02.17.18

Hoeven Statement as Members of North Dakota National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188 Air Defense Artillery Regiment Return Home

BISMARCK, N.D. – Senator John Hoeven, a member of the Senate Appropriations Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Subcommittee, today issued the following statement as more than 170 members of the North Dakota National Guard’s 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Regiment returned to North Dakota from Washington, D.C. The Grand Forks-based unit had been supporting the Operation Noble Eagle mission to protect the airspace around the National Capitol Region. This was the unit’s 11th deployment since 2004 and it was previously deployed to D.C. in support of Operation Noble Eagle from 2013-2014.

“Our state is honored to welcome home members of the North Dakota National Guard’s 188th ADA which, for the past year, has worked to secure and safeguard our nation’s capital through their support of Operation Noble Eagle. This is the second time the unit has been deployed in D.C. to support this mission, and similarly to their first deployment, the men and women of the 188th ADA have served with distinction. We extend our thanks to those returning home today as well to their families who have supported them these past months. Welcome home.”

Hoeven continues working to ensure members of the National Guard receive the benefits and support they deserve. Last year, Hoeven secured provisions in the Fiscal Year 2018 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) as well as legislation to improve the G.I. Bill that provide health and education benefits for Guard members deployed for pre-planned operations, like the members who served in Operation Noble Eagle.

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