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 15, 2008 

PAO 06-15-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Guard units train to sustain during Golden Coyote 

By Chief Warrant Officer Wanda Akers 

RAPID CITY, S.D. - The South Dakota National Guard conducted a Logistics Enabler 

Course from June 4-9 at the Range Road Armory in Rapid City as part of the 2008 

Golden Coyote training exercise. 

The course included learning computer systems such as combat service and support 

(CSS) very small aperture terminal (VSAT), movement tracking system, portable 

deployment kit, battle command sustainment support system and the 3e Technology 

International’s wireless bridge. The course was taught by experts from the National 

Guard Bureau and civilian contractors. 

The Logistics Enabler Course started as a result of Hurricane Katrina by the National 

Guard Bureau to help Guard units become better informed of what supplies and 

equipment are needed when a natural disaster occurs. 

All these logistics systems are linked together for functionality and visibility to help 

better serve the missions. The satellite in conjunction with the wireless bridge, provides 

network communication capability if local communications are disrupted. The systems, 

once bridged to the CSS VSAT, have the capability to track vehicle and container 

movement worldwide. 

Capt. Eric Hopkins of the National Guard Bureau led a six-person instructor team that 

provided the training to about 40 Soldiers from units from across the nation. The course 

consisted of four initial days of "round-robin" training where each person got hands-on 

training in setting up, configuring, utilizing and then disassembling the equipment. The 

last two days of training consisted of the Soldiers joining their units at forward operating 

bases in the southern Black Hills and setting up the equipment for real-time use in 

tracking vehicle convoys and haul missions, as well as requisitioning supplies. 

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FOR MORE INFORMATION, please contact Maj. Orson Ward at (605) 737-6721, or 

cell (605) 431-8753 or Chief Warrant Officer Wanda Akers at (605) 737-6770. 

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.