WEBVTT

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(upbeat music)

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(jet engine)

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- [Host] The South Dakota National Guard,

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once again, distinguished itself as one of the premier

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National Guard organizations in the nation in 2017.

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Just as it has for the past 155 years.

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From serving in combat operations overseas,

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to supporting domestic emergencies here at home,

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our soldiers and airmen have once again

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answered the call to help people in need.

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Time and time again, we have proven to be a confident,

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reliable, capable, and effective force.

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Support to federal commitments worldwide

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continued in 2017, as more than 275 soldiers

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and 125 airmen from five units,

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supported overseas contingency operations.

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About 165 soldiers from the 153rd Engineer Battalion,

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and it's forward support company,

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returned from duty in the Middle East.

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The Huron and Parkston based units served 10 months,

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providing command and control of attached engineer units.

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Members of the unit served in multiple locations

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throughout the region including Iraq and Syria.

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216th Engineer Detachment's fire fighting team

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deployed three soldiers for a nine month tour to Romania,

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where they are providing command and control

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of fire fighting teams, to provide fire-protection

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of aviation assets, facilities, and installations

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in the European command area of operation.

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15 soldiers from the 200th Engineer Company

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deployed to the Middle East, as a bridge training team,

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where they are providing training and assistance

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to coalition forces on military bridge systems

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throughout the region.

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More than 90 soldiers of Company C, First Battalion,

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189th Aviation Regiment, deployed to the Middle East,

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where they will provide aerial medical evacuation support

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with it's HH60M Black Hawk helicopters.

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The Air National Guard's 115th Fighter Wing

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saw the deployment of 125 airmen to six countries

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throughout the Middle East and Europe

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as part of their reserve component period,

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in support of Operations Inherent Resolve

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in Spartan Shield.

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These airmen serve in a variety of capacities

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from administration, services, engineering, communications,

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force protection, maintenance, and logistic support.

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Since 9/11, the South Dakota National Guard

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has deployed more than 8000 soldiers and airmen

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in support of various operations.

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The South Dakota National Guard continued to provide

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domestic operation support to the citizens of South Dakota,

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and the nation, throughout 2017.

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More than 150 soldiers and airmen

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provided support to the 58th Presidential Inauguration

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in Washington DC on January 20th.

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The South Dakota National Guard service members

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were joined by more than 7500 Guardsmen

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from 44 other states and territories

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to assist the District of Columbia National Guard

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and federal and local law enforcement agencies

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in providing security, crowd control, and traffic management

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of attendees and support personnel

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throughout the US capitol region.

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Guard members were called up by governor Dennis Daugaard

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to support 11 state active duty missions,

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that involved 90 personnel and totaled over 300 man days.

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The majority of the response involved wild land-fire support

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providing aerial water-suppression assistance

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using HH60M Black Hawk helicopter crews

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and ground support personnel.

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The Army Guard responded to eight fires

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throughout The Black Hills in Western South Dakota

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from March through September.

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When not dropping water, flight crews were also

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picking up people in need.

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One crew assisted in the rescue of a male hiker

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who was injured on Black Elk Peak,

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and air lifted from Custer State Park.

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However, it's not just within the state

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that the South Dakota Guardsmen

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responded this year.

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When disaster struck the island of Puerto Rico

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in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria,

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the state responded.

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Governor Daugaard activated four members of Company A,

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139th Brigade Support Battalion,

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at the request of Puerto Rico government authorities

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to help with recovery operations

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and to provide water distribution capabilities

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to those in need.

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On October 8th, the soldiers deployed

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with two load-handling system vehicles and trailers

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equipped with four compatible water tank racks,

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or Hippos.

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The Hippo has the capability to receive, store,

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and distribute up to 2000 gallons of potable water

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per system.

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The Air Guard continued support to NORAD's

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Air Space Control Alert Mission at March Air Force Base

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in California, providing four F16 Fighting Falcons,

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and pilots, who are ready on a 24 hour alert status,

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to protect the country for any type of emergency.

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This year also marked the 11th anniversary

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of the South Dakota and Suriname State Partnership Program.

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There were 61 subject-matter expert participants

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that took part in 13 significant exchanges,

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which included land search and rescue operations,

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force management, hazmat planning and prevention,

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officer professional development,

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and an engineer mission to help renovate

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parts of a school in Paramaribo.

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The South Dakota National Guard

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had another outstanding training year,

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and received a number of awards demonstrating

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their operational readiness.

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23 out of 42 South Dakota Army National Guard units

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received the National Guard Bureau's Superior Unit Award

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in recognition of outstanding achievement

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during training year 2016.

