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.