North Dakota Army Guard Receives New State Command Sergeant Major

Courtesy Photo | Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald L. Miller assumed duties as the North Dakota Army National Guard's State Command Sergeant Major during a Change of Responsibility Ceremony on Feb. 7 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory.  

UNITED STATES

02.07.2009

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

North Dakota National Guard

BISMARCK, N.D. - An Iraqi War veteran and a member of the National Guard for 30 years assumed duties as the North Dakota Army National Guard's State Command Sergeant Major during a Change of Responsibility Ceremony on Feb. 7 at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory.

As the top enlisted Soldier in the North Dakota Army National Guard, Command Sgt. Maj. Gerald L. Miller joins Brig. Gen. William Seekins, the Land Component Commander, in helping lead the 3,200 Soldiers of the North Dakota Army National Guard. He replaced the outgoing Command Sgt. Major Jack W. Cripe, Jr., who has served in the position since 2005.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Miller brings a rich array of experience and sound judgment to this key position and is an excellent choice to succeed Command Sgt. Major Cripe," said Seekins. "His leadership will help us continue to be a great organization."

A native of Oakes, N.D., Miller enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1979 serving in key leadership positions with the 141st and 142nd Engineer Combat Battalions. From January 2003 until May 2004, Miller was deployed to Iraq serving as the first sergeant for Headquarters and Service Company, 142nd Engineer Combat Battalion. In 2004, he was appointed as the commandant of the Devils Lake, N.D., based 164th Regional Training Institute a position he held until last month.

Cripe enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1977 and served in West Berlin, Federal Republic of Germany before transferring to the N.D. Army National Guard in 1982. He served in key leadership positions in the 164th Engineer Battalion and 818th Medical Battalion. Prior to assuming duties as State Command Sergeant Major, Cripe served as Command Sergeant Major for the Bismarck based 1-112th Command Aviation Battalion and 68th Troop Command. He was selected to be the Command Sergeant Major for the upcoming N.D. led Kosovo mission slated for mobilization later this year.

"Command Sgt. Maj. Cripe has a long and distinguished record of military service and we are extremely fortunate that he will continue to serve our National Guard and the nation," said Seekins. "Our Soldiers deploying with him to Kosovo are in good hands."

Miller is married to the former Linda Drangsholt of Antler, N.D., and has four sons. Cripe is married to the former Vaune Volesky of Dickinson, N.D.; they have two children and one grandson.

The Change of Responsibility Ceremony is an important military ritual which formally and visually demonstrates the transfer of duties, responsibilities and authority between incoming and outgoing Command Sergeants Major. The Command Sergeant Major is the senior-most sergeant or "Non-Commissioned Officer" in their unit and is responsible to their commander for the enforcement of policies and standards of performance, training, appearance, conduct, health, morale and welfare of their assigned Soldiers.

In honor of the significant contributions, selfless service and indispensable role of all sergeants, the Secretary of the Army Pete Geren has designated 2009 as the "Year of the Non-Commissioned Officer."

• Date Taken: 02.07.2009
• Date Posted: 02.07.2009 17:01
• Story ID: 29764
• Location: US