Gov. Ricketts thanks Air National Guard and Nebraska National Guard in Middle East
LINCOLN, Neb. (KLKN) — Last week, Governor Pete Ricketts visited the Air National Guard and the Nebraska National Guard (NNG) in Kuwait and Qatar to meet with servicemembers.
First stopping at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, he spent time thanking NNG Soldiers of the 1057th Military Police Company for their service. In addition to speaking with soldiers at the base, he was also there to celebrate something special.
One Nebraska team is transferring its command to another detachment staffed by other fellow Nebraskans. The 1057th Military Police, based from Scottsbluff, deployed in October 2021 and is now getting ready to return home. A new Kearney based detachment of the 1057th will continue on with their mission.
The Nebraska National Guard has been providing law enforcement at Camp Arifjan to secure the base and provide services for locals.
After spending time in Kuwait, Ricketts also went and thanked the men and woman of the Nebraska Air National Guard (NEANG) Airman in Qatar.
Visiting Al Udeid Air Base, Ricketts spoke with NEANG Airman who are performing critical aircraft maintenance and operations work. He thanked them for their sacrifices to support United States military missions in the Middle East.
Major enhancements have been made to the base in Qatar, such as improved living quarters and food services at Al Udeid Air Base. Gov. Ricketts was able to tour the new dormitories on base and see how they were being taken care of.
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Jim Cada, aide to the Secretary of the Army (white shirt), and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (blue shirt), discuss their trip with Area Support Group-Kuwait, and Nebraska National Guard leadership at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Jim Cada, aide to the Secretary of the Army (white shirt), and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (blue shirt), discuss their trip with Area Support Group-Kuwait, and Nebraska National Guard leadership at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts shakes hands with firefighter, Bonifacio Raguindin, fire lieutenant, Fire Department, Area Support Group-Kuwait, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts shakes hands with firefighter, Bonifacio Raguindin, fire lieutenant, Fire Department, Area Support Group-Kuwait, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks with Capt. Jared L. Baker, outgoing commander, 1057th Military Police Company, and Capt. Grant J. Hewitt, inbound commander, 1057th MP Co., prior to their change of command ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts speaks with Capt. Jared L. Baker, outgoing commander, 1057th Military Police Company, and Capt. Grant J. Hewitt, inbound commander, 1057th MP Co., prior to their change of command ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Jim Cada, aide to the Secretary of the Army (white shirt), and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (blue shirt), discuss their trip with Area Support Group-Kuwait, and Nebraska National Guard leadership at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Jim Cada, aide to the Secretary of the Army (white shirt), and Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts (blue shirt), discuss their trip with Area Support Group-Kuwait, and Nebraska National Guard leadership at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Joffrey Betoclong, fire lieutenant, Fire Department, Area Support Group-Kuwait, provides a brief of his equipment and capabilities to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, and U.S. Air Force, Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, adjutant general, Nebraska National Guard, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Joffrey Betoclong, fire lieutenant, Fire Department, Area Support Group-Kuwait, provides a brief of his equipment and capabilities to Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, and U.S. Air Force, Maj. Gen. Daryl Bohac, adjutant general, Nebraska National Guard, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Spc. Cade Pfeiffer, military policeman, Area Support Group-Kuwait, shakes hands with Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Spc. Cade Pfeiffer, military policeman, Area Support Group-Kuwait, shakes hands with Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts, during the governor’s visit to Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. The governor toured the installation and spent time listening and talking with Soldiers and personnel from his home state. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
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Gov. Pete Ricketts visits servicemembers in Kuwait, Qatar (Courtesy Major Scott Ingalsbe)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts presents a coin to Capt. Jared L. Baker, outgoing commander, 1057th Military Police Company, prior to his change of command ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. Baker relinquished command to Capt. Grant J. Hewitt, later that morning. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Nebraska Gov. Pete Ricketts presents a coin to Capt. Jared L. Baker, outgoing commander, 1057th Military Police Company, prior to his change of command ceremony at Camp Arifjan, Kuwait, Aug. 3, 2022. Baker relinquished command to Capt. Grant J. Hewitt, later that morning. (U.S. Army photo by Claudia LaMantia)
Channel 8 spoke with Adjutant General of the Nebraska National Guard Major General Daryl Bohac about his trips to Kuwait and Qatar with Ricketts.
“Being able to go face-to-face in person with our soldiers who are deployed a long ways away from home, away from their families that do so much to support them, it’s a big plus.” Major General Bohac said. “It’s a morale booster to have their leadership come and visit with them and see what conditions they are facing and how they are doing.”
Qatar has pledged to invest more than $8 billion to help make more upgrades to the Al Udeid Air Base, affirming their commitment to the United States.
Tags: 1057th Military Police Company, Air National Guard, Al Udeid Air Base, Camp Arifjan, governor, Kearney, Kuwait, Major General Daryl Bohac, middle east, Nebraska Air National Guard Airman, Nebraska National Guard, Pete Ricketts, Qatar, scottsbluff
