RAPID CITY, S.D. -- The Bureau of Reclamation has announced the South Dakota Army National Guard (SDANG) is conducting a training exercise in the Fruitdale Area of Belle Fourche Reservoir on Wednesday, April 5, 2017, beginning at approximately 4:00 p.m.
Soldiers from the 189th Medivac Unit out of Rapid City, S.D., will perform a Vehicle Born Improvised Explosive Devise (IED) training exercise. Training will include the ignition of a grenade simulator and smoke grenade to simulate an IED, causing simulated casualties. Soldiers will use blank ammunition to aid in the realism of the training exercise. A UH60 helicopter will be called in and land in the area to transport injured soldiers.
Public access to the area will be restricted during this time - soldiers and military vehicles will be at the entrance of the Fruitdale Area off of highway 212. The public is encouraged to observe the training exercise from a distance. The grenade simulator and smoke grenade will be contained in a burn barrel and not have contact with the ground. All blank ammunition will be retrieved and disposed of off-site.
Reclamation and the South Dakota Army National Guard have entered into an agreement permitting access to Reclamation lands at Belle Fourche Reservoir to conduct military training.
For more information please contact Jay Leasure at 605-394-9757, or jleasure@usbr.gov.
Source: Bureau of Reclamation
