GRAND FORKS, ND (trfnews.i234.me) – On Friday, a heartfelt homecoming celebration was held in Grand Forks for approximately 80 soldiers from the North Dakota Army National Guard. These soldiers, part of Bravo Battery, 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery, had been deployed overseas with U.S. Central Command since November 2023.
The unit’s commander, Lieutenant Colonel Matt Valer, highlighted the unit’s critical role in Air Defense Artillery. “Our specialty is detecting and neutralizing potential threats from wherever we are assigned,” Valer explained, emphasizing the importance of their mission to monitor and engage threats from the skies. The specific location of their deployment remains undisclosed.
This deployment marks the 13th for the 188th since 2004, solidifying its reputation as the most deployed unit in the North Dakota National Guard’s history.