815th Engineer Battalion

• Formation and Lineage: The 815th Engineer Battalion is a unit of the North Dakota Army National Guard, tracing its lineage back to the 188th Engineer Company, which was established in 1967. • Nickname: The battalion is sometimes informally known as the “Prairie Engineers” due to its North Dakota roots and its expertise in handling diverse engineering missions in varied environments. • Deployments: The 815th Engineer Battalion has supported multiple overseas deployments, including significant participation in Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan). • Disaster Response: The unit has a strong history of assisting with domestic emergencies, such as the 1997 Red River Flood in North Dakota, where it played a crucial role in flood mitigation and relief efforts. • Engineering Capabilities: The 815th specializes in horizontal engineering tasks such as road construction, airfield maintenance, and earthmoving, as well as vertical construction including buildings and bridges. • Community Involvement: Members of the 815th regularly participate in community improvement projects, including building playgrounds, repairing infrastructure, and supporting local events. • Female Leadership: In 2013, the battalion made headlines when Captain Anna Fladland became one of the first women to command a North Dakota Army National Guard engineer company. • Equipment: The battalion operates a variety of heavy construction equipment, including bulldozers, excavators, graders, and dump trucks, showcasing their versatility in both military and civilian operations. • Training Exercises: The 815th regularly conducts joint training exercises with other U.S. and allied military units, including annual participation in the Saber Strike exercise in Europe. • Recognition: The battalion and its soldiers have earned numerous awards for outstanding performance, including the Army Superior Unit Award for exceptional service during overseas deployments.