Like many who enlist, Grand Forks Police Chief Mark Nelson said he joined the military because he needed help paying for college.
An enlistment that began in 1982 with the U.S. Army Reserve evolved into a decades-long military career for Nelson. That included 22 years with the North Dakota National Guard and working his way up to the highest enlisted ranking a North Dakota soldier in the Guard can achieve.
Almost 37 years after deciding to first put on the uniform, Nelson stood in front of his Guard soldiers Jan. 12 in Bismarck as he prepared to officially retire. The command sergeant major for the Camp Grafton Training Center and the 136th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion relinquished his duties to Command Sgt. Maj. Eric Binstock of Argusville, N.D., in a change of responsibility ceremony.
"It's been my honor to serve with all of the people I have over that time frame," Nelson said. "I sure can't take credit for my success. Yes, it took some hard work and perseverance, but I have been surrounded by some good people the whole time, also. That's what it takes."
Nelson joined the U.S. Army Reserve in 1982 as a medical specialist before transferring to the North Dakota National Guard in 1995 to join the 1st Battalion, 188th Air Defense Artillery, according to a news release. Typically, a Guard member serves one weekend a month and two weeks a year.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nelson served in numerous positions and was deployed twice-in 2004 to Afghanistan for Operation Enduring Freedom and in 2009 to Kosovo for a peacekeeping mission.
As a command sergeant major, Nelson had a number of responsibilities, including keeping morale in good standing, watching over the welfare of his soldiers, training Guard members, recruiting and retention and giving assignments to his subordinates.
He also served as an adviser to Maj. Gen. Al Dohrmann, the adjutant general for the North Dakota National Guard. Dohrmann called Nelson a strong leader and the "epitome of a citizen soldier."
"Mark always led by example. He always led from the front," Dohrmann said. "Mark just wanted to lift everyone up. He wanted everyone to be successful. It was never about Mark Nelson. It was about lifting up those around him and getting the mission done."
At the same time, Nelson has been an officer with the Grand Forks Police Department for 30 years, four of which he has served as police chief. Dohrmann said he has great respect for Nelson's service to the Guard while being able to balance his duties with the Police Department, making sure his family is his No. 1 priority and serving his community.
"He's not just doing his job," Dohrmann said. "He is doing what he can to make the community better, too."
Three of four of Nelson's sons also served in the Guard, and one of the sons deployed with Nelson to Kosovo.
"It's pretty special when the boys respect what Dad did and they follow him into the National Guard," Dohrmann said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Nelson said he was honored by Dohrmann's words, adding he was glad "just being able to give back and being able to make a difference in someone's life."
The Guard can open up numerous opportunities for those considering their career path, Nelson said.
"You look at a kid like me," he said. "Where would I be now had I not done this, and with no college degree? I may have not been able to realize my dream of even becoming a law enforcement officer, let alone a chief."
