RAPID CITY, S.D. – Twelve out of 42 South Dakota Army National Guard units received the National Guard Bureau’s Superior Unit Award in recognition of outstanding achievement during training year 2013. The Superior Unit Award is presented to units who meet highly-enforced military standards in the areas of personnel, training and readiness.

“The Superior Unit Award is very difficult to qualify for,” said Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general of the South Dakota National Guard. “The fact that so many of our units have earned this award is a testament to our high training standards and overall organizational quality.”

The top award for the state went to the 115th Brigade Signal Company, of Brookings, which received the Eisenhower Trophy for the most exceptional SDARNG unit. The Eisenhower Trophy is named in honor  of General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower and awarded by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to the ARNG unit in each state rated the most outstanding during the training year.

“The 115th BSC was established in 2007 and this award has been a goal for the unit since day one, so it is very rewarding to receive this honor,” said Capt. Bracken Robinson, 115th commander. “The Soldiers in this unit have always gone the extra mile. This award is proof to how hard they have worked to form a cohesive unit and work as a team to achieve their goals.”

Units that received the Superior Unit Award are:

Alpha Battery, 1/147th Field Artillery Battalion               Aberdeen

740th Transportation Company                                        Aberdeen and Milbank

HHC, 139th Brigade Support Battalion                            Brookings

115th Brigade Signal Company                                        Brookings

HHC, 153rd Engineer Battalion                                        Huron

211th Engineer Company                                                 Madison and De Smet Forward Support Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion                   Parkston and Huron

200th Engineer Company                                                 Pierre, Mobridge and Chamberlain

152nd Combat Sustainment Support Battalion                 Pierre

155th Engineer Company                                                 Rapid City and Wagner

1742nd Transportation Company                                     Sioux Falls and Flandreau Alpha Company, 139th Brigade Support Battalion                     Watertown

In order to achieve the award, units must maintain assigned personnel strength of 95 percent, complete inactive duty and annual training, and ensure that 95 percent of their Soldiers are fully qualified in their duty military occupation specialty. In addition to meeting training goals, weapon qualification rates, Army Physical Fitness Test results and unit inspections factor into award requirements.

This is also the second year in a row that the Superior Unit Award has been awarded to the 740th Transportation Company, 211th Engineer Company and Alpha Company, 139th BSB.

“To achieve the level of commitment that is needed to win these awards takes an enormous amount of dedication from the Soldiers, as well as support from both families and civilian employers,” said Robinson. “Their support makes it possible and allows our Soldiers the ability to overcome life’s everyday obstacles and achieve success.”

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High resolution photos are available at www.flickr.com/photos/southdakotanationalguard

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Please contact Maj. Anthony Deiss at (605) 737-6721 or cell (605) 431- 8753, or e-mail ng.sd.sdarng.list.pao@mail.mil.