Medical Readiness Detachment, SD National Guard

Sioux Falls, S.D. (March 9, 2024) – Erik Lohmann has been promoted to the rank of Major in the South Dakota Army National Guard. He serves as a Mental Health Officer in the Medical Readiness Detachment and provides care to the soldiers of our state.

To help him celebrate his accomplishment, he was accompanied by his wife Katie Lohmann as well as Galen and Kim Waldner and Deb Lohmann.

Congratulations Maj Lohmann. We appreciate what you do for our unit and for our state.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (March 10, 2024) – Justin Frank has been promoted to the rank of Staff Sergeant. SSG Frank has served in the military for 13 years. He works full time at the Huron Armory as the Drug Testing Coordinator for the South Dakota Army National Guard. As a civilian, he has worked as a Licensed Practical Nurse. SSG Frank has served as a medic in the South Dakota Medical Readiness Detachment and will now be moving to a section sergeant position with the 1-147th HHB in Watertown.

SSG Frank was accompanied by his father Steven, mother Donna, wife Jenny, and daughters Gracie and Katherine

Congratulations on your promotion SSG Frank! You have been an integral part of our unit and will be missed. Best wishes in your new position.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (December 9, 2023) – Regan Norgaard has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the South Dakota Army National Guard. LTC Norgaard has served 25 years and is a physician assistant in the South Dakota Medical Readiness Detachment and at Sanford Health in Brookings, SD.

“[LTC Norgaard is an] outstanding and dedicated medical officer with exceptional experience. He’s a true asset to the SDARNG. Quite the achievement! Congratulations!” COL David Fossum

LTC Norgaard celebrated his accomplishment with his wife Lale Norgaard, his children Tyson, Lincoln, Vivian, and Rush, his sister Lindsay Chicoine, and her husband Brian Chicoine.

Sioux Falls, S.D. (December 9, 2023) – Matthew McDougall has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the South Dakota Army National Guard. LTC McDougall has served 15 years in the military and currently works as the Associate Chief of Staff for Education and the Designated Education Officer at the Sioux Falls, VA.

“[LTC McDougall] is a consummate medical professional who doesn’t seek credit, but he deserves recognition. He does more behind the scenes than we’ll ever know! Congratulations on this milestone!” COL David Fossum

Joining LTC McDougall are Amanda Kotten (girlfriend), Jason Riechers (best friend), Will Riechers (godson), The Norgaard family, (friends).

CAMP RAPID, S.D. (October 15, 2023) - Influenza vaccines are now available from the South Dakota Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment. "Protect yourself and your battle buddy today from a potentially serious illness" - 2LT Jessica Scheer. (Pictured 1SG Kerry Slaba during a shot mission at Joint Force Headquarters).

CAMP RAPID, S.D. (October 13th, 2023) COL David Fossum passed the guidon to the incoming company commander, Maj Joel Engle during the South Dakota Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment Change of Command Ceremony. (Also pictured are outgoing commander MAJ Megan Klentz and 1SG Kerry Slaba)

MAJ Megan Klentz, outgoing commander for the South Dakota Army National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment, received an appreciation gift from COL David Fossum at the change of command ceremony at Camp Rapid, SD on October 13, 2023.

CAMP RAPID, S.D. (October 13, 2023) - Congratulations to MAJ Joel Engle on taking command of the Medical Readiness Detachment of the South Dakota Army National Guard. MAJ Engle was accompanied by his wife Caitlin.

CAMP RAPID, S.D. (September 10, 2023) – Maj Robert Cole and 1LT Trina Baker recieve the Army Achievement Medal, and Maj Edna Knutson and Ltc Nicole Reitz recieve the Army Commendation Medal from Col David Fossum. Col Fossum shared his appreciation for their contribution to the unit and wished them well as they move on to their new positions.

CAMP RAPID, S.D. (September 9, 2023) – Holly Walton, of Rapid City, SD, has been commissioned as a First Lieutenant into the Army Nursing Corps. 1LT Walton has served for 29 years in the South Dakota National Guard and obtained the rank of Sergent First Class before commissioning. She has been in a nursing role as a civilian for five years and is currently the nurse manager for the emergency department at Monument Health in Rapid City, SD.

Maj Edna Knutson, a nurse in the SD Medical Readiness Det stated that, “Holly is the most deserving of this promotion. She is a top notch Soldier and nurse, and will be an amazing asset to the Nursing Corp.”

To help her celebrate this accomplishment, she was accompanied by Jeremiah McKnight (fiancé), Daryn Walton (daughter), Pam Escott (mother), Shelly Hallowell (aunt), Rusty Hallowell (uncle), Alicen Dupont (future sister-in-law), Nick Dupont (future brother-in-law), and Blake Dupont.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 15, 2023) CPT Brittni Reichert of the South Dakota Army National Guard, Medical Readiness Detachment completes a dental exam during the unit's annual training. The South Dakota State Chief Dental Officer, COL Murray Thompson, praises Reichert as “an amazing dentist in one of the nation’s top dental teams across all national guards. She is definitely a proven professional and a rising star in our ranks.”
Every soldier receives a dental exam annually as part of their Physical Health Assessment. They may see one of the unit’s dental officers or visit their local civilian dentist to complete a DD2813. Thanks to Reichert and the others on the dental team, the South Dakota National Guard has outstanding dental readiness.

RAPID CITY, S.D. (July 15, 2023) – SFC Steve Barrs, Operations NCO of the South Dakota National Guard Medical Readiness Detachment, retired after 23 years of service. He was honored with a retirement ceremony on July 16, 2023, at Duke Corning Armory on Camp Rapid, SD.

Barrs is originally from Valdosta, GA. He moved to Watertown, SD in 1999, where he joined Company B, 153 in Madison, SD as a 31U communications Specialist. He married his wife Kandy in 2003 but shortly afterward deployed to Iraq under Operation Iraqi Freedom from 2003 to 2005. While deployed, he accepted a full-time position with the 881st Troop Command. After his deployment, they moved to Rapid City, where he started his AGR career as a 92Y Supply NCO. In this capacity, he supported the 112th, 935th, 641st, Det 48 and the 129th MPAD. In 2012, he was promoted to E7 as the Readiness NCO. In 2017 he transferred to his final position as the Operations NCO for Med Command.

Steve and his wife Kandy have three children: Noah (and his wife Breanna), Aaron, and Abby, and his two grandchildren: Cyanna and Kaiyzen. Also pictured are Barrs’ father-in-law and mother-in-law: Steve and Tamie Dvorak.

Please join us in thanking SFC Steve Barrs and his family for his service, and wish him well in his future endeavors.