Photo By Spc. Donald Williams | Members of the South Dakota Army National Guard 200th Multi-Role Bridge Company...... read more read more
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RAPID CITY, S.D. – The South Dakota Army National Guard 200th Multi-Role Bridge Company transported units across the Missouri River near Chamberlain as part of the Golden Coyote training exercise, June 7, 2014.
Soldiers loaded vehicles onto three separate rafts and transported them across the river in less than half an hour. The event gave the 200th an opportunity to practice its skills and efficiency in preparing for battle operations.
The ability to transfer troops across the river ensures that operations can be conducted regardless of terrain.
“One of the more technical aspects of building the bridges is driving the boats,” said Sgt. Bryan Beringer, an engineer in the 200th MRBC. “It takes a lot of training and practice to get good at it.”
While maneuvering boats is a big aspect of the river-crossing mission, it is not the sole step. Beringer was part of the entry control point on top of the hill where he would stage the vehicles and prepare them to board the raft.
“The success of the mission depends on the cohesion of the units,” said Sgt. Eric Mullen an engineer in the 200th MRBC. “The biggest challenge is to get the two boats on either side of the raft to work together.”
The unit used an Improved Ribbon Bridge, a bridge that can be configured as either a full closure bridge or partially assembled and used for rafting operations. According to Mullen this bridge system gives the unit the flexibility to cross the river to any safe point on the opposite side.
“The most important part of being a bridge engineer is the fact that we can get any unit anywhere,” said Beringer. “We can cross what can’t be crossed – water or canyon. We get people where they need to go.”
| Date Taken: | 06.07.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.20.2014 13:02 |
| Story ID: | 133827 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 200 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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