Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company, patrols a ridge during a "React to Fire" event at the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023. Slama is the N.D. Army National Guard's representative. ( National Guard story and photos by Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
CONTENTS
- Memorial Day Ceremony
- Columbarium Groundbreaking
- Disaster Preparedness Planning Ghana
- Region VI Best Warrior Competition
- Making Potable Water
- Camp's Friends and Neighbors Day
- Army Career Fair
- From The Field Campaign
- Army Aviators Visit Veterans Memorial Event
Memorial Day Ceremony
The 2023 Memorial Day Ceremony was conducted May 29, 2023, at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, south of Mandan. (National Guard story by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Gov. Doug Burgum, commander-in-chief of the N.D. National Guard, Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Kevin Cramer, and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. National Guard adjutant general rendered remarks. Ceremony program available online.
A N.D. Army National Guard Soldier directs a vehicle to parking area at the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information)
Members of the the North Dakota Army National Guard’s 188th Army Band Cover Down Brass Ensemble move toward their performance position before the beginning of the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
View from one of two N.D. Army National Guard Black Hawk Helicopters engaged in a flyover during the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Charles Highland, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs)
The official party renders honors as Sgt. Gus Tandberg, 188th Army Band, performs the national anthem at the annual Memorial Day ceremony, held at the N.D. Veterans Cemetery, May 29, 2023. From right, Gov. Doug Burgum, Sen. John Hoeven, Sen. Kevin Cramer and Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general. (U.S. National Guard photo by Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs)
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, renders remarks during the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on May 29, 2023. (U.S. National Guard photo by Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs)
Members of Dakota Leathernecks Detachment #1419 fire rifle volleys during the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, Mandan, May 29, 2023. (U.S. National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information)
North Dakota National Guard Funeral Honors fire a 21-gun salute with a World War I era cannon at the annual Memorial Day ceremony, May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information)
Members of the Iron Bull Drum Group perform honor songs after the annual Memorial Day ceremony at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery on May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
More photos available at Flickr album Memorial Day 2023.
Columbarium Groundbreaking
About 30 minutes after the Memorial Day ceremony, a groundbreaking ceremony was conducted for a planned 2,240 compartment-niche columbarium at the northeast corner of the cemetery. (National Guard story by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
A shovel stands ready for a groundbreaking ceremony that was conducted for a 2,240 compartment-niche columbarium at the northeast corner of the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information)
Gov. Doug Burgum provides remarks for a groundbreaking ceremony conducted for a 2,240 compartment-niche columbarium at the northeast corner of the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, North Dakota National Guard Visual Information)
Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, N.D. adjutant general, provides remarks for a groundbreaking ceremony conducted for a 2,240 compartment-niche columbarium at the northeast corner of the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery, May 29, 2023. (National Guard photo by Bill Prokopyk, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office)
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 online.
Disaster Preparedness Planning Ghana
The N.D. National Guard partnered with the Republic of Ghana's National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) to host a disaster preparedness planning and response exercise in Ghana, May 8 to 12, 2023. The exercise dealth with the affects of climate change and flooding at the largest dam in Ghana, Akosombo Dam, located at the mouth of the Volta River. (National Guard story by Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, director, N.D. National Guard State Partnership Program)
NADMO, the Ghanian equivalent to FEMA, conducted this exercise with the Volta River Authority, the entity responsible for management of operations and response on the downstream area south of Akosombo Dam.
Retired 1st Sgt. Steve Kilde, addresses members from the National Ambulance Service, National Fire Service, National Police, and Ghana Armed Forces on the planning and execution of the downstream flooding scenario, May 9, 2023, Akosombo Dam, Ghana. (National Guard photos by Lt. Col. Karl Altenburg, Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard)
“The second and third order-affects of climate change will impact our three West African Partners- Ghana, Togo, and Benin in the upcoming years,” stated Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, State Partnership Program Director. “U.S. Africa Command recognizes the threat and is funding these disaster preparedness exercises, which is vital for interoperability and response,” stated McEvers.
