Physically & AFTER the STORM
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UARDIAN Volume G8, Issue 8 September 2015 physicallY & Mentally Tough North Dakota Soldiers Vie for Top Honors During Best Warriror Competition PG. 10 AFTER THE STORM Airman Recalls Wing Involvement in Hurricane Katrina Relief Efforts PG. 8 Inside This Issue Features 4 Military Service Commander in Chief North Dakota Governor In the second installment of a three- Jack Dalrymple part recruiting and retention series, The Adjutant General we explore some of the job skills, Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk education benefits and military training applicable to civilian Chief of Public Affairs Capt. Amber Balken employment being offered to those with an interest in serving their Editor communities, state and nation. Sgt. Jennifer Joyce Contributors Chaplain (Lt. Col.) David Johnson Capt. Jeff Hoffer 6 Ten Years Chief Master Sgt. Ben Bush Later Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen Staff Sgt. Jared Klempel Chief Master Sgt. Ben Bush, North Staff Sgt. Sara Marchus Dakota State Command Chief, Staff Sgt. Brett Miller recalls the N.D. Air National Sgt. Ashley Johlfs Guard’s involvement in Hurricane Sgt. Erin Walters Katrina relief efforts in 2005, when a Spc. Deidra Steele 55-man team from the 119th Wing deployed to Mississipi for a six-week mission. The North Dakota Guardian is an authorized publication for members, families and retirees of the N.D. National Guard. • Contents of the North Dakota Guardian are not necessarily the official views of, or endorsed by, the U.S. Government, or the Department of the Army or Air Force. • Editorial content of this publication is the responsibility of Reports from the Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard ( JFND) 13 Public Affairs Officer. the Field • Printed by United Printing, a private firm in no way connected to the U.S. Government under exclusive written contract with the JFND. Reproduction is by the offset method with a circulation After months of planning, preparing of approximately 4,900. and executing operational orders • The North Dakota Guardian is published by the JFND Public Information Office, Box 5511, Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511, and developing courses of action 701.333.2007 for military occupation in this fictional war, more than 300 Soldiers ARTICLE SUBMISSIONS participated in a 3-week War Fighter Contributions to the North Dakota Guardian are encouraged! exercise in August during their annual Send articles, photos and art to Editor, JFND PIO, Box 5511, training at the Maneuver Training Bismarck, N.D. 58506-5511. Electronic submissions are preferred. Please e-mail stories in Word format to: Center (MTC) in Camp Dodge, Iowa. [email protected] Phone: 701-333-2195 Fax: 701-333-2017 Digital photos should be 300 dpi, if possible. Departments On the Cover Guardian Snapshots ..................... Page 16 Spc. Stephen Johnson, of the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, conducts News Briefs ..................................... Page 18 combat maneuvers last month during the Best Warrior Competition held at the Camp Sound Off! ..................................... Page 19 Grafton Training Center near Devils Lake, North Dakota. Interact With Us! See even more N.D. National Guard highlights at our social media sites, and share your thoughts! www.youtube.com/NDNationalGuard www.twitter.com/NDNationalGuard Photo by Staff Sgt. Brett Miller, Joint Force Headquarters www.flickr.com/photos/NDGuard www.facebook.com/NDNationalGuard VIEW FROM THE TOP A MESSAGE FROM THE ADJUTANT GENERAL Preparedness is half the battle Taking care of our Soldiers, Airmen families, enabling us to respond quickly to and their families is, and will remain, my our communities when disaster strikes. No. 1 priority. Keeping ourselves, and our Less than half of Americans have taken Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk Tcommunity safe involves not only our the time to plan what they will do in cases resiliency and our force protection, but our of emergency. Communication is key. Talk North Dakota Adjutant General disaster preparedness as well. to your family members, make a plan and September is disaster preparedness test your plan for feasibility. Verify that you month. The focus of this month is to have everything that you’ll need, assemble The North Dakota National Guard has educate and empower our communities or update emergency supplies, collect and a unique position within our community. across the state to prepare for and respond safeguard critical documents to include The National Guard and the office of the to all types of emergencies, from flooding, insurance papers. governor play an important role in disaster to fires, to potential terrorist attacks. Plan with neighbors to help each other response — all efforts are in support In North Dakota, we are all too familiar and share resources. Stay informed. If a of state and local officials. No other with how