106th Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Sgt. Michael Getten

CHAMBERLAIN, S.D. – Overcoming natural obstacles has always been a challenge for military forces. Similarly, crossing the Missouri River is one such hurdle many Golden Coyote training exercise participants faced, June 6 and 7, near Chamberlain, S.D.

The 2,540 mile-long Missouri River, which runs through central South Dakota, is an obstacle the Soldiers of the 200th Engineering Company of Chamberlain, Pierre and Mobridge, S.D., have become familiar with.

The unit has been training for years on how to complete a bridge crossing as part of the Golden Coyote training exercise.

"We've been tasked to maneuver units across a water obstacle," said 1st Lt. James R. Forbes, executive officer, 200th Eng. Co. "Our goal is to safely get [units] across."

While the well-being of Soldiers is a priority for 200th troops, speed and efficiency are also highly valued.

"We give them a good safety briefing and get them across as quickly as possible so these commanders can drive on and go do what they need to do," said Forbes.

By using improved ribbon bridge rafts controlled by combat support boats, the unit's engineers and bridge crew members safely transported 290 vehicles.

"After an hour of operation, the unit had transported 45 vehicles and 96 personnel across the river using five rafts," said Forbes. "Each raft used for the mission consisted of six individual pieces, or bays, commonly referred to as a six-float. Up to seven bays can be added together to make a raft with a maximum weight capacity of 140 tons," said Forbes.

The boats control and propel across the river on the floating platforms from opposite sides of the rafts in pairs. The five floats and two ends of the ribbon bridge that create the raft can be a challenging undertaking.

"Everyone does everything to cross-train," said Sgt. Kris Mullen, boat driver and Rapid City, S.D., native from Detachment 2, 200th Eng. Co. of Mobridge. "Even if it's cold it's fun. This is something the 200th looks forward to. When the water is open we get out here and train."

Movement across the Missouri River takes the visiting units one-step closer to the completion of their Golden Coyote missions.

On the beachhead, a non-commissioned officer designated as beach master guides the vehicles into position prior to loading, before the raft commander takes over vehicle loading.

Many units moving across the waterway come from all over the country.

"A lot of them are coming from the east; Minnesota, Iowa, and the eastern part of South Dakota," said Sgt 1st Class Darrell K. Beck, platoon sergeant, 200th Eng. Co. of Pierre, S.D.

This training also translates very well into the company's mission in wartime, said Beck.
"We had this very similar mission in Iraq," said Beck. "You learn how to deal with a lot of military convoys."

According to Beck, the unit was deployed in 2003 and help set up a bridge north of Baghdad, near the city of Balad.

Along with preparation for wartime, Forbes also sees this operation as a good way to train new personnel in the unit, especially young Soldiers.

"My first drill as an officer was with this unit," said Forbes. "It was their first drill after deployment ... and after an hour, we had still not built a six-float. We had brand new boat operators, the build crew was new ... you had all those factors in there."

Now they take about 12 minutes to complete setting one up.

"That just comes from everybody knowing their job and working together," said Forbes. "It's one of the most enjoyable aspects of being in a leadership position – watching the growth of a unit – and getting more proficient."

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