Look for a Special Edition TAG Line featuring the N.D. National Guard's MP Inaugural Support
Top: Soldiers of the N.D. Army National Guard’s 816th Military Police Company board a C-130 Hercules from the Texas Air National Guard’s 136th Airlift Wing at the Bismarck Airport on Jan. 16, 2021. The Soldiers were headed for Washington, D.C. in support of the Jan. 20, 2021 presidential inauguration. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. 1st Class Brett Miller, 116th Public Affairs Detachment)
N.D. Shooters Train to be the Best
Sixteen N.D. National Guard Soldiers and Airmen participated in a marksmanship clinic hosted by the N.D. Air National Guard at the Fargo Regional Law Enforcement Training Center (LETC), Fargo, N.D., Jan. 15-17, 2021. (U.S. Air National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
The clinic invited the top National Guard shooters in the state as they prepare for upcoming matches such as the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship (All Army) held at Fort Benning, Ga., March 14-20, 2021. The marksmen utilized the Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) technology for registering match scores. Through LMTS match scores are electronically entered into a national database that is used for qualification in competitions. After zeroing and firing practice rounds, marksmen fired the M4 Carbine rifle and M9 Beretta pistol from the prone, unsupported kneeling and unsupported standing positions for a total of 60 shots worth a potential 600 points. High scores nationwide will be invited to the Chief National Guard Bureau Postal Match at Little Rock, Ark., this fall.
The LMTS registers a digital score for accuracy just as if a live bullet were fired at a target on an actual range, but without the expense of live ammunition, the safety requirements and the physical area required for a live-fire range. The LMTS can also be utilized by units during drills upon request. Besides LMTS, the marksmen also fired live ammunition on the LETC range.
Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wieland, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, adjusts a laser pointer placed in the muzzle of an M4 rifle for Senior Master Sgt. Brian Rook, 119th Wing, as Rook ‘zeroes’ the sight using Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) technology for scoring during training at the Fargo Regional Law Enforcement Training Center, Fargo, N.D., Jan. 16, 2021.
From left, Staff Sgt. Hunter Martineau, 119th Wing, Sgt. Brandon Wendland, 957th Engineer Company (Multi-role Bridge), Sgt. Brendan Dean, 815th Engineer Company, and Sgt. 1st Class Grant Semchenko, a N.D. Army National Guard recruiter, fire M-4 rifles equipped with the Laser Marksmanship Training System during marksmanship training at the Fargo Regional Law Enforcement Training Center, Fargo, N.D., Jan. 16, 2021.
“This is an opportunity for our marksmanship team members to train together and experiment with new positions and shooting techniques to improve their accuracy in a comfortable environment,” said Sgt. 1st Class Tim Simmons, the N.D. National Guard competitive events coordinator.
The marksmanship team members are able to hone their skills through the training and competitions, so they can bring back what they learn for the benefit of other members and their organizations. The team is always looking for new shooters, and the annual TAG Match at Camp Grafton Training Center, scheduled for July 7 to 11, 2021, is a good place to develop them.
“We share absolutely everything with each other about shooting and are transparent in our techniques even when we compete against each other, so we all learn from each other. This helps us to continue to field very competitive teams at a national level,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brian Rook, of the 119th Wing.
Marksmanship team member 2nd Lt. Steve Smith, 119th Wing, fires an M9 pistol at the Fargo Regional Law Enforcement Training Center, Fargo, N.D., Jan. 16, 2021.
“We need new shooters all the time, because we can only have two ‘old shooters’ on a four-person team at a time,” said Rook.
Old shooters are marksmen that have participated in several competitions and new shooters are classified as ‘novice’ shooters. N.D. Guard Soldiers and Airmen interested in the marksmanship program should contact their unit marksmanship coordinator or Sgt. 1st Class Tim Simmons, N.D. Guard state competitive events coordinator, at 701-333-3103.
Hooligan Chaplain Returns Home
Chaplain (Maj.) Dellas Herbel, 119th Wing, returned from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia on Jan. 14, 2021 at Hector International Airport in Fargo. Herbel was greeted by his family and Col. Darrin Anderson, 119th Wing commander. Chaplains deploy in support of the spiritual needs of mobilized Airmen and other service members while they are performing difficult duties in difficult circumstances far from their families. (U.S. Air National Guard story and photos by Chief Master Sgt. David H. Lipp, 119th Wing Public Affairs)
It took about 30 hours to travel from Southwest Asia, allowing Chaplain Herbel sufficient time to adjust to a 70 degree reduction in temperature.
N.D. Guard Public Information Officer Returns
Maj. Amber Schatz, N.D. National Guard Public Information Officer, returned from a six-month deployment to Southwest Asia at Bismarck Airport on Jan. 16, 2021. Schatz was greeted by her family and Brig. Gen. Robert Schute, N.D. National Guard chief of staff for Air. During this deployment Schatz served as the chief of public affairs overseeing all communication and media for the 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing (AEW). The 332nd AEW's heritage traces back to the historic 332nd Fighter Group led by the Tuskegee Airmen during World War II.
MAIT Visits Camp Grafton Training Center
The N.D. Army National Guard's Joint Force Headquarters (JFHQ) Maintenance Assistance and Instruction Team (MAIT) recently traveled to Camp Grafton Training Center (CGTC) to train Soldiers on the Global Combat Support System-Army (GCSS Army). The training focused on data cleansing; an effort to purge the system of inaccurate information and update missing information. The MAIT team consisted of two Soldiers, Chief Warrant Officer 4 Kelly Johansen and Sgt. 1st Class Diana Reese. (National Guard story and photos by Sgt. 1st Class Ben Halvorson, CGTC operations)
Because We Care Campaign Continues
TAG Line Survey
Receive the TAG Line by Email
Click to receive an email whenever a new TAG Line is published.