Local soldiers provide water for training exercise

RAPID CITY, S.D. -- On the banks of Rapid Creek in Rapid City, S.D., 10 Missouri National Guard Soldiers are using their training to provide clean water for Soldiers from across the country.

The members of the distribution platoon of the 311th Brigade Support Battalion, Company A, are participating in the 25th annual Golden Coyote training exercise. The company is based in Lamar and Nevada. As part of the exercise, the platoon produces water that is safe for drinking for all 62 units participating.

The platoon generally produces about 10,000 to 15,000 gallons of clean water per day, said Sgt. 1st Class Alan Clapper, of Nevada. But, because temperatures have rarely ranged above the mid-60s, the platoon hasn't needed to produce as much.

"They haven't made us work very hard because they haven't been drawing as much water," he said. "When it's hot, you use a lot more water."

To produce potable water, the team draws water from the nearby Rapid Creek and runs it through a series of strainers to filter out large objects, such as leaves and twigs. The water then goes through reverse osmosis, which cleans out anything that may be dissolved in the water. Finally, the water is chlorinated and put into large storage bags. Any water that is not chlorinated is pumped back into the creek. The water that is released into the creek is not harmful, Clapper said.

"It's fine. You could drink it," he said. "There's just no chlorine in it." Capt. Nathan Wilde, the company's commander, said the platoon provides water to all five of the exercise's forward operating bases, which are spread across the Black Hills area of South Dakota.

During last year's exercise, the company played a backup role to support a South Dakota unit. This year, Wilde said, the Missouri platoon took the helm.

"Water is our big baby," he said.

The platoon's mission is essential to the exercise, Wilde said: potable water is necessary for important tasks like maintaining personal hygiene and keeping soldiers hydrated, and for less-important tasks like making coffee.

"Without water, you couldn't do anything around here," he said.

The Golden Coyote training exercise is hosted by the South Dakota National Guard, and takes place each year at a number of locations throughout the Black Hills. At this year's exercise, 61 units from 24 states joined together with members of the Canadian military. In all, more than 3,800 service members are participating. The exercise will run until June 20.