Let’s face it — common is everywhere. Common is sleeping in. Common is skipping the gym
because it’s cold out. Common is punching out at 5 p.m. sharp, heading home to melt into the
couch, and calling that a full day. But here’s the truth: Common doesn’t build greatness.
That’s why the North Dakota Army National Guard (NDARNG) doesn’t do common. We exist
for the uncommon. For the men and women who get up before the sun. For the ones who grind
in silence, who do the hard things when no one’s watching. The ones who walk past easy and
head straight for the challenge.
If that sounds like you — or the man or woman you want to become — then read on. Because
this isn’t just about joining the Guard. It’s about choosing a life that demands more from you and
gives back even more.
While the rest of the world hits snooze, we’re lacing up our boots. While the average guy scrolls
his phone under warm blankets, we’re outside — running, training, preparing. While others are
still deciding what they’re going to do with their day, we’re already an hour deep into discipline.
Because in the Guard, being ready isn’t optional — it’s a way of life. And that starts with how
you show up every morning.
Discipline isn’t something you flip on and off. It’s something you build — in the gym, in the
mud, in your mindset. It’s showing up early. It’s finishing strong. It’s sweat on your face and dirt
on your hands before most people have even poured their first cup of coffee.
Let’s be honest: most people break when it gets uncomfortable. When the weight is heavy, when
the wind stings your face, when your legs are burning and your lungs are begging you to stop —
common taps out. Common makes excuses. Common says, “I’ll try again next week.”
That’s not how it works here.
In the North Dakota Army National Guard, we don’t retreat. We dig in. We grit our teeth. We
drive forward.
Whether we’re knee-deep in snow on the plains, soaked through with rain during field exercises,
or grinding through a 12-mile ruck in 90-degree heat, we push past pain. Because we know
something most people don’t: comfort is the enemy of growth.Strength doesn’t come from the couch. It’s forged in fire, sweat, and sacrifice.
And those who endure? They earn a title that few Americans will ever wear — Soldier.
You’ve heard it before: “Live for the weekend.” But what does that really mean? A few drinks?
A few hours at the lake? Some sleep and a reset?
We’re not knocking it. But we do it differently.
We enjoy weekends too— but our weekends mean something. They’re not about coasting.
They’re about purpose.
In the North Dakota Army National Guard, your drill weekends aren’t just hours on a timesheet
— they’re opportunities. Opportunities to fire weapons. To build strength. To lead. To learn. To
sweat. To serve. To stand shoulder-to-shoulder with men and women who expect more from
themselves — and from you.
We train hard. We bond harder. We sharpen each other like iron. You won’t find that at a
tailgate or a bar.
And when Monday hits, you walk into your civilian life with a different kind of swagger — the
kind that comes from knowing you just did something 99% of Americans won’t.
Most people want to be told what to do. They want a boss. A manager. A checklist.
Not us.
We don’t wait. We lead.
Leadership in the NDARNG isn’t reserved for officers. From day one, you’re expected to lead
— yourself, your team, your unit, your community. You’ll be trained to make decisions under
pressure. To remain calm when it counts. To inspire others when they’re ready to give up.
We’re not just developing warriors — we’re developing fathers, husbands, entrepreneurs,
emergency responders, community leaders.
If you’ve ever looked around and thought, “I could do it better,” maybe it’s time to prove it.
Common chases paychecks. Common dreams about promotions, raises, and new trucks. Nothing
wrong with any of that — but it’s not enough. We’re building more than careers. We’re building
legacies.
When you put on the uniform of the North Dakota Army National Guard, you step into a
brotherhood that stretches back generations. From WWII to the War on Terror, from national
disasters to global deployments, North Dakota Guardsmen have stood tall when others stood
back.
When you raise your right hand, you don’t just become a soldier. You become a part of
something greater than yourself. You become part of a lineage of men and women who
decided that ordinary wasn’t enough.
This isn’t about ego. It’s about honor. And that’s something no paycheck can buy.
It’s easy to live for yourself. Your goals. Your gain. But there’s something powerful about living
for others. That’s what Guard life is about.
Because when disaster strikes, who do people turn to? They turn to us.
Whether it’s wildfires scorching acres of land, rivers rising into neighborhoods, or snowstorms
shutting down entire counties — we’re there. Because Guard life isn’t just about fighting abroad.
It’s about serving at home.
We don’t wear the uniform for the recognition. We wear it for the responsibility.
If you want to know what it feels like to show up for your neighbors in their darkest hour — and
to know they’ll never forget it — the Guard gives you that opportunity.
We don’t live to take. We live to protect.
Think the Guard is just for guys who want to “play Army”? Think again. The NDARNG opens
doors — to education, to leadership, to careers you never knew were possible.
You’ll earn pay and benefits from day one. You’ll qualify for bonuses. You’ll have access to the
GI Bill and tuition assistance that can crush your college debt — or wipe it out completely.
You’ll train for careers that are in high demand — from aviation to cybersecurity, from
emergency medicine to heavy equipment operations.
We’re not just building warriors. We’re building welders. EMTs. Electricians. Engineers.
Technicians. Business owners. Leaders. The Guard gives you the tools. You decide how far
you go.
Comfort is easy. But comfort also leads to complacency. And complacency kills potential.
In the Guard, we don’t chase comfort. We chase growth. We don’t settle for good enough. We
reach for better — every single day so we can be proud of ourselves and what we’ve
accomplished.
There’s no shortcut to pride. It’s earned in moments no one sees. In the quiet grind. In the
decision to do one more rep. In the act of lacing up your boots when you could’ve stayed in bed.
Joining the Guard isn’t easy. It takes guts. But the pride that comes with it? That’s the kind of
pride that can’t be faked. The kind that never fades.
We’ll say it plain: The North Dakota Army National Guard isn’t for everyone.
It’s not for the guy who always needs to be told what to do. It’s not for the one who folds under
pressure. It’s not for those who want life to hand them comfort on a silver platter.
It’s for the few. The proud. The Americans who want more. Men and women who don’t just
want to wear a uniform — they want to earn it. Men and women who are done being average.
Who are ready to test themselves, to serve something greater, and to walk a path that most are
too afraid to even look at.
Common is everywhere. But you? You weren’t made for that. You were made for more.
You were made for challenge. You were made for brotherhood. You were made for unshakable
confidence — the kind that only comes from being battle-tested.
You were made for the Guard.
This is your chance to choose something uncommon. To become the kind of man others can
count on. To be the example. The rock. The leader.
So, if you’re ready to leave common behind, connect with a recruiter today. We’re ready when
you are.
