North Dakota Security Forces Airmen deploy in support of CENTCOM

Photo By David Lipp | Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley (left), Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk (right), North Dakota adjutant general, and members of the 219th Security Forces Squadron display a North Dakota flag during a send-off ceremony at the Minot Armed Forces Reserve Center, Minot, N.D., June 23, 2015. About 15 Airmen from the 219th SFS have departed for a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Senior Master Sgt. David H. Lipp/Released)  

MINOT, ND, UNITED STATES

07.29.2015

Courtesy Story

North Dakota National Guard Public Affairs

MINOT, N.D. - A small group of North Dakota Air National Guard Airmen assigned to the Minot-based 219th Security Forces Squadron left this month for a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia, where they will support U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.

About 15 Airmen volunteered for the base defense and security operations mission being led by Tech. Sgt. Michael Clow. The Airmen are proficient in implementing critical protection measures for military personnel and other important assets. They will draw on the experience and training provided by their home unit, which made history by becoming the first National Guard unit to team up with an active-duty Air Force unit to provide security for one of the nation's three missile fields.

In May of 2013, the 219th SFS assumed control of the entire northern sector missile field complex near Minot, North Dakota, making it the first time ever, anywhere, that a reserve component force provided complete control of missile field security. The 219th SFS is a unit of the 119th Wing, The Happy Hooligans, who are based in Fargo.

"We are so proud of the Airmen from the 219th Security Forces Squadron who are defending our homeland and our way of life while deployed on a six-month mission in support of CENTCOM," said Gov. Jack Dalrymple. "We are grateful to them and their families for their willingness to serve and are confident they will carry on the tradition of the North Dakota Air National Guard with another successful mission. We wish them all the best throughout their deployment and look forward to welcoming them back home to North Dakota."

Due to U.S. Air Force deployment regulations, Air National Guard members do not have public send-offs as do their Army National Guard counterparts. Instead, they were honored quietly at the Air Base in Minot shortly before departing for Southwest Asia. In attendance at the sendoff were Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, other leaders and Guard representatives, as well as family and friends of the 219th SFS Airmen.

"Our Airmen have proven their abilities in vital security missions, and we know they have what it takes to ensure the safety and security of coalition forces during their time supporting CENTCOM," said Sprynczynatyk. "We're proud of the 219th Security Forces Squadron Airmen and their many accomplishments, and we're grateful for the sacrifices that they and their families continually make for our nation."

CENTCOM is one of nine unified commands in the United States military. Six of these commands, including CENTCOM, have an area of responsibility (AOR), which is a specific geographic region of the world where the combatant commanders may plan and conduct operations as defined under the Department of Defense's Unified Command Plan.

Located between the European and Pacific combatant commands, U.S. Central Command's area of responsibility covers the "central" area of the globe and consists of 20 countries: Afghanistan, Bahrain, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, United Arab Emirates, Uzbekistan, and Yemen.

With national and international partners, U.S. Central Command promotes cooperation among nations, responds to crises, and deters or defeats state and non-state aggression, and supports development and, when necessary, reconstruction in order to establish the conditions for regional security, stability, and prosperity.

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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 40 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: 07.29.2015
• Date Posted: 07.29.2015 19:33
• Story ID: 171509
• Location: MINOT, ND, US