Four North Dakota Communities Lose National Guard Units

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Four North Dakota communities are losing National Guard units next year.

The Bismarck Tribune reports Guard units in Mott, Rugby, Bottineau and Grafton will be dissolved in August 2017.

Adj. Gen. Alan Dohrmann says the cutbacks are necessary because North Dakota lost federal authorization for 300 Guard positions as part of a national strategy to decrease overall Guard numbers.

The Guard already has dissolved units in Oakes and Cando, and Dohrmann says two more communities will soon learn that units stationed there are being relocated.

Dohrmann says the changes are "tough on the communities," but that "times are changing."