News

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company (Multi-Role Bridge) will conduct field training exercises this week 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.

FARGO, N.D. — Brig. Gen. Darrin K. Anderson became the newest North Dakota National Guard general officer today during a promotion ceremony at the Air National Guard Base, Fargo which was live streamed. With this promotion to general officer, Anderson assumes the duties of the North Dakota National Guard assistant adjutant general for Air from Brig. Gen. Todd M. Branden, who was honored during a retirement ceremony.

Anderson previously served as the commander of the 119^th Wing, nicknamed the “Happy Hooligans” from August 2018 to March 2021, while Branden has been the assistant adjutant general for Air since October 2017.

 Bismarck, N.D. - The last North Dakota National Guard World War II (WWII) Soldier known to be residing in North Dakota died in Bowman on April 3, just weeks shy of his 97^th birthday. Douglas P, “Doug” Burtell, who served in the famed 164^th Infantry Regiment, was the last original member of the unit residing in North Dakota.

Burtell was only 16 years old when he joined the North Dakota National Guard in Fargo in late 1940. Assigned to the Intelligence and Reconnaissance Section of the Infantry Regiment he was trained to interpret aerial photographs, draw maps base

d on reconnaissance patrols, and analyze captured materials.

BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard presented awards recognizing individuals for a myriad of achievements

at their recent Joint Leaders Conference in Bismarck, March 19. The awards ceremony that kicked off the conference was live streamed from the North Dakota Army National Guard’s Army Aviation Support Facility in Bismarck.

The conference began with remarks conducted virtually by Gov. Doug Burgum.

"From fulfilling critical missions around to the world to playing an essential role in our response to the COVID-19 pandemic – now the largest and longest domestic response in the organization’s history – the North Dakota National Guard is truly ‘Always Ready, Always There’ because of the unwavering courage and commitment of its leaders and members and the incredible support of its community stakeholders. All deserve our deepest gratitude and recognition for their outstanding efforts and leadership,” Burgum said.

BISMARCK, N.D. — Today the North Dakota National Guard marks its one-year anniversary of COVID-19 response operations in support of state and community health agencies. The first North Dakota Guard members were activated for COVID-19 duty on March 16, 2020.

The ongoing COVID-19 support mission is the largest and longest state mobilization in North Dakota history. On Nov. 19, 2020, the North Dakota National Guard logged 67,495 personnel-days surpassing the previous record of 67,264 personnel-days recorded during response efforts in support of 2011 state-wide flooding. As of March 15, the North Guard National Guard has logged 97,914 personnel-days of support in this mission.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Wing, known as the Happy Hooligans, formally accepted the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA) for the 22ndtime during a ceremony at their Fargo base on March 6.

Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, placed the award on the 119^th Wing’s colors, commending the Hooligan Airmen for their exceptional service and mission accomplishment.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota Air National Guard, nicknamed the “Happy Hooligans”, recognized the organization’s top enlisted Airmen of the year on March 6, during its 2020 Airman of Year recognition ceremony. The event was held at North Dakota Air National Guard Base Fargo, N.D.

Airmen were nominated for the awards based on their military and community service throughout 2020. Awards were presented for Outstanding Airman of the Year; Outstanding Noncommissioned Officer of the Year; and Outstanding Senior Noncommissioned Officer of the Year. Additional recognition was presented for Unit Career Advisor of the Year and First Sergeant of the Year.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119^th Wing, known as the “Happy Hooligans”, welcomed a new commander during a change of command ceremony held at the Air National Guard base in Fargo, on March 6, 2021.

Col. Darrin Anderson relinquished command to Col. Mitch Johnson. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, presided over the ceremony.

FARGO, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard presented Tech. Sgt. Ryan Fontaine The Woodrow W. Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I am Ready) Award during a presentation ceremony at North Dakota Air National Guard Base, Fargo, N.D., March 6, 2021.

Fontaine, of the Minot Air Force Base-based 219^th Security Forces Squadron, earned the Keeble award for his participation in the rescue of 91 year-old Dolores Paulson. Paulson was trapped in an ambulance that slid off U.S. Highway 83 and sinking in a frozen pond the night of Nov. 28, 2019.

FARGO, N.D. – The 119th Wing will conduct two separate ceremonies beginning at 2:00 p.m., Saturday, March 6, at the North Dakota Air National Guard Base, Fargo, N.D.
Both ceremonies will be live-streamed on the 119th Wing Facebook page.
Sequence of events:

• Recognition Ceremony – 2:00 p.m.
    o Presentation of the Woodrow W. Keeble “Je Suis Pret” (I Am Ready) Award
    o Presentation of the NDANG’s 22nd Air Force Outstanding Unit Award (AFOUA)
    o Honoring the 119th Wing’s 2020 Outstanding Airmen of Year

• Change of Command Ceremony – 3:15 p.m.