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TAG Line September 05, 2023

188th Engineer Company Returns

Story by Maj. Vanessa Lennick, Public Affairs Office.

Photos by Sgt. 1st Class Jill McGough, 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, and Staff Sgt. Christa Anderson, 119th Wing, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs.

Approximately 100 members of the Wahpeton-based 188th Engineer Company returned home from a monthlong deployment to the U.S.-Mexico border.

They served a 30-day mission in support of Operation Lone Star, a joint operation between the Texas Department of Public Safety and Texas Military Department.

“The 188th Engineer Company was honored to support the state of Texas in the joint operation, Operation Lone Star,” said Capt. Heather Baril, 188th Engineer Company commander. “We were able to quickly integrate with the Texas National Guard and multiple law enforcement partners to ensure mission success. Part of our mission was to deter human and drug trafficking along the border and to ensure public safety.”

The 188th Soldiers collaborated and built relationships with multiple federal, state, and local law enforcement agencies. They also joined efforts with Texas, Iowa, Nebraska, and West Virginia National Guard units during their mission.

Some of the unit’s successes included:

  • Conducted more than 53 observation point and prevent-deter-interdict missions, which spanned over 25 miles of the southern border.
  • Conducted multiple Engineer and Surge Response Team missions to ensure a safe and secure environment and freedom of movement in the Soldiers’ area of operations.
  • Performed more than 2,500 hours of maintenance on equipment, significantly improving operational readiness for agencies on the ground.
“It is a testament to their dedication and preparedness that they were able to accomplish so much in such a short amount of time,” Maj. General Al Dohrmann, adjutant general said. “The sacrifices made by not only the Soldiers but also the families and employers is greatly appreciated. Thank you to all the 188th Engineer Company Soldiers for their selfless sacrifice and unwavering commitment to protecting our state and nation.”

219th Security Forces train in Camp Ripley

Video and story by Sr. Master Sgt. Mike Knodel, 119th Wing, North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs.

Non-Commissioned Officer Guest Lecture with Ghana Armed Forces

Photos and story by Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch. 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade.

Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch explains the North Dakota Army National Guard patch to members of the Ghanaian Armed Forces during an NCO Leadership Engagement in Ghana.

North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) conducted the Non-Commission Officer (NCO) Guest Lecture week-long engagement the week of July 31st, 2023.

It was led by 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade Command Sgt. Maj. Scott Obrigewitch, 68th Troop Command; Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Garrett, and Staff Sgt. Zach Fischer of the 188th Army Band. This is the 9th NCO Guest lecture between NDNG and the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

On August 2nd, 2023, Command Sgt. Maj. Russell Garrett, 68th Troop Command, teaches a class on Counseling to over thirty members of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

“This is the 9th Non-Commissioned Officer (NCO) Guest Lecture engagement with the GAF,” states Lt. Col. Mark McEvers. “It is essential that we continue the bilateral relationship and share ideas and support each other with NCO best practices.”

“This is a great engagement to highlight the importance of the NCO Corps within U.S. Military Doctrine on empowerment. Empowerment is a 2-way street. In order to be empowered, you have to display positive leadership traits along with the trust in completing the mission,” states Lt. Col. Mark McEvers, state partnership program director.

“Building trust with subordinates and partners may be the most important action a commander will perform," said Gen. Martin Dempsey, Ghanaian Armed Forces. "Given our projected need for superior speed in competitive cycles of decision-making operations will move at the speed of trust.”

NOrth Dakota's Top Shooters win at Regional Marksmanship Competition

Story by Sgt. 1st Class Timmothy Simmons

Photos by Sgt. Seth Franke, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center.

The North Dakota National Guard sent three teams to the Military Advisory Council (MAC) Region 6 marksmanship competition. Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, North Dakota, and South Dakota competed head to head to be named the most lethal team.

North Dakota - Alpha team

From left to right: Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook, Staff Sgt. Tyler Goldade, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Milbrath, Sgt. Lance Schrader.

Sgt. 1st Class Milbrath fires M4 rifle.

North Dakota - Bravo team

From left to right: Staff Sgt. Brendan Dean, 2nd Lt. Michael Becker, Staff Sgt. Andrew Maley, Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Vickmark.

2nd Lt. Becker fires theM17 handgun at a target.

North Dakota - Charlie team

From left to right: Staff Sgt. Dominic LaRocco, Sr. Airman. Brodee Gilliland, 1st Lt. Steven Smith, Sr. Master Sgt. Wade Swenson.

Sr. Master Sgt. Swenson aims the M4 rifle down range.

Our citizen Servicemembers once again displayed that they are masters of the profession of arms and lethality and won first place, which secured an invite to represent our region in the All-Army Championships at Ft. Moore, Ga., (formerly Ft. Benning) in 2024.

The winning team this year was the North Dakota Alpha team consisting of Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook (119th Wing), Staff Sgt. Tyler Goldade (957th Engineer Multi-Role Bridge Company), Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Milbrath (141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade(MEB)), and Sgt. Lance Schrader (141st MEB). Additionally, shooters won many individual awards for specific matches, aggregate rifle and pistol scores, and overall aggregate scores.

From left to right: Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook, Staff Sgt. Tyler Goldade, Sgt. 1st Class Nicholas Milbrath, Sgt. Lance Schrader.

Happy Hooligans welcomed Lt. Governor Tammy Miller

The 119th Wing gave Lt. Gov. Tammy Miller a tour of the base to showcase the wing's missions. The visit was an amazing opportunity to display the work of the individuals that make up the 119th Wing.

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