106th Public Affairs Detachment

Story by Sgt. Michael Getten

PINE RIDGE, S.D. - Service members from all over the country are helping transport more than 200 truckloads of timber to the Oglala Sioux and Crow Creek Reservations in South Dakota as part of the Golden Coyote training exercise. The residents of Pine Ridge Reservation will use the timber for firewood for heating and ceremonial purposes.

The mission coordinator, Maj. Jade Beehler of the 152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion, from South Dakota, is leading a diverse group of Soldiers to accomplish the mission. Soldiers from three engineering companies, from South Dakota joined those from 152nd CSSB and four transportation companies from South Dakota, Iowa and New Mexico.

The National Forest Service and Custer State Park cut and pile the timber and then identified individual piles for Golden Coyote to transport to the drop sites.

Engineering assets are used to load the timber onto the flatbed trucks of the transportation companies. Hydraulic excavators lift the timber to load it onto the trailers, and then the chainsaw crews trim the timber to eliminate branches protruding from the load. The drivers secure the load and haul it to the drop site where the forklift operators push the load off of the flatbed trailer.

"We are hauling timber out of the Black Hills from two locations, to 14 drop sites within the Oglala Sioux Reservation," Beehler said. "There have been four drop sites identified on the Crow Creek Reservation where we will drop timber on our return trip to home station.

The mission was first suggested as a possible training exercise in Oct. 2006, when the U.S. Forest Service personnel met with Lt. Col. Dan Iverson, the exercise coordinator. They discussed the National Guard hauling away the thinning piles produced by implementing their conservation program to thin the forest, in an effort to avoid the spread of major forest fires. They also suggested moving the timber to the reservation where it could be best consumed.

In that first year the mission hauled more than 90 loads and has steadily grown since.

"Last year my group did the mission and we exceeded what had been done the year before, hauling 130 loads. If things go right we are going to exceed that this year," Beehler said. "Our goal is 210 loads and after today we will be halfway through our operation. As of last night, we hauled 90 loads, so, if we double whatever we get on the ground today, we should meet our mission."

The familiarity of the mission and Golden Coyote's heavy equipment assets have contributed to the success of the task.

"Last year we had one day when we couldn't haul due to climate conditions. This year we were a little proactive and picked a couple of sites just in case the weather got bad, and it did, so we adjusted," Beehler said.

The units assisting with the haul are primarily accustomed to highway driving and rarely have the opportunity to get the vehicles off of the pavement.

"We have to be cautious and have certain conditions in order to drive the trucks on the gravel and dirt roads in Custer State Park," Beehler said. "We want to make sure we do this safely. There have been neither injuries nor major accidents; everyone is driving as safely as possible, that's the way we like to keep it."

The drivers are getting some training in tie-down and strapping due the unusual load. They are also getting some experience driving in adverse weather conditions, because of the rain and they are driving off road on some muddy surfaces.

"The training is outstanding," said the 152nd's Readiness Non-commissioned Officer Sgt. 1st Class Chadwick Schmitz from Pierre S.D. "The forklift operators are doing a nonstandard task of pushing the timber off. There is a lot of good recovery training, we've had a lot of these outfits stuck in the mud and have had to pull them out. Operators are getting some good training in all aspects."

The timber haul benefits all agencies and people involved by clearing away the timber, providing training and finally providing firewood to those who can use it.

"Last year we were out there and a couple of people came up to thank us," Beehler said. "One time in particular that stands out is when a young lady came up and said her grandmother had used the wood during the previous winter to keep her warm and she appreciated it. It has been a positive reaction from the tribe members and the people of the community."

Beehler remains passionate about the exercise and the overall benefits to everyone who takes part in and reaps the rewards of the timber haul mission.

"I want to thank the people involved from the tribe for using the wood, the National Forest Service and Custer State Park because they have allowed us to use their facilities and provided the timber," Beehler said. "It allows the opportunity for the intense training and the soldiers feel good about what they are doing. We all gain from this mission. It looks like we are on our way to meeting mission goals. As long as we do that safely, our annual training will be very successful."

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