ND National Guard News Release 10-016 - ADA Soldiers Ready for Combat Missions (UNCLASSIFIED)

 Contact: Bill Prokopyk at 701-333-2129 (office) or 701-220-7277 (cell)
 
ADA Soldiers Ready for Combat Missions
 
FORT HOOD, Texas — Soldiers of the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery
 Regiment (1-188th ADA) have finished their pre-mobilization training and are
 prepared to take the next step in assuming their war-time missions in
 Afghanistan and Iraq. Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the
 N.D. National Guard, and Command Sgt. Major Daniel Job, senior enlisted
 leader for the N.D. National Guard, traveled to Texas Wednesday to salute the
 Soldiers in an informal farewell ceremony. The Soldiers will depart the U.S.
 within a week and will serve up to a year on active duty.
 
"Proficient in your skills, ready to serve with distinction, you have
 prepared yourselves well for your important missions," Sprynczynatyk told the
 Soldiers. "Your ability to operate state of the art surveillance equipment
 will help protect your fellow Soldiers from harm. When you complete your
 missions, we will be there with your Families, waiting for your safe return."
 
The 1-188th ADA, headquartered in Grand Forks, has in units in Fargo and
 Bismarck, N.D. was mobilized earlier this month and participated in
 pre-mobilization training at Fort Hood. 
 
"These N.D. Soldiers are the best prepared and best led troops to pass
 through Fort Hood that I have seen," said Col. John T. Smith, commander of
 the 120th Infantry Brigade (Training Support). His unit is responsible for
 the additional training reserve component units receive prior to deployment
 to combat zones.
 
During the visit, the adjutant general promoted three Soldiers and presented
 13 other Soldiers with coins in recognition of their outstanding performance
 during this training period.
 
The Soldiers are organized into three groups with three distinct missions,
 two in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. The largest group of about 40 Soldiers
 form the fourth 1-188th ADA 'RAID-IV', or Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment
 mobilized in support of the Global War on Terrorism, and are headed to
 Afghanistan to replace another group of 1-188th ADA Soldiers. The mission
 currently in Afghanistan is designated RAID-III and is expected to return
 home in January 2010. RAID refers to a tower system that incorporates sensor
 technology to protect forward operating bases.
 
RAID-IV will be accompanied by 25 Soldiers operating the AN/MPQ-64 Sentinel
 Radar. Both of the groups designated to serve in Afghanistan will be
 commanded by Capt. Walyn S. Vannurden, of Cavalier, N.D. 
 
Another eight Soldiers comprise another Sentinel Radar mission and are headed
 to Iraq under the leadership of Sgt. 1st Class Michael Kraft, of Devils Lake,
 N.D. This is the first time N.D. Guard Soldiers will use the Sentinel Radar
 in a combat zone. The Sentinel can alert short-range air-defense weapons of
 hostile targets. 
 
About half of the Soldiers deploying have previously served overseas.
 
——
 Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard
 has mobilized more than 3,400 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.
 -30-
 
Photo Cutlines
 
ADA Soldiers - Fort Hood, TX-1.jpg
 Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard,
 addresses Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery
 Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. The Soldiers were mobilized in early Dec. 2009
 and participated in pre-mobilization training prior to deploying to
 Afghanistan and Iraq. Photo by Spc. Angie Gross, N.D. National Guard (Dec.
 30, 2009). Released.
 
ADA Soldiers - Fort Hood, TX-2.jpg
 Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, adjutant general for the N.D. National Guard,
 addresses Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery
 Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. Standing on the right are Command Sgt. Major
 Job, senior enlisted leader for the N.D. National Guard, and Capt. Walyn S.
 Vannurden, commander of the 1-188th ADA Rapid Aerostat Initial Deployment
 (RAID-IV). The Soldiers were mobilized in early Dec. 2009 and participated in
 pre-mobilization training prior to deploying to Afghanistan and Iraq. Photo
 by Spc. Angie Gross, N.D. National Guard (Dec. 30, 2009). Released.
 
ADA Soldiers - Fort Hood, TX-3.jpg
 Command Sgt. Major Job, senior enlisted leader for the N.D. National Guard
 addresses Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery
 Regiment at Fort Hood, Texas. The Soldiers were mobilized in early Dec. 2009
 and participated in pre-mobilization training prior to deploying to
 Afghanistan and Iraq. Photo by Spc. Angie Gross, N.D. National Guard (Dec.
 30, 2009). Released.
 
 
 For more information please visit:
 N.D. National Guard News Release 10-013 (11/22/2009)
 Crowd Gathers to Say Farewell to Three Groups of North Dakota Soldiers
 http://www.ndguard.com/news/detail.asp?newsID=445
 
N.D. National Guard News Release 10-005 (10/9/2009)
 1-188th ADA Receives Three Mobilization Orders
 www.ndguard.com/news/detail.asp?newsID=436
 
N.D. National Guard News Release 09-017 (11/13/2008)
 ND Army National Guard Unit Receives Mobilization and Alert for Possible
 Mobilization Orders
 www.ndguard.com/news/detail.asp?newsID=280
 
20th Infantry Brigade (Training Support)
 http://www.army.mil/-news/2009/11/24/30945-120th-infantry-brigade-trains-and-
 saves-soldiers/
 http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/agency/army/120inf-bde.htm
 
Photos, Videos & Other Updates:
 • www.youtube.com/NDNationalGuard
 • www.flickr.com/photos/NDGuard
 • www.twitter.com/NDNationalGuard
 • www.facebook.com/NDNationalGuard
 
 
Bill Prokopyk
 Public Information Specialist
 Joint Force Headquarters,
 North Dakota National Guard
 Office    (701) 333-2129
 Cellular  (701) 220-7277
 Fax        (701) 333-2017
 DSN:               373-2129
 william.prokopyk@us.army.mil
 
Visit us at:
 www.ndguard.com
 www.twitter.com/NDnationalguard
 www.youtube.com/NDnationalguard
 www.flickr.com/photos/NDGuard
 www.facebook.com/NDNationalGuard
 
"Ready, Relevant & Respected"
  Official Use Only - This message/communication may contain personal
 information which must be protected IAW DOD 5400.11R from unauthorized
 access/disclosure.  Public Affairs (PA) is strongly committed to maintaining
 the privacy of personal information. With respect to the collection, use and
 disclosure of personal information, PA makes every effort to ensure
 compliance with applicable federal laws including, but not limited to, the
 Privacy Act of 1974, as codified at 5 U.S.C. 552a, and the Freedom of
 Information Act.