04.18.11

Hoeven Congratulates N.D. National Guard's 957th Engineer Company

WASHINGTON – Senator John Hoeven today congratulated the North Dakota National Guard’s 957th Engineer Company for being named tops among the nation’s military engineer units in America.

 

The U.S. Army announced last week that the company has won the 2010 Itschner Award, which is presented each year to the most outstanding active duty, Reserve and National Guard Engineer units throughout the Army. The award was presented to the 957th for work it completed serving in multiple locations during 2010, 58 percent in North Dakota and 42 percent serving in a multi-national peacekeeping mission in Kosovo.

 

“The prestigious Itschner Award exemplifies both the dedication and skill of North Dakota’s National Guard,” Hoeven said. “Whether it’s flooding at home in North Dakota, as they’re battling right now, or a sensitive mission overseas, the men and women of the North Dakota National Guard are exemplary, and we’re extremely proud of them.”

 

While in Kosovo, the unit conducted more than 4,800 missions and was the liaison for military leadership, providing information on the concerns and issues within the local community. Hoeven visited Kosovo in February of 2010, midway through the mission, to support the Guard’s efforts. In North Dakota, the 957th unit fielded two new bridge systems, the largest fielding of new equipment in the history of the North Dakota Army National Guard.