Dedication Officially Opens Military Service Center to Veterans from Yesterday, Today and Into the Future (UNCLASSIFIED)

News Release 09-050
For Immediate Release Feb. 27, 2009

Contacts:
Dan Murphy at 701-333-2007 (office) or 701-426-0190 (cell)

Dedication Officially Opens Military Service Center to Veterans
from Yesterday, Today and Into the Future

BISMARCK, N.D. - A ribbon cutting and dedication ceremony in Bismarck today
marked the opening of the new Military Service Center - an inclusive location
for a vast array of services to Veterans of any era or military branch,
current military members as well as their Families. Governor Hoeven, Maj.
Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota National Guard adjutant general,
community leaders, representatives from various Veterans groups, as well as
members of the North Dakota Patriot Guard and Christian Motorcycle
Association were on hand for the ceremony.

"One of the most important things we can do as citizens of this great state
and nation is show our gratitude to those who have put their lives on the
line to defend the liberties and ideals we enjoy every day," said Gov.
Hoeven. "The Military Service Center is another milestone in that effort by
bringing together a team of professionals and resources to assist service
members, Veterans and their Families with a variety of military needs. This
partnership is a great way to honor those who serve and sacrifice on our
behalf."

The North Dakota National Guard has taken the lead on the project, but like
centers of the past, draws no boundary for who they will serve. The U.S.
military operates in a joint service environment, and the North Dakota
National Guard believes services for military members, Veterans and their
Families should be the same - all encompassing without regard to branch of
service.

"We established Family Assistance Centers across the state years ago, and
this Military Service Center builds on that concept by incorporating even
more resources into a single location," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk.
"Taking care of Soldiers and Airmen is my No. 1 priority, so the benefits
provided by this center are in keeping our commitment to military members and
their Families. As far as we know this is the first major endeavor of this
nature in the National Guard and we are proud to take the lead on bringing
together all of these personnel and resources to benefit not only those
serving with us in the Guard, but those from any branch, whether they're
currently serving or have served in the past."

A long ceremonial red ribbon was stretched across the front and down two
sides of the large room allowing more than 20 staff members from the Military
Service Center and others to simultaneously cut the ribbon along with Gov.
Hoeven, Maj. Gen. Sprynczynatyk and the director of the Military Service
Center and Family support for the North Dakota National Guard, Mr. Rob
Keller.

"The new Military Service Center concept extends beyond this building," said
Keller. "We currently have more than 30 personnel representing over 500 years
of experience working with Families, Veterans, and military members all
across the state. Our team is a resource to increase awareness of new and
existing initiatives, services and support available to all service members,
past and present, along with their Families."

The center, which is located at 1850 East Bismarck Expressway, in Bismarck,
houses 19 employees, including social workers, chaplains and professional
advisors and assistants. It also is the new home to the Family Assistance
Center and North Dakota National Guard Family Program Office.

As part of the opening ceremony, the Founder of the "Memorial Bike Run for
Fallen Soldiers", Mark McMahon presented the North Dakota Tragedy Assistance
Program for Survivors (TAPS) a check for $4,000. The North Dakota TAPS
directly supports the national TAPS initiative and both are non-profit
organizations made up of, and providing services to, all those who have lost
a loved one serving in the Armed Forces.

McMahon, who serves in the North Dakota Army National Guard's Jamestown based
815th Engineer Company, said that the money was raised by donations to the
bike ride sponsored by the Dakota Sonshine Riders.

A dozen teams and offices are ready to serve all uniformed Service Members,
Veterans and their Families at the Military Service Center.

