Golden Coyote exercise to increase traffic, military activities starting June 11

  • Published
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  People working and living near the base should be aware of the potential for increased traffic, especially in Box Elder, during the South Dakota National Guard's 32nd Annual Golden Coyote training exercise from June 11 to 25.

Several hundred National Guard members from across the state will be operating out of Ellsworth during the exercise designed to provide military units with relevant training opportunities in support of overseas contingency operations and homeland defense.

When traveling from the base, motorists are encouraged to utilize Exit 67B and access Interstate 90 at that point.

Residents of Rapid City, Hill City, Custer and Belle Fourche should be aware of an increase in military traffic throughout the region and in their communities. They can expect an increase in noise levels due to military training.

Additionally, aircraft will be operating throughout the area and will respond to real-world emergencies during the exercise and remain in an all-hours-ready status. The public is asked to remain at a safe distance from all moving military vehicles and aircraft to prevent injury to personnel or damage to property.

According to SDNG Public Affairs, there will be 44 military units representing 12 states and four foreign nations participating in the exercise from multiple branches of military service - Army, Navy and Air Force - working together to create an invaluable training experience.

Created in 1984 by the SDNG, with the cooperation of the National Forest Service and Custer State Park, this year's exercise will allow about 3,400 service members to conduct combat-support and service-support missions in a realistic training environment and provide valuable services to the public.

Local residents receive numerous benefits from the many engineer projects conducted during the exercise. Units transport timber to Native American communities that use it as firewood, conduct building construction, repair and upgrades, identify hazardous wilderness areas and make them safe for public use, and resurface local roadways that have fallen into disrepair.

Media interested in covering the exercise must coordinate with the SDNG Public Affairs by June 10.

For more information, please contact Capt. Amber Symonds with the SDNG Public Affairs office at (605( 737-6969, (605) 737-6721 or by emailing ng.sd.sdarng.list.pao@mail.mil or amber.a.symonds.mil@mail.mil.