International training exercise at Sanford Lab

Army green tents, slow-rolling military trucks and camo-clad soldiers—all were signs of the full-fledged Golden Coyote training exercise underway at Sanford Underground Research Facility last week.

The South Dakota National Guard’s 28^th annual Golden Coyote training exercise brought multiple units and nearly a hundred personnel together from Denmark, Suriname, Canada and 10 states to work on projects across South Dakota, including one at Sanford Lab.

According to the State of South Dakota, the National Guard’s project at Sanford Lab was part of a two-week training exercise that began June 9 and ended June 23. The exercise allows military forces to conduct combat support and combat service support missions in a realistic training environment and provide valuable services to the public.

Members of the 842nd Engineer Company receive heavy machinery training while improving private access roads near the WWTP. Photo by Matthew Kapust

“This hands-on experience is priceless,” said Brandon Voss, construction warrant officer for the 155^th Engineer Company. “The National Guard program provides help to civilian agencies, mostly non-profit, through projects just like these. It also provides training for scenarios we may face should we be deployed, such as setting up camps, building roads, deconstruction and renovation.”

The 155^th Engineer Company (vertical engineers) was one of two South Dakota Army National Guard engineering companies stationed at Sanford Lab. The other was the 842^nd Engineer Company (horizontal engineers), which specializes in heavy equipment operation. Their task? To improve Park Avenue and Ellison Street, private access roads near the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). The teams dug ditches and created culverts to redirect storm water runoff and reduce yearly maintenance. Hauling 2,380 tons of gravel onsite and hundreds of hours of manpower resulted in wider roads, improved access and better visibility.

The 155^th Engineer Company (vertical engineers) worked to renovate multiple buildings. At the “Fish House,” a building used to test water in the Homestake period, the team stripped outdated electrical equipment, installed an overhead door and poured a concrete pad, which allows Sanford Lab to use the structure as storage space. The team also striped, renovated and cleaned the Old High Building and an office adjacent to the crusher room. Small projects included removing dirt around the E-fluent building at the WWTP to improve draining and labeling units on the facility’s electrical panel.

“We’ve partnered with the South Dakota National Guard on several projects at Sanford Lab,” said Mike Headley, executive director of the South Dakota Science and Technology Authority. “It’s a great opportunity for us to help them receive the training they need and to improve our infrastructure. They do an amazing job and we appreciate the incredible work they do—not just here at Sanford Lab, but across the state of South Dakota.”

For some National Guard members, whose day-to-day jobs don’t involve construction and engineering, this exercise allows immersive training under the supervision of experts. This real-world experience goes beyond that of weekend drills. During a deployment, there is little time to train members on construction equipment and procedures. The structure of the exercise at Sanford Lab gave members time to practice and refine their construction skills.

“As a civilian, I work as a dental assistant,” said Tatiana Lafferty, carpentry mason specialist who has been working on the Fish House renovation. “On this project, I’ve been driving the skid steer and dump truck, learning to maneuver and moving loads of dirt. I’ll help pour concrete later on as well. It’s great to take this on and put our training to practical use.”

Members of the 842nd Engineer Company gather near the WWTP, where their team dug ditches and created a culvert to reduce damage caused by stormwater runoff. Photo by Matthew Kapust

With this year’s projects completed, Sanford Lab looks forward to continued partnership with the Golden Coyote program.

“This was our second year working with the National Guard’s Golden Coyotes program,” said Michele Baumann, contract specialist at SDSTA. “The projects are getting bigger and better and we are excited to continue.”