COLUMN
ADVICE
NEXT
ND'S
AIR NATIONAL
GUARD
A Positive Impact on the Metro
T
he business climate in
Fargo-Moorhead-West
Fargo has been getting
a lot of national attention
lately. In fact, just last
month, the front page of The New
York Times featured our region’s
leadership on the forefront of the use
of drones for commercial purposes.
Quoted in the article was Shawn
Muehler, COO of local start-up called
Botlink. The company is developing
unique software that, according
to its website, “is the world’s most
capable Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
(UAV) control software and hardware,
providing the capability to safely fly
your drone, remain compliant and
send data over the cellular network.”
While this is a great news story about
entrepreneurship in our community,
there is also a great “old” story
underneath. According to The New
York Times, as a member of North
Dakota’s Air National Guard, Muehler
got his idea for Botlink while piloting
Predator UAV’s throughout the globe
from a small facility at the Air Guard
facility at Fargo's Hector Airport.
That facility is home to just the latest
critical mission of the 119th Wing of
the Air National Guard, known both
respectfully and affectionately as The
Happy Hooligans.
52
FEBRUARY 2016
For nearly 70 years, The Happy
Hooligans have been helping to keep
our country safe and in the process
making a tremendous economic
impact on our area. Whether flying
F-16 fighter jets to help secure
our nation’s capital city after 9/11,
fulfilling a global mission or remotely
piloting aircraft in support of
warfighters throughout the world, the
119th continues to be recognized for
its excellence.
In fact, recently, the 119th received
its 17th Air Force Outstanding Unit
Award (AFOUA) during a ceremony at
the Air National Guard base in Fargo.
The Air Force continues to recognize
the Happy Hooligans time and time
again – recognition that is no mystery
to the citizens of our cities.
Preliminary reports from a study
being done by North Dakota
State University indicate that the
Guard’s total economic impact
to our region could be as much
as $100 million. The Guard is the
36th-largest employer in the area,
and the roughly 1,000 members of
the 119th (from both sides of the
Red River) are visible and active
members of the surrounding cities,
spending their well-earned pay in our
communities. One goal the Guard
has is to achieve up to 100 percent
authorized manning,
and with strong
recruiting efforts and
community support,
it's an achievable
goal.
When I joined The
Chamber, I was
Craig Whitney is the
surprised to find
president and CEO of
that no military
the Fargo Moorhead
affairs support group
West Fargo Chamber
existed. As a result,
of Commerce.
we established
a formal military
affairs committee that is now filled
with dedicated business leaders in
the community, some of whom are
veterans and are deeply aware of
the significance of the North Dakota
Air National Guard, as well as what it
means to our nation and the impact
it has on the Fargo-Moorhead-West
Fargo area.
But that awareness should not be
limited to a Chamber committee,
no matter how sincere. Without the
familiar roar of F-16s in the skies
above us, it may be easy to forget
that our Air Guard is still here, but, as
that front page story in The New York
Times proves, The Happy Hooligans
are not only still here, they are as
impactful as ever.
Photo by J. Alan Paul Photography
By Craig Whitney