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 Giselle Wilz becomes first female general officer in North Dakota Army National Guard By North Dakota National Guard
 BISMARCK, N.D. - Attendees at the North Dakota Heritage Center earlier this week witnessed history being made within the ranks of the North Dakota National Guard as Giselle "Gigi" Wilz, of Bismarck, was promoted to brigadier general. She became the organization's first female Army Guard general officer. "Brig. Gen. Wilz has proven time and again her value to the North Dakota National Guard," Gov. Jack Dalrymple said. "Service and strong leadership are the hallmarks of her military career. I wish her and her team all the best during their tour of duty in Europe and I know that they will represent North Dakota very well." Wilz will depart soon for a yearlong mission in Sarajevo, Bosnia, where she will serve as the commander and senior military representative of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Headquarters there. While overseas, Wilz's role will be to advise local authorities on military aspects of security sector reform and command NATO forces operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina. She will be accompanied by four other North Dakota Guard Soldiers. "Today we are promoting the most qualified colonel in the North Dakota Army National Guard to brigadier general," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general who presided over the ceremony. "Gigi Wilz has enjoyed a stellar military career and has worked hard for this promotion. She has made a difference in the lives of so many Soldiers across our organization as a mentor and leader." Wilz, a native of Richardton, North Dakota, comes from strong military roots. Her father, the late Charles Wilz, was a Korean War veteran who retired from the N.D. National Guard as a colonel after 39 years of service. Three of her five siblings, retired Col. Greg Wilz, retired Maj. Gary Wilz and Lt. Col. Grant Wilz, also served as officers with the N.D. Army National Guard along with her nephew Capt. Justin Wilz. Between them, they have more than 165 years of military service. "We thank her and the entire Wilz family for their service. They have dedicated themselves to our state and nation, and represent selflessness and honorable patriotism," Sprynczynatyk said. Former North Dakota adjutant general, retired Maj. Gen. Keith Bjerke and Wilz's brother, retired Army National Guard Col. Greg Wilz, placed brigadier general officer's shoulder boards on her Army Blue coat. Prior to the placement of the shoulder boards with her new rank, Wilz donned a different "Army Blue" coat since the coat for general officers has some differences. For example, the Army Blue uniform for general officer has 1-1⁄2 inch gold braid on each sleeve instead of 3⁄4-inch braid consisting of two, 1⁄4-inch gold braids and the officer's branch color in between. After the promotion, Sprynczynatyk administered the oath of office for her new rank. He then presented Wilz with her red, U.S. Army brigadier general officer's flag with a white five-pointed star in the center. This flag will be posted whenever she attends a formal event. "This promotion wasn't an expectation," Wilz said. "But, my father always believed that I should be a general. I think we all dream about it, but for the last 10 or 15 years, this has been something I've been striving for." She said that she hopes the things she's done throughout her career have set a positive example for both men and women. "If somehow I've knocked a few barriers down for females along the way, then that's a great thing, too." Enlisting in with the 191st Military Police Company in 1983, Wilz was later commissioned as a second lieutenant in 1986 at age 19, becoming one of the youngest officers in the North Dakota Army National Guard. Throughout her 32-year career, she has served with the 136th Quartermaster Battalion, the 164th Engineer Battalion, the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade (MEB) and Joint Force Headquarters. She has held a variety of leadership positions within the organization, from platoon leader to, most recently, the North Dakota National Guard Army chief of staff. Wilz has deployed overseas twice before. In 1990, she served with the 132nd Quartermaster Company in Operation Desert Storm/Desert Shield. In 2009, she mobilized to Kosovo with the 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade for a NATO international peacekeeping mission there. In 2013, she commanded a task force in Africa during a 10-day exercise. She credits her success to the Soldiers she has served with and encourages Guardsmen to take advantage of the opportunities presented to them and to "stay a team no matter what." She also thanked a number of mentors in the audience for their leadership and advice that helped guide her career. "Always respect the Soldiers that are counting on you," Wilz said. "Do your best and do what's right." While Wilz is the first Army Guard general officer from the North Dakota National Guard, she is the second female general officer in the state. The first to earn the distinction was Maj. Gen. Terry Scherling, of the North Dakota Air National Guard, who retired in 2009.
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