Photo By David Lipp | Sgt. Joel Erickson, of the 188th Engineer Company, asks a question for Maj. Gen. David...... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. - "Moving Forward" was the theme for this year's North Dakota National Guard Professional Development Workshop at the Ramkota Hotel, Bismarck, N.D., March 4-5.
More than 400 North Dakota Guardsmen from across the state participated in the annual event, where they were able to network with peers and discuss future challenges within the organization. In addition, the Adjutant General's Symposium for families and North Dakota National Guard Youth Symposium took place concurrently with the PDW.
More than 100 Guard family members were able to join their soldiers and airmen to receive a variety of resources and attend a number of presentations developed to strengthen military families.
Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley was in attendance at the PDW to offer his thanks to the organization on behalf of the state.
"You have our confidence and complete faith that you will succeed in the missions that lay ahead," he said, citing the potential for spring flooding across the state.
Bismarck Mayor John Warford echoed that sentiment and noted that the Guard's participation in the spring floods of 2009 displayed the organization's versatility and value.
"You have great talent and great systems in place," he said. "What's remarkable is your ability to adapt to change and your culture of cohesiveness. We've seen this teamwork many times. In 2009, the Army and Air Guard worked together to detonate an ice jam that essentially saved south Bismarck."
Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, emphasized the importance of the weekend's events.
"This is a weekend to learn and grow professionally. It's also an opportunity to look to the future and learn how we can better serve our state and nation," he said.
Sprynczynatyk fielded questions from the force during his recurrent Adjutant General Town Hall meeting. Guardsmen posed questions to their commander about future missions and organizational readiness.
Chief Master Sgt. Denise M. Jelinski-Hall, senior enlisted leader for the National Guard Bureau, joined the North Dakota Guardsmen to lend her perspective on building resiliency within the force. Hall's dynamic presentation stressed the importance of replacing the burdens Soldiers and Airmen can carry through deployments and their vigorous operations pace with resources that are available to them.
"Each and every one of our people is important," she said. "I challenge leaders to find ways to reach out to their people and be able to provide the support they may need."
Other speakers throughout the weekend addressed a range of topics geared toward the professional development of North Dakota Guardsmen. A number of presenters were on-hand from Bismarck State College imparting personal and professional tips for all ranks and age groups. Emerging leaders in the organization learned how attitude factors into successes and failures in leadership and also how to motivate themselves to meet tomorrow's goals and challenges.
| Date Taken: | 03.05.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 03.07.2011 15:38 |
| Story ID: | 66645 |
| Location: | BISMARCK, ND, US |
| Web Views: | 15 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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