BISMARCK, N.D. — The only first sergeant that the North Dakota National Guard’s 81st Civil Support Team has ever known, stepped down after more than 13 years of service as the unit’s top enlisted Soldier. Sgt. Maj. Wallace Keller relinquished his duties on May 1, to 1st Sgt. Robert Scharnowske during a change of responsibility ceremony at Fraine Barracks. Both non-commissioned officers were also promoted during the ceremony.

“Sgt. Maj. Keller has done a great job leading one of the best Civil Support Teams in the nation,” said Maj. Gen. David Sprynczynatyk, North Dakota adjutant general, during remarks rendered at the ceremony. “This unit which is designed and trained to respond in hours after notification, was built from the ground-up, in which Keller had a big role. Thanks to his superb leadership, our CST, which is critical to our homeland security mission, is trained and ready.”

A Desert Storm Veteran with over 34 years of military service, Keller assumed his first sergeant duties when the 81st CST was formed in 1999 as a “part-time” National Guard unit. In 2005, the team expanded to 22 full-time Soldiers and Airmen. The team successfully passed their readiness evaluations and was certified fully operational by the Department of Defense on Feb. 1, 2007.

Scharnowske, the incoming first sergeant, enlisted in the North Dakota Army National Guard in 1985 and served in a myriad of key positions during his career to include instructor, assistant branch chief, and curriculum writer for the 164th Regiment Training Institute at Camp Grafton, Devils Lake, N.D. He’s been a member of the 81st CST since 2005 serving as the team’s reconnaissance and chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear sergeant. As the top enlisted Soldier for the 81st CST, Scharnowske joins the commander, Lt. Col. Larry Shireley, in helping lead the team’s 22 Soldiers and Airmen.

“I’ve watched 1st Sgt. Robert Scharnowske’s successful military career for many years and he brings a tremendous amount of experience to this position,” said Sprynczynatyk. “I have full confidence in his leadership abilities as he assumes this key role in this very important and unique unit.”

Keller and Scharnowske were promoted to Sgt. Maj. and 1st Sgt., respectfully, during the ceremony. Becky Keller and Danielle Scharnowske assisted in the promotion of their husbands. Both Soldiers reside in Bismarck with their wives.

A time honored tradition, the change of responsibility ceremony is an important military ritual which formally and visually demonstrates the transfer of duties, responsibilities and authority between incoming and outgoing first sergeants. The unit first sergeant is the senior non-commissioned officer in their unit and is responsible for the enforcement of policies and standards of performance, training, appearance, conduct, health, morale and welfare of all assigned service members.

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Since the 2001 terrorist attacks on America, the North Dakota National Guard has mobilized more than 3,800 Soldiers and more than 1,800 Airmen in support of the Global War on Terrorism. About 70 percent of all members serving today have joined since that time. Currently, nearly 400 North Dakota Guardsmen are serving overseas while about 4,000 remain in the state for emergency response and national defense. For every 10,000 citizens in North Dakota, 65 serve in the North Dakota National Guard, a rate that’s more than four times the national average.