South Dakota National Guard 

Public Affairs Office 

2823 West Main St. 

Rapid City, S.D. 57702 

Phone 605-737-6721 

E-mail PAO@sd.ngb.army.mil

June 12, 2008 

SDNG-PA-06-12E-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Support mission has smooth transition 

By Spc. Danielle Hash, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – The 495th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion transferred its support 

operations to the 190th CSSB Monday, June 9, as part of the Golden Coyote training exercise at 

Camp Rapid. 

In a small-scale simulation of deployment, the 50-member team from the 495th of Kalispell, 

Mont., arrived approximately one week ago to set up the initial support and sustainment 

functions for over 4,000 service members participating in the event. The 190th of Billings, 

Mont., took over and will maintain support operations throughout the duration of the exercise. 

“We made sure the equipment was in place and operational so we could simply hand over the 

mission to the 190th,” said Command Sgt. Maj. Ronda S. Scott, the senior enlisted leader of the 

495th. 

The unit worked long days setting up the operations center, establishing support requirements 

and coordinating troop movements to the forward operating bases, said Lt. Col. Mark A. 

Boettcher, commander of the 495th. 

Upon the arrival of its counterparts, Boettcher said the 495th continued to run operations and 

answer questions while the 190th observed and gathered the necessary information to ensure a 

smooth exchange. 

“The process is referred to as RIPTOA: Relief in Place, Transfer of Authority,” said Boettcher. 

“Basically, one unit comes in and sets up operations, followed by a second unit that takes over 

and completes the mission.” 

Lt. Col. Donald R. Emerson, battalion commander of the 190th, said the unit is ready to augment 

and run the exercise. 
“The focus of the 495th was getting operations set up,” Emerson said. “Our focus is the 

sustainment of those operations, including tracking the logistics for food, fuel and ammunition 

required by the units on the FOBs, therefore enabling them to sustain themselves.” 

-30- 

High resolution photos will be available at the following Web site: 

LINK: https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/sites/GC2008/default.aspx

Photo Cut Lines: 

080608-A-8403H-002.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Randal J. Hunt of the 495th Combat Sustainment 

Support Battalion (right) instructs Sgt. 1st Class Thomas B. Stevenson of the 190th CSSB on the 

operational tasks he will encounter during the 2008 Golden Coyote exercise. The 495th of 

Kalispell, Mont. transferred its support operations to the 190th of Billings, Mont., Monday, June 

9. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Hash) (RELEASED) 

080608-A-8403H-005.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Randal J. Hunt of the 495th Combat Sustainment 

Support Battalion (right) instructs Sgt. 1st Class Thomas B. Stevenson of the 190th CSSB on the 

operational tasks he will encounter during the 2008 Golden Coyote exercise. The 495th of 

Kalispell, Mont. transferred its support operations to the 190th of Billings, Mont., Monday, June 

9. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Hash) (RELEASED) 

080608-A-8403H-010.JPG: Sgt. 1st Class Randal J. Hunt of the 495th Combat Sustainment 

Support Battalion (right) instructs Sgt. 1st Class Thomas B. Stevenson of the 190th CSSB on the 

operational tasks he will encounter during the 2008 Golden Coyote exercise. The 495th of 

Kalispell, Mont. transferred its support operations to the 190th of Billings, Mont., Monday, June 

9. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Danielle Hash) (RELEASED) 

Location of South Dakota National Guard Public Affairs Office: 

2823 West Main Street 

Building 400 

Rapid City, SD 57702-8186 

(605) 737-6721 

MEDIA WISHING TO EMBED are asked to RSVP with Maj. Orson Ward at (605) 737-

6721, cell (605) 431-8753 or via E-mail at orson.ward@us.army.mil. 

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION about the South Dakota National Guard, please visit our 

Web site at https://sdguard.ngb.army.mil/default.aspx

NOTE: The South Dakota National Guard will host the annual Golden Coyote exercise from 

June 7 – 21 in the southern Black Hills. More than 4,000 service members from 92 units 

representing 27 states and four foreign nations are participating in the exercise. The Golden 
Coyote exercise has been conducted for the past 24 years. The exercise provides relevant training 

opportunities in support of the war on terror and homeland defense. 

Residents should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the Black Hills and an 

increase in the level of noise due to military operations. Aviation activity will be operating out of 

Camp Rapid and the Army Aviation Support Facility next to the Rapid City Regional Airport. 

Aircraft will be primarily training on equipment and personnel transport missions as well as 

medical evacuation. Aircraft will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and 

remain in an all-hours-ready status during the exercise. 

Spectators to military training are welcome, however caution is warranted and spectators are 

asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury 

to personnel or damage to property.