BISMARCK, N.D. — About 28 Soldiers of the North Dakota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery (1-188th ADA) Regiment will return home today after protecting the airspace in the nation’s capital. Most of the 200 Soldiers from this mission returned in February 2018; the Soldiers returning today volunteered to remain on duty in Washington, D.C., for an extended period and culminated their mission this month. A total of 28 Soldiers extended for duty, of which 19 will return home to North Dakota.
Senior National Guard leaders, including Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general; Brig. Gen. Robert Becklund, deputy adjutant general; and Command Sgt. Maj. David Lien, state command sergeant major, will greet the Guardsmen upon their return.
Media representatives and the public are invited to greet the returning Soldiers. Please refer to details at the end of this advisory.
Lt. Col. JoDee Aubol, of West Fargo, commands the unit and Command Sgt. Maj. Joshua Entzel, of Bismarck serves as the unit’s senior enlisted leader. The unit is headquartered in Grand Forks with units in Bismarck and Fargo. The Soldiers hail from communities across North Dakota, as well as cities in Minnesota, California, Nebraska and Wisconsin.
The 1-188th ADA contributed to Operation Noble Eagle in the Washington, D.C., area during its mobilization. The Soldiers’ mission involved collaborating with other Department of Defense agencies as part of the integrated air defense system designed to protect the airspace around the National Capital Region.
WHO: 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment Soldiers
WHAT: Return to North Dakota from duty at the National Capital Region
WHEN/WHERE: Nov. 16 – Flight numbers, times and locations below:
Please note these arrivals are tentatively scheduled. Soldiers traveling on individual tickets are sometimes offered changes by airlines that can’t be tracked by this office.
PLEASE check our Facebook page (N.D. National Guard). Any changes that we are aware of, will be posted there.
Nov. 16, 2018
• Minot International Airport
o United Flight 5179 scheduled arrival is 1 p.m. – 1 Soldier
Note: Flight times are always subject to change.
• Hector International Airport, Fargo
o American Airlines 3615 scheduled arrival is 1:58 p.m. – 12 Soldiers
• Bismarck Municipal Airport
o United Flight 4624 scheduled arrival is 8:16 p.m. – 6 Soldier
MEDIA: The public is welcome. No pre-coordination needed.
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The North Dakota National Guard is a trained and highly motivated force of about 4,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen. We are always prepared to provide ready units, individuals and equipment in support of our communities, state and nation. Always ready, always there.
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