Ripley Reporter 2025 | Page 5

The Ripley Reporter • Morrison County Record • www. mcrecord. com • April 27, 2025 • 5

Guard security forces train with green berets

BY AIR FORCE MAJOR NATHAN WALLIN MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD

Ten Minnesota National Guard security forces Airmen trained with Soldiers from the U. S. Army’ s elite special forces, known as green berets, during exercise Sage Eagle held at both Fort Knox and Fort Campbell, Kentucky for two weeks in October 2024. The exercise helped prepare the Guard members as they and the rest of the military shift their focus from fighting insurgencies in the desert to the potential for large-scale combat operations.

“ Compared to the climate and tactics of the previous 20 years in the [ Middle East ], the training at Sage Eagle broadens our perspective,” said Chief Master Sgt. Mike Nelson, the security forces senior enlisted leader at Minnesota’ s 133rd Airlift Wing.“ Sage Eagle gets them better prepared for the unfamiliar and uncomfortable possibilities in the Pacific.”

During the exercise the Minnesota National Guard security forces Airmen, known as defenders, from the Saint Paul-based 133rd Airlift Wing and the Duluthbased 148th Fighter Wing prepared for up to 72-hourlong operations in the field, performing tasks ranging from small unit tactics, direct action, special reconnaissance, and leader engagements.

“ We executed night raids and pilot rescue missions. It was definitely a learning experience,” said Air Force Staff Sgt. Mackenzie Miller, a security forces squad leader at the 133rd Airlift Wing.“ I learned how much I could push myself. I told myself that‘ I can do it, and I will do it.’”

She spoke of the value not only of the joint exercise, but of the training received from skilled combat Soldiers such as the green berets.

“ We picked up a lot from them – little things like how they wore their gear to how they plan and map everything out,” said Miller.“ They were on top of their game at every instant. They worked together so well as a team … it seemed so simple for them.”

During the exercise, the Airmen pushed through challenging terrain, at times were without running water and lived off the packaged meals known as MREs.

“ This is what good, hard training looks like,” said

Air Force Master Sgt. Matthew Reed, the National Guard’ s security forces functional area manager.“ Everyone wanted to keep going. They were dealing with harsh conditions and still wanted to get back into the exercise … Morale was better at the more austere location.”

“ There’ s definitely value in an exercise like this,” said Nelson.“ This exercise helped us check off almost half of our annual training requirements.”

Now in its third iteration, the Sage Eagle exercise is only growing in prominence within the National Guard security forces community. Beginning in 2022 with 30 defenders, going to 40 in 2023, then jumping to 230 defenders from 39 different National Guard security forces squadrons in 2024.

“ Word got out how amazing this is,” said Reed, explaining the dramatic spike in security forces participation.“ Some security forces squadrons are using the Sage Eagle exercise as their entire annual training. I’ ve been in the career field 14 years; I’ ve never experienced anything like this.”

Guard emphasizes resilience, suicide prevention

BY BOB BROWN MINNESOTA NATIONAL GUARD

Since the establishment of the Joint Prevention and Support Services Directorate nearly three years ago, the Minnesota National Guard continues to emphasize people as the force’ s greatest strength and most valuable resource required to complete missions. The Resilience, Risk Reduction, and Suicide Prevention, or R3SP, program provides Guard members with critical resources that put an emphasis on the overall fitness and readiness of Minnesota National Guard members.

Over the last two years, the focus of the team has shifted to more targeted training directly with units. While all units are required to conduct the annual sudicide prevention training, the R3SP team saw a need to work with units on issues specific to them.

“ By conducting a targeted brief, we can meet the unit where they are at,” said Adrianna McKay, the suicide prevention coordinator of the Minnesota National Guard.

Some of the issues specific to units are positive coping skills, ways to build resiliency, stress reduction techniques, basic budgeting, work life balance, and unit cohesion. McKay believes all the factors that can lead to a mental health crisis must be addressed to reduce the risk of suicide.

Ensuring Guard members have the skills needed to face life stressors is important too. The suicide prevention team works tirelessly on ensuring Soldiers and Airmen have resiliency skills to overcome any challenge they might face. Positive coping strategies and ways to reduce stress to lower the overall risk of suicide, according to McKay.

“ Reducing the risk also includes substance abuse prevention training, as many people use alcohol or drugs to reduce their anxiety or stress,” said McKay.“ Our programs work together to research new methods and identify the trends that we are seeing in our force.”

The R3SP teams collaborate by creating beneficial training and locating resources that are needed throughout the state. Their targeted briefs encompass resiliency, substance misuse and mental health. Team members cross train in all three programs, which provides cohesion.

McKay says the most important thing for Soldiers and Airmen to know is that they are not alone.

“ Many people are facing challenges and stress these days, and we are here to help in any way we can. Reach out for help before a minor problem becomes a crisis,” said McKay.“ Simply asking us opens many options.”

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