129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Spc. Joseph Bungert

CUSTER STATE PARK AIRPORT, S.D. – Following on the heels of rafting National Guard Soldiers across the Missouri River, the 200th Engineer Company, from Pierre with Detachment 1 in Chamberlain, and Detachment 2 in Mobridge, assembled a pair of heavy dry span bridges for the second time during the 25th annual Golden Coyote training exercise in the Black Hills of South Dakota, June 6-20.

Equipped with two types of bridges, the improved ribbon bridge and the dry span bridge, the 200th is classified as a multi-role bridge company capable of bridging both rivers and dry land gaps like gullies or dry riverbeds.

"The purpose of the dry span bridge is to enable any military or civilian traffic to cross a dry land gap, meaning no water beneath it," said Sgt. 1st Class Dave Trautman Jr., a bridge crew non-commissioned officer and combat veteran with Detachment 1, 200th Engineer Company.

The dry span bridge can extend 40 meters, or is can be divided into two sections of 20 meters each. The unit has four of these bridges that can be split to make eight.

To assemble the dry span bridge, a series of steel beams are pieced together that will reach across the gap to be traversed. Once the beam is in place, a section of the bridge is lifted onto a launch vehicle, and the sections are tethered to the spanning beam and slid forward.

This process continues until the bridge reaches the end of the beam across the gap. The assembled bridge is then lowered to the ground and ramps are attached each to end. With the bridge in place, vehicles weighing up to 110 tons can safely cross.

"With a crew of only eight Soldiers, this is a hard bridge to build," said Trautman. "It takes a great deal of teamwork. There are so many things that have to happen in the right sequence and so many steps to follow. If you skip one you can severely damage the equipment."

This bridge is so new to the military and there are no standards as to how long it should take to assemble the bridge. The 200th is a seasoned group of professionals and their vast experience ere at home and in combat have proven they will figure it out.

"We have new crews on the bridge teams that haven't worked together before so we planned on six hours to complete a build, and it's only taking three," said Trautman. "That shows teamwork and knowing your job allows the crews to accomplish great things. I am proud of everyone here and proud to say I am a member of the 200th."

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