Meet the First Female General in The North Dakota National Guard

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The first female general in the North Dakota Army National Guard says her father always believed she should be a general.

Col. Giselle "Gigi" Wilz, of Bismarck, was promoted to brigadier general during a Wednesday ceremony at the North Dakota Heritage Center.

Wilz says she always dreamed of being a general, and strived for it the past 15 years. She says she hopes she's set an example for both women and men.

Wilz has served in the state Guard for 32 years. She enlisted in 1983 as a military police officer with the 191st Military Policy Company. Throughout her career, she has held various leadership positions, most recently as the Guard's chief of staff.

She leaves this month for a one-year tour commanding NATO forces operating in Bosnia and Herzegovina.