Mission Accomplished for Happy Hooligans in Ghana

  • Published
  • By Capt. Penny Ripperger
  • 119th Wing Public Affairs
Tomorrow, the N.D. Air National Guard will welcome Airmen scheduled to return home from a two-week humanitarian mission in Ghana. The 34 Airmen will arrive at the 119th Wing at approximately 8 p.m. on a KC-135, flown by pilots from the 190th Air Refueling Wing, Kansas Air National Guard.

The North Dakota Airmen are members of the 119th Wing Civil Engineer Squadron who deployed to Ghana April 19th to work on two major construction projects there. The Airmen replaced a group of Airmen from the 127th Civil Engineer Squadron based out of Michigan.

"It was impressive to see everything that was being accomplished by these North Dakota Airmen," said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, as he described his trip to Ghana last week in which he observed their construction progress and met with key leaders involved with the State Partnership Program. "This was a humanitarian mission to provide construction in a training environment. Since we began working with the State Partnership Program six years ago, we have formed a great relationship with the people of Ghana and being able to perform missions like these is not only rewarding, but beneficial in today's military environment."

Last week the Airmen finished work on a complex at the School of Trade Training at Burma Camp, a Ghanaian military complex near Accra, Ghana's capital. The Airmen painted the facility, installed doors and windows, replaced walls, completed electrical work, installed fans and air conditioning, plastered the exterior walls and more at the building that will be used to provide training to the Ghanaian Armed Forces.

"We have had the chance to work side by side with the Ghanaian Army Engineers on these projects," said Maj. John Gibbs, 119th Wing Civil Engineer Squadron. "We are able to share our skills and learn from each other. This type of training and overall cultural experience is invaluable in our career field."

The Airmen also worked on a project in Takoradi, in Ghana's western region to renovate a medical laboratory facility co-located with the Ghanaian Armed Forces' 2nd Battalion. The Airmen prepared the roof for installation, installed the underground sanitary hookup and completed masonry work in the window and door openings of the building. In addition, the Airmen hooked up utilities, such as electric, water and sewer to the building there they stayed during the deployment.

"The Happy Hooligans have a reputation of working hard and getting the job done. We have definitely lived up to our reputation here and accomplished everything that we were tasked with, even in the heat. Now that we've been acclimated to working in temps over 100 degrees, we should be ready for summer in North Dakota now," said Gibbs.

Gibbs and two other Airmen are still in Ghana, as members of the advanced team they are scheduled to return home to North Dakota later this week.

North Dakota has been partners with Ghana since 2004 as part of the State Partnership Program, which is sponsored by the Department of Defense. The program aligns states with partner countries to encourage the development of economic, political and military ties. During the past six years, more than 180 North Dakota Guardsmen, Ghana military members and civilians have taken part in State Partnership Program events and workshops. The current mission is providing valuable training on contingency skills for the Airmen while helping Ghanaians.

Media is invited to greet the Airmen as they return home, please contact Penny Ripperger, 119th Wing public affairs officer at 701-451-2194 or email at Penny.Ripperger@ang.af.mil to arrange a media escort on base. Please contact Ripperger by 5 p.m. on Monday.

What: 34 Happy Hooligans from the 119th Wing Civil Engineer Squadron return after two-week humanitarian mission in Ghana.

When: Monday, May 3rd at approximately 8 p.m.

Where: 119th Wing, North Dakota Air National Guard, 1400 32nd Ave N, Fargo, ND 58102

Media Instructions: Contact Penny Ripperger at 701-451-2194 or email at Penny.Ripperger@ang.af.mil to arrange a media escort on base. Please contact Ripperger by 5 p.m. on Monday.


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