Photo By Sgt. Steven Reeves | Soldiers from the 109th Regional Support Group, South Dakota National Guard, approach...... read more read more
By Staff Sgt. Steve Reeves
314th Press Camp Headquarters
RAPID CITY, S.D. - Members of the 109th Regional Support Group took part in aircrew rescue training on Monday as part of Golden Coyote 2014.
The National Guard unit based here in Rapid City was the first unit to go through the aircrew rescue training lane at West Camp Rapid. This year’s Golden Coyote, one of the largest National Guard military exercises in the country, kicked off on June 7.
The scenario required the Soldiers to move tactically toward a hilltop crash site and attempt to recover two pilots while encountering hostile “enemy” fighters. The training is designed to enable military personnel to be able to assist in recovery or rescue operations in a real-world environment.
Staff Sgt. Brandon Dunphy of Ellsworth Air Force Base, the NCOIC of the Survival, Evasion, Resistance and Escape team, 28th Operational Support Squadron, oversaw the training and consulted with the National Guard personnel staffing the lane.
Dunphy said Golden Coyote is relevant not only due to the real-world scenario, but also because of the inter-service and international flavor to the training.
“In this day and age, knowing how to operate in a joint-service, as well as with allied nations, is critical,” he said. “We’re all working toward one goal so we all have to know how to work with one another.”
“This was really a great experience for me,” said Pfc. Stephanie Stark of Nisland. The human resources specialist acted as a team leader during the training exercise. “I don’t get the chance very often to take charge. This will definitely help prepare me to be a future leader as I move up the ranks.”
Aside from the National Guard, Reserve and active component units taking part, there are personnel from the military forces of five allied nations participating in Golden Coyote.
An officer with the German Air Force Reserve augmented the 109th RSG during the aircrew rescue training. Stark said it was her first opportunity to work side-by-side with someone from an allied nation’s military.
“It was interesting to see the different perspective that he brought to the training,” Stark said. “It’s important to learn to work with military personnel from our allied nations because we all need to understand one another and make sure we’re all on the same page.”
Capt. Alexander Kullak, the German Air Force reservist who augmented the 109th, said he found it interesting to see his American counterparts communicate with each other as they work to complete a mission.
“We definitely have differences in how we approach things,” Kullak said. “But that is a positive because we have so much to learn from one another.”
Kullak said he has been impressed by how open and accepting American military personnel toward their allied partners.
“We’re not just military allies,” he said. “We’re also close friends.”
| Date Taken: | 06.13.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.13.2014 18:31 |
| Story ID: | 133084 |
| Location: | RAPID CITY, SD, US |
| Hometown: | NISLAND, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 69 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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