Photo By David Lipp | Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, places master sergeant...... read more read more
FARGO, N.D. — A visit by Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk to the Emergency Operations Center set up for flood response at the North Dakota Air National Guard base came with a surprise for one Guardsman.
Traver W. Silbernagel, of Fargo, was promoted to the rank of master sergeant (E-8) in the North Dakota Army National Guard by Sprynczynatyk as he came off of a 12-hour night shift. To add to the surprise, his wife, Jennifer, was able to witness the promotion over Skype from the United Arab Emirates.
"It's always a great day in the North Dakota National Guard when we have the opportunity to promote someone, and it's even better when we have the chance to give that recognition during an important mission, such as now during flood duty," Sprynczynatyk said. "I always like when we can include families in these events because they're such an important part of our North Dakota National Guard family, and today is especially wonderful because we have Jennifer here via Skype."
Jennifer, a captain with the North Dakota Air National Guard, has been deployed to the United Arab Emirates for two months and expects to return in August. Traver started flood duty last week and has been thankful for family that's able to help with the couple's children, a 4-year-old daughter and 1- year-old son.
The entire event came as a surprise for Traver.
"When I came on last night they left me a note that said something pretty serious came up, we've got to talk in the morning, and I didn't know what it was," he said.
The crew led Traver to believe something must have gone wrong that they needed to meet about, but he couldn't think of any issues. After breakfast, he walked back into a room full of people, including his wife on the Skype screen.
"We've had a chance to talk, but we really haven't had a chance to see her much, so that's kind of nice," Traver said.
The opportunity also gave Jennifer a chance to provide a quick update on her mission — "Things are going good. We're staying busy every day, and the days are going very fast."
In turn, Sprynczynatyk gave Jennifer an update on flood operations back home, which began last Monday for the North Dakota National Guard.
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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more
than 3,500 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism.
Currently, about 800 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas. With a total force of about 4,400 Soldiers and Airmen, sufficient forces remain in the state for emergency response and homeland defense.
| Date Taken: | 03.22.2010 |
| Date Posted: | 03.22.2010 07:44 |
| Story ID: | 46989 |
| Location: | FARGO, US |
| Web Views: | 235 |
| Downloads: | 222 |
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