Area National Guard members train at Elk Point camp
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The sand dunes along the Missouri River south of Elk Point are helping the 153rd Engineering Battalion of the South Dakota Army National Guard stay in fighting shape.
Around 240 service members are living in tents at the Austin Training Area south of Elk Point. The group includes more than just engineers – there are medics, cooks and a maintenance crew. They brought nearly 60 vehicles to help in their training.
The camp is mostly self-sufficient, having complete supplies of food, fuel and equipment. Only water needed to be brought in daily.
The entire camp was set up in about four hours; however, a group of soldiers spent about a week ahead of time cleaning up the area and grading roads.
Major Joshua Lien said one advantage of Austin is it’s an area these soldiers have never been to before; their training is more effective in unknown territory. They can practice digging fortifications at Austin, something they can’t do at Custer. And it’s only four hours from headquarters in Huron, another big plus.