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July 19, 2008 19:16:01 |
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Mission
To establish and facilitate ongoing communication, involvement, support, and recognition between National Guard Families and the National Guard in a partnership that promotes the best in both.
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Never Lose a Chance: It doesn't come everyday.
- G. Bernard Shaw
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Meet the State Family Coordinator
Maj. Grant Wilz
MAJ Grant Wilz was born in 1969 in Richardton ND, graduated from St Mary's High School, Bismarck, in 1987, attended Jamestown College and graduated with a Bachelors of Art's in Nursing in1992. His work experience includes positions as a staff nurse and Director of Nursing. Most recently he worked as the Administrator of a senior independent living facility in Bismarck. Grant has a long history of working closely with families in all types of situations.
Grant enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in July of 1986 as a supply specialist in the 164th Engineer Group. He was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in 1992. As an Officer he has served as a Platoon Leader, Detachment Commander, Company Commander as well as various staff positions. Grant deployed with 141st Engineer Battalion (Trailblazers) in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in December 2003. Grant was promoted to Major in October of 2005. His traditional military assignment is as the Operations Officer for the RTI. He continues to serve in this role while working full time as the State Family Program Director.
Grant comes from a traditional guard family, serving along side his father, two brothers and a sister. The family has a combined total of over 125 years of service in the North Dakota National Guard.
Grant and his wife Angela (Greer) have been married for 11 years. They have three children, Jordan 14, Cole 7 and Lindsey 5. As a family, they spend time at Lake Isabel enjoy bike rides, spending time at the Greer farm and being together and with family and friends. Grants interests include, hunting, making sausage, and woodworking. He is also a Volunteer Cub Master and a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Having been deployed for over a year, Grant has a good understanding of the needs of our guard families. "One of the most important things the Family Program Office can do is to take away some of the worries and stresses of the soldiers. We do this by giving soldiers the confidence that their families will have the resources they need to get through problems while their loved one is away." "I look forward to the challenges that this new position will bring, and along with my family want to thank each and every one of our soldiers, airman and families for their service to our state and nation."
To contact Major Wilz click here. email
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Meet the Army Family Coordinator
Shelly (Jewett) Sizer joined the North Dakota National Guard in 1978. She has served with the 141st Engineer Combat Battalion, the 231st Engineer Battalion, the Regional Training Institute, and is currently assigned to the Joint Force Headquarters in Bismarck.
Shelly received her degree in Special Education in 1990 and spent 10 years teaching students with disabilities in the Mandan and Bismarck public school districts. She currently serves as the Army Family Readiness Coordinator for the North Dakota National Guard Family Program. She has been involved with family programs since the beginning of her military career, and working directly with families is one of the most enjoyable aspects of her job.
Shelly enjoys dance and is a member of the Capitol City Cloggers in Bismarck. She enjoys spending time with her family, scrap booking, and reading.
To contact CW4 Sizer click here. email
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Meet the Army Family Readiness Assistant
Marlys (Bernhardt) Morgenstern joined the Family Readiness Team in November of 2006. She recently retired as a Sergeant Major from the ND National Guard. Her 29 years experience in personnel administration and leadership will be very beneficial in her role as our Family Readiness Assistant.
Marlys received her Bachelor's degree in business management in 2001 and graduated from the United States Army Sergeants Major Academy in 2003. Marlys and her family reside on a ranch north of New Salem, ND.
To contact Marlys click here. email
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Meet the Family Assistance Center Coordinator
Kristi (Brennan) Fetsch joined the ND Army National Guard in 1981 as a junior in high school. She began her career as a Medical Laboratory Technician with the 142nd Medical Detachment (Hel Amb). She was hired on as a full-time technician in 1984 which began her administrative career, and she retires with over 20 years of Active Guard/Reserve (AGR) service.
Kristi brings a vast amount of institutional knowledge to her position in the Family Programs. After working with soldiers for over 25 years, she knows the support of our families is priceless.
Kristi and Bill have been married for nearly 20 years and have a beautiful daughter, Jessica (17). Their family pet, Gizmo, a little black Shih Tzu is 10 (he really isn't so little he's 19 pounds for cryin' out loud!!).
To contact Kristi click here. email
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Meet the Bismarck Family Assistance Advisor
Angela Messmer was born in Ft. Riley KS but grew up in Racine WI. She served four years in the Air Force stationed at Peterson AFB CO were she meet her husband a member of the North Dakota National Guard.
Angela has a BA in Social Work and worked for the Army Reserve Family Programs for two years before coming to the Guard Family Program. She has been a child of an Army soldier, a soldier, and now a wife of a soldier. She has great passion for military families and the issues they face.
Angela loves spending time with her family and friends. Her most treasured moments are being a wife and mother to her two children.
To contact Angela click here. email
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Meet the Bismarck Family Assistance Advisor
Doug Senne retired from the North Dakota National Guard with over 26 years of active service. Doug started working with the Family Assistance Center while still on active duty as a Retention Non Commissioned Officer (NCO) with the ND National Guard. Upon retirement, he was able to continue with this position and enjoys working with the families and soldiers of the National Guard.
Doug has two grown children, Sherri (27) and Charlie (22).
To contact Doug click here. email
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Meet the Minot Family Assistance Advisor
Gary Siewert
Gary retired from the North Dakota Army National Guard after 32 yrs of combined military service. He has been married for 33 years to his wife Linda. They live in Surrey ND and have two grown children, son Graig Siewert, Surrey, ND, and daughter Jessica Holter Burlington, ND. They also have 4 grand children, and love spending time spoiling them.
