Photo By Staff Sgt. Rachel M Korzeniewski | South Dakota Army National Guard’s 842nd engineers use a grader to level off the...... read more read more
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Danish Army engineers and South Dakota Army National Guard Soldiers of the 842nd Engineer Company spent their annual training working with the National Forest Service to restore 4.5 miles of JB Pass Road in Custer Gallatin National Forest, June 15.
The project was an opportunity for the Soldiers to hone their engineer skills while providing a service to the local community.
“The Golden Coyote training exercise allows us to mobilize into the field and ensure we have the ability to sustain ourselves while training in a tactical environment,” said Sgt.1st Class Josh Guthmiller, operations sergeant and readiness NCO for the 842nd.
The road project involved grading, scraping, dozing, cleaning and reconstructing culverts along with the installation of cattle guards. The project also gave Soldiers a realistic idea and feel for what a deployed environment would be like.
“The terrain here is very similar to Afghanistan,” said Staff Sgt. John Butt, first platoon sergeant. “We are also working with limited equipment and materials, just like if we were deployed. This is good training for us to learn to adapt and overcome those obstacles.”
Working together, the Americans and Danes were able to see how each country complete the same project.
“Having Danish soldiers integrated into our platoons gives us another perspective on how similar projects could be completed,” said Guthmiller. “It teaches our Soldiers how to communicate and see that there is more than one correct way to complete an engineer project.”
The Danish soldiers were happy to be a part of a project that will benefit the American people.
“Working on a community project with the Americans is great,” said Andreas Michaelsen, Danish Army engineer. “We have a feeling of purpose to know the hard work we are doing is going to make a long- lasting difference within the community.”
The JB Pass road project is one of many projects the Army National Guard is working on with the National Forest Service.
“Having the partnership with the National Guard is important,” said Kurt Hansen, district ranger, Sioux
Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest. “The project benefits the Soldiers for training and allows the local community to maintain access to this part of the forest.”
The project will help the road last longer and allow maintenance dollars to go further then they would without help from the Guard.
“Our Soldiers take pride in constructing a lasting project,” said Guthmiller. “They will be able to bring their families here and show them what they built.”
| Date Taken: | 06.16.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2017 19:08 |
| Story ID: | 238338 |
| Location: | REVA, SD, US |
| Web Views: | 358 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, GC 2017 SD National Guard and Danish soldiers give road a facelift, by SSG Rachel M Korzeniewski, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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