Through the tall grass of South Dakota walk Danish soldiers preparing for battle.  This training provides simulated combat experience giving soldiers from across the world a chance to test their skills and test their partnerships.  Travis Eastman says, "We have an opportunity to train here in the Black Hills of South Dakota similar to the way we fight in the battlefield. Because it's not just U.S. Army soldiers fighting, we're alongside our allied nations, or coalition powers."  That's why soldiers from Denmark, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Suriname all are in South Dakota taking part in this year's Golden Coyote operation.  Private Christian Oelund says, "I've experienced that during some of my tours that we work a lot with other nationalities and it's exactly like what I'm experiencing here. So it's always nice to get to train with other people."  2LT Aaron Thacker says, "Working here with the Danes, their level of proficiency is pretty incredible. These people in particular have both on the medical and on the tactical level, are very proficient and I know my soldiers have learned quite a bit."Eastman says, "  We're not trying to separate ourselves, we're actually having those soldiers within our ranks of the U.S. military and with our senior leadership staff.  So we work right next to each other, it's not one unit and a separate unit, we're integrated completely during the training exercises same way we are on the battlefield."  Training continues through next week and co-ops have already been set up, so American soldiers may have the chance to participate in future training in countries such as Denmark.

Zach Nuggent