quickly a natural disaster can disaster is in the early stages, stay on top organization in the Department of Defense happen. Although unpreventable, we can of news alerts using as many sources as has the National Guard’s combination of take the steps to prepare ourselves and our possible. skills, expertise and location to support civil authorities quickly. We have an obligation to serve and protect our communities, and we have the assets to do so. We have the capability and equipment to evacuate and rescue people, preserve civil order, protect property and maintain or reestablish communications. Across the nation, the National Guard was called up more than 200 times last year, responding to fires, storms, floods and hurricanes. Units were credited with rescuing more than 3,000 people. At home, we have responded to snow storms, floods, fires, and we are one of the firsts to be called upon when disaster strikes. I am proud of what we have done in the past to support our state. We must continue to prepare so that we are ready when we are called upon by the governor. Preparedness is the shared responsibility of our entire state. Preparing ourselves and our families for disasters and emergencies ensures the strength of our communities and it strengthens our ability to safeguard our state and our nation. Photo by Sgt. Ashley Johlfs, 1st Battalion, 112th Aviation Regiment (Security & Support) As a firefighter works in the foreground, a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter from the North Dakota National Guard’s Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment (Assault) uses a 600-gallon bucket April 14, 2015 to suppress a wildfire south of Bismarck, North Dakota, near the residential area of Briardale. www.ndguard.ngb.army.mil · 3 Part 2 of 3 Opportunity Knocks: Wealth of Benefits, Incentives Offered Through National Guard Service Pvt. Willie Ulness has been striking all the pursuing a career in music are going hand- Story by Staff Sgt. Eric W. Jensen, Joint Force Headquarters right chords while embarking on his post- in-hand. When he returns from military Photos by Senior Master Sgt. David Lipp, 119th Wing high school, future path. In the distance, he training this fall, he later plans to attend sees a career as a singer and songwriter. In the University of Mary for a double major Author’s Note: North Dakota National fact, he just recently cut an album recording in music and business. Ulness will do that Guard recruiters continue to promote an in Nashville, Tennessee. But right now, by leaning on a treasure trove of earned array of benefits and incentives to entice new he’s focused on completing his advanced incentives gained from swearing an oath to enlistees into the organization. In this second individual training, or AIT, as a combat serve. From enlistment bonuses to education installment of a three-part recruiting and engineer to serve in the Minot-based 818th benefits and receiving job training applicable retention series, we explore some of the job Engineer Company (Sapper). While he’s to civilian employment, now still is a great skills, education benefits and military training heard the music world calling, Ulness also time to become a member of the North applicable to civilian employment being offered has held an admiration for those who serve Dakota National Guard. to those with an interest in serving their in the U.S. military, an organization he’s “Most applicants join the North Dakota communities, state and nation. longed to be a part of so he too can serve his Army National Guard for the 100 percent country. college tuition assistance or enlistment “Whenever I see someone who’s in bonuses, which can amount up to $20,000. uniform, it motivates me to do something Others join because they want to be part like (serve in the military). It’s inspiring to of something bigger than themselves or see what (others) have done and see where because of family tradition,” said Chief they’ve been,” he said. Warrant Officer 3 Jammy Ryckman, East And Ulness is finding out that enlisting Production Team officer-in-charge. “Either into the North Dakota National Guard and way, our new Soldiers are gaining valuable 4 · Guardian · september 2015 were introduced to some of the vocational opportunities provided by attending military training at the 164th Regiment’s Regional Training Institute at Camp Grafton Training Center. By and large, the N.D. Air National Guard has a lot to offer potential enlistees, as well, especially in terms of new positions requiring military training that later can be used in the civilian work force. Upon transitioning from its manned flying mission, the 119th Wing has been recruiting for its new intelligence mission, culling expertise from Airmen in a range of job specialties, or Air Force Specialty Codes. The 119th Intelligence Group has sought out professionals who specialize in functions involved in collecting, producing and distributing data that has strategic, tactical, or technical value from an intelligence viewpoint.