RAPID CITY, S.D., - Over the course of the next two weeks, the South Dakota National Guard’s 26th annual Golden Coyote training exercise will provide training for nearly 2,200 soldiers, from 40 different units.
As these troops tactically navigate their way through a complex web of missions and assignments, one unit carefully lays the infrastructure for all the others to effectively communicate – the 115th Signal Company.
The 115th’s mission is to provide communication support for Golden Coyote. This includes installation and troubleshooting of the networks, phone, and DSL (digital subscriber lines) that troops use to successfully complete their missions.
A team of Soldiers with the 115th began their Golden Coyote mission June 13, by traveling from Camp Rapid to Custer State Park Airport to install commercial phone and DSL for units stationed at the forward operating base there.
“These lines are useful and sometimes they are the only means of communication Soldiers have in the field,” said Sgt. Lance Jahnig, the non-commissioned officer-in-charge of the team. “Cell phones are not always reliable.”
2nd Lt. Ben Hoffman, the executive officer of the 115th, who is currently serving as the acting commander for this year’s Golden Coyote exercise, encourages troops to practice using military communication technology in the field.
“For training exercises, we do not want people using their cell phones,” said Hoffman, “We want some type of military communication and that is what we are setting up at the FOB’s (forward operating bases).”
Hoffman added that his Soldiers will be available for installation and troubleshooting for any of the three Golden Coyote forward operating bases if requests come into their help desk.
While members of the 115th provide communication support for other units training during Golden Coyote, Spc. Richard Schultz, a mobile network operator for the 115th, said performing their mission gives them valuable experience for any possible deployments they may face.
“The training is great out here because it simulates possible missions during a deployment, said Schultz. “Sometimes we will get tasked with jobs we ordinarily would not get trained.”
The ultimate goal of any military training environment, such as Golden Coyote, is to prepare Soldiers for challenges they may face while on a deployment.
Capt. Jayme Trygstad, commander of the 115th, stressed the growing level of importance communication has on the military posture in the battlefield.
“You cannot survive without communications, it’s the life-line of the military now days,” said Trygstad. “You have to be able to shoot, move, and communicate. The sooner you get the information to the soldiers in the field, the better off you are going to be.”