Attaining the rank of sergeant major is not an easy task. Less than 1% of the Army is comprised of Soldiers holding the rank.  To achieve the rank, master and first sergeants must complete 18 months of rigorous distance learning and a two-week resident course phase at the Sergeants Major Academy at Fort Bliss, Texas. 
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Former 148th Fighter Wing Commander, retired Brig. Gen. Kenneth J. Stromquist, has a long, storied military career having served in both the U.S. Air Force and Air National Guard for 31-years. One of his first chapters starts at III Corps, South Vietnam where Stromquist served as an O-2 Skymaster pilot with the 19th Tactical Air
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Vince Lombardi once said, “leaders are made, they are not born.” Leadership is a skill that is developed over time through experience, reflection, study and practice. 148th Fighter Wing Vice Commander, Col. Babette S. Van Hees brings a diverse set of experiences to her role. Van Hees enlisted in the U.S. Air Force as a
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The Minnesota Air National Guard Memorialization Board is accepting nominations for possible candidates to be inducted into the 2023 Minnesota Air National Guard (MN ANG) Flight of Honor Induction Program, Joint Force Headquarters, MN. –Memorialization Regulation JFMNR 36-3108 (dtd 6Dec21) v2 ***Nomination must include narrative of both military and civilian leadership service (example narrative Appendix
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Leadership is more than just a word for Minnesota National Guard service members, Air Force Lt. Col. Gina Keppeler and Army Lt. Col. Sarah Witt, who are currently attending the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Instead, they say, it is a way of life. “I hope my experience inspires someone to take on
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The perfect score. What does that mean? What does it look like? I recently became aware of an Airman who scored a perfect 99 on Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery, or ASVAB test. I was intrigued. When discussing this topic with a colleague, I learned there was another Airmen with a perfect 99. An inquiry
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For many, the years following high school are formative. In U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Brendan Seepersaud’s case, this was especially true. After embarking on a path leading towards a college degree, he had to take a step back from his goals. This eventually led to an enlistment as a Personnel Specialist in the Force
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TRØNDELAG, Norway — More than 100 Minnesota National Guard Airmen and Soldiers are partnering with the Heimevernet, the Norwegian Home Guard, for two weeks of winter warfare training during the 50th U.S./Norway Reciprocal Troop Exchange, Feb. 2-16, 2023. More commonly known as NOREX, the exchange continues to be the longest-running troop exchange in the U.S.
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The culmination of the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-Norwegian Reciprocal Troop Exchange saw members of the Norwegian Youth form a large team huddle for one final hurrah at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, on Feb. 14, 2023. With arms slung over the shoulders of fellow service members – both Norwegian and Minnesotan – this truly demonstrates the
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