Photo By David Lipp | Col. Kent Olson, 119th Wing commander, right, visits with brothers Staff Sgt. Anders...... read more read more
FARGO, N.D. — After a nearly three-month hiatus from overseas deployments, nearly 30 members from the North Dakota Air National Guard’s 119th Security Forces Squadron left this month for Afghanistan. The six-month deployment breaks the reprieve that the unit had experienced for the first time since shortly after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.
“The members of the 119th Security Forces Squadron have embarked on an important mission on behalf of our state and nation, and I know they will perform with the same level of professionalism and expertise that has come to define the North Dakota National Guard,” said Gov. Jack Dalrymple, who spoke during the two small send-off ceremonies hosted for the deploying airmen. “We thank them for their dedication to duty and willingness to serve, and we will do all we can to support them and their families throughout this deployment and when they return home.”
Due to Air Force regulations on deployments, North Dakota Air National Guard members do not have public send-offs as their Army National Guard counterparts, who fall under Army regulations, do. Instead, they were honored quietly at the Fargo base in between pre-deployment training events in Florida, Nevada and Texas.
“From performing base security to helping with flooding, even the newest airmen in your group have the skills and experience needed to excel in this operational environment,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, who also spoke at the send-offs. “Your professional skills and Happy Hooligan pride and dedication will surely make this another successful mission.”
The airmen will be working in three squads to perform security missions. Master Sgt. Joshua Clarke, headquarters squad leader, and Tech. Sgt. Michael Bittner, third squad leader, and their airmen will manage base security functions while fourth squad, under the leadership of Master Sgt. Grant Lonski, will escort personnel throughout the operating area.
More than a third of the deploying airmen have previously mobilized. The group, however, consists of many new guardsmen; half are on their first enlistment contracts and, of those, two have barely served a year in the North Dakota National Guard.
“You have all enlisted or re-enlisted during a time that our nation was at war. You knew this day would likely come when your nation called upon you to serve, and you have all stepped up to answer that call,” said Chief Master Sgt. James Gibson, senior enlisted leader for the North Dakota National Guard, whose son is among those deploying with the group.
Gibson, who previously served in the 119th Security Forces Squadron, spoke of the many missions the unit has taken part in since the airmen were first deployed for the global war on terrorism in February 2002.
On this most recent mission, the airmen are carrying three flags with them from home: a state flag presented by Dalrymple, a U.S. flag that flew over the nation’s capitol presented by Justin Forde on behalf of Sen. John Hoeven, and a security forces flag presented by Gibson.
| Date Taken: | 03.13.2013 |
| Date Posted: | 03.25.2013 15:07 |
| Story ID: | 104060 |
| Location: | FARGO, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 192 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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