South Dakota National Guard soldiers and their Suriname partners concluded Operation Rumble in the Jungle, a joint exercise that included testing the forces’ ability to operate together in demanding jungle conditions.
“The highly successful Rumble in the Jungle joint exercise marks a significant milestone in the State Partnership Program between the South Dakota National Guard and Suriname,” said Colonel Dennis Bickett, commander of the 196th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, South Dakota Army National Guard. “By training shoulder-to-shoulder, we deepen our mutual trust and cultural ties and enhance our tactical interoperability.”
The South Dakota National Guard and Suriname have been partners in the Department of War National Guard Bureau State Partnership Program since 2006.
During the exercise, the Headquarters and Headquarters Company of the 153rd Engineer Battalion, South Dakota Army National Guard, carried out a counternarcotics planning process, while overseeing command and control for 68 joint personnel. The staff coordinated logistics with the U.S. Embassy and the Suriname Armed Forces (SAF) and conducted real-world bridge and river route reconnaissance.
Lieutenant Colonel James Forbes, commander of the 153rd Engineer Battalion, noted that the exercise was a proving ground for operating with a heavily reduced footprint, preparing forces for modern, contested environments where large command posts are easily targeted.
“For the last three years, we’ve been trying to break our battalion operations down so that we were light and we could move easily and do it anywhere in the world,” Lt. Col. Forbes said. “Basically, I set up a problem statement: How does the 153rd conduct command and control utilizing two air pallets? This was a culmination of so many different efforts coming together.”
Simultaneously, 25 South Dakota National Guard service members and SAF partners completed a grueling, three-phase jungle operations and survival course. The South Dakota National Guard integrated the Army Security Cooperation Group-South to standardize joint tactics, techniques, and procedures.
SAF First Sergeant Alvaro Ronoreso, the course’s head instructor, praised the U.S. forces while noting the extreme difficulty of the environment.
“They have perseverance and spirit,” 1st Sgt. Ronoreso said. “The tropical jungle is breaking their will … but we keep motivating, and they keep continuing.”
Sergeant First Class Richard Buechler, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the U.S. jungle participants, echoed the severe physical toll of the training.
“There’s a lot of things that can slow you down and beat you up in this environment,” Sgt. 1st Class Buechler said. “Both Mother Nature herself and Father Time will kick you when you’re down. As long as you can keep everybody moving in the same direction, motivated and together, you’ll be successful.”
In the community of Brownsweg, 16 engineers from the 155th Engineer Company executed a high-impact Humanitarian and Civic Assistance project. The joint team generated more than 1,600 combined man-hours alongside their SAF counterparts, renovating 14 classrooms, installing 8,200 feet of drainage, and constructing 4,000 square feet of security fencing.
Staff Sergeant Lee Gregerson, engineer project noncommissioned officer in charge with the 155th Engineer Company, South Dakota Army National Guard, noted his soldiers worked 10-hour days for two weeks to overcome logistical hurdles and deliver the project alongside the SAF.
“Working alongside our SAF counterparts was a great experience for all our U.S. troops,” Staff Sgt. Gregerson said. “The SAF looked out for our U.S. soldiers by helping with engagements with the local populace and local shops.”
By delivering tangible infrastructure improvements, the U.S. demonstrated a credible, positive commitment to the nation’s civilian development. The impact was highly visible during a closing ceremony attended by community elders, teachers, students, and local religious leaders.
“The community was overall supportive and happy with the end results of our project,” Staff Sgt. Gregerson added. “They were all very grateful and also spoke about wanting the U.S. Army to come back to Suriname to continue helping their community.”
Commanders assessed the operation as a total success, noting that by operating in resource-constrained environments, the South Dakota National Guard tangibly increased operational readiness and solidified a critical regional partnership that remains highly beneficial to both nations.