Simulated victims displaced by the flooding report to an administrative area to be monitored buy the National Ambulance Service, May 9, 2023, Akosombo Dam, Ghana. (National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Karl Altenburg, Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard)
The National Fire Service performed an exercise with the Fire Service as Incident Commander, responding to a capsized boat along with drowning victims. Commander Forson (saucer hat) conducts an after action review with the first responders,May 9, 2023, Akosombo Dam, Ghana. (National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Karl Altenburg, Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard)
Ghana Fire Service conducts incident command with Commander Forson (saucer hat) as incident commander of a capsized boat and drowning victims, May 9, 2023, Akosombo Dam, Ghana. (National Guard photo by Lt. Col. Karl Altenburg, Joint Force Headquarters, N.D. National Guard)
Region VI Best Warrior Competition
Two N.D. Army National Soldiers competed in the Region VI Best Warrior Competition held at Fort William Henry Harrison and the Limestone Hills training area, near Helena, Montana, May 15 to 21, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Spc. Konah Samuel and Spc. Donald Bond, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company, and Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, represented North Dakota in the non-commissioned officer category and Soldier categories respectfully.
Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, fires a M320 Grenade Launcher at the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023.
“Overall, it was a phenomenal experience,” said Jones. “I learned so much, met some amazing Soldiers and NCOs, received tons of opportunities that I would have never gotten to do outside this competition, so overall, outstanding.”
Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company, prepares a M18A1 Claymore Munition during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 20, 2023.
Jones and Slama competed with thirteen Army Guardsmen from seven states for the title of 2023’s Region VI Best Warrior. They were all winners of their state’s Best Warrior Competition. The competitors hailed from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, and Wyoming competed together.
Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company, prepares to fire a M249 Squad Automatic Weapon during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023.
Maj. Ryan Finnegan, public affairs officer, Montana National Guard. “It’s very motivating and uplifting for me to see these people challenge themselves, to see these Soldiers push themselves to their mental and physical limits, and just do everything they can to show they’re the best. And I think It’s important for Montana, it’s important for all the surrounding states, and it’s important for these Soldiers,”
Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, participates in a swim event during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023.
Sgt. Baily Ruff, S.D. National Guard, won the Region VI non-commissioned officer of the year while Spc. Luke Harrison, Wyoming National Guard, was honored as the Region VI Soldier of the Year.
“Regionals compared to state, both are very physical events. You got to be good at your job, got to be good at everything Army, but coming to regionals, you do have to prepare a for a lot more, the competition is going to be harder, cause all those guys, they won their state's Best Warrior Competition just like you did,” said Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company.
Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, tosses a M67 Fragmentation Hand Grenade into a fox hole during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023.
Graded and non-graded events of the competition included land and water-based physical challenges, a 12-mile ruck march, confidence course, day and night land navigation challenges, react to contact challenge, MOUT (military operations on urbanized terrain) assault, stress shoots and familiarization with several weapon systems, including live hand grenades, live claymores, an M1 Abrams tank, AT4 rocket launchers, a suppressed sniper rifle, simulated and live call for fire events, written tests, uniform inspection, board, CBRN (chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear) response lane, medical lane, air movement, radio communication challenges, military vehicle PMCS (preventative maintenance checks and services) lane, and more.
Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion, left, fires an AT4 rocket launcher during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 19, 2023.
“These are the things that make the Guard what the Guard is, these are experiences that you can never catch on the civilian side that will set you apart,” said Sgt. Sean Jones.
“Many of their state leaders are here,” said Maj. Ryan Finnegan, public affairs officer, Montana National Guard. “Senior leaders from those eight states have taken time out of their busy schedules to come here, support their competitors, cheer them on, and it just shows how significant competitions like this are to the Army, to the National Guard, and to the Soldiers themselves.”
Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company, navigates a confidence course during the Region VI Best Warrior Competition, Helena, Montana, May 20, 2023. Slama represented North Dakota in the non-commissioned officer category of the competition.
Slama and Jones earned multiple military recognition coins for their efforts this year. The N.D. Army National Guard will conduct its 2023 State Best Warrior Competition Aug. 17 to 20, 2023, where two more winners will move on to next year’s Region VI’s Best Warrior Competition in Washington.
“I always love representing the state of North Dakota,” said Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company. “Makes me proud; it’s where I was born and raised, so any opportunity I can get to go somewhere and represent this state, I’m there for it.”
