Photo By David Lipp | Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter, left, his wife, Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Kraiter, right,...... read more read more
BISMARCK, N.D. — The North Dakota National Guard’s Service Member and Family Support Division staff honored two military families for their generosity, support and devotion to fellow Guardsmen throughout 2014. The Families of the Year – both for the North Dakota Army and Air National Guard –were named March 21 during a National Guard Officer and Enlisted Association of North Dakota awards banquet at the Ramkota Hotel in Bismarck.
“When our Guardsmen make the decision to swear an oath to protect our communities, state and nation, their families make that commitment to service, as well,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. “Our Soldiers and Airmen could not be successful without the support they receive from their loved ones. I congratulate this year’s North Dakota Army and Air National Guard Families of the Year. Not only are they deserving of these awards, but their gracious volunteerism reinforces how crucial families are for helping us execute our missions at home and abroad.”
Capt. Matthew Voeller and his wife, Janelle, along with their children, Abram, Keira and Natalie, are the North Dakota Army National Guard’s Family of the Year. Matthew works full time as the officer-in-charge of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment in Grand Forks, North Dakota.
To better assist Guard families during a yearlong National Capital Region mission in Washington, D.C., Capt. Voeller helped combine Family Support Groups between three Grand Forks-based Air Defense units prior to their departure. Janelle was the consolidated group’s lead volunteer, tasked with providing support to more than 400 Soldiers and their families. During her time in that role, she conducted monthly Family Support meetings and spearheaded numerous creative family projects, including designing, ordering, selling and distributing commemorative National Capital Region T-shirts and hoodies to family members and Soldiers. The Family Support Group also created Thanksgiving-themed picture frames for its Soldiers, holiday ornaments and held a “Frozen” movie party for family members. Janelle also developed a family Facebook page for the Air Defense Artillery Battalion and continues to serve as its administrator.
In addition to Family Support activities, the Voeller family also volunteers within their community, specifically at their church where they help with bake sales and other events, as needed. Capt. Voeller also volunteers with the Minnesota/North Dakota/South Dakota Chapter of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) Association. He also serves as secretary for the National Guard Association of North Dakota, has served as the Grand Forks area representative for the Combined Federal Campaign for the past three years, and is a National Guard representative on the Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce’s Military Affairs Committee.
The Soldier who nominated the Voellers for the Family of the Year award wrote, “I truly believe that our Family Readiness Group would not exist and have accomplished as much as it has without the leadership of Capt. Voeller and Janelle. They and their children give so much time and effort to our organization, Soldiers and families. I believe they embody the ideals represented by the Family of the Year.”
Senior Master Sgt. Jennifer Kraiter and Master Sgt. Kent Kraiter, along with their daughters, Kaylee and Hannah, are honored as the North Dakota Air National Guard’s Family of the Year for 2014. Jennifer and Kent, both members of the North Dakota’s 119th Wing, have more than 42 years of military service between them.
The Kraiter family has been active in numerous programs, activities and events supporting the North Dakota National Guard. Jennifer last year completed the organization’s Joint Mentoring Developing Leaders Program, which pairs mentors and mentees outside of normal supervisory and command channels to gain expertise and gain alternative perspectives about leadership, decision making and communication. She also serves as the chairperson of the 119th Wing’s Diversity Council. Additionally, Jennifer helped implement a program called “To Basic and Back” with the 119th Wing’s Recruiting Office. The program helps new recruits by pairing them with mentors to communicate with through writing letters while attending basic training.
Last year, the Kraiters helped raise $2,000 for the 119th Wing through the Remember Our Serving Soldiers, or R.O.S.S., event annually held at the West Fargo, North Dakota, VFW Post 7564.
Hannah supports the 119th Wing, as well, as one of only two Air National Guard members’ children serving on the U.S. Air Force Teen Council. The nationwide group provides a youth perspective in the planning, implementation and evaluation of Air Force Reserve and Air National Guard youth programs.
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 4,200 Soldiers and nearly 2,600 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, nearly 60 North Dakota Guardsmen are mobilized for overseas and domestic service. With a total force of about 4,400 Guardsmen, the North Dakota National Guard remains ready for stateside response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.
| Date Taken: | 03.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 03.23.2015 19:49 |
| Story ID: | 157842 |
| Location: | ND, US |
| Web Views: | 156 |
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