MINOT, N.D. - About 15 Airmen of the North Dakota Air National Guard's 219th Security Forces Squadron will be spending tonight safe in their own homes after returning around 10:30 a.m. today from a deployment to Southwest Asia. The group left in March for a six-month deployment, during which they provided support to U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operations.
"This has been a proud week for North Dakota as we welcome home not one, but two North Dakota National Guard units following overseas deployments in the defense of our state and nation," said Gov. Jack Dalrymple. "The members of the 219th Security Forces Squadron were an integral asset to the U.S. Central Command operations and performed an important defense and security mission. We are grateful to these Airmen for their exemplary service and are thrilled to have them back home in the state they so honorably served and represented."
The group volunteered for the base defense and security operations mission, which was led by Master Sgt. Luke Gardiner. The airmen - well-versed in providing critical protection measures for military personnel and other important assets - were able to draw on the experience and training provided by their home unit, which made history in becoming the first National Guard unit to team up with an active-duty Air Force unit to provide 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, Reserve forces provided complete control of missile field security.
"This group of Airmen is comprised of some of the best security forces personnel, not only in the state, but throughout the entire National Guard and Air Force," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general. "We're grateful for their service, and we're proud of their display of security expertise and professionalism in ensuring the safety and protection of coalition forces during their time supporting CENTCOM."
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, 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.
Approximately 40 North Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers with the Bismarck-based Company C, 2nd Battalion, 285th Aviation Regiment returned Monday and Tuesday after a yearlong deployment to Kosovo, where they supported an international peacekeeping mission.