Gary and Linda also have a woodcraft shop to occupy some of their time. Gary has been working for the North Dakota Family Program Office since May of 2004. Gary and Linda are also both facilitators for True Colors and Challenge Masters programs.
Gary and Linda have both enjoyed spending time with guard families for many years, and look forward to many more.
To contact Gary click here. email
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Meet the Fargo Family Assistance Advisor
JoAnn Czerwinski
To contact JoAnn click here. email
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Meet the Grand Forks Family Assistance Advisor
Lowell Benson
To contact Lowell click here. email
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Meet the Jamestown Family Assistance Advisor
Rod Olin retired from AGR as Recruiting and Retention SGM in October of 2005. Married to Judy, a Registered Nurse, they have 3 grown daughters living in Eagan, MN and Thornton, CO. They have resided in Jamestown since 1971.
To contact Rod Olin click here. email
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Meet the State Chaplain
Chaplain (Major) David L. Johnson joined the Minnesota Army National guard (Infantry & Transportation) in 1988. He finished out his enlisted time in the Idaho Army National Guard (Combat Engineer). He joined the NDNG in 1996 and has served as Battalion Chaplain with the 1-188th ADA, the 136th Quartermaster Battalion, and is currently serving as Troop Command Chaplain in Bismarck, ND. He has served 16 years with the National Guard, full-time for the last two years.
David received his Bachelor of Arts degrees (International Relations & History-1991) from Augsburg College in Minneapolis, MN. He also received his Master of Divinity degree in 1995 from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN. Upon graduation, he spent 9 years as a Pastor doing Parish Ministry in Goodrich/Hurdsfield, ND and in Devils Lake, ND. He currently serves as the full-time Support Chaplain for the North Dakota National Guard, working daily with Service Members and their families.
David married Tricia and has three boys, Caleb-9, Micah-8, and Isaac-5.
To contact Chaplain Johnson click here. email
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Meet the Social Worker (West Region)
Bernadette Ternes is one of two Licensed Social Workers contracted with the ND National Guard, working in the Family Program. Bernadette holds a BS degree in Social Work from the University of Mary and has extensive training in working with children and families. She has worked with a variety of children and family service programs as a social worker for 19 plus years throughout the state of ND and most recently in Michigan. She has a wide range of experience in working with all age groups and enjoys the educational aspect of social work. Bernadette has a special interest in working with families in crisis and crisis prevention. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers and has served on several state advisory and prevention committees.
To contact Bernadette click here. email
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Meet the Social Worker (East Region)
Jane Johnson is one of two Licensed Social Workers contracted with the ND National Guard, working in the Family Program. Jane received her BSW degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead. Previously she worked at a county agency. Her past experiences include child protection/child welfare, adult foster care licensing; adult and adolescent chemical dependency assessment, case management, detox assessment and runaway teens.
Jane is married to Keith and they have four beautiful children. Josh, Ali (medic for 142nd HSC), Heidi and Molly.
To contact Jane click here. email
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Meet the Youth Coordinator
Sergeant First Class Rick Marschner was born in Minot and graduated from Velva High School in 1985, joining the Army National Guard soon after. Rick worked full time for the National Guard for six years, leaving his full time position to go back to school. Rick received a Bachelors Degree in Elementary Education from University of Mary and accepted a 6th grade teaching position with the Mandan School District where he taught for 8 ½ years.
In 2003, Rick deployed with C Company 141 and 2005 was activated to assist with the Hurricanes in Louisiana. Rick has combined his experiences as a National Guard soldier and a classroom teacher, serving as the Youth Coordinator for the Family Program Office.
Rick is married to Roxane and they have two children, Jacob and Rachel.
To contact Rick click here. email
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Wing Family Program Coordinator
Jody Harms is the Wing Family Program Coordinator for the Air National Guard in Fargo. She is responsible for the Family Readiness Program; conducting briefings, readiness activities, training and support to families and airmen.
Jody has a B.S. degree from North Dakota State University in Child Development and Family Sciences and has been in her current position for four years, but part of the Hooligan Family since 1991 when her husband Tim joined the unit. Tim is currently working full time with the Air Guard, Jody and Tim have three children Brady, Taylor and Jordan.
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Meet the State Lead Volunteer
Elaine Dosch grew up in Webster, ND and graduated from Starkweather High School in 1977. After graduating from high school, Elaine left for basic training for the North Dakota National Guards and was the first woman in the 3662.
Elaine has held many positions as a volunteer including:
Secretary - Starkweather PTO, VFW Aux. #756 and State secretary - Dept. of ND Ladies VFW Auxiliary
Treasurer - Miles City Jayceens, Devils Lake Jaycees, Channel 7 CB Coffee Club, Lake Region Anglers and VFW Aux. #756.
Trustee - VFW Aux. 756
President - Thursday Morning Coffee League and VFW Aux. #756
Co-Leader- 3662 Family Support, Girl Scouts
VPOC - STARC, HHD, ATS & CGTC
Co-organizer for American Cancer Society's Jail & Bail
Tri-State Representative for the 6th Army Family Advisory Council
Member of the NDNG State Family Executive Council
Elaine was very instrumental in the Gulf War homecomings in the Devils Lake area in the 1990's.
Elaine's hobby is helping others and has been a Volunteer with the North Dakota National Guard Family Programs for over 20 years and has worked with youth, volunteers, family members soldiers and commanders. She is a facilitator for Challenge Masters and True Colors.
She is also a member of the Devils Lake Elks Community Band.
Elaine is a Test Administrator for the Office of Personnel Management
Elaine and her husband Ed make their home in Webster and have 2 grown children, Tiffani - 25 and Eddie - 23 and Booker the black lab
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