18 Train in Record S. Dakota Cold

Lt. Col. David A. Miller
Director of Public Affairs
North Central Region

Despite pandemic-related limitations and record-setting cold weather, 18 members from across the South Dakota Wing gathered in Sioux Falls for a day of emergency services training during the East River Winter Ground Team Academy.

Nine cadets and the same number of senior members honed their search and rescue skills with instruction on ground team 24-hour pack contents, compass use, radio training and use of direction-finding equipment to find aircraft locator beacons.

Temperatures dipped to 7 below zero in Sioux Falls the day of the exercise, with a high of 7 above.

Photos by Maj. Karla West, South Dakota Wing assistant director of public affairs,