Here's how you know
 **Official websites use .mil** .mil
 **Secure .mil websites use HTTPS** lock () https://


Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 Toggle navigation
            
            
            
            
            National Guard
                        Always Ready Always There
                    National Guard
            
            Search National Guard:
                        Search
                    Search
                        Search National Guard:
                            Search
    Home

    News
    
        Guard News

    Overseas Operations

    State Partnership Program

    News Features

    RSS Feeds

    Press Releases

    Transcripts

    Features
    
        Features by Year

    Posture Statement

    State Partnership Program

    Special Features

    About the Guard
    
        How We Began

    Air National Guard

    Army National Guard    
    
        DEERS Soldier Journey

    Leader Development Program

    History and Heritage

    I am the Guard

    NGB Official March

    Leadership
    
        CNGB

    VCNGB

    SEA

    DANG

    DARNG

    Joint Staff    
    
        J-1

    J-2

    J-3

    J-4

    J-5

    J-6

    J-7

    J-8

    Personal Staff    
    
        Inspector General

    General Counsel

    Public Affairs

    Executive Support Services

    Legislative Liaison

    Special Staff    
    
        National Guard Office of Special Victims' Counsel

    Office of the Provost Marshal

    Office of the Joint Surgeon

    Director of Acquisitions

    Small Business Programs

    Chaplain

    Senior Leader Management Office

    Diversity Equity Inclusion

    Comptroller

    Resources    
        National Defense Strategy Implementation Guidance

    Community Engagement

    FOIA

    Fact Sheets

    Helpful Links

    Image Gallery
    
        News Images

    Graphics

    Historical Paintings

    Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

    Legislative Liaison

    Small Business Programs

    Social Media

    State Websites

    Videos    
    
        Featured Videos

    On Every Front

    2019 Videos

    2020 Videos

    2021 Videos

    Suicide Prevention

    Family Programs

    Environmental

    Trial Defense Service

    Holistic Wellness Challenge

    Contact Us  Home
  News
  Article View
 
 NEWS
 North Dakota's newest Soldiers give back to community By Spc. Jess Raasch, North Dakota National Guard
 FARGO, N.D., - The North Dakota National Guard Recruit Training
Battalion took a break from training for a community clean-up project in
Bismarck, Fargo and Devils Lake last weekend. The event, called "Guard the Environment," is part of a National Guard
Bureau-led initiative to give back to the communities that support service
members while emphasizing the importance of caring for the environment. "This is our way of thanking the community for all it has done for us and
returning the favor by giving back," said Sgt. 1st Class Christopher
Hjelseth, the readiness noncommissioned officer for the Fargo Recruit
Training Company. The Recruit Training Battalion is comprised of Soldiers who have not finished
their initial National Guard training. It includes Soldiers who have either
not yet shipped to Basic Training or who have not completed Advanced
Individual Training, both of which Soldiers must pass before joining their
designated unit. The battalion is divided into three companies - one each in Bismarck, Devils
Lake and Fargo - as part of the Recruit Sustainment Program concept created
by the National Guard to help successfully transition Soldiers through
training. Each recruit company, with more than 30 Soldiers apiece, went to a community
location on Saturday to perform a task to better the environment. "We should show the initiative that the environment is just as important as
school and work, and we can't just let it go to waste," said Pvt. Shannon
Holeton, of Fargo, who recently returned from Military Police Advanced
Individual Training. "It would be nice to see other people doing their part
to show they care." Each location was given the option to choose where they wanted to conduct the
community clean-up, but the three locations worked together to choose a
specific weekend to hold the event. "I want all Soldiers to know they can help the community and do the right
thing," Hjelseth, of West Fargo, said. "If we all work together, we can
accomplish a lot in a short amount of time." The Fargo company chose to spend two hours picking up trash around North
Dakota State University. "Many of our Soldiers attend NDSU, so choosing to help clean up NDSU was a
great way for us to let NDSU know the recruits and students are willing to
help clean campus," Hjelseth said. The Devils Lake company helped the community by raking leaves and picking up
trash at local parks. "The National Guard is committed to conserving the environment that we live
in. This is our way of giving back to our state, country and world," said
Staff Sgt. Randy Raasch, of Hettinger, N.D., a platoon sergeant with the
Recruit Training Battalion. In Bismarck, new Soldiers spread out at the Bismarck State College Community
Bowl to trim trees, collect trash and rake leaves. "We took 47 recruits and cadre down to the Community Bowl to assist the
Bismarck Park Board," said Sgt. 1st Class LeRoy Mittleider, of Bismarck,
readiness noncommissioned officer for the Bismarck Recruit Training Company.
"The recruits were brief Saturday in regard to how the military's training
areas have been affected in the past from our training and what we are
currently doing to correct the past damage to restore our training areas and
help our environment through our efforts. "Based on feedback, all who were involved with this event thought that it was
a great idea to do our part to restore the environment and would like to see
more environmental activities conducted throughout the year to help out our
local communities and the environment." The Recruit Sustainment Program is incorporated into the National Guard of
all 54 states and territories, and each battalion was responsible for holding
an event to help clean up communities.
 SHARE
 PRINT
 
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course
 By Sgt. 1st Class Shane Smith,
  38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise
 By Master Sgt. Jeff Lowry,
  Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska
 By 156th Wing
  More
 Pennsylvania Army Guardsmen Complete Combat Lifesaver Course Guard News • 4 hours ago
 38th Infantry Division Soldiers Conduct Warfighter Exercise Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Puerto Rico Air National Guard Trains at Red Flag-Alaska Guard News • 12 hours ago
 Air National Guard Conducts Sentry Savannah Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 Hawaii Air National Guard Hosts Sentry Aloha Joint Exercise Guard News • yesterday
 2024 (196)  2023 (427)  2022 (526)  2021 (697)  2020 (936)  2019 (387)  2018 (323)  2017 (346)  2016 (245)  2015 (356)  2014 (399)  2013 (469)  2012 (556)  2011 (533)  2010 (1071)  2009 (357)  2008 (638)  2007 (295)  2006 (188)
 Home
 Site Map
 Privacy & Security Policy
 Link Disclaimer
 Web Policy
 DOD Information Quality
 DOD Open GovernmentFOIA
 No FEAR Act
 Accessibility/Section 508
 Contact Us
 Army Guard Careers
 Air Guard Careers
 USA.gov
                    
Staying Connected
    XYouTubeFlickrFacebookInstagram
                 
                
                

Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil