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 16, 2008 

SDNG-PA-06-16C-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Engineers give back to the community 

By Spc. Joe Bungert, 129th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – National Guard engineer units continued to work several vertical and 

horizontal construction projects throughout the Black Hills during this year’s Golden Coyote 

training exercise. 

The 240th Engineer Company (Vertical), Nevada Army National Guard, and the 842nd Engineer 

Company (Horizontal), South Dakota Army National Guard, participated in projects within the 

Black Hills National Forest and surrounding areas June 7-21 as part of their required annual 

training. 

“The projects conducted during Golden Coyote provide Soldiers with training in their military 

specialties and also enable them to give something back to the community,” said 1st Sgt. 

Michael Shay, an innovative readiness training manager with the SDARNG. “Without the 

support of Guard, these projects most likely wouldn’t be accomplished due to budget 

constraints.” 

The 240th replaced roofs on several small structures ranging from storage sheds to campground 

shower facilities scattered throughout the Black Hills. Unit members removed the old rotten 

wooden shakes and replaced them with new asphalt shingles. 

“Our unit consists of carpenters, masons, electricians, plumbers and concrete teams, but this is 

the first time we’ve done any roofing,” said Sgt. David Micciche, acting platoon sergeant with 

the 240th. 

“We had everyone in the company working on these projects, even our cooks,” he added. 

In two weeks, the 240th completed what would have taken several months to work into U.S. 

Forest Service project schedules, said Forest Service officials. 

In the reservoir area of Belle Fourche, S.D., the members of the 842nd worked on several road 

maintenance projects; smoothing and graveling roads for the Bureau of Reclamation. 
The State Veterans Home in Hot Springs, S.D., also benefited from the Golden Coyote training 

exercise. There, the 842nd removed stumps, leveled ground and spread gravel in the construction 

of a new parking lot and the extension of an existing one. 

The projects completed during Golden Coyote are planned out a year in advance based on unit 

commitments and capabilities. Once the various projects are decided on, an environmental 

impact study is conducted along with an archeological survey of the proposed project site, Shay 

said. 

“All of the engineering projects done during the exercise must meet two criteria: they must have 

a positive impact on the environment, and they must maintain the preservation of historical 

sites,” he added. 

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

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

Photo Cut Lines: 

080612-A-5356B-007.JPG: Spc. Arlyn Cook, a culinary specialist with the 240th Engineer 

Company, Nevada Army National Guard, removes old wooden shingles and tar paper from a 

roof of a shower house Thursday, June 12, in the Black Hills, S.D., as part of this year’s Golden 

Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) (RELEASED) 

080612-A-5356B-015.JPG: Spc. Maximillian Boudreaux, a plumber with the 240th Engineer 

Company, Nevada Army National Guard, removes old wooden shingles and tar paper from a 

roof of a shower house Thursday, June 12, in the Black Hills, S.D., as part of this year’s Golden 

Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) (RELEASED) 

080612-A-5356B-026.JPG: Spc. Edward GooSun and Spc. Ryan All of the 240th Engineer 

Company, Nevada Army National Guard, apply tar paper to a campground shower house roof 

prior to laying new shingles Thursday, June 12, in the Black Hills, S.D., as part of this year’s 

Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) 

(RELEASED) 

080612-A-5356B-044.JPG: Spc. Edward GooSun, an electrician with the 240th Engineer 

Company, Nevada Army National Guard, staples tar paper to the plywood sub-roof of a 

campground shower house prior to applying new shingles Thursday, June 12, in the Black Hills, 

S.D., as part of this year’s Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Spc. 

Joe Bungert) (RELEASED) 

080612-A-5356B-055.JPG: Members of the 240th Engineer Company, Nevada Army National 

Guard, apply new asphalt shingles to a campground shower house Thursday, June 12, in the 
Black Hills, S.D., as part of this year’s Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard 

photo by Spc. Joe Bungert) (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.