Deegan named instructor of the year

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs
Courtesy Story

Date: 11.20.2013
Posted: 11.20.2013 16:29
News ID: 117098
Deegan named instructor of the year

DEVILS LAKE, N.D. - A combat engineer instructor for the North Dakota National Guard's 164th Regional Training Institute recently received awards recognizing his skills in the classroom.

Sgt. 1st Class Paul Deegan, of Devils Lake, N.D., was named Instructor of the Year for 2012. Earlier this month, he also received a North Dakota Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of the achievement.

It's the second time that Deegan earned top honors for instructing at one of the nation's best-rated Army engineer schoolhouses. Among the classes he helps facilitate for students from around the country are 12B10 Combat Engineer Military Occupational Specialty Qualification Course, 12B30 Combat Engineer Advanced Leader Course, 12B40 Combat Engineer Senior Leader Course, 12C10 Bridge Crewmember Military Occupational Specialty Qualification Course and 12C30 Bridge Crewmember Advanced Leader Course. He also assists with short-notice courses for deploying units that need additional training before serving overseas.

Deegan works full-time as an Active Guard and Reserve soldier with the Institute, a position he began in 2001, and has served in the North Dakota Army National Guard for 27 years. He also has used his training and skills during several exchanges, both in North Dakota and Africa, with engineers serving in the Ghana armed forces. North Dakota paired with Ghana in 2004 as part of the State Partnership Program. He also deployed to Iraq in 2004-05 with the Grand Forks-based 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment.

Located near Devils Lake, the 164th Regional Training Institute provides U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command courses for soldiers in engineer-focused military occupational specialties, as well as training in food service and water treatment military occupational specialties. The schoolhouse also hosts Officer Candidate School for North Dakota Guardsmen.