Ryan Brunsvold joined the Minnesota Army National Guard in 2003 as a Cannon Crewmember. He has served in various artillery positions throughout his 21+ years of service. In 2009, he was deployed to Kuwait where he served as a vehicle commander, conducting long haul convoy operations in Iraq. In 2021, he completed a rotation as a Platoon Trainer for the Minnesota National Guard Officer Candidate School. In 2022, he was selected as the First Sergeant of Charlie Battery, 1st Battalion, 194th Field Artillery in Alexandria, MN. In 2023, he was transferred to Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery to serve as their First Sergeant. In 2025, Alpha Battery, 1st Battalion, 151st Field Artillery he will be deploying to the Middle East, supporting 2nd Brigade, 34th ID, out of Iowa.

In 2014 he married his wife, Whitney. Together they have four children, McKenna aged 12, Ava aged 9, Emersyn aged 4, and Lincoln aged 3.

Major Juan Perez enlisted as a 13B in the Minnesota Army National Guard in 2008. He later became a Commissioned Officer through the Officer Candidate School commissioning program in 2012. He has served a Fire Direction Officer, Platoon Leader, Assistant Fire Support Officer, S2, Battery Commander, BN S4 and currently the BN Executive Officer for the 1-151 Field Artillery. He’s joined by his two sons, Jace and Paxton, that play squirts and mites for the Orono Youth Program.

Master Sergeant Matt Gamble has served in the Minnesota Army National Guard for 26 years and will retire in March 2025! He has served as an Abrams Tanker with B Co 1-194 CAB and is currently serving with the 175th RTI as the QA NCOIC. He has two prior deployments in 2004-2005 to Iraq and 2011-2012 to Iraq/Kuwait. He was on Active Duty with the MN Army National Guard from June 2020 – October 2023 serving as the Family Programs Operations NCOIC. He and his wife, Taryn live in Woodbury, MN with their two kids, Sebastian and Isabelle who both play hockey for the Woodbury Hockey Association. Sebastian is a PeeWee and Isabelle is 10U. Their family are huge Minnesota Wild and Vikings fans!

Laura and Ben Rhoda are both traditional reservists in the Air Force Reserve. Laura is currently a Lieutenant Colonel with 24 years of service and is serving as a Flight Nurse in the 934th Aeromedical Evacuation Squadron here in Minneapolis. She just returned in October from a 6 month deployment where she coordinated patient transport from the pacific region for further care back in the US. Ben is also a Lieutenant Colonel with 19 years of service and is serving as a Civil Engineer assigned to Joint Enabling Capabilities Command in Norfolk Virginia. They live in Forest Lake and have 5 kids, Isaac, Colin, Mikayla, Elijah and Liam.

Major (Promotable) Jackie Stenger is a member of the Minnesota Army National Guard. She initially enlisted into service in 1991 as a combat medic. In 1997, she transferred to the Minnesota National Guard. In 2000, she received her Commission through the State Officer Candidate School. She has deployed twice to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom and is on her third deployment, currently serving in the Middle East.

Major (Promotable) Stenger is an avid fan of the outdoors (hunting, fishing, and camping), spending time with her family, crafting, and reading. She resides in Little Canada, MN, with her husband, First Sergeant (Retired) Ron Stenger and youngest daughter, Kylie. Their oldest daughter. Sierra (Travis) Jarl lives in Billings, Montana.

Whitney Olson is a Master Sergeant at the 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Minnesota! She has been enlisted in the Air National Guard for 17.5 years! She works in the Force Support Squadron and is the Non Commissioned Officer In Charge of their FSRT Search and Recovery Team. She has deployed to both Afghanistan and South Korea, and her Search and Recovery team was recently activated for the Hurricane’s in Florida and North Carolina! On the civilian side, she works for Foundation Medical - A Medical Device Agency representing Arthrex, Inc- they represent the most innovative products in the orthopedic industry, Helping Surgeons Treat Their Patients Better.
She lives in Highland Park, St. Paul with her Fiancé Lindsay and their dog Sawyer! They are getting married next year in Nisswa, Minnesota and are enjoying their wedding planning process!
She is originally from Duluth, Minnesota where her parents and sister still live! Her sister is also a member of the Air National Guard and will retire next year with 22 years of service!
In her free time, she enjoys golfing in the Women’s club at Highland National Golf Course, running, hiking, biking - basically any activity you can think of outside!