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 

SDNG-PA-06-15A-08 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Guard units provide communication anywhere, anytime 

By Sgt. Dan Yarnall, 103rd Public Affairs Detachment 

RAPID CITY, S.D. – Two Army National Guard units got hands-on training with a new 

communications system Wednesday, June 11, near Camp Rapid. 

Montana’s 67th Signal Support Company and South Dakota’s Joint Force Headquarters worked 

with the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability System as part of this year’s Golden 

Coyote training exercise. 

The $600,000 multimedia communications system provides Soldiers the ability to connect to the 

Internet, make a phone call or even set up a video teleconference at any time. In addition, the 

system enables a person to place a call from a hand-held walkie-talkie to a regular telephone. 

The JISCC system was developed after the tragic loss of communication following the Hurricane 

Katrina disaster that, in turn, greatly hindered rescue and recovery missions, said Sgt. 1st Class 

Bill Hansen of the 67th. 

“The importance is that it streamlines communication systems for federal and state disaster 

services,” Hansen said. 

“Now, in any place at any time, the JISCC allows people to communicate during national 

emergencies; in times where there is no cell phone service and when power lines are down,” he 

added. 

Montana and South Dakota were two of the first states to receive the JISCC, and each has had its 

systems for less than a year. 

“The Soldiers of the 67th have done an exceptional job of stepping up to the challenge of 

becoming communications specialists,” said Capt. Chris Lende, commander of the 67th. 

After both units finish their two-week training mission, each plans on setting up the system and 

communicating through a video teleconference during a weekend drill in July. 
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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: 

080611-A-4806Y-052.JPG: Capt. Lew Weber of Joint Force Headquarters, South Dakota Army 

National Guard, works on setting up the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability system 

Wednesday, June 11, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 2008 Golden Coyote 

training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dan Yarnall) (RELEASED) 

080611-A-4806Y-058.JPG: Capt. Lew Weber of the South Dakota Army National Guard Joint 

Force Headquarters finishes setting up the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability system 

Wednesday, June 11, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 2008 Golden Coyote 

training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dan Yarnall) (RELEASED) 

080611-A-4806Y-061.JPG: Capt. Lew Weber of Joint Force Headquarters, South Dakota Army 

National Guard, makes some final checks to the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability 

system Wednesday, June 11, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 2008 Golden 

Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dan Yarnall) (RELEASED) 

080611-A-4806Y-049.JPG: Members of the 67th Signal Support Company, Montana Army 

National, set up operations Wednesday, June 11, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part 

of the 2008 Golden Coyote training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dan Yarnall) 

(RELEASED) 

080611-A-4806Y-038.JPG: Spc. Coffi Delgadio of the 67th Signal Support Company, Montana 

Army National Guard, helps set up the Joint Incident Site Communications Capability system 

Wednesday, June 11, at West Camp Rapid, Rapid City, S.D., as part of the 2008 Golden Coyote 

training exercise. (Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Dan Yarnall) (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.