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S.D. Guard units alerted for possible active duty
PIERRE – Gov. Mike Rounds announced today that more South Dakota Army National Guard units were alerted, for possible duty in support of America’s war on terrorism. This second rotation call-up affects three units totaling more than 550 soldiers.
Units alerted include Huron’s 153rd Engineer Battalion (485), and its subordinate units in Wagner, Winner, Parkston, Platte, Madison and De Smet; Rapid City’s 109th Engineer Group (74), and Sturgis’ 216th Engineer Detachment (10).
“Our thoughts and prayers go out to the soldiers and their families as they prepare for an upcoming deployment,” said Gov. Rounds on the latest alert notification. “Making these announcements hasn’t gotten any easier, but it just goes to show that our soldiers are some of the best trained and best equipped in the Army, and when asked, South Dakotans answer the call.”
Still, there is no timeline for the return of deployed troops since the Army enacted its ‘One Year – Boots on the Ground’ policy that could keep South Dakota units in Iraq and Kuwait for up to a year after deploying to those countries.
The S.D. Army National Guard currently has more than a 1,000 soldiers on duty - about 750 soldiers in Iraq and Kuwait. About 220 soldiers are providing security and law enforcement within the U.S.
Two weeks ago, 35 members of Rapid City’s 1085th Medical Company deployed for duty in Kosovo.
The alert order is the first phase in the mobilization process. Further details concerning the timeline that would include missions, destinations, and mobilization stations will be known only if the unit receives the orders to mobilize.
153rd Engineers Battalion
Headquarters and Headquarters Company - Huron
Company A - Wagner
Detachment 1, Company A - Winner
Company B - Madison
Detachment 1, Company B - De Smet
Company C - Parkston
Detachment 1, Company C – Platte
The 153rd was not called up to serve in Desert Storm, the first war against Iraq in 1990-1991. After the war, the battalion was fielded with tracked vehicles to make its units more versatile in different environments and areas with limited access to roads.
The Huron-based unit has not been mobilized since it was federally recognized as the 153rd Engineer Battalion on September 15, 1956. Prior to that, it served in Alaska during the Korean War as part of the 196th Regimental Combat Team. During World War II, the 153rd mobilized as a company of the 109th Engineers and later served with the 132nd Engineer Regiment (Combat).
In 1917, the unit was designated as Company G of the 1st Dakota Cavalry and served on the Mexican Border 1915-1916.
Huron’s first Guard unit was organized in February of 1885, the Dakota Territory, and designated as Company C, 2nd Regiment of the Dakota Militia.
Lt. Col. Kevin Griese, Pierre, is the commander of the 153rd and the top enlisted solider is Command Sgt. Maj. Thomas Hafner of Parkston.
109th Engineer Group
In peacetime, the 109th Engineer Group commands two battalions, the 153rd and 109th Engineer Battalions, and four separate units. The command includes 1,270 soldiers.
Nearly 14 years ago, the 109th served in Operation Desert Storm, the first war against Iraq. The 109th Group has been actively engaged in deploying its units to support the war on terrorism. In the past year, 6 of its units have mobilized – four to Iraq and Kuwait, one to Kosovo and Bosnia, and a military police company to Fort Carson to provide law enforcement there.
Col. Nancy J. Wetherill is the commander of the 109th Engineer Group and Command Sgt. Maj. Darwin Rahder is the top enlisted officers.
216th Engineer Detachment
The 10-member 216th Engineer Detachment (Fire Fighting Team) provides fire-fighting support to a theater of operations. The unit was organized about three years ago and has been actively involved in battling fires in the Black Hills. The 216th, commanded by 1st Lt. Stuart Muzzy, trained at Fort Rucker, Ala.
National Guard deployments throughout 2002-03
Units deployed Number of Soldiers Location of duty
155th Engineer Detachment 55 Kuwait Returned in February
109th Engineer Battalion 39 Iraq Returned in July
114th Civil Engineering Squadron 55 Iraq Returned in July
200th Engineer Company 173 Iraq
Company B, 109th Medical Bn. 60 Iraq
740th Transportation Company 137 Kuwait/Iraq Border
1742nd Transportation Company 104 Iraq
727th Transportation Company 122 Kuwait
842nd Engineer Company 150 Iraq
235th Military Police 91 Fort Carson, Colo.
665th Maintenance Company 122 Ellsworth, AFB-Joe Foss Field
196th Regimental Training Institute 3 Fort Sill, Okla.
1st Battalion, 147th Field Artillery 375 Fort Sill, Okla. Returned in May
Detachment 3, 665th Maintenance Co. 28 Fort Sill, Okla. Returned in October
129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 9 Fort Riley, Kans. Returned in July