News Releases for November 2005
November 7, 2005
For further information, please Contact the Governor's Office
North Dakota Army National Guard To Grow In Numbers In Fargo, Maintain, Grow Force Strength Statewide
BISMARCK, N.D. – Gov. John Hoeven and Maj. General Mike Haugen today announced plans to add a major headquarters unit and supporting structure in Fargo that could range from 250 to 400 new full and part-time positions. The unit could have a financial impact of up to $4 million per year on the local economy. Owing to the state's strong recruitment and performance record, the change will come while maintaining and strengthening established National Guard Units throughout the state.
To underscore the plan, the Governor, joined by members of the Fargo/Moorhead Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon at a new National Guard storefront recruiting center in Fargo. Recruiting, retention and growth are three tenets that are important to the North Dakota Army National Guard, according to Hoeven.
"Most of the major changes will take place in 2007 and 2008 and will allow the North Dakota National Guard to better support the global war on terrorism and respond to state and local needs," Hoeven said. "As part of the plan, National Guard forces may be assigned one deployment every six years, providing more stability and predictability for our Soldiers and their families. At the same time, our communities will continue to have the professional and commercial benefit of having Guard units established and at the ready in case of an emergency."
"Currently, the United States Army is organizing to be better able to fight terrorism," said Maj. Gen. Michael Haugen, adjutant general of the North Dakota National Guard. "As the Army changes, so must the National Guard. We must always keep in mind the future potential for the people of North Dakota and this nation."
The nation's Army National Guard is changing from the Cold War concept and era where large division sized units had heavy and cumbersome equipment making it very difficult to pick up and deploy to different parts of the world to one of modularity. These modular units can individually and rapidly deploy from different locations within the United States. It's the National Guard and Army's new shift in strategy.
It's already happening in the North Dakota Army National Guard.
- Fargo, Bismarck and Mayville will soon be home to the new 191st Military Police (MP) Company. The company headquarters will be located in Fargo, with smaller detachments in Mayville and Bismarck. The 170 Soldier unit will specialize in "area security in a combat environment." The unit's first drill weekend will take place on Dec. 2 through 4.
- The 188th Air Defense Artillery with headquarters in Grand Forks, added a new battery in Fargo this past September. Soldiers are being recruited to join the 88 Soldier unit which will be housed in the Fargo Armed Forces Reserve Center
- The 112th Command Aviation Battalion, Bismarck, has transitioned to modularity by reorganizing into three separate detachments. With modularity comes updated equipment and possible new construction.
- A 22-Soldier Civil Support Team located in Bismarck that will be available for bio-terrorism events throughout the state and region.
- Fargo units are forecasted to include a combat support brigade and associated units.
- There will be more opportunities for female Soldiers because fewer specialties will be closed to females.
The National Guard will continue to have a presence in the 24 towns and cities in North Dakota where an armory is located. The changes will mean different duties for some members, but the total number of positions available for Soldiers will grow to 3,400 or more, Haugen said. Current strength of the North Dakota Army National Guard is approximately 3050.
Hoeven and Haugen said the recommendations have been several years in the works and are not related to the Base Closure and Realignment Commission. The North Dakota Army National Guard stands ready to grow as part of the future of North Dakota.
E-mail comments to the Governor