The programs and services include:
o The Family Program Office and Family Readiness Team, which focus on
military Families and strive to establish and facilitate ongoing
communication, involvement, support and recognition.
o DEERS (Defense Eligibility Enrollment Reporting System) personnel
will be available to produce Department of Defense ID cards and provide
benefit information to active, retired and reserve military personnel and
their Family members as well as civil service personnel and contractors for
the Department of Defense.
o The Joint Family Support Assistance Program brings Family services to
those who are geographically dispersed away from a military installation and
who might otherwise be unable to access support. The program's components
include Military OneSource, a free, 24/7 information and referral service
available online or via a toll-free phone number, and Military Family Life
Consultants, which uses licensed clinicians with master's degrees and at
least five years of related experience and military-specific training to
provide anonymous, confidential support to actively serving military members
and their Families.
o The Family Assistant Center services will continue, simply in a new
location. These centers offer assistance in enrolling in DEERS, TRICARE
medical and dental assistance, financial information and referral, emergency
financial assistance, legal referral, mental and emotional health referral,
community information and referral and local assistance to Family Readiness
Groups.
o The Office of the Chaplain provides religious and spiritual support.
In addition the chaplain and licensed social workers offer confidential
counseling and referral services; relationship workshops for single, dating
and married service members; reintegration support, grief and bereavement
support, and crisis intervention.
o The Suicide Prevention Team is trained to recognize, assist and cope
with a person exhibiting suicidal signs and to seek help. They also train
others in recognizing signs and symptoms in themselves or others, as well as
intervention.
o Another serious issue is addressed by the Sexual Assault Response
Team, which focuses on education and prevention.
o The Transition Assistance Advisor will be able to provide information
and direction on federal and state entitlements and benefits, such as TRICARE
health insurance, life insurance, Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve
and military records requests. The advisor also can provide easy referrals to
a number of outside resources, such as Vet Centers, county Veterans service
officers, the Department of Labor's Veterans Employment and Training Service
and much more.
o The Reintegration/Yellow Ribbon program works to ensure the North
Dakota National Guard is ready and prepared for anything. It begins at the
time a unit receives an alert for mobilization order and continues to support
the service member and Family through the mobilization and reintegration
events at 30, 60 and 90 days upon returning, as well as 1-, 3- and 5-year
reunions.
o The Outreach Team, which has trained professionals throughout the
state, also has a presence in the Military Service Center. Outreach
Specialists are available to assist Veterans of any era, conflict or service,
regardless of service type or time. They also assist Families and Employers.

The Military Service Center will be open 7:00 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through
Friday, and staff can be reached by calling 800-242-4940 or 701-333-4800.

--

Since the terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has
mobilized more than 2,800 Soldiers and more than 1,600 Airmen in support of
the Global War on Terrorism. More than 3,000 National Guardsmen remain in
North Dakota and are available to provide support for state and national
emergencies and homeland defense.

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Cutlines
High-resolution photos available upon request.

MSC_OpeningCermony1.jpg
N.D. Gov. Hoeven, Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. National Guard adjutant
general, cut the ceremonial red ribbon officially opening the Military
Service Center in Bismarck, N.D. on Feb. 27, 2009. The Military Service
Center's mission is to serve uniform members of all branches of service,
Veterans and their Families. Photo by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard
Public Affairs.


MSC_OpeningCermony2.jpg
Staff members of the Military Service Center prepare to cut the ceremonial
red ribbon officially opening the Military Service Center in Bismarck, N.D.
on Feb. 27, 2009. The Military Service Center's mission is to serve uniform
members of all branches of service, Veterans and their Families. Photo by
Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs.

MSC_OpeningCermony3.jpg
[Left to right] Lana Bergmann, Tonya Sigl and Chaplain (Maj.) David Johnson,
staff members of the Military Service Center, wait for the cue to cut the
ceremonial red ribbon officially opening the Military Service Center in
Bismarck, N.D. on Feb. 27, 2009. The Military Service Center's mission is to
serve uniform members of all branches of service, Veterans and their
Families. Photo by Bill Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs.

MSC_OpeningCermony4.jpg
Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, N.D. National Guard adjutant general, shakes
hands with Mark McMahon after McMahon presented the North Dakota Tragedy
Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS) a check for $4,000 as part of the
opening ceremony for the Military Service Center in Bismarck, N.D. on Feb.
27, 2009. The money was raised by donations from the "Memorial Bike Run for
Fallen Soldiers" sponsored by the Dakota Sonshine Riders. Photo by Bill
Prokopyk, N.D. National Guard Public Affairs.

MSC_OpeningCermony5.jpg
Chaplain (Maj.) David Johnson, a staff member of the Military Service Center,
holds a piece of the ceremonial red ribbon which had just been cut officially
opening the Military Service Center in Bismarck, N.D. on Feb. 27, 2009. The
Military Service Center's mission is to serve uniform members of all branches
of service, Veterans and their Families. Photo by Bill Prokopyk, N.D.
National Guard Public Affairs.


For more information please visit:

N.D. National Guard Family Program Office
www.ndguard.com/family