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The Superior Unit Award is presented to units

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who meet highly enforced military standards

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in the areas of personnel, training, and readiness.

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The South Dakota Army National Guard who makes up

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only 9/10 of 1% of this nation's national guard,

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earned 66% of the Superior Unit Awards

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for training year 2016.

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Detachment one, company B,

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first in the 112th Aviation Battalion, was awarded

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the National Guard Association of the United States'

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Certificate of Victory for having the highest overall

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figure of merit in weapons qualification in the nation.

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This is the third year in a row a South Dakota

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Army National Guard unit has received this award.

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The South Dakota Army National Guard

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was presented with the Gold Recipient Award

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in the 2017 Army Communities of Excellence Awards.

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The Army Community of Excellence Awards

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recognize top performance within the United States Army,

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National Guard, and Reserve installations and communities

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and their approach to systems management.

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Because of the gold finish,

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the Army Communities of Excellence Awards,

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presented the South Dakota Army National Guard

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with $100,000 to enhance the organization even further.

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The money will support process improvement,

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specifically supporting workforce professional development.

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For the fourth time in five years,

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the Department of Defense awarded

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a South Dakota National Guard Unit

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with the Reserve Family Readiness Award

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for the Army National Guard.

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The office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense

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for reserve affairs, presented the

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Rapid City and Wagner based 155th Engineer Company

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with the award for 2016 at the Pentagon in March.

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The annual award is presented to one unit

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from each of the seven reserve components

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that demonstrate excellence in engaging with and supporting

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their members' families.

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The following month, the 155th Engineer Company

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was recognized again.

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This time claiming a top award from

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the Society of American Military Engineers

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for outstanding military and engineering service.

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155th received the Itschner Award,

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which recognizes the best engineering company

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in three categories, the United States Army,

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the Army Reserve, and National Guard.

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The Air Guard continued to demonstrate its success

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as one of the top five flying units in the nation,

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as the National Guard Association for the United States

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awarded the 114th Fighter Wing with it's

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Distinguished Flying Unit plaque

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for the third consecutive year.

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This is the seventh time the unit has received this award

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for exceptional meritorious service.

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The award is based on overall combat readiness,

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and the unit's performance with respect to all other

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Air National Guard units.

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114th was also announced as the recipient

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of the Air Force Outstanding Unit Award,

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for the third straight year.

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This is the ninth time the unit has received this award

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for exceptional meritorious service by the US Air Force

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and Air National Guard.

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South Dakota Army National Guard

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won a National Guard Bureau Excellence in Diversity Award

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for fiscal year 2016.

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The NGB Excellence in Diversity Awards

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are presented to outstanding National Guard individuals,

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organizations, states, and territories

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for significant contributions to diversity

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and inclusion initiatives.

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The south Dakota National Guard hosted its 33rd

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Annual Golden Coyote Training Exercise

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in the Black Hills in June.

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The two-week training exercise has developed

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into one of the nation's top training opportunities

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for the National Guard, Reserve, and Active Duty forces,

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as well as military personnel from allied countries.

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Golden Coyote 2017 involved

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more than 24-hundred participants

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from 30 units, representing 14 states

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and two allied nations.

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The South Dakota National Guard held numerous promotions,

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changes of command, and changes of responsibility in 2017,

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which included Brigadier General Joel DeGroot,

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being named the Assistant Adjutant General

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for the South Dakota Air National Guard.

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DeGroot assumed responsibility from

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Brigadier General Steven Warrant,

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who retired with over 40 years of military service.

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As the Assistant Adjutant General,

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DeGroot is responsible to the Adjutant General

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for strategic planning, strength management,

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troop readiness, and mobilization support

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of the state's more than 1000 National Guard Airmen.

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Chief Warrant Officer Five Todd Dressler

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was named South Dakota National Guard

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State Command Chief Warrant Officer.

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Dressler became the seventh

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State Command Chief Warrant Officer

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for the South Dakota Army National Guard

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since the position was established in 1999.

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Chief Master Sargent Zona Hornstra

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assumed the duties and responsibilities

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of the Command Chief of the 114th Fighter Wing.

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Responsible for advising superiors on quality of life issues

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and matters relating to the enlisted airmen of the unit

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among other duties.

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Never in our history have we been

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better trained, better equipped, or more heavily relied upon

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than we are today.

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The soldiers and airmen of the South Dakota National Guard

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are proud to add to its legacy and tradition

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as a force ready to support and defend

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our communities, state, and nation.