From left: Sgt. Maj. Kendall R. Struxness, G-3 operations; Sgt. Deyton Slama, 817th Engineer Company; 1st Sgt. David Rohrich, 817th Engineer Company; Sgt. Sean Jones, N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion; Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock, N.D. Army National Guard state command sergeant major; and Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Garrett, 68th Troop Command, May 19, 2023, Helena, Montana. The senior leaders traveled to the Region VI Best Warrior Competiton to support their Soldiers.
Making Potable Water
N.D. Air National Guard members and active duty trained together on a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification (ROWPU) unit at the 119th Wing Regional Training Site, N.D. Air National Guard base in Fargo, N.D., May 12, 2023. (National Guard story, photos and video by Senior Master Sgt. Michael Knodle, 119th Wing Public Affairs Office)
Senior Airman Isreal Chavez, 319th Civil Engineering Squadron, Grand Forks Air Force Base, trains on a Reverse Osmosis Water Purification (ROWPU) unit at the 119th Wing Regional Training Site, May 12, 2023, Fargo, N.D.
Master Sgt. Donald Clarke, 119th Wing Civil Engineering Squadron, N.D. Air National Guard, trains Airmen on Reverse Osmosis Water Purification (ROWPU) equipment the 119th Wing Regional Training Site, May 12, 2023, Fargo, N.D.
Camp's Friends and Neighbors Day
Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC) hosted a Friends and Neighbor’s Day allowing civilians an opportunity to access the facility, May 18, 2023, Devils Lake, N.D. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Tilly Nguyen)
Army Career Fair
The N.D. Army National Guard Recruiting and Retention Battalion conducted a career fair for Bismarck high school students at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., May 24, 2023. (National Guard story and photos by Staff Sgt. Sam Kroll, N.D. National Guard Visual Information)
Students climb a hill towards a N.D. Army National Guard UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter during a career fair at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., May 24, 2023.
Sgt. Joey Vandervliet, Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, discusses the capabilities of the UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter with students during a career event at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, May 24, 2023.
More then 70 high school students attended the recruiting event to learn more about job opportunities and benefits of membership in the N.D. Army National Guard .
Bismarck High School students take a group photo with Soldiers from Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, during a recruiting event at the Raymond J. Bohn armory, Bismarck, N.D., May 24, 2023.
From The Field Campaign
The N.D. National Guard's Task Force Cajetan's first marketing campaign, "From the Field", has produced a perspective unlike any other. The efforts have been primarily focused on Soldier and Airmen perspective with the purpose of providing a glimpse of everyday life as a Guard member. (National Guard story by 1st Lt. Bruce Shields Jr., N.D. National Guard Public Affairs Office)
Sgt. Colten Trout and Pfc. Alan Worrel emplace a M7 spider munitions system to help with counter mobility operations during an FTX. The spider munitions system is an anti-personnel munitions system that provides Soldiers a remote “man in the loop” system that can be placed in a variety of locations, May 20, 2023, Garrison, N.D. (National Guard photo by Sgt. Benjamin Snyder, 818 Engineer Company (Sapper)).
Medics assigned to Company D, 1-112th Aviation Regiment (1-112th AVN Regiment), provide critical life saving (CLS) care to a simulated casualty, before helicopter MEDEVAC operations during a training exercise at Camp Grafton Training South, May, 2023. (National Guard photo by SPC Jonathan Lange, 1-112th AVN Regiment)
Army Aviators Visit Veterans Memorial Event
Bonanzaville, USA, near West Fargo, N.D., hosted their 18th annual Military Appreciation Day on May 25, 2023. (Story and photos courtesy of Beth Jansen, executive director, Bonanzaville)
The N.D. Army National Guard's Company C, 2nd Battalion 285th Aviation Regiment, supported this event with a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter static display.
The Veterans program was held in the Eagle air museum and included free admission to all Bonnanzaville pioneer village and museum, as well as a free BBQ picnic prepared by Veterans and Bonanzaville volunteers. The Red River Valley Veterans Concert Band performed. In addition to the National Guard aircraft, other military vehicles, including a UH-1H "Huey" helicopter were on display along with other special military exhibits. About 300 people attended, mostly military members and their families.
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