Several of the North Dakota Army National Guard’s top guardsmen competed earlier this month in the Best Warrior Competition at Camp Gilbert Grafton Training Center in Devils Lake.

Staff Sgt. Jason Lothspeich of the 817th Sapper Company based in Jamestown won the noncommissioned officer level of competition, with Staff Sgt. Corey Moen of the 818th Sapper Company based in Hazen placing runner-up.

Spc. Justin Huber of the 191st Military Police Company based in Fargo won the enlisted level of competition, and Spc. Nathan Svihovec of the 816th Engineer Company based in Dickinson was the runner-up.

Soldiers were tested on warrior tasks, general military tasks all soldiers should know, and modern army combatives, hand-to-hand fighting, as well as completing an army physical fitness test.

The winners will compete in the regional comptition in Alaska in June.

Staff Sgt. Jason Lothspeich

Spc. Justin Huber

CAMP ATTERBURY, Ind. – Maj. James R. Olson, Fargo, received the North Dakota State Meritorious Service Medal at a ceremony Sept. 17.
Olson was honored for his efforts in coordinating and monitoring the work of more than 2,000 soldiers and airmen in eastern North Dakota during the spring floods.
Brig. Gen. Alan Dohrmann, who commands Multi-National Task Force-East, presented the award to Olson. Olson and the rest of the United States contingent of MNTF-E have been training at Camp Atterbury since August in preparation for deployment to Kosovo.
Olson works in the MNTF-E planning section.

Pictured above: Brig. Gen Dohrmann presents Maj. Olson the North Dakota State Meritorious Sevice Medal during the ceremony at Camp Atterbury.

Col. Joseph T. Krumm was recently appointed the director of the Marine For Life program based in Quantico, Va. The program centers around providing outreach, networking and transition assistance to the over 27,000 marines and sailors retiring from active duty each year. Krumm is the son of Neil and Tess Krumm, Fargo, and a graduate of North Dakota State University.

Ben Hinsperger was promoted to the rank of Major at a ceremony held Aug. 3 at Buckley Air Force Base in Denver. Major Hinsperger is a senior flight instructor and evaluator in the U.S. Air Force with over 3,000 hours of flight time, including combat and combat support missions flown during Operations Enduring and Iraqi Freedom. Hinsperger recently accepted a flight staff position at the base. He is the son of Bob and Sue Hinsperger, Fargo, and is a 1998 graduate of North Dakota State University.