National Guard Soldiers improve community playhouse

Photo By Pfc. Alexis Stevens | U.S. Army Spc. Dave Wiebenga, 155th Engineer Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, uses a nail gun at the Black Hills Playhouse during the Golden Coyote training exercise, Custer State Park, S.D., June 16, 2018. The National Guard have worked together on multiple projects with the Black Hills Playhouse to benefit the people who work there and give the Soldiers the opportunity to train under multiple conditions as well as in different environments. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Pfc. Alexis Stevens)  

CUSTER, SD, UNITED STATES

06.19.2018

Story by Pfc. Alexis Stevens 

129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

Soldiers from the South Dakota Army National Guard’s 155th Engineer Company worked on multiple engineer projects at the Black Hills Playhouse during the Golden Coyote training exercise in Custer State Park, June 11-19.

The projects benefit the Black Hills Playhouse, a nonprofit theatre, while providing Soldiers an opportunity to hone their skills while providing benefits to local communities.

“What the National Guard does for us is an incredible value, supplying the labor for these projects,” said Dan Workman, the artistic director for the Black Hills Playhouse. “We could not have completed the costume shop in 2014 without the National Guard’s help.”

This year, the Soldiers built a deck adjacent to the dining hall, and a new staircase and door for the seam shop. In the past 10 years, the National Guard has worked with Custer State Park and the Black Hills Playhouse on six different projects to benefit both the Soldier’s training and the local community.

“This is just an all-around great training environment for us to work in,” said Sgt. Jay Carroll, noncommissioned officer in charge of the project. “Not only as carpenters but as Soldiers as well.”

Projects like the Black Hills Playhouse allow Soldiers to train with their equipment and gain experience. The 155th (a vertical engineer unit) is comprised of electricians, plumbers and carpenters. The training helps the unit prepare in the event of a short-notice deployment.

“The intense training this year makes it seem more realistic,” said Carroll. “Although it’s challenging… we have to be ready at all times.”

The 155th built the deck at the Black Hills Playhouse to improve their dining facility, while also utilizing the opportunity to provide for and build relations with the community.

“It’s nice to work out here and form a camaraderie between the public and the unit as we improve the building,” said Carroll.

Employees of the Black Hills Playhouse stay on site for at least a month during the summer. They practice, perform, eat, and live in the area. These types of projects benefit the employees by giving them nicer buildings and a safer environment to stay in. It allows the National Guard to work with the employees and see firsthand how their mission can benefit everyone who works at the playhouse.

• Date Taken: 06.19.2018
• Date Posted: 06.20.2018 17:53
• Story ID: 281723
• Location: CUSTER, SD, US