Da Guards

Let's meet our North Dakota Army National Guard chief of staff, U.S. Army Col. Patrick Flanagan! Flanagan enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1989 and later commissioned in 2000 as a medical service officer. He also served as a nuclear medical science officer as a member of the Civil Support Team, commander of the Medical Detachment, and later returned to the CST as the unit's commander. He was the commander during North Dakota's response to COVID-19. He also served as the executive officer for 68th Troop Command, the North Dakota National Guard State Family Program director, deputy director of personnel, chief information officer, and finally the NDARNG chief of staff. Flanagan reflects on his career after more than 36 year of service.

Let's meet our counterdrug coordinator, U.S. Army Capt. Conrad Roberts. Roberts enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 2011 as a horizontal construction engineer and later commissioned in 2017 as an aviation officer. During his career he was a horizontal construction engineer, flight operations officer, flight platoon leader, detachment leader, company commander, and assistant battalion operations officer. He is currently the NDARNG counterdrug coordinator. Roberts talks about the counterdrug program in North Dakota and how successful his team was in 2025.

Let's meet one of our integrated primary prevention specialists, Markelle Dockter! Dockter works in our Integrated Primary Prevention Workforce (IPPW) as an integrated primary prevention specialist and has been in the position since 2024. She has 13 years of experience in elementary and early childhood education. She also has numerous certificates in integrated primary prevention. She talks about what someone in her position does and how the IPPW benefits the members and families of the North Dakota National Guard.

Let's meet the commander of our Officer Candidate School, U.S. Army Maj. Chad Worrel! Worrel first joined the North Dakota National Guard in 1998 and later deployed to Iraq. He had a short break in service and after returning to the National Guard, completed Officer Candidate School (OCS) in 2009 before branching into the Engineer Corps. He has served as a platoon leader, company executive officer, company commander, assistant operations officer, engineer plans officer, battalion officer in charge, and battalion executive officer. He is currently the company commander for the NDND OCS and he explains to us how the program works in North Dakota.

U.S. Army Maj. Chad Gion is the state support chaplain for the North Dakota National Guard. Gion was ordained as a Catholic priest in 2002 and 11 years later joined the North Dakota Army National Guard in 2013 as a chaplain. He discusses his path to becoming a chaplain, the role chaplains take on, and how they work to build strong and resilient teams.

Let's meet U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Kenneth Kachena! He is the North Dakota Army National Guard state command sergeant major (SCSM). Kachena enlisted in the NDARNG in 2000 as a stinger crewmember and is now the SCSM. He has served in leadership positions including first sergeant, battalion and brigade operations noncommissioned officer, and commandant of the 164th Regional Training Institute. He has also deployed to Iraq in 2003 and Afghanistan in 2011. He also served in the National Capital Region in 2013. The SCSM is the full-time primary senior advisor to the adjutant general and the NDARNG commander regarding enlisted matters. They serve as a member of the NDARNG command team.

Let's meet Chief Warrant Officer 5 Kiley Kuntz! Kuntz is the command chief warrant officer for the North Dakota Army National Guard and is also the senior property book officer for the NDARNG. She began her career as a bridge crewmember with the 957th Engineer Company, based out of Bismarck, before joining the Warrant Officer Corps. Over the course of her career, she has deployed to both Iraq and Afghanistan. During her deployment to Afghanistan, she managed the largest warehouse in the Army, facilitating the delivery of up to 5,000 items per day. Da Guards Podcast focuses on highlighting the North Dakota National Guard's Soldiers and Airmen of our organization and its community.

Let's meet Lt. Col. Jarrod Simek! Simek is the State Partnership Program director for the North Dakota National Guard and has been heavily involved with the State Partnership Program since becoming a bilateral affairs officer at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana in 2020. He joined the NDARNG in 2000 when he enlisted as a combat engineer. This episode dives into his military career and how the State Partnership Program works in North Dakota with their partners in Ghana, Togo, and Benin. Da Guards Podcast focuses on highlighting the North Dakota National Guard's Soldiers and Airmen of our organization and its community.

Let's meet (Again) Staff Sgt. Samuel Kroll! Kroll was the host of the Da Guards Podcast, but has taken a new position with the North Dakota Army National Guard Recruiting & Retention Battalion. This episode will focus on the previous host and his movement into his new role. Da Guards Podcast focuses on highlighting the North Dakota National Guard's Soldiers and Airmen of our organization and its community.

Let's meet Staff Sgt. Lexi Aschoff! Aschoff currently serves in the North Dakota Army National Guard as an Army National Guard recruiter. Listen in as we discuss how she came to North Dakota and talk about the opportunities the North Dakota Army National Guard has to offer! Da Guards Podcast focuses on highlighting the North Dakota National Guard's Soldiers and Airmen of our organization and its community.