for completion October 2023, is funded by grants from the VA’s National Cemetery Administration and the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery Foundation of $1.86 million and $600,000 respectively. More information about the columbarium is available on the program insert.
Devils Lake, N.D. — The North Dakota Army National Guard’s Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC) and 164th Regional Training Institute (RTI) welcomed new commanders today in change of command ceremonies conducted at the Training Center near Devils Lake.
In the first ceremony, Lt. Col. Anna L. Wittrock assumed duties as the commander of CGTC from Col. Philip F. Baker Jr. who has led the unit since April 1, 2022. An hour later, Baker assumed command of the 164th RTI from Col. Russ Wolf, who is scheduled to retire later this month.
The commander of the North Dakota Army National Guard, Brig. Gen. Jon Erickson, presided over both ceremonies. The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that represents the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another. The event is witnessed by members of the unit, as well as other military members, families and friends.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s 81st Civil Support Team (CST) welcomed a new commander today at the National Guard’s headquarters at Fraine Barracks in Bismarck.
Maj. Shawn A. Markovic assumed duties as commander from Lt. Col. Pat R. Flanagan who has led the CST since January 2020. Col. Paul Helten, commander, 68th Troop Command, presided over the change of command ceremony.
The change of command ceremony is a time-honored military tradition that represents the formal transfer of authority and responsibility for a unit from one commanding officer to another. The event is witnessed by members of the unit, as well as other military members, families and friends.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard is assisting local flood mitigation efforts by placing one-ton sandbags by helicopter this afternoon near White Earth, North Dakota east of Tioga. At the request of the Mountrail County emergency manager, the Guard diverted one UH-60 Black Hawk from today’s scheduled training at Kimball Bottoms south of Bismarck to assist the local community.
“Expanding our training to two sites is a win-win scenario,” said Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general. “In addition to assisting one of our communities, simultaneous missions provides excellent training for our operations personnel commanding and controlling aircraft in multiple locations. We will also gain experience working with community members who fill and stage these large sandbags.”
The UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter is emplacing one-ton sandbags to block an interior drainage culvert, preventing further inundation of the town of White Earth.
BISMARCK, N.D. — A North Dakota Army National Guard unit has received an alert for possible mobilization. If ordered to mobilize, the Bismarck-based Detachment 7, Company C, 2nd Battalion, 245th Aviation Regiment would deploy to the U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) area of operations sometime late summer 2023.
If ordered to mobilize, about six Soldiers are expected to be deployed about one year. The unit operates a C-12 Huron aircraft which provides transportation of personnel and light cargo.
BISMARCK, N.D. – The 2023 North Dakota Governor’s Military Ball was held on Saturday, March 18 at the Radisson Inn in downtown Bismarck. About 220 North Dakota National Guard members, spouses, friends and other civilian guests attended this formal event.
The formal portion of the program included remarks by Gov. Doug Burgum, commander in chief of the North Dakota National Guard, and presentation of awards.
“The incredible work that is being done, both here and abroad, by our North Dakota National Guard doesn’t go unnoticed,” Gov. Doug Burgum said. “We’re grateful that night after night, day after day, the call to duty by this group and our communities across the state who support them has always been met, and met at the highest level.”
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Air National Guard bid farewell to Brig. Gen. Robert Schulte, during a retirement ceremony in his honor, March 5, at the Air National Guard Base in Fargo.
“Brig. Gen. Bob Schulte has faithfully served our state and country for three decades, and we are incredibly grateful,” said Gov. Doug Burgum, commander in chief of the North Dakota National Guard. “We honor and salute his dedicated work and leadership which has improved the lives of North Dakotans and contributed to the security of our citizens, state and nation. Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller and First Lady Kathryn Burgum join me in wishing him continued success in his future endeavors.”
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general, presided over the ceremony witnessed by family, friends and fellow Happy Hooligans.
FARGO, N.D. – The North Dakota Air National Guard’s (NDANG), 119th Wing, known as the “Happy Hooligans,” recognized the organization’s top officers, noncommissioned officers and Airmen of the Year on March 4, during a ceremony at the Hilton Garden Inn, Fargo, N.D.
Airmen were nominated for the awards based on their military and civic service throughout 2022. The Outstanding Airman Program annually recognizes officers and enlisted members for superior leadership, job performance, community involvement, and personal achievements.
“We are extremely proud of these Airmen and their continued dedication to excellence and service to our state and nation,” said Col. Mitch R. Johnson, 119th Wing commander. “Their contributions to the NDANG ensure that the Happy Hooligans’ outstanding reputation is maintained and enhanced throughout the U.S. Air Force and Department of Defense.”
FARGO, N.D. — Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, issued this statement regarding the death of a North Dakota National Guard Airman, 2nd Lt. Christopher Brewer.
“On behalf of the Airmen and Soldiers of the North Dakota 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.”
According to the North Dakota Highway Patrol statement issued yesterday, Brewer was killed on Jan. 22 in a two-vehicle accident on Highway 52 north of Velva, North Dakota.
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s Bismarck-based 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge) is redeploying from its year-long role in support of the Customs and Border Protection’s (CBP) mission along the southwest border. Today about 70 of the 120 Soldiers on the mission were welcomed home via charter flight at the Bismarck Airport.
Under the direction of U.S. Northern Command and Joint Task Force North, the 957th Engineer Company’s mission was to assist the CBP by providing detection and surveillance support.
“The highly trained members of the 957th Engineer Company served with courage, skill and professionalism as they supported efforts to secure the southwest border, and we are deeply grateful for their service and their safe return,” said Gov. Doug Burgum, commander-in-chief of the North Dakota National Guard. “The North Dakota National Guard continues to play a critical role in border security, working to address illegal immigration, stop drug and human trafficking and ensure the safe and efficient flow of goods and services for the benefit of all Americans.”