Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
Official Newspaper of Eddy County since 1883
A new senior enlisted leader will assume the role as advisor to the North Dakota adjutant general on all matters relating to the North Dakota National Guard's 4,000 soldiers and airmen. Command Sgt. Maj. Mark Nelson will formally relinquish duties to Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock during a change of responsibility ceremony at 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 12, at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory at 4200 Miriam, Bismarck, N.D..
Following the change of responsibility, Nelson will be honored during a retirement ceremony after nearly 37 years of military service, 22 of which were with the North Dakota National Guard. Both events are open to the public. Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, North Dakota adjutant general, will preside over the change of responsibility ceremony.
As the senior enlisted leader, Binstock will be responsible for morale, welfare, discipline, performance, training, awards, recruiting, retention, equal opportunity, promotions and assignments for North Dakota's enlisted Guard members.
Binstock, of Argusville, N.D., began his military service in 1991 when he enlisted into the North Dakota Army National Guard as a heavy-wheel vehicle mechanic with the Mott-based 816th Engineer Support Company. Binstock has held a multitude of positions while serving in the North Dakota Army National Guard, including assignments as squad leader, training noncommissioned officer (NCO), detachment readiness NCO, administration NCO, supply NCO, platoon sergeant, recruiting and retention NCO, Fargo recruiting station commander, first sergeant and command sergeant major.
In 2003, Binstock deployed in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom as a squad leader with Company A, 142nd Engineer Battalion. He deployed again in 2011 to Kuwait as the unit first sergeant with the 188th Engineer Company (Vertical).
Most recently, Binstock has served as the operations sergeant major for the Bismarck-based 68th Troop Command, area operations sergeant major for the Fargo-based 141st maneuver Enhancement Brigade and command sergeant major for the Minot-based 164th Engineer Battalion.
A 1992 graduate of Regent High School, Binstock holds an associate degree in occupational therapy from Northwest Technical College in Bemidji, Minn., and a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Mary in Bismarck. In his full-time civilian occupation, he's employed as a special agent with Homeland Security Investigations.
Nelson, of Grand Forks, began his military career in 1982 when he enlisted into the U.S. Army Reserve as a medical specialist. In July 1995, Nelson transferred to the North Dakota Army National Guard's 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery (1-188th ADA) Regiment. He has held numerous positions within the unit, including assignments as section leader, squad leader, platoon sergeant and first sergeant.
In 2004, Nelson deployed in support of Operation Enduring Freedom to Afghanistan as a platoon sergeant with the 1-188th ADA (Security Forces). He deployed again in 2009 for a peacekeeping mission in Kosovo as the first sergeant for the 231st Maneuver Task Force.
Nelson has served as the command sergeant major for Camp Grafton Training Center and the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, both near Devils Lake, N.D.. Previous to his current position, he was assigned as the command sergeant major for the Fargo-based 141st Maneuver Enhancement Brigade. Nelson has served as the senior enlisted leader for the North Dakota National Guard since February 2016.
A native of Minot, North Dakota, Nelson holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from Minot State College. He works full time as the chief of police for the Grand Forks Police Department.
The North Dakota National Guard is a trained and highly motivated force of about 4,000 Citizen-Soldiers and Citizen-Airmen. We are always prepared to provide ready units, individuals and equipment in support of our communities, state and nation. Always ready, always there.
