Twenty-three out of 42 South Dakota Army National Guard units received the National Guard Bureau’s Superior Unit Award in recognition of outstanding achievement during training year 2016.
The Superior Unit Award is presented to units who meet highly-enforced military standards in the areas of personnel, training and readiness.
Maj. Gen. Tim Reisch, adjutant general of the South Dakota National Guard points out that while the South Dakota Army National Guard makes up only 9/10ths of one percent of this nation’s National Guard, it has earned 66 percent of the Superior Unit Awards for training year 2016
In order to earn the SUA, units must achieve 95 percent in unit strength, monthly drill attendance, annual training attendance and weapons qualification. In addition to meeting these readiness goals, units must also achieve 90 percent in physical fitness tests and duty-qualified Soldiers. Unit admin and maintenance inspections also factor into award requirements.
Headquarters Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion of Huron and the Forward Support Company, 153rd Engineer Battalion of Huron and Parkston earned the Superior Unit award for the fourth consecutive year.
The top award for the state went to the 147th Army Band of Mitchell, which received the Eisenhower Trophy for the most exceptional SDARNG unit. The Eisenhower Trophy is named in honor of former General of the Army Dwight D. Eisenhower and awarded by the Chief of the National Guard Bureau to the ARNG unit in each state rated the most outstanding during the training year.
More than half of the SUA units are continuing consecutive years of training excellence – with four units receiving the award for the second time in a row, three units for a third straight year and five units for four consecutive years. The 211th Engineer Company has earned the SUA five years in a row and the 740th Transportation Company has received it five out of the last six years.