Photo By Spc. joshua quandt | (From left to right) Sgt. Paw Vinther, Lance Cpl. Abel Frederikson and Lance Cpl. Hans...... read more read more
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In cooperation with the U.S. Forest Service and Custer State Park, Danish Soldiers completed a bridge project connecting two hiking trails that will create more opportunities for tourists in the Spearfish Canyon area to gain access to Spearfish Falls.
“The old bridge was washed out three years ago during a storm in that area,” said Jayme Severyn, building engineer assistant, Custer State Park. “This project should provide a great opportunity for people to access the falls.”
Task Force 41 of the 41 Canadian Brigade Group, Canadian Army, is in charge of the engineering companies throughout the exercise. The task force is a combined force of multiple units from allied nations of the U.S., Canada, Denmark and the U.K.
“The Danish Soldiers of Task Force 41 are providing engineering support for the Golden Coyote training exercise,” said Lt. Col. Eric Gilson, 41 Canadian Brigade Group commander. “This gives the Danish Soldiers an opportunity to work with allies such as American and Canadian military forces. The experience they gain is invaluable when Soldiers train with a multinational force.”
The Soldiers will be building the 43 foot long bridge with concrete and treated wood. The South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks purchased the bridge material for the project.
“It is easy to work in your backyard because you know where to get supplies and materials,” said Gilson. “In a deployment environment you may be miles from a lumber or supply depot, so you may not be able to get materials or tools when you need them.”
The mission planning for the bridge had many challenges the Danish Soldiers would have to consider to complete their project.
“We did calculations for the storm fronts of this area because of how the water rises after large storms in higher elevations,” said project leader Sgt. 1st Class Jesper Tandrup. “We had to build it up quite high above the water to ensure it will last.”
The Soldiers shipped their equipment from Denmark to use at the bridge but was delayed in customs, so they had to get tools from the South Dakota National Guard and the local community.
“We had to rent the equipment we used today from the local community and borrow tools,” said Tandrup. “The people we met in Spearfish were all so nice and we were able to get everything we needed.”
The Golden Coyote training exercise gives opportunities to train in an environment that is different from where some of the participants call home.
“This is a great project for us to work on because we don’t have this type of terrain in Denmark,” said Tandrup.
The Danish 3rd Battalion Engineer Corps has 58 Soldiers participating in the Golden Coyote training exercise. They are working on projects at Orman Dam, Camp Rapid, Sioux Falls and Spearfish Canyon.
| Date Taken: | 06.14.2016 |
| Date Posted: | 06.18.2016 13:20 |
| Story ID: | 201684 |
| Location: | SPEARFISH, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